Goblin (band)
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Goblin are an Italian progressive rock band who are known for their soundtracks on Dario Argento films (for example, Deep Red of 1975, also known as Profondo Rosso and Suspiria of 1977).
They were initially named Cherry Five and were influenced by Genesis and King Crimson. Their early work spawned one progressive rock record named after the band, until they were called in as replacements for composer Giorgio Gaslini, who had left the film Profondo Rosso after a conflict with director Dario Argento. They changed their name to Goblin and rewrote most of the score, including the famous main theme. The film, and the soundtrack album, were huge hits.
A reshuffle in their line-up followed, and then an instrumental progressive rock album Roller, before they got the chance to work with Argento again for Suspiria. The score's nerve-jangling experimental sounds and bizarre vocals have since become legendary. Other film soundtracks and a concept album (Il Fantastico Viaggio Del Bagarozzo Mark) followed, then the score for the European version of George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead (1978).
Despite their success, more members of the band left. The line-up was altered again, but this time they struggled to maintain their credibility. What was left of the band continued to work on further soundtracks, but there was a partial reunification for Argento's Tenebrae (1982) (although they were credited separately, not as Goblin). They are no longer working together, although CD re-releases of their soundtracks have performed well, especially in Germany and Japan.
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[edit] History
[edit] Oliver
Between 1972 and 1973 Claudio Simonetti (keyboards) and Massimo Morante (guitars), aided by Fabio Pignatelli (bass guitar) and Walter Martino (drums) recorded some demo tapes of their compositions using the name Oliver. Their music was inspired by groups like Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, Gentle Giant and Emerson, Lake & Palmer.
On a trip to London, while looking for contacts, the band bumped into Eddie Offord (the then producer of Yes); after listening to a demo tape, the tycoon producer showed some interest and asked them to move to England. By then, Fabio Pignatelli had become a steady member and the band found a regular drummer (Carlo Bordini) and an English lead vocalist (Clive Haynes). After many months of rehearsing they unfortunately returned to the British capital while Eddie Odford was on tour with Yes in the United States; after many performances and various attempts at striking deals with record houses, they were forced to go back to Italy, due to "lack of funds".
[edit] Cherry Five
Back home, they signed for Cinevox Records; Clive Haynes was replaced by Tony Tartarini, and their name was changed to Cherry Five--by the label, for no apparent reason, according to Claudio Simonetti; it was intended that they continue as "Oliver." Their first LP, however, was definitely intentionally titled Cherry Five, whatever debate about the band's name there may have been. Cinevox Records were active mainly in soundtrack publishing; due to their peculiar sound, the band was frequently called to perform and arrange famous musicians' compositions. This activity helped them better understand the mysterious world of soundtracks and its particular techniques.
Their final act as "Cherry Five" was to drop Carlo Bordini and bring back Walter Martino on drums.
[edit] Goblin
At the beginning of 1975, the band began a co-operation with Giorgio Gaslini on the Profondo Rosso film project. The band replaced Walter Martino (who went on to join the band Libra) with Agostino Marangolo in this period. Martino recorded all but two cuts of Profondo Rosso .
By chance, after three or four days of recording activity, Dario Argento decided to try the band's hand at composing: one night to write the score, one day to record it. To distinguish this new release from their first LP which was just about to be marketed, they changed their name again, this time to Goblin.
Success exceeded all expectations: more then one million copies sold, 52 weeks on the Italian hit parade, ranking first in both the singles and LP categories. It launched a highly successful period for the band, which came to an end in 1978 when the band split after the recording of Zombi (also known as Dawn of the Dead).
[edit] Il Reale Impero Britannico
In 1976, they collaboration with Willy Brezza to compose the soundtrack to Perche Si Uccidono - La Merde. For the first and only time, Goblin used the name of Il Reale Impero Britannico. This was due to the controversial subject matter of the mondo movie. Willy Brezza wrote the original soundtrack and the remaining tracks were written by the band together with Fabio Frizzi.
[edit] Fragmentation
Between 1978 and 1979, the band's core musicians recruited many new members consecutively. Fabio Pignatelli, Agostino Marangolo, his brother Antonio Marangolo (a saxophonist who contributed to several albums) and nephew Carlo Pennisi (a session man who often played in place of Massimo Morante when he was absent), co-operated from 1980 to 1982 in a band (Flea On The Honey) which managed to record several LPs. Fabio Pignatelli took part in all the recordings, with Agostino Marangolo ranking first for number of performances. Over time, it was 3 of the "founding fathers" (Pignatelli, Simonetti and Morante), plus Agostino Marongolo who became synonymous with the name Goblin.
[edit] Reunion
In 2000, the group reformed to score the new Dario Argento thriller entitled Nonhosonno (Sleepless). After over 22 years of absence, their return was spectacular. The soundtrack was a great success and showed the group could still compose after such a long time apart, much to the fans delight. Since that time the group has again been disbanded, amid disagreements during the production. Nevertheless in 2005, with the release of the official Goblin biography written by Giovanni Aloisio and the opening of the official website called Back to the Goblin, Massimo Morante and Fabio Pignatelli may be reforming the group once again.
[edit] Band members
The "Founding Fathers":
- Claudio Simonetti - Electronic keyboards, synthesizers, organ and violin
- Massimo Morante - Guitars, bass and mandolin, vocals
- Fabio Pignatelli - Bass and acoustic guitar
- Agostino Marangolo - Drums and percussion
Other replacement members:
- Carlo Pennisi - Guitars
- Antonio Marangolo - Saxophone, Piano
- Maurizio Guarini - Moog Synthesizer
- Fabio Frizzi - Keyboards
- Walter Martino - Drums (Oliver, Cherry Five, Goblin)
- Carlo Bordino - Drums and percussion (Oliver, Cherry Five)
- Clive Haynes - Lead vocals (Oliver)
- Tony Tartarini - Lead vocals (Cherry Five, Goblin)
- W. Charlie Cannon - Lead vocals (Goblin)
- Roberto Puleo - Guitars (Goblin)
- Mauro Lusini - Lead vocals (Goblin)
- Marco Rinalduzzi - Guitars (Goblin)
- Derek Wilson - Drums (Goblin)
- Nicola Gaeta - Keyboards (Goblin)
