The first years
Quintacolonna (in short QC or Vcol) is a rock band from Perugia, Italy, born in 1992.
The band was the result of the joining of three other important rock bands of the Umbrian history:
Marco Tufi (vocals) and Andrea "WiZ" Cicione (guitar) from Die Welt; Andrea "Alle" Allen (giutar) and Pierangelo "Trizzy" Gori (bass) from Daggers; last, Samir "Insert your nickname here" Kanbar (keyboards) and Roberto "Robo" Corbelli (drums) from Assedio.
The band immediately establishes itself with a unique and aggressive style: pure rock, with Italian lyrics, and a blend of technique and energy. A mix of rough guitars and original time signatures, with an outstanding lead vocal as the icing on the cake, with ideas and talent yet to be seen.
One of the local producer signs them to record the powerful "Ti libererò" and the ballad "Oggi". The two songs receive a large praise and appreciation, however they don't find a mass success.
The production of these first years is flourish and interesting: the consuming "Il buio in una stanza", the dragging "Insonnia"; later on the melodic "La tua idea", another ballad, and "In balia", a song with a rare devastating impact, especially when performed live.
After many tours and gig around the centre of Italy, they play two top concerts that many band form Perugia still dream about: in 1997, during the TV show "30 hours for the life" the band performs as opening act in IV November square (the central square of Perugia) for Michele Zarrillo and Elio e le Storie Tese, two of the most famous artists on the Italian scene.
Few weeks after the concert, the band makes a risky step ahead by replacing guitar player Andrea Allen and bass player Piero Gori, while Andrea Cicione quits the band for personal reasons.
Auditions go on for months, but the band can't come to a stable formation. At least, until they crossed the way of bass player David Tavanti (later with GPU) and guitar player Tommaso Buonumori.
The band is now stable and ready to spread rock'n'roll again, even if playing with only one guitar, instead of two. The band produces the amazing "Stai con me", a song to listen to in one go, letting oneself sink into the refined dynamics and atmosphere.
The gigs go on, with sold out places and a great following on the local magazines.
However, during 1999, for several concurring reasons, the band quits.
Quintacolonna lives on
During 2001, Roberto Corbelli starts the "Quintacolonna lives" project, together with Marco Tufi.
The duo recover all the material produced by the band so far, and produce two live CDs and a demo CD with 4 songs, the two recorded in the studio plus two home-recoded ones.
Besides, the two musicians put together all the original versions of the cover song performed live, producing three CDs titled "Quintacolonna favourite covers (volume I, II, III)".
During 2004, Corbelli completes his Warheart Production Studio, a small semi-pro recording studio.
The eclectic drummer, with the help of the singer, both motivated and with a bigger picture in mind, gathers all the old friends and starts the recording of "ERA".
Of the friends contacted, Piero Gori and Andrea Allen get into the project enthusiastically; not all are available, though, and Andrea Cicione only performs a solo for "In balia"; Tommaso Buonumori records some parts and the solo of "Stai con me", and David Tavanti, touring with GPU, declines the offer.
Anyway, all the parts are recorded during that very same year, and at the end of 2004, a long mixing and postproduction stage begins. "Basically, we wanted the songs to sound as they were produced during the 90s" tells Roberto "so we kept postproduction at a minimal level." The process is longer than expected, however, due to the chronic lack of spare time of all the people involved: none of them is a professional musician, and the working obligations force the guys into rare night or weekend sessions.
During the 2006 the CD sees finally the light!
And the future?
The band has developed a lot of new material for the next record, expected for the next years.
"We have recorded new materials and ideas: it will be a little different from ERA, more... up-to-date, but devastating as usual!" ensures Roberto.
Quintacolonna wishes you a load of fun!
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