Bella
Morte Part 2
~by Blu Wanted: Live Drummer
and Passage to Europe
As for the prospect new drummer, Andy said, "We held our first tryout just a week ago! So we've got the ball rolling and still have some other folks to bring in for auditions." Gopal concluded, "It's going a bit slower than I'd like, but I think it will have a very positive effect on the band. We've needed a new infusion for a while, and I'm looking forward to writing live again (as opposed to in parts and sequenced)." After their successful performance at C8 in Canada which was attended by many UK scensters, Europe has been itching to see them overseas. Curious by the tales of their live show brought back by C8 attendees, Bella Morte certainly seem to have a potential new fan base in the UK and beyond. I asked them if they had plans in that regard and Andy commented, "Oh yes, we are scheming as I type on crossing the pond and playing anywhere and everywhere that will have us. It's been a dream for along time and now we are finally hearing knocks at the door." Enthusiastically, Gopal said, "WE ARE COMING!!!!!!!!!!!! As soon as we figure out how, heheh. Seriously though, it seems all the plans are finally coming together." Creativity Abounds
"I started DJing when Bram and I convinced the local college station to give us a show called 'Mindvomit' that featured Metal. Our show ran from 3am-6am Sunday mornings and was followed by a classical show for the church-goers. Well, Mr. Church DJ didn't show up one morning and we said all sorts of filthy things to the church going audience and were booted from the station... Ahem... So years later a new underground station came to town and I was on the committee trying to get it on the air. I started a goth/industrial show called 'Subculture Shock' which was quite successful for a number of years. I handed the show over to another DJ when Bella got too busy and now I do random appearances at clubs... I spin a lot of stuff that has been ignored lately in clubs. In other words, I always clear the floor." Gopal laughs and comments, "Gooooooo Old School! Heheh, yeah, he isn't much good when it comes to Euro dance or synth pop, but he certainly can spin a bad ass set." As for Tony, "I am also in a punk band that I do guitar and vocals for called Riot Act. We are a kind of street punk meets metal meets rock'n'roll kind of thing (if you can picture it). We have one CD out now called Live for Today, Fight for Tomorrow and we are almost done writing for our next CD. You can check us out at: www.mp3.com/riotactva. I also do a lot of acoustic music by myself that I am hoping to record. A buddy of mine named Porter and I also have another band that we just started, it's kind of just really trashy rock'n'roll." I also asked Gopal if the side project that he and Tony have - Undergrave, a deathrock band - premiered for the first time at Sin13 in San Antonio last this month where it was a big hit. "No, though it was rare. We've been together for about three years, but have only played out six or seven times and all shows but San Antonio were in Charlottesville. It's something we do for fun. Someday we may track a record, but at this point our main focus is still on Bella Morte." Andy even has other side projects, "I have a couple...none of them very serious or active at the time. Nerve No Pain is a metal band I'm with but we haven't practiced in a while. We will release a CD eventually, I promise! Other than that, I'm in a band called Zerox doing indie-rock stuff. Fun fun." Gopal adds, "I'm doing some stuff as Terminus Est, though I don't dedicate even less time to it than Undergrave. It's basically just random studio stuff I've thrown together. Studies in sound and what not." Where do they find the time? Of Domestic Settings
and Love...er... Getting It On
Andy, "Wake up, tell the cats to stop doing
whatever bad stuff they happen to be doing, say hi to Beth and Gopal, ask
all but one stripper to get out of kitchen and leave the one to prepare
waffles, eat waffles, shower, brush teeth, shake fist at the heavens, pout,
use bathrooom, pout... You know, all the stuff anyone would do.
Actually, I spend almost all of my free time in my room writing music..."
Tony, "Usually (when I am there) I am not too different from Andy. I spend most of my time in my room working on and writing music. Otherwise I just watch TV or wrestle with Gopal." And finally, seeing as how it was the day before Valentine's Day when we talked, I asked what their plans were... Andy, "I'm in Ohio visiting my lady... I think we might (as the French say) 'Get busy'." Gopal, "Beth and I are going to over to Shawn (from Synthetic Division) and Gwen's house to play the new Trivial Pursuit, and if Shawn and I can convince the girls, a round of Zombie." Tony, "I am going to take my girlfriend out to lunch or dinner or whatever she wants I guess (it's all the same to me) then Riot Act is playing a show for Valentine's Day. Then if I am lucky me and my girl will.....hehehehe!! (Just so you know,hehehehe!! means doing it!!!!)" So there you have it. They play good music, put on incredible live shows, they can laugh and make fun of themselves, and when it comes to Valentine's day, they're not doing too shabby. If you haven't met them yet - I hope you
will next time they play near you. You'll be consumed by spontaneous smiles
and the sense that no matter what's going on, no matter how big or small
the venue or the turn out, they are truly happy just to be there.
Bella Morte Official webpage: http://www.bellamorte.com/ Buy Remains, The Deathrock EP, Stickers & Tshirts here: http://stores.musictoday.com/store/default.asp?band%5Fid=479 Buy The Quiet from Metropolis: http://www.metropolis-records.com/ C9/Las Vegas: http://www.altgothic.com/c9lasvegas 02/16/03 |