Eliogabalus
Encyclopedia
Eliogabalus is the second official album by the Italian
/Slovenia
n rock
band Devil Doll
, released on May 1, 1990 on Hurdy Gurdy Records.
A concept by Mr. Doctor
, the title of the album is a reference to the Roman Emperor
Elagabalus
.
quotations and subliminal messages; and Eliogabalus, a 60 minute composition inspired by Antonin Artaud
's book "Heliogabalus: Or, The Crowned Anarchist".
In December Devil Doll entered Tivoli Studios with Jurij Toni to record a new album. Hurdy Gurdy's budget limitations forced Mr. Doctor
to cut down the two former compositions, in order to include both on a single vinyl release.
Only the Italian
section, and the Slovenia
n guitarist Bor Zuljan, was used to record the album.
Eliogabalus was released in 1990, the shortened version of The Black Holes of My Mind was renamed "Mr. Doctor" for this release, while "Eliogabalus" retained its name.
, music by Mr. Doctor and Edoardo Beato, arranged by Mr. Doctor and Devil Doll.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
/Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Devil Doll
Devil Doll (band)
Devil Doll is an Italian-Slovenian experimental rock band formed in 1987 by the mysterious "Mr. Doctor". The band has gained a cult following, taking influences from gothic rock, classical and slavonic folk music, and fronted by the sprechgesang of Mr. Doctor himself. Devil Doll albums were all...
, released on May 1, 1990 on Hurdy Gurdy Records.
A concept by Mr. Doctor
Mr. Doctor
Mr. Doctor is the leader of and creative drive behind the experimental rock band Devil Doll.For 20 years, from forming the band in 1987, he kept his identity a secret – revealing little more than that he was born in Slovenia, of Italian extraction, and lived in Venice...
, the title of the album is a reference to the Roman Emperor
Roman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
Elagabalus
Elagabalus
Elagabalus , also known as Heliogabalus, was Roman Emperor from 218 to 222. A member of the Severan Dynasty, he was Syrian on his mother's side, the son of Julia Soaemias and Sextus Varius Marcellus. Early in his youth he served as a priest of the god El-Gabal at his hometown, Emesa...
.
Background
In 1989, Mr. Doctor began the work on two compositions, The Black Holes of My Mind, a 45 minute composition incorporating esotericEsotericism
Esotericism or Esoterism signifies the holding of esoteric opinions or beliefs, that is, ideas preserved or understood by a small group or those specially initiated, or of rare or unusual interest. The term derives from the Greek , a compound of : "within", thus "pertaining to the more inward",...
quotations and subliminal messages; and Eliogabalus, a 60 minute composition inspired by Antonin Artaud
Antonin Artaud
Antoine Marie Joseph Artaud, more well-known as Antonin Artaud was a French playwright, poet, actor and theatre director...
's book "Heliogabalus: Or, The Crowned Anarchist".
In December Devil Doll entered Tivoli Studios with Jurij Toni to record a new album. Hurdy Gurdy's budget limitations forced Mr. Doctor
Mr. Doctor
Mr. Doctor is the leader of and creative drive behind the experimental rock band Devil Doll.For 20 years, from forming the band in 1987, he kept his identity a secret – revealing little more than that he was born in Slovenia, of Italian extraction, and lived in Venice...
to cut down the two former compositions, in order to include both on a single vinyl release.
Only the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
section, and the Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n guitarist Bor Zuljan, was used to record the album.
Eliogabalus was released in 1990, the shortened version of The Black Holes of My Mind was renamed "Mr. Doctor" for this release, while "Eliogabalus" retained its name.
Track listing
Lyrics by Mr. DoctorMr. Doctor
Mr. Doctor is the leader of and creative drive behind the experimental rock band Devil Doll.For 20 years, from forming the band in 1987, he kept his identity a secret – revealing little more than that he was born in Slovenia, of Italian extraction, and lived in Venice...
, music by Mr. Doctor and Edoardo Beato, arranged by Mr. Doctor and Devil Doll.
- "Mr. Doctor" - 20:13
- "Eliogabalus" - 24:41
Line up
- Mr. DoctorMr. DoctorMr. Doctor is the leader of and creative drive behind the experimental rock band Devil Doll.For 20 years, from forming the band in 1987, he kept his identity a secret – revealing little more than that he was born in Slovenia, of Italian extraction, and lived in Venice...
- vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, celestaCelestaThe celesta or celeste is a struck idiophone operated by a keyboard. Its appearance is similar to that of an upright piano or of a large wooden music box . The keys are connected to hammers which strike a graduated set of metal plates suspended over wooden resonators...
, accordionAccordionThe accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist.... - Edoardo Beato - pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA 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... - Albert Dorigo - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Bor Zuljan - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(on "Mr. Doctor") - Rick Bosco - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Katia Giubbilei - violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
- Roberto Dani - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
Guests
- Jurij Toni - tubaTubaThe tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
(on "Eliogabalus") - Paolo Zizich - backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
and duet "The Mirror" with Mr. Doctor) - The "Devil Chorus" conducted by Marian Bunic and formed by:
- Marian Bunic
- Breda Bunic
- Polona Sever
- Beti Roblek
- Helena Pancur
- Gregor Oblak
- Jure Strencan
- Borut Usenik
- Valentina Blazinsek
- Mr. DoctorMr. DoctorMr. Doctor is the leader of and creative drive behind the experimental rock band Devil Doll.For 20 years, from forming the band in 1987, he kept his identity a secret – revealing little more than that he was born in Slovenia, of Italian extraction, and lived in Venice...