Claudio Simonetti: “The Goblin and deep red, 50 years of fear”

You say “Deep red“And the first thing that comes to mind is the iconic main theme of the soundtrack of Dario Argento’s masterpiece, that ‘Arpeggio made of few notes, yes, but obsessive, pressing, explained, just like the killer of the film. Not only many titles in the history of cinema that can boast music as identifying as the film that the Roman master of horror made theaters come out in theaters March 7, 1975, Exactly fifty years ago. To sign them, a band up to that unknown moment, but which thanks to “Deep Red” became a 4 million phenomenon of copies sold, for a total of fifteen weeks spent at first place in the best -selling record ranking in Italy. The Goblin of Claudio Simonettison of art (his father, Enrico, was a very popular conductor and bandleader, also because of his participation in varieties such as “Without Net,” Canzonissima “and” Formula Due “), were born a few months earlier in a basement of the Eur, in Rome. Silver discovered them thanks to the publisher Carlo Bixio, with whose cinevox the group had recently signed a contract. The director was convinced that the soundtrack of his film should be characterized by aggressive, powerful rock sounds: he wanted him to play «different from the music that is normally felt in the movies“And for this reason in the United Kingdom he had tried to deal with the Genesis he is Pink Floydfrom which he collected two heavy “no”. Returning to Italy, he had tried to rely on Giorgio Gaslini, the same jazzist who two years earlier had signed the music of the film “Le Five Days” for him. But the final result had left him unsatisfied. «One day we found it on the other side of the glass in the room where we were working on our first album, the Titania studios, in Rome. Daria Nicolosi was with him. It all began this, “recalls Claudio Simonetti, 73 years old, who with his Claudio Simonett’s Goblin has been carrying out the band’s legacy for years. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary, iOn April 4th it will be released for Warner Music Italia “Deep Red (50th Anniversary)” on Vinyl Picture Disc autographed, available from tomorrow in pre-order on the label website. And the 6, 7, 8 April Simonetti and companions will play the live soundtrack in three evenings within the programming of the fourth edition of Rome Film Music Festivalthe Festival of the soundtracks: “We will do it in a non -random place, but in the theater of the Forum Studios, in Rome, where the music were recorded, fifty years ago”.

Do you remember what happened on the day when you affect the main theme?

«Andum. We recorded the arpeggio with a harpsichord spinet, an acoustic guitar and a moog. Since it had to last three minutes and there were still no computers, we recorded this loop, let’s call it that, on a two -track ribbon that we then inserted into the car, making it turn. Then we poured it on the twenty -four slopes. We played on the other tools and so the theme was born ».

And the organ, on the other hand?

“Dario was also in the studio. They told us that above the studies founded by Ennio Morricone, Piero Piccioni, Luis Bacalov and Armando Trovajoli in the lower environments of the basilica of the Sacred Immaculate Heart of Mary, in the Euclide square, there was the organ of 15 thousand reeds, connected precisely to the registration room: we decided to use it in the engravings. Without that instrument, perhaps the soundtrack of “deep red” would not be the one you all know today ».

Is it true that Dario Argento suggested that you inspire you to “Tubular Bells” by Mike Oldfield, the author of the soundtrack of “The exorcist”?

“Yes. He wanted repetitive, obsessive music: it was what he had in mind and who had searched for months, before finally finding us ».

Without your soundtrack, “deep red” would have had the success it had?

«The success was the result of the perfect cunnubio between images and music. The soundtrack remained for 15 weeks in the first place: we were undermined by my father Enrico, who signed the music of a popular television script, “Gamma”. We sold one million copies only in the first ten months. And at the time the records were seriously sold, eh, not as today … ».

In the United States and Japan, where you often go to play, you are welcomed every time with a great affection by a vast follow -up of loyal. In Italy do you feel underestimated, despite the 8 million records sold thanks to the music of “Deep red”, “Suspiria” and “Zombi”?

“Yes. Moreover, Dario Argento also said it, when in 2019 he won David to his career: “To reward me you put us forty years old”. In Italy, horror is perceived as a series B. But “deep red” no less worth Fellini’s films. In 2022 at the Sitges Film Festival, Spain gave me a career prize. Here in Italy I have been trying to propose to Sanremo for years, but they don’t take me ».

In Sanremo?

«As a guest, I mean. I’d like to play my themes with the orchestra. Nothing. I hope something changes, now that I have started to collaborate with Warner after years of independent productions ».

“Play Jouer”, the hit that in 1981 signed for Claudio Cecchetto, the acronym of the festival of that year, is more cross or more delight?

“Delight. Maybe I could sign an “play Jouer” a day ».

When in the 80s you gave yourself to the Italian Disco, with the Easy Going and Vivien Vee, the purists of the scene as they reacted?

«The rock had died at that time. The sixty -eight had become thirty years old. Politics no longer imported anything to anyone: they went to the disco to have fun. And so too ».

Italian music today as if it passes it?

“It’s all a monkey -hook of international music. I followed Sanremo. Bah”.

What didn’t you like?

“Everyone sings the same thing, in the same way, with Autotune.”

Nicola Piovani, Oscar winner, said that “those songs there artificial intelligence churns out hundreds of them a day”. Do you think so in the same way?

“He’s right. I have the test: I know some software, which I tried only to have fun, who throw you down an entire song with a few inputs. I will be a boomer, as they say, but when I hear Giorgia singing my heart is filled with joy ».

Don’t you think like Mogol, who said Giorgia sings like thirty years ago?

«Bullshit. I don’t add anything else ».

Who do you like among the new talents?

«Rose Villain. The only Italian artist who can aspire to international success ».

More than Elodie?

«But Elodie is one so … instead Rose Villain leaves his mark. He has a different background: I know he lived in the United States, who had a punk band. Another I like is Damiano David: a true rock star ».

And Lucio Corsi?

«It reminds me of the 70s. But I don’t know what future to have such a character, after the festival ».

Elio, speaking of Olly, said that his maximum humiliation “was listening to the winning song of Sanremo sung with Autoune”. For you too?

“Yes. Olly from here entered me (indicates the right ear, editor’s note) and from here it came out (indicates the left ear, editor’s note) ».