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| Area | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Italy |
| Genre(s) | Progressive rock, Jazz, Free jazz, Jazz fusion, Experimental music, Electronic music |
| Years active | 1972–1983 1993-2000 |
| Label(s) | Cramps, Ascolto, Sony |
| Associated acts |
I Ribelli I Califfi The Pleasure Machine PFM |
| Members | |
| Demetrio Stratos Giulio Capiozzo Patrizio Fariselli Giampaolo Tofani Gianni Sassi Ares Tavolazzi Stefano Bollani Sara Borsarini Pietro Tonolo Guido Guidoboni |
|
| Former members | |
| Patrick Djivas Victor Edouard Busnello |
|
Area was an Italian jazz fusion and
progressive rock group formed in 1972. They were known
for their left-wing
History
Area grew to be one of the most respected and important bands of the blooming 70s Italian progressive rock scene.
The youth of the time was able to identify with their socialist lyrics and Area soon grew to prominence, also because the band was founded on a strong and virtuosic musicianship. For aficionados of Italian progressive rock, their debut album Arbeit Macht Frei is considered a classic.
The band was led by Demetrio Stratos, a highly original and talented Greek-born singer who used his voice as an instrument, in spite of not having written anything for the group. Also on the band were Patrizio Fariselli (keyboards and percussion), Paolo Tofani (guitar and synth), Patrick Djivas (bass) who would later play with Premiata Forneria Marconi, Victor Busnello (saxophone, flutes) and Giulio Cappiozo (drums and percussion). Area's sound was an odd mish-mash, drawing from rock, jazz, Eastern and Arabic music, and it was this blend of all sorts of music that made the band stand out. Early in the day Area had prominent saxophone work from Victor Busnello, but when he left along with bassist Patrick Djivas (replaced by Ares Tavolazzi), the Area sound became more guitar and keyboard oriented.
Area released five studio albums and one live album before Demetrio Stratos's untimely death in 1979: the already mentioned Arbeit Macht Frei, Caution Radiation Area, Are(A)zione (live), Crac!, Maledetti, the live performance Event '76 and Gli Dei Se Ne Vanno, Gli Arrabiati Restano!, which does not feature Paolo Tofani and was not released by Cramps. The group was then disbanded, but reappeared as Area II in the mid 1980s, although this was in fact a project by Area drummer Giulio Capiozzo with session musicians. It released two albums between 1986-87. Patrizio Fariselli joined Area II in 1997 for the album Chernobyl 9771. This group toured until its split in 1999. Capiozzo died a year later.
Members
1973
- Demetrio Stratos: vocals, organ
- Paolo Tofani: guitar, synth
- Victor Busnello: sax, flute, bass clarinet
- Patrizio Fariselli: keyboards
- Patrick Djivas: bass
- Giulio Capiozzo: drums, percussion
1974
- Demetrio Stratos: vocals, organ
- Paolo Tofani: guitar, synth
- Patrizio Fariselli: keyboards
- Ares Tavolazzi: bass
- Giulio Capiozzo: drums, percussion
Discography
Studio albums
- 1973: Arbeit Macht Frei
- 1974: Caution Radiation Area
- 1974: Crac!
- 1976: Maledetti
- 1978: Gli Dei Se Ne Vanno, Gli Arrabbiati Restano!
- 1980: Tic & Tac
- 1997: Chernobyl 7991
Live albums
- 1975: Are(A)zione
- 1979: Event '76
- 1996: Concerto Teatro Uomo
- 1996: Parigi-Lisboa
External links
Fariselli Project - The official Patrizio Fariselli and Area website: http://www.fariselliproject.com
For more information: http://www.italianprog.com/a_area.htm
Area at Prog Archives : http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAND.asp?band_id=26
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