Belladonna (band)

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For other uses of the term, Belladonna, see Belladonna (disambiguation)

Belladonna
Origin Flag of Italy Rome, Italy
Genre(s) rocknoir
Years active 2005 – present
Label(s) Unsigned
Website http://www.belladonna.tv
Members
Luana
Dani
Alice
Tam
Alex

Belladonna are an Italian band that formed during February 2005 in Rome, Italy. The current members of the band are co-founders Luana (lead vocals) and Dani (guitar), as well as Alice (piano), Tam (bass), and Alex (drums). In their debut album, 'Metaphysical Attraction', Belladonna defined a new genre of music: rocknoir. Exploring such themes as murder, mystery, reincarnation, and magic, Belladonna quickly found a fan base on MySpace.com. In 2005 the band was receiving thousands of plays of various tracks on their MySpace player a day. As Belladonna’s celebrity status grew in 2006, they were interviewed by major media outlets such as GQ. Glamour magazine did a two page photo spread about the band and their MySpace sensational popularity. In early 2007 National Italian television La7 resounded Belladonna’s fame in a news story that described them as "the most listened to Italian band on MySpace".

Contents

[edit] Career

Belladonna formed on February 14, 2005 in Rome, Italy. The two founders Luana and Dani decided from the outset that the English language made a conduit of expression that granted a greater adherence to their artistic and musical goals than their native Italian language. During the course of several months Belladonna wrote and recorded many tracks in English, eleven of which would become their first full album; "Metaphysical Attraction". It was during this time of transition that Dani and Luana created a new music genre: rocknoir.

The two songwriters, Dani and Luana, experimented with minor keys and piano arpeggios. They found by adding haunting feminine backup vocals combined with a method thespian female role singing lead, they could create a dramatic performance of theatrically rendered lyrical storytelling, not unlike Film noir.

Within months of creating a MySpace account in 2005, Belladonna became the most played Italian band on MySpace next to Lacuna Coil. As an unsigned band, Belladonna held the #1 spot on the MySpace unsigned Italian chart.

As Belladonna’s celebrity status grew in 2006, they were interviewed by major media outlets such as GQ. Glamour magazine did a two page photo spread about the band and their MySpace sensational popularity. In early 2007 National Italian television La7 resounded Belladonna’s fame in a news story that described them as "the most listened to Italian band on MySpace".

In August of 2007, Belladonna released their video version of "Mystical Elysian Love" which was filmed on location in Berlin Germany in association with MMPRO. The video was Directed by Serena Corvaglia. The video appeared at #73 on YouTube of the most watched music videos, the same day it was released.

In November of 2007 Belladonna collaborated with Sylvia Massy at Radiostar Studios to produce, at the time, unannounced recordings. Sylvia Massy has produced recordings with other bands such as Tool (band), R.E.M., Tom Petty, System Of A Down, Smashing Pumpkins, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Skunk, Anansie, and Johnny Cash.

Belladonna was the headliner musical act for the 2007 Erotica event in London at The Grand Hall, Olympia. Another artist who shared the stage with Belladonna was Marilyn Manson's former wife Dita Von Teese. The Erotica event has been held in the United Kingdom since 1990 and is typically a three day event featuring burlesque performances as well as music. The attendance of the 2007 Erotica event was estimated at over 10,000 people.

From the 2007 Erotica press release:

"The Main Show for Erotica 2007 will have the feel of a Rock Concert, with appropriate lighting and pyrotechnics, covered with our very own spicy erotic ingredients, creating an electric atmosphere of pure unadulterated red, hot sex. The backbone of the show and providing the live music will be Belladonna, the world's first rocknoir band"

In 2007, two tracks from Belladonna’s album Metaphysical Attraction, “Black Swan” and “Foreverland“, were nominated in the 2008 Grammy Awards. Both songs were nominated for Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals (Category 16). In addition, “Foreverland” was also nominated for a 2008 Grammy Award in Category: 20 : Best Rock Song.

[edit] Current members

  • Luana - Vocals (2005-Present)
  • Dani - Guitar (2005-Present)
  • Alice - Piano (2005-Present)
  • Tam - Bass (2006-Present)
  • Alex - Drums (2006-Present)

Former Members

  • Master - Drums (2005-2006)
  • Stef - Drums (2005-2006)
  • Cherry - Bass (2005-2006)


[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

Metaphysical Attraction - Belladonna’s self-produced, debut album released February 14 2006.

Metaphysical Attraction
Black Swan
Mystical Elysian Love
Resurrect My Soul
Foreverland
Houdini
Ghost
I Wanna Be Your God
Mrs. Hyde
Password To Heaven
Beyond The Realms Of Reason
Morpheus

[edit] Filmography

Black Swan (2005) - is a short film produced by Belladonna. Directed by Dani and featuring Luana as the ruthless agent Rosabel, the eight minute short features three songs; "Black Swan", "Foreverland", and "Holy Flame" which were specifically written and recorded for the script to reflect Belladonna’s flavor of delivering story driven music in a theatrical atmosphere.

Remember Me, My Love (2003) [1] - Belladonna’s song "Killer" (Italian version) was featured in this movie by Gabriele Muccino. A promotional music video of this version of "Killer" was made by Australian director Richard Lowenstein. At the time Belladonna were known under their earlier moniker Zoo di Venere.

[edit] External links

Official Sites

Fansites / Street Team

[edit] References

1,2 Fireworks Magazine Issue #24 (July/August 2006), pg. 72 [2]

Languages