The Watch
The Watch is a five piece band
started in 1995 in Milan, Italy.
In 1997 the first album, called Twilight, was released, which
was quickly welcomed by both critics and listeners. In 1998
starts the Twilight tour in Europe, and after some changes in
the line up, the band began to work in a more professional way.
In 2001 comes Ghost, whereby the band becomes widely known in
the progrock world. The Watch's music is somewhat inspired by
the rock artists of 70's, first of all by Genesis; this is also
due to Simone Rossetti's vocals that sound like early Peter
Gabriel. But on the other hand the band shows its maturity and
develops its own style, merging a sprinkling of modernity with
old sounding atmospheres. In many interviews the guys have been
asked about how they could reach that kind of result and about
the importance of classical music approach in composition, and
every time they like to say that they simply try to do nice
songs and nothing else.
In the meantime, they became renowned for their live acts,
which combine high musicianship with theatrical performances,
powerful rhythms with imaginative atmospheres. The Ghost Tour
visit clubs in Europe and many important festivals, including
Bajaprog 2002 in Mexico, Alwari 2003 in Finland, Slottskogen
2003 in Sweden. The Watch's gigs were soon said to be a “must”
not to be missed.
In 2004 Vacuum,
the last effort, was released. 8 tracks in the pure mood of The
Watch style, complex rhythmics and odd harmonies, full of energy
and passion, that are immediately defined as a future classic.
Particular attention was given to the production and the use of
original vintage instruments. Thousands of copies were sold in
the first days of release, and Vacuum sold out in a few months
and had to be reprinted. After several weeks the Vacuum European
tour starts; the updated live set is enriched by synchronized
lights and pictures which strengthen the musical work with
visual effects, so that The Watch show becomes a multimedia
event
In 2005 The Watch has built a reputation as being a solid
progressive rock band with three best seller albums out, live
tours almost everywhere, songs and clips in heavy rotation in
the best prog radio stations and prog tv programs, interviews in
the most important prog magazines; and in the future, they plan
a live album and a DVD that will catch their incredible live
performances on stage.
Simone Rossetti
- vocals, flute, dtambou, atmospheres
Simone
Rossetti was born in Milan, 30th April 1971. He is a song-writer
and a vocalist. He lives in Milan where he works mainly as a
composer for the band. He's supported by his friend, sound
engineer and producer Simone Stucchi at TW Studio.
The Interview: (extracts from an interview for iO Pages -
Holland)
"... you told that music is your life. What do you exactly want
do say with this ? " Being devoted to music means many things,
some good and some others bad. When it becomes a philosophy of
life you really may feel out of place in this commercial and
business society but, on the other hand, it may makes you focus
things that could really help your life to be better, like the
friendship of the people around you, the blue of the sky, the
beauty of a tree or the joy of a walk in a quiet mountain wood.
What I hope could come out from our music is the honesty of it
and the importance of enjoying all these simple values."
Reviewers say: "There can be no other band around
that has a vocalist who, in a blindfold test, would easily pass
as sounding identical to Peter Gabriel. Simone Rossetti is
superb and sounds more like Peter Gabriel than he does (!!)" (cd
s. UK)
"One word about those perennial Genesis comparisons. First of
all, you can't blame a guy for being born with the same vocal
cords as a certain PG. Second, you will indeed hear frequent
Genesis references throughout this review but make no mistake
about it: Simone Rossetti is his own man. No one will convince
me a composer can display such penmanship simply by imitating
although I'll admit some passages on "Vacuum" would make Hackett
and (especially)Tony Banks pale with envy. Rossetti is an
EXTREMELY talented composer who can turn your senses about with
a single key stroke. I won't bore you with technical details
except to say that only in jazz (and from a handful of prog
acts) have I heard such daring chords and musical phrases so
cleverly and harmoniously brought together." (Prog ears CAN)
Ettore Salati
- electric, acoustic, 12-string guitars, bass pedals, backing
vocals
Ettore
Salati was born in Milan, 29th April 1974. After some years
as a pianist, he turned to guitar, becoming a musician, a music
teacher and musical consultant for TV productions; he graduated
with a degree in contemporary guitar and worked with many
Italian and international artists both in studio sessions and
live before devoting himself to The Watch. He lives in Milan
and, beyond music, he loves his motorcycle, his Chinese sword
and his trekking boots.
Reviewers say: "...some of Ettore Salati's lead
guitar passages do sound like Steve Hackett is plucking away" (Lise
Brault)
"...he makes this powerful conclusion vibrate with sword strikes
ŕ la Robert Fripp" (Paul Herlitschka)
Marco Schembri
- bass guitars, electric and acoustic guitars
Marco
Schembri was born in Milan, 28th October 1965. His life has
always been full of music, becoming one of the finest bass
players in Italy. He has been on stage since he was sixteen and
he has been playing guitar, for many years as well; his
instrumental crossover attitude is fundamental for The Watch's
music. He shares with his bandmates the passion for nature and
trekking.
Reviewers say: "...bass player Marco Schembri seems to
claim an evident filiation with the magistral way of playing of
the great Mike Rutherford" (Piero Romainville) "...a tremendous
performance by Schembri here" (Lise Brault)
Fabio Mancini
- piano, mellotron, organ, moogs, synths
Fabio
Mancini was born in Milan, 19th August 1967. He graduated in
piano and organ with academic classical degrees with full marks,
and he started his career as a musician, winning music
competitions, performing concerts, teaching and recording a
couple of organ and piano albums. The interest in contemporary
progressive let him take part to some prog rock projects and
finally to join The Watch.
Reviewers say: “Take a bit of George Winston's piano stylings,
mix it up with a dab of Keith Emerson, Erik Satie, Bela Bartok
and Genesis, and you get the solo piano sounds of Fabio Mancini.
Sweet melodies and the virtuosity of a brilliant pianist” (CD
baby)
Roberto Leoni
- drums and percussions
Roberto
Leoni was born in Milan, 24th January 1971. He started
playing drums in 1984, and is a self-taught musician. In 1988 he
met Simone Rossetti and they played together in different bands
until they parted for several years and then they reunited in
The Night Watch first (although Twilight was recorded by another
drummer) and finally in The Watch.
Roberto's been playing in many different bands for many years,
so that's why we can say that he's been influenced by almost
every musical style. He also works as a drum teacher throughout
Lombardy.
Reviewers say:
"…he's probably the finest drummer on Italian prog-rock scene."
(
http://www.progressivedrums.com
)
"... all the band is now stirring on the stage, under flashing
lights, but what more is turning me upside down is the
drummer... I swear It's like hearing two drums playing
simultaneously. The sound is extremely powerful and I see
drumsticks moving faster and faster up and down, left and right,
on drums and cymbals...gosh it's incredible!!! " (R. Rocha)
: :
DISCOGRAPHY : :
|
Ghost - 2001
|
Vacuum - 2004
|
|
Twilight - 1997
AS THE NIGHT WATCH
|
"Damage Mode"
from the album "Vacuum" Studio Video
http://www.thewatchmusic.net/forum/damage_mode.avi
