Claudio Simonetti
Encyclopedia
Claudio Simonetti is an Italian
composer who has specialized in the scores for Italian and American horror film
s since the 1970s.
player for the Italian progressive rock
band Cherry Five/Goblin
.
Simonetti is probably best-known for his electronic score to the George A. Romero
classic Dawn of the Dead, but is also highly-regarded for his work in the films of Italian horror
maestro Dario Argento
, with whom he has worked almost exclusively since 1975. Goblin's score to his film Profondo rosso was one of the highest-selling horror movie soundtracks ever produced.
When Goblin
disbanded in 1979, Claudio began his solo career as an electronic musician. However, the band reunited in 2000 to score the Argento film Non ho sonno and received outstanding critical acclaim.
Beginning in 1978, Claudio founded a number of electronic disco projects. In 1979, with Giancarlo Meo, he formed perhaps his best-known project behind singer Vivien Vee (Viviana Andreattini), whose song "Give Me a Break" became a minor hit in the American dance charts. Later Vivien Vee tracks particularly "Blue Disease" from 1983, showcased some of the darker and edgier sounds familiar from the Goblin years. Another project was Easy Going, with "Fear" from 1979, also an American hit. In 1983, he was the central member of the Italo disco
group Crazy Gang.
In 1999, Simonetti formed the heavy metal band Daemonia, which has recorded updated versions of Goblin favorites in addition to original material. Daemonia has also contributed tracks to U.S. DVD releases of Italian horror movies. He composed the title track Mater Lacrimarum for The Mother of Tears soundtrack, the song features background vocals by Dani Filth
.
In 2009, Claudio collaborated with the Los Angeles Heavy Metal band Rusty Eye
. He played keyboard on "Mondo Cane" and "Wings of the Demon" from the album "Possessor".
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
composer who has specialized in the scores for Italian and American horror film
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
s since the 1970s.
Biography
He was also the keyboardKeyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
player for the Italian progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band Cherry Five/Goblin
Goblin (band)
Goblin are an Italian progressive rock band known for their soundtracks for Dario Argento films ....
.
Simonetti is probably best-known for his electronic score to the George A. Romero
George A. Romero
George Andrew Romero is a Canadian-American film director, screenwriter and editor, best known for his gruesome and satirical horror films about a hypothetical zombie apocalypse. He is nicknamed "Godfather of all Zombies." -Life and career:...
classic Dawn of the Dead, but is also highly-regarded for his work in the films of Italian horror
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
maestro Dario Argento
Dario Argento
Dario Argento is an Italian film director, producer and screenwriter. He is best known for his work in the horror film genre, particularly in the subgenre known as giallo, and for his influence on modern horror and slasher movies....
, with whom he has worked almost exclusively since 1975. Goblin's score to his film Profondo rosso was one of the highest-selling horror movie soundtracks ever produced.
When Goblin
Goblin (band)
Goblin are an Italian progressive rock band known for their soundtracks for Dario Argento films ....
disbanded in 1979, Claudio began his solo career as an electronic musician. However, the band reunited in 2000 to score the Argento film Non ho sonno and received outstanding critical acclaim.
Beginning in 1978, Claudio founded a number of electronic disco projects. In 1979, with Giancarlo Meo, he formed perhaps his best-known project behind singer Vivien Vee (Viviana Andreattini), whose song "Give Me a Break" became a minor hit in the American dance charts. Later Vivien Vee tracks particularly "Blue Disease" from 1983, showcased some of the darker and edgier sounds familiar from the Goblin years. Another project was Easy Going, with "Fear" from 1979, also an American hit. In 1983, he was the central member of the Italo disco
Italo disco
Italo disco encompasses much of the dance music output in Europe during the 1980s. It is one of the world's first forms of mostly electronic dance music and evolved during the late 1970s and early 1980s in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and other parts of Europe...
group Crazy Gang.
In 1999, Simonetti formed the heavy metal band Daemonia, which has recorded updated versions of Goblin favorites in addition to original material. Daemonia has also contributed tracks to U.S. DVD releases of Italian horror movies. He composed the title track Mater Lacrimarum for The Mother of Tears soundtrack, the song features background vocals by Dani Filth
Dani Filth
Dani Filth is the lyricist, vocalist and founding member of the metal band Cradle of Filth.-Personal life:...
.
In 2009, Claudio collaborated with the Los Angeles Heavy Metal band Rusty Eye
Rusty Eye
Rusty Eye is a Mexican/American heavy metal trio that was formed in Mexico City in 1995. In 2004 Rusty Eye relocated to Hollywood, CA.-Biography:...
. He played keyboard on "Mondo Cane" and "Wings of the Demon" from the album "Possessor".
External links
- Official website
- 2 hour interview with Claudio at the Red Bull Music Academy
- The Fantastic Journey of GOBLIN
- Official website of Daemonia
- Claudio Simonetti interviewed by Tim Fife for Cinema Suicide (in English)