13 minute read
Screaming Shadows/Tygers Of Pan Tang
MEET FRANCESCO MARRAS from SCREAMING SHADOWS and TYGERS OF PAN TANG
Screaming Shadows
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Interview by Ken Morton
Screaming Shadows present power metal in its finest hour, in the grand tradition of greats such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Rainbow. Founded by guitarist Francesco Marras on the dawning of the 21st century, Screaming Shadows recently unleashed Legacy Of Stone upon the world at large. Legacy Of Stone is their fifth glorious magnum opus, and it’s a work of heavy metal artistry that should inspire genre fans all around the world. In addition to his own long running band, Francesco Marras recently joined the legendary Tygers Of Pan Tang, and is featured on their just released A New Heartbreak EP. Highwire Daze recently interviewed Francesco Marras to find out more about the mighty Screaming Shadows and their Legacy Of Stone endeavor, joining the ranks of Tygers Of Pan Tang, his own solo project, and a whole lot more! Read on…
Introduce yourself, tell me what you do in Screaming Shadows and how long the band has been together.
Screaming Shadows have always been my band that I founded in 1998 and, even though the name was different in the early works, it was just my quest to create a metal band. The name Screaming Shadows was first used in 2001.
Over the years we have released the albums: Behind The Mask in 2003, In The Name of God in 2006 and New Era of Shadows in 2009 both for My Graveyard Productions, Night Keeper in 2011 for Jolly Roger Records.
Where is the band based out of and what is your local music scene like there?
The band is born in Sardinia (Italy), in Sassari, my hometown but actually I’m living in Germany. The bass player is from Germany too, his name is Jürgen Steinmetz and he
Tygers of Pan Tang
was the bass player of a famous power metal band named Silent Force. The other musicians are from Sardinia. In the past two years, the European music scene has come to stop due to the pandemic, so now it’s even more difficult for musicians to play live and promote records. In Sardinia in winter there are very few clubs to play live while in summer, with the tourists and open-air festivals, the situation is a bit better.
Is there any overall story or concept behind the Legacy Of Stone title?
We used some symbols to explain the meaning of the rebirth: the gargoyle is a fantastic being who lives a cyclical life, is reborn every night to return to stone at the first light of dawn, we also used fire ouroboros produced by his hands.
Cyclical life is a concept dear to Screaming Shadows because we have never had a continuity, the lineup has always changed, you could say that the band has died and reborn many times.
The word legacy expresses our desire to create a record that could represent what we are today, while maintaining, resuming and developing the concepts and the musical solutions that we have used all these years, an evolution of our music which however remains linked to what we have done previously.
Select two songs from Legacy Of Stone and what inspired the lyrics.
Free Me and Shake Your Blood. The themes of my lyrics are inspired above all by reflections on life. I would like to convey a message of positivity, inviting and pushing people to understand the things are really important in life, in search of inner freedom and peace, not to waste even a minute of this life and what it has to offer us. A kind of carpe diem.
Who produced Legacy Of Stone and what was it like working with them?
Legacy Of Stone is the band’s first record entirely produced by me, that’s why it’s very important to me. During the writing, arrangement and production of the songs, one of the main goals was to create inspired songs with the right balance between melody and power, with strong choruses that immediately catch the listener.
I started working on the production of this record about 5/6 years ago, at that time I was still living in Sardinia and I had a small recording studio where I recorded all the material but I did the last mix in Germany, in a studio that I created in the house where I currently live. The mastering is done by my dear friend Mattia Stancioiu.
Who did the amazing cover art for Legacy Of Stone and how much input did you have on it?
The cover was made by a very good French designer, who works for the main metal bands in Europe, his name is Stan W Decker. When I contacted him to make the cover, I only told him that I wanted a gargoyle as main subject and that I would like to represent the cyclical nature of events, the continuous recurrence of some elements and I must say that he created a true masterpiece, the most beautiful cover we’ve ever had.
What could one expect from a live Screaming Shadows show?
Like so many bands that have written the history of heavy metal, we do not aim for stage effects, make-up or theatricality, but simply to play our music with passion and determination. So, I would say: a powerful and impactful show.
If Screaming Shadows could open for any band either now or from the past, who would it be and why?
Obviously for Iron Maiden, because they are the band we all adore and have grown up with. Getting to know them, playing before them during their concert, would be the realization of a dream. the instrumental albums Black Sheep (2011) and Time Flies (2018) and soon I will release my new solo record which this time will not be instrumental and will see me for the first time as a singer, the music genre will be Hard rock inspired by big names like Deep Purple, Whitesnake, Guns N’ Roses, etc. As a session musician I have played on many records, visit my official page on Facebook to see them all.
How did you wind up in Tygers Of Pan Tang?
It happened during the first lockdown, a friend of mine told me that Tygers Of Pan Tang were looking for a new guitar player and that I could be perfect with them! So I sent them the video of 2 songs, Hellbound and Don’t Stop By, both from the Spellbound album. They were interested and Jacopo Meille (singer of the band) called me at the phone and I joined the band. Then we wrote the songs for the new album in just a couple of months, working in distance. A New Heartbeat, the new EP by Tygers, is available on the official band’s website and it is the first record with me on guitar!
Would Tygers Of Pan Tang and Screaming Shadows ever want to tour or do a show together, or has that already happened?
Unfortunately, it never happened, mainly because, due to the pandemic in progress, I haven’t played live with Tygers Of Pan Tang yet. It would be great for me to be able to play with both bands, but it would also be very physically demanding…
Are you involved with any other bands or projects outside of Tygers Of Pan Tang and Screaming Shadows?
I love to compose music and I’m a session musician so yes, I’m involved in so many projects. As a solo artist I released
Just about every band and musician in Europe has worked with the amazing Alessandro Del Vecchio including Screaming Shadows. What was it like working with Alessandro and do you still keep in touch with him?
I am always in contact with Ale, for example I recorded the guitars for the James Robledo record which he recently produced and was released by Frontiers in 2021. It was recorded during the lockdown. We have known each other for many years and we have worked a lot together, we have played live with Terry Brock, Toby Hitchcock, Angelica, etc. For me he has always been a source of inspiration, as well as a great singer and keyboard player. He is featured in many songs of my production such as Zion (on Time Flies) Here To Stay (Black Sheep) and Midnight (Night Keeper).
Any final words of wisdom?
Thank you very much for the interview. I’d like to salute all the readers and invite them to follow me and my bands on social media. The Screaming Shadows new album Legacy Of Stone is available in CD format on our official website at the following link www.screamingshadows.com, in digital on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon mp3.
When you hear screaming… The shadows rule!!!
In the Groove with Rene Camacho: Bass Player of the Band “War.”
Interview by Kim Crain Photos Compliments of Rene Camacho PART TWO
I had the opportunity to sit down with Rene Camacho a versatile, powerhouse on bass! From the recording studio to the stage!
Rene, bass player of the super group, War. Originally called Eric Burdon and War. During the late 60’s early 70’s, War was a mix of elements of rock, funk, jazz, calypso, psychedelia and reggae. If you have a few hours to spare you might be able to listen to all their hits, War is best known for, “Lowrider”, ”Why Cant We Be Friends”, ”Cisco Kid”, ”The World is a Ghetto,” and their first hit with Burdon, “Spill the Wine,” which got the band their start. The Press after their first show at Hyde Park in London, said, ‘Burdon and War were the best band we have ever seen’!
War had nine Gold, and two platinum, records. Their album, The World is a Ghetto, was Billboard’s best-selling album of the year in 1973. The band transcended racial and cultural barriers with a multi-ethnic line up.
Rene Camacho youngest and newest member of the band has been playing in War for seven years accompanied by the only original in the band, Lonnie Leroy Jordan, a founding member!
Kim: What would you say to other musicians out there trying to make it?
Rene: The music industry is forever changing, especially right now in these weird times that we are in. Keep the faith. Try to move forward the best you can.
Rene Camacho with Pancho Sanchez Music Group
ex-singer of the Animals - Burdon was voted top 100 singers of all time by Rolling Stone magazine, who regarded him as one of the British invasions most distinctive singers with his deep powerful blues rock voice. Now with the only original member left of War, Lonnie Leroy Jordan, what is it like now in the band?
Rene: Back then Jordan was the original keyboard player in the band, and now the main singer. The story that I heard from the band members, War was actually playing locally in Los Angeles, the guys are from Compton and North Long Beach. So they would be playing clubs here in the late 60’s, and all! Eric Burdon had heard about this group, so he came out to L.A., then later the band went to the U.K. and they all got together and started recording a project. That was the very first record that came out.
These are definitely challenging times, but if you want to play in whatever style of music you want to do, find the musicians that are like-minded. Find good musicians, better musicians, and try and create your craft with them! Start off small and be patient, because it will happen. If you’re persistent it will happen!
Kim: I think that’s a Great message for a lot of people.
We know that War started out with Eric Burdon, Eventually at one point, this is a pretty amazing story, I don’t know if its very well known, the night that Jimi Hendrix passed away, “Eric Burdon and War” were playing at Ronnie Scott’s, a very famous club in London. War had three or four nights that they had been playing, so they invited Jimi Hendrix to come out and jam with them. He came out and jammed and they all hung out afterwards, and they all made their way to the Hotel or wherever they were going. The next morning they woke up and found out that Jimi had passed away.
Kim: Oh Wow! That is history, and what a tragedy.
Rene: Pretty incredible history there. Just knowing the history of War and how many people that they have collaborated with throughout the years, all the different styles and different genres they were playing. It’s been pretty amazing to hear and to actually be a part of it! The history of what I get to play now with them!
Kim: How do you enjoy working with Lonnie Leroy?
Rene: Most definitely. He is a great person to work with! He’s such an amazing musician, when I first got into the band I always knew he could play very well, there were certain times at sound check we would just be messing around, and I would hear him play something and I would say, ‘how do you know that, where did you study that?’ He said, ‘I didn’t really study, I just listened to a lot of music!’
Kim: Some of my favorite songs by War are “Slipping Into the Darkness“, “Spill the Wine“, “The World is a Ghetto“, and of course, “Lowrider“. Do you ever get a chance to play these songs live?
Rene: We play them almost every night! About 2 hours of nothing but hit songs! It’s definitely a great experience!
Kim: It looks like your last show was sold out at the Greek not too long ago?
Rene: Yes, we were the headliner. It was my fifth time playing with War there. It was a wonderful time. It always is!
Kim: Rene, What was one of the most memorable highlights of your career?
Rene: That would be being able to play with one of my life long idols, a Latin artist by the name of Celia Cruz. I was able to play with her the last five years of her life. One of the most amazing people I have ever met. Not only was she a great singer, she was a fantastic person! She always made the band always want to work with her. Rene Camacho with Kevin Eubanks
Rene Camacho
Kim: Rene it was a pleasure talking with you today about War, and wish you well with all your recordings and collaborations in the future. You are so humble and a fierce bass player with endless talent. Thank you for your time today and look forward to talking with you in the future.
Rene: Sounds great Kim, Thank you!
I think she was 76 when she passed away. Celia would travel with her husband 300 days out of the year! At their age, one night they would be in Columbia, a couple nights later New York. It would be amazing to see how much they traveled, It was just part of their life. Now matter how exhausted she was, I would see them helping her up on stage. As soon as she got up there, the Power and energy she had was incredible. Of course she would be exhausted after the shows but of course she would get up and do it all over again! She always was such a positive person, never had anything negative to say about anyone ever!
