ML.: Angelo, first of all, I have to thank you for finding the
time to be at disposition for this interview. Your
desk-diary is overloaded, you are tired, as everybody can
see, but here we are... AB.: No problem, you smile! ML.: I've to warn you, that some of the following questions
are very private. You've the right on two jokers. AB.: Ok, I'll do ML.: A number of fans from everywhere in the world, even from
Brazil and Japan, ask me about News from you. So the first
question is: How is our Branduardian angel? AB.: Oh, he's well, he's well! What am I doing
actually...Well, I've published right now this classic album
coming out one week before. Now I'm working on a project
about St.Francis, what will be shown at 2000. But about this
I can't tell any details for the moment. It's a beautiful
project, but not official before October. As soon all the
ideas are clear for everybody, I can engage myself. It was a
proposition what I got, it's a beautiful thing, difficult as
well, but a beautiful thing, I hope ... Will you stay for the concert this evening? ML.: Yes, of course! Could you take your fifteen days for holidays??? AB.: No! (smiling) ML.: You wrote one of your first songs, "Confessione di un
malandrino" ("Confession of an highwayman"), with eighteen
years, because - I cite you - you felt attracted by the
story of this russian poet, who lived a sensational
lovestory.....Were you also taken by passion, when you
adapted this poem into a song? AB.: No, I was young and not so successful with women. No, I
wasn't only fascinated bv this. I was fascinated by the guy,
not only because of the lovestory, he had with the most
beautiful women, but there were many interesting things for
me, actually, I don't remember exactly, but there were
things like the fact, that he spoke about his hair. And
then, the pretentious poet, all that, even his jokes, his
lies, as all artists are telling, you know... ML.: Is there one amongst all the persons in your songs, to
whom you are very similar? AB.: An artist, being in action, tells about himself very
often things, he doesn't know. It's quite difficult to
differentiate what's autobiographic or simply fantasy or
whatever.I couldn't.say. Normally, in every case I would
say, that the artist tries to appear, as he would like or
imagines to be whitout to realize that. ML.: Alan Simon told me, that your participation at album
"Excalibur" wasn't realized before the last moment.
Specially because of a deep friendship between you and
him? AB.: I don't know, it's more like that, I've a house at the
seaside, near Genua, and he was in the studio beside, what I
knew very well. So, I did...I've to be serious. I'm not
intimate of Alan Simon. He's somebody I know. ...Yes ....But
I didn't more than two "ding, ding, ding" ... ML.: You know that this CD is a Golden one. AB.: Oh,yes? ML.: Yor new album "Futuro Antico II", what came out the last
month and succeeds the first album, is already very
appreciated. AB.: Did you listen it? ML.: Yes, I succeeded in getting it when it was just out. It
was a pure wonder! Why was an album like this not made
earlier? AB.: I don't know. There are moments for to do things... ML.: It's a return at sources, even at the almost classic
music? AB.: Yes and no, I don't know. ML.: Tell me about "Futuro Antico II", the way, it was
done. AB.: Well, that's very simple, things were done all at once,
because it was commissioned by the folk festival of
Spielberg on the occasion of the for- or fivehundredth, I
don't know, birth- or deathday of Mainerio, who wasn't
really a musician, but recognized things in the way of one
of the first editors of modern history. So I collected
something from Mainerio I knew and something I didn't knew,
and then, instead to do everything only from Mainerio, I
said, that there were things going around the world as it
happened very often at this time, little, melodic ideas,
such as a little bit are found everywhere. So I mixed the
music from Mainerio, being the reason why I had got this
production, with an other one. >From this moment on I
collected people, those I knew from Rome, I knew two or
three groups of Ancient Music, Cristina, whom you met
before, is the leader from one of them. She's playing the
flute this evening... ML.: And she plays very well! AB.: Yes. And then the symphonic orchestra...And then it was
done, registrated and published... ML.: Is the strange similarity between the music of
"Schirazula Marazula" and "Ballo in fa diesis minore" a
wanted one? AB.: Yes, if you look, I even don't know any more, which
corner, but if you look, there, where is the "Ballo in
fa...", you'll see, that there is written, that it's
inspirated by the dance of the "first renaissance" by
Mainerio. It is this one... Arranged, there are two
arrangements, because the original thing, it's a rare thing
for me. So it' s arranged twice. Therefore, different
versions...plus rock pop in the way of the Seventies and all
this a little bit more complicated, classic.. ML.:. Do you still want to make listen the "Branduardi Sound"
to the beginners after all the years of music? AB.: I’ll be serious, I make music, since I'm very
little. Therefore I had, and I am ambitious, I had big
ambitions, even when I was very little and also when I was
young, but that's not, what I want to make you know. Very
seriously, I find that music, and this generally, is a kind
of total egoism, what becomes, in a very paradox way, a kind
of, you say altruism, in french? ML.: Yes AB.: Of altruism, yes, but by case.Therefore, I don't look
prcisely for something, I do what I like, in a very
childish, even a little bit perverse way, I do what I like,
that's all.... Then, the antens of artists knowing a moment
before, what's going on, bring you at the right time at the
right place. Sometimes you are far advance or far behind. I
knew the synchronicity, but also to be far advance or far
behind. It's a very individualistic fact, I would say. ML.: Yes, to run completely alone allows to be always the
first? AB.: Yes... Definitely, I said that a milliard of times...I
repete myself....in my age I repete myself....(smiling)
ML.:Do you think about reedit the old french albums "At the
market of East", "The Miss", "Always" AB.: Go on! They have decided to do this. Yes, I know, this
was even decided, and then, I don't know, if its planned,
but this would really tell you the people from Bologna (the
productions agency), as more as I have no idea about, in
order to be true. ML.: I got a great number of letters concerning the emission
"The sexuality of the angel", at what you participated in
RAI UNO AB.:(loughes) ML.: The fans were shocked...Don't you think, that these
emissions could have damaged your "mark"-image??? Why having
done such emissions? AB.: Because that, that amused me a lot. And then, it's very
racy, at the limit, it's so racy, that it becomes the most
racy of all. It's clear, that this may damage, it's
clear! ML.: You know that you 've shocked number of "fans"? AB.: Yes, I knew that this would be shocking. But what needs
to be said, is, that I, I'm not the saint, that many fans
keep to think. And I've a little bit enough from that.
People knowing me well, very well, know that I'm a man who's
available for amusement, very ironic, even sarcastic, what
you can see even on the stage. ML.:(smiling) It's clear! AB.: Obviously, if you observe well, you know, it's like that.
Therefore, when I was told to make a thing called the
"Sexuality of the angel", I found this very beautiful. I
confess, that I speak even myself very often like this. In
the Italian music-scene I'm not at all known as a
lady-killer, but as someone who enjoys himself a lot. As
someone, who plays, if there are ladies, what I never tried
to hide and what I like a lot, at the limit of a very
innocent, but very acute way. Therefore I'm doing simply,
whatI do usually. Well, it's clear, that for some people
this "at the limit" was shocking, but I can't find that! ML.: This will answer to my letters (smiling) AB.: Yes, Tell them, that it was...A thing....A man is never
white or black! Not even the artists!It's a combination of
many things. Therefore you must not take things to serious.
It's a game with very, very pointed questions...In order to
start from the first...But I would look at this with a
little bit more...How to say, the straight "fans" and all
this, I find, that this becomes ...Not natural. It becomes a
little bit a game of sickness...I find, that one should see
things as facts...I'm not a saint, I'm not a priest, I'm not
a heroe. I'm a normal human being making beautiful and then,
from time to time, also horrible things, what makes
beautiful songs and songs, those are shit. Therefore, you
have to accept the two things, and you have to understand,
that this is anyway a game. If someone doesn't want to
understand, that the questions I put, are really on the
limit, on the limit vulgar, but a game, anyway, then it's
need for the doctor, not for Branduardi! ML.: A psychologist??! AB.: Yes, even a psychiatrist! ML.: That's what I said. AB.: Yes, it's clear, the complete scene, you haven't seen it,
but I'm dressed in a smoking, with soft lights, it's so
clear, that it's a crazy movie! That may please or not!
Because I'm not vegetarian, I eat salami! And I drink good
wine! Yes, I don't have few vices, and people, those follow
me, should know that! ML.: And you smoke, too! AB.: Oh,yes! But i hope, that the fans are not too angry, too shocked.
Did you have number of people saying so? ML.: About fifty... AB.: Oh, "shit"! ML.: (smiling) AB.: And there was no one saying "It's nice"? ML.: No... AB.: Oh. "shit"!!!! ML.: I'm, by the way, quite bothered behind my computer
(smiling) AB.: In order to contrary, tell people this. One of the
Franciscan chiefs, with whom I work at the moment about
St.Francis, did nearly die from loughing, and this is a
religious man, a Franciscan friar, who has thirty.for years,
who's name is Father Stefano, and who was assigned to me by
the Vatican in order to analize very precisely the
scriptures of St.Francis. He called me the day after the
first emission in order to tell me, and nothing prevented
him to keep silent, that since the first question, I putted
to the first woman of the emission:"Have You been virgin at
any time?".he founded this completely surreal...and very
amusing. Therefore, you see...The franciscan friars aged
thirty-for years find it funny, you see! ML.: If I tell them to the fans, I would shock them even
more!!! (loughing) AB.: Tell them!!! Oh, I maybe have made a mistake??? ML.: Non! AB.: No, but even if I've made a mistake... ML.: It's manlike to make errors. AB.: Yes, I've made a mistake, but is amused me a lot to make
this mistake. Maybe it's not intelligent, it's not
nice...It's because I speak, I say things like this, that
need's to be immediately....No! ML.: Non, I ensure you...Maybe three by fifty????
(smiling) AB.: Oh...(smiling) ML.: Which are your next projects? A third Futuro Antico in
discussion? AB.: Yes, but first of all, I've to work about St. Francis.
About what I'll speak at the right time... ML.: Do you use internet at home? AB.: No, that means, my daughters do. I even don't know how to
look for an adress on the computer...My daughters do this
very well! (smiling) ML.: Do you appreciate the creation of an internet-page as a
kind of art? AB.: Oh yes, it's clear! The creation of an internet-site is
of course a artistic thing. ML.: We don't have often the occasion to see you here at us.
Therefore, what's going on? Is it, because France is the
last amongst all european countrys ...capitulating in front
of your success??? AB:: No,no, after the dark period I went trough... ML.: A psychic one? AB.: No,no, yes, a personal one. After this personally dark
perid I resetted myself about to do things, there are
countries, people, they said, oh look, he's like before,
maybe even better, The french people, as it seems, but it's
necessairy to take a look about that, because there are many
facts those contribute, it's a complicated story, but as it
seems, the good luck I still have in a number of european
countries, I didn't have at the french people. It's clear,
that , if you're asked more urgently to make a concert in
Spa than yesterday, in Tuttlingen, in Germany, you go there,
if you're not asked, you don't go... ML.: Don't you think, that your theat tours in France should
be better announced? AB.: Also this.But there are not few problems with
organization....That's clear. But to find out, where things
go well and where bad, that takes a lot of search, a lot of
work...And it's clear, that it's not me who does it. Anyway,
if I'm asked to do things, i do, if I'm not asked, I don't
do! ML.: I believe, that you like France very much. By the way,
you lived and sang in the Alpes Marîtîmes as far
I know... AB.: Yes,of course. Even until Arles, Bordeaux... ML.: The 20th August in Guingamp, is it a promise or in
discussion? AB.: Oh this, yes, you see. It's sure, totally sure! I was
asked, I'll go there! ML.: And the 12th October, in Rennes? AB.: Oh, that, I've no idea. Yes, but I'll be then probably
engaged with St.Francis. ML.: The spectacle will be recorded for the next album from
the Excalibur theat tour, if my informations are right? AB.: Yes, but I don't know, if I'll be there...It depends from
many things... ML.: An astrologic question. What's the exact date and hour of
your birth? AB.: Oh, I don't no. The 12th February 1950, I don't know how
many versions I've heard from my mother. It could be,.as it
seems, 1h pm. But my mother told me every other hour
too.probably it's 1h pm.And I don't remember anymore...
(smiling) ML.: Fortunately (smiling) AB Yes! (smiling) ML.: You represent yourself often as a "thief of jam" , angel
or demon, following the moment, also as the "celtic-jew",
who likes the note of the moment, because it's there,
gnashing it's teeth or tender, and which doesn't last. I
think, that's for you a magic moment and full of
pleasure. AB.: Oh, that, no,no, when I said this, I spoke from concerts.
It means, that this is the great difference between the
concerts and a CD. In a concert, you produce a note, the
note traverses the hall and never returns. That's maybe the
uselessness of the music and of the art in general. It
serves.as it seems, for nothing. It's a version of artistic
philosophy... ML.: But is it the same thing in your life? Do you prefer it
ephemer or durable? And why? AB.: I'm married with one woman since twenty-for years. That
means something. I'm someone, who can be very stable and
exact and also totally opposite. I'm very undependant - so
it was said to me also in astrology. I don't use autority
and normally I've a certain anarchistic taste concerning
autority against myself. Also what I'm doing, is often, too
often even, at the limit, by "instinct". Artists in
generally, and me particuliary, are people without
disciplin, not because they want, but because theyhave
always to touch and to look about a mass of things, but I
realize very well, that it needs neverthless, that there is
a certain disciplin. It needs also from time to time some
limits in order to not become crazy...But this, with the
age.... ML.: The experience? AB.: Yes ML.: A last question:... What's your greatest fear and yor
greatest hope? The hope is, to stay some minutes in the
"history"(smiling), what's the dream of all artists,,, ML.: The posterity? AB.: Yes! ML.: But you're there already! AB.: In Italy, I don't know whereelse, but in Italy they sing
"On the market of Est" in schools. The children have no
idea, who's "Branduardi", but they know the song. That's
also a little beginning of posterity! (smiling) ML.: And the fear? AB.: The fear, it's to find myself one day without any more
ideas...What would mean for me, in this moment, no creation,
no taste of vitality. I've passed a period like this, a dark
period, it was a kind of missing, of missing
energy,emotions... ML.: Well, Angelo, I'll let you take your shower, and in the
name of all internet-surfers, they visit this page, I wish
you a happy and exciting concert! As far i remember, your
said:"That the flesh exults!"? AB.: I've said quite intelligent things, didn't I
?(smiling) ...o) The concert (in french for the
moment)
I've never been in paradise. Maybe I know hell a little bit
better...There will be fifty persons, those will not buy any
more my CD's!