Bella Morte
Encyclopedia
Bella Morte is a gothic
band that was formed in 1996 in Charlottesville, Virginia
. They also incorporate elements of metal
, darkwave
, deathrock
, alternative
, and synthpop
. The name is Italian for "beautiful death."
Currently signed to Metropolis Records
, they previously released albums through their own label, Some Wear Leather, and also through Cleopatra Records
. In early Fall of 2006, Metropolis Records
confirmed that Bella Morte had reached number one on the Metropolis Records Preorder sales list with their new album Bleed the Grey Sky Black, which was released on October 10, 2006.
Bassist and co-founder Gopal Metro decided to leave the band, playing his last show on March 10, 2007 in the band's hometown of Charlottesville. At the same show, vocalist Andy Deane announced that Tony Pugh would replace Gopal on bass.
Bella Morte has gained a strong following in the underground music scene via word-of-mouth and their still-growing street team
, lovingly called "The Fallen."
At the beginning of summer 2008 it was announced that Jordon Marchini would not be touring with the band any longer. He is no longer listed as the drummer on their MySpace page and all promotional pictures do not include him. Whether this is a permanent change remains to be seen.
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
band that was formed in 1996 in Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
. They also incorporate elements of metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
, darkwave
Darkwave
Dark Wave or darkwave is a music genre that began in the late 1970s, coinciding with the popularity of New Wave and post-punk. Building on those basic principles, dark wave added dark, introspective lyrics and an undertone of sorrow for some bands...
, deathrock
Deathrock
Deathrock is a term used to identify a sub-genre of punk rock incorporating horror elements and spooky atmospherics, that emerged on the West Coast of the United States in 1979.-Characteristics:...
, alternative
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
, and synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
. The name is Italian for "beautiful death."
Currently signed to Metropolis Records
Metropolis Records
Metropolis Records is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based record label, distributor, and mail-order store specializing in the post-industrial field such as electro-industrial, synthpop, futurepop, darkwave, and gothic musical genres....
, they previously released albums through their own label, Some Wear Leather, and also through Cleopatra Records
Cleopatra Records
Cleopatra Records is a Los Angeles-based independent record label.- History :Founded in 1992 by Brian Perera, it specializes in gothic rock, hard rock, heavy metal and reissues of out-of-print music...
. In early Fall of 2006, Metropolis Records
Metropolis Records
Metropolis Records is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based record label, distributor, and mail-order store specializing in the post-industrial field such as electro-industrial, synthpop, futurepop, darkwave, and gothic musical genres....
confirmed that Bella Morte had reached number one on the Metropolis Records Preorder sales list with their new album Bleed the Grey Sky Black, which was released on October 10, 2006.
Bassist and co-founder Gopal Metro decided to leave the band, playing his last show on March 10, 2007 in the band's hometown of Charlottesville. At the same show, vocalist Andy Deane announced that Tony Pugh would replace Gopal on bass.
Bella Morte has gained a strong following in the underground music scene via word-of-mouth and their still-growing street team
Street team
A street team is a term used in marketing to describe a group of people who 'hit the streets' promoting an event or a product. 'Street Teams' are a powerful promotional tool that has been adopted industry wide as a standard line item in marketing budgets by entertainment companies, record labels,...
, lovingly called "The Fallen."
At the beginning of summer 2008 it was announced that Jordon Marchini would not be touring with the band any longer. He is no longer listed as the drummer on their MySpace page and all promotional pictures do not include him. Whether this is a permanent change remains to be seen.
Current Band Members
- Andy Deane - Vocals
- Tony Lechmanski - Guitar
- Branden Shores - Drums
- Marshall Camden - Bass
Previous Band Members
- Gopal Metro - Bass
- Tony Pugh - Bass
- Jordan Marchini - Drums
- Scotty Derrico - Drums
- Clay Caricofe - Drums
- Chris "Frizzle" - Guitars
- Bn Whitlow - Guitars
- Micah Consylman - Synths (mainly the keytarKeytarA keytar is a relatively lightweight keyboard that is supported by a strap around the neck and shoulders, similar to the way a guitar is supported by a strap. Keytars allow players a greater range of movement compared to conventional keyboards, which are placed on stands...
during live performance) - James Warnock - Synths and Lighting
Full releases
- Remorse (cassette only, demo) (1996)
- RemainsRemains (Bella Morte album)-Track listing:# One Winter's Night# Remorse# As Heaven Sang# Evensong# Angels & Faith# Funeral Night# As We Descend# Nevere# Remains# Silver Crosses# Stygian Shores-Credits:*Andy Deane - Vocals*Bn - Guitar, Synths*Gopal Metro - Bass, Synths...
(1997) - Where Shadows LieWhere Shadows LieWhere Shadows Lie is Charlottesville, Virginia gothic rock band Bella Morte's first release on Cleopatra Records. It was originally released on Bella Morte's indie label Some Wear Leather...
(2000) - The Death Rock EP (Vinyl - limited to 300) (2001)
- The QuietThe Quiet (album)-Track listing:# Regret# Logic# Whispers# First Light# The Quiet# Living Dead# Echoes# Hope Again# I Follow# Always# Christina# Ember# Wires-Credits:*Anndy Deane - Vocals, Programming*Gopal Metro - Bass, Programming*Tony Lechmanski - Guitar...
(2002) - The Death Rock EP (CD w/ bonus tracks) (2002)
- Remains (Remastered Version) (2002)
- As the Reasons DieAs the Reasons DieAs the Reasons Die is Bella Morte's second release on Metropolis Records.-Track listing:# Beneath# Undone# I For an I# Many Miles# Still# Forever Grey# If Tonight# Another Way# Last Days# A Time Before# Awake# A Dying World-Credits:...
(2004) - Songs for the DeadSongs for the DeadSongs for the Dead is Bella Morte's third release on Metropolis Records. It is closer to the genres of Punk rock and Deathrock than their previous albums...
(2004) - Bleed The Grey Sky BlackBleed the Grey Sky BlackBleed the Grey Sky Black is Bella Morte's fourth release on Metropolis Records. It reached #1 on Metropolis preorder sales in September 2006.-Track listing:# On the Edge# Torn# The End Ahead# The Alone# Ghost Land# Dust# As the Storm Unfolds...
(2006) - Beautiful DeathBeautiful Death- Track listing :#Find Forever Gone - 3:21#Can't Let This Die - 3:34#Black Seas Collide - 3:36#Buried Within - 3:31#The End Of The End - 3:33#Fades Like A Song - 3:37#In The Dirt - 3:19#One Thousand Days - 3:34#Burn The Sky - 3:11#Eternal - 3:42...
(October 7, 2008) - Before the Flood June 14, 2011
Side Projects
Andy Deane released a solo album as "The Rain Within", a reference to the Bella Morte song "The Rain Within Her Hands", in 2010.Compilations
- The Pink and The Black (1998) (Delinquent Records) - One Winter's Night
- "The Unquiet Grave Vol1" (1998) (Cleopatra RecordsCleopatra RecordsCleopatra Records is a Los Angeles-based independent record label.- History :Founded in 1992 by Brian Perera, it specializes in gothic rock, hard rock, heavy metal and reissues of out-of-print music...
) - Funeral Night - Music from the Succubus Club - Vampire: The Masquerade (2000) (Dancing Ferret Discs) - Fall No More
- The Darkest Millennium (2000) (Cleopatra RecordsCleopatra RecordsCleopatra Records is a Los Angeles-based independent record label.- History :Founded in 1992 by Brian Perera, it specializes in gothic rock, hard rock, heavy metal and reissues of out-of-print music...
) - The Rain Within Her Hands - A Gothic-Industrial Tribute to Smashing Pumpkins (2001) (Cleopatra RecordsCleopatra RecordsCleopatra Records is a Los Angeles-based independent record label.- History :Founded in 1992 by Brian Perera, it specializes in gothic rock, hard rock, heavy metal and reissues of out-of-print music...
) - Soma
Music videos
- "In The Dirt" directed by Lloyd KaufmanLloyd KaufmanLloyd Kaufman is an American film director, producer, screenwriter and occasional actor. With producer Michael Herz, he is the co-founder of Troma Entertainment film studio, and the director of many of their feature films, including The Toxic Avenger and Tromeo and Juliet. Kaufman also serves as...
was filmed on Feb 20, 2010 at Con Nooga in Chattanooga, TN - "Find Forever Gone" directed by Eric Thomas Craven. Released on September 30, 2008
- "On the Edge" directed by Eric Thomas Craven. Released on February 14, 2008
- "Earth AngelEarth Angel"Earth Angel " is an American doo-wop song, originally released by The Penguins in 1954 on the Dootone label , as the B-side to "Hey Señorita." The song became a major hit for The Crew-Cuts in 1955, reaching the Billboard charts on January 29, 1955. It peaked at #3 on the Disk Jockey chart, #8 on...
" directed by Eric Thomas Craven. Released on February 14, 2007 - "Another Way" directed by Wendy Shuey (2004)
Media appearances
- Bella Morte appears as zombies in the graphic novelGraphic novelA graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
"The Abandoned" by Ross CampbellRoss Campbell (comics)-Biography:He is the creator of The Abandoned, Mountain Girl, Shadoweyes, Wet Moon, and Water Baby.He drew the story "The Hollows" for the first issue of the DC/Vertigo comic House of Mystery written by Bill Willingham....
, released by TokyoPopTokyopopTokyopop, styled TOKYOPOP, and formerly known as Mixx, is a distributor, licensor, and publisher of anime, manga, manhwa, and Western manga-style works. The existing German publishing division produces German translations of licensed Japanese properties and original English-language manga, as well...
. - Andy Deane appeared on The Montel Williams ShowThe Montel Williams ShowThe Montel Williams Show is a syndicated talk show hosted by Montel Williams. On January 30, 2008 it was announced that The Montel Williams Show would stop production on new episodes at the end of the 2007-2008 television season after seventeen years...
in June 1999, in an episode concerning the gothGoth subcultureThe goth subculture is a contemporary subculture found in many countries. It began in England during the early 1980s in the gothic rock scene, an offshoot of the post-punk genre. The goth subculture has survived much longer than others of the same era, and has continued to diversify...
scene. - Bella Morte appear in the autobiography My Pet Virus, written by Shawn DeckerShawn DeckerShawn Decker was born in Waynesboro, Virginia on July 16, 1975. He was diagnosed with HIV at age 11, through the use of tainted blood products used to treat hemophilia, a bleeding disorder that he was born with. In 1996, he posted a web site called "My Pet Virus", writing humorous articles about...
. - Posters advertising a Bella Morte concert and featuring the 'As the Reasons DieAs the Reasons DieAs the Reasons Die is Bella Morte's second release on Metropolis Records.-Track listing:# Beneath# Undone# I For an I# Many Miles# Still# Forever Grey# If Tonight# Another Way# Last Days# A Time Before# Awake# A Dying World-Credits:...
' artwork appear in the Asylum club scenes of the game Vampire: The Masquerade - BloodlinesVampire: The Masquerade - BloodlinesVampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines, abbreviated as Bloodlines or VTMB, is a computer role-playing game for Windows developed by Troika Games in 2004...
. - Bella Morte lyrics appear in the "Wet Moon" graphic novels by Ross CampbellRoss Campbell (comics)-Biography:He is the creator of The Abandoned, Mountain Girl, Shadoweyes, Wet Moon, and Water Baby.He drew the story "The Hollows" for the first issue of the DC/Vertigo comic House of Mystery written by Bill Willingham....
, released by Oni PressOni PressOni Press is an American independent comic book publisher based in Portland, Oregon. It was founded in 1997 by Bob Schreck and Joe Nozemack with the goal of publishing the kinds of comics and graphic novels they themselves would want to read...
. And in volume 3 of the series, the characters attend a live Bella Morte show.
External links
- Bella Morte band at Metropolis RecordsMetropolis RecordsMetropolis Records is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based record label, distributor, and mail-order store specializing in the post-industrial field such as electro-industrial, synthpop, futurepop, darkwave, and gothic musical genres....
official website - Interview @ Legends
- More Recent Interview @ Legends