The story of that time I ended up recording an album with Deniz Tek & Scott Morgan

 qui la versione in italiano

Exactly 25 years and one month ago, I was about to experience a day that I knew would be important for me and the many friends with whom I’ve always shared a passion for rock, but one I never expected would become something I’d be proud of forever. Two legends of American rock were coming to play just a stone’s throw from my hometown of Cosenza, at a concert I had organized.

It all began a few weeks earlier when my close friend on rock adventures, Roberto Calabrò, at the suggestion of the late Romano Pasquini, offered me the opportunity to bring one of our absolute musical idols to our hometown: Deniz Tek of Radio Birdman was touring Europe alongside another Detroit legend, Scott Morgan (Rationals, Sonic’s Rendezvous Band, Hydromatics). Joining them were the Sonic Assassins and former A-10 members, with Romano on bass, his brother Pippo Pasquini on drums, and Stefano Costantini on guitar.

Bringing a stop of the Sonic Way Live Tour to Calabria wasn’t an impossible feat thanks to the very reasonable costs, but it proved challenging to find a venue available to host the event, given that it was the day after May 1st, Labor Day. Another friend came to our rescue—one who, alas, is no longer with us—the legendary comrade Carlo Cuccomarino, who suggested we bring the concert to Marzi, his hometown, just a few kilometers from Cosenza, where his brother Giuseppe was Mayor and would grant us the necessary space for the concert.

Carlo’s record shop became our logistical base, while Mayor Giuseppe did much more for us, including the concert in the cultural activities his administration would feature in the upcoming summer program, relieving us of many financial burdens. Tonio Costanzo helped us with on-site logistics, and everything went off without a hitch; all that remained was to wait for the band’s arrival.

Roberto arrived in the morning from his hometown of Reggio Calabria, and in the afternoon we headed to Marzi to wait for Tek and the others, who were significantly delayed due to an accident that had them stuck on the highway for several hours just past Rome—and after taking a wrong turn once they’d exited the highway to bypass the traffic jam and ventured onto the state roads.

On Deniz Tek’s website, there is a detailed diary of those days that I invite you to read.

As the hours passed and we had no news from the band, some anxiety began to set in until we saw the band arrive, escorted by the municipal police, at the park where they were to play. At this point, I’ll let the account of Scott Morgan and the band’s arrival in Marzi come from Deniz Tek’s diary.

(…) Finally after an eternity of driving we pass Cosenza, and another 10 kms brings us to our exit. We head east up the mountain on a secondary road, to the town of Rogliere, and as we pass though the town square we are waved over by two Polizei standing next to a patrol car. Oh, shit. If they search us this is gonna at the very least cause hours more of delay and we're already so late. I don't even want to imagine the worst case scenario. Who knows, really, what Pippo is carrying? He says he is clean. But don't they all say that, at one time or another? In a vortex of paranoia, I recall that he never met a drug that he didn't enjoy. There is a flurry of rapid fire machine gun speed Italian between Romano and the cop. What happens next is that the stern face of the cop breaks into a grin. We are told to follow. The police car turns around, lights flashing, and we begin to follow. What, we ask? What what what? Romano lights a fag, blows smoke, says: "They are our escort, arranged by the mayor, who happens to be a big Birdman fan". We drive by motorcade into the town of Marzi. Now I've seen everything. The 3 Assasins Romano, Pippo and Stefano, especially, are amazed and amused. They simply cannot believe this. We are directed backstage at the town park amphitheater, where the police HELP US unload the backline. We set up and soundcheck. The big ElectroVoice PA seems more than adequate. Bliss! (…)

Once the soundcheck was over, before the musicians headed back to the farmhouse where they would be staying for a brief rest before the concert, I asked Deniz for permission to record the performance so I could broadcast it on the radio show I hosted on RLB, one of Calabria’s major private radio stations. I received a positive response, which made me absolutely thrilled. All that was left was to wait for the show to begin.

A decent crowd of fans awaited the start of the concert, which began at 11:05 p.m. with the MC5’s “Future/Now” introduced by Romano Pasquini’s bass lines. I started my recording and went under the stage to snap a few souvenir photos, but something was wrong: the much-hated smoke machine sent Deniz Tek’s effects gear into a tailspin, causing him to stop playing immediately. He grabbed pliers and a screwdriver and set to work fixing the malfunction.

Meanwhile, Scott, Stefano, Pippo, and Romano keep playing, performing some of Scott Morgan’s songs from the setlist without missing a beat. While we enjoy “Electrophonic Tonic” and “Give It Up,” Deniz tinkers with the equipment, fixing the malfunction and returning to the stage just as his bandmates are tackling “Slaves”, before they all launch into a formidable rendition of “Day To Ride”. Now that “Deniz Is in The House” the gig really takes off, drawing from both Tek’s and Morgan’s solo repertoires. Of course, a couple of Radio Birdman tracks are a must (complete with a dedication on “New Race” to me and Giuseppe, “two of our brothers from Marzi”), as well as the classic “City Slang” by the Sonic’s Rendezvous Band, not to mention the obligatory final tribute to Iggy & The Stooges, with “I Got Right” and “TV Eye”.

At the end of the concert, we all gather around the musicians to show them our warm appreciation, and when Deniz opens a suitcase containing some merchandise—mostly his solo CDs—I spot something unfamiliar to me: GLASS INSECTS - *Cruel and Unusual Punishment*, an album consisting of a single suite of instrumental improvisation that Deniz advises me against because it isn’t a “song album,” but he still doesn’t fully understand my fan devotion. I take it home to enrich my collection.

After stowing the equipment in the van, we head to the La Cisterna farmhouse for a delicious Calabrian dinner featuring penne all’arrabbiata (very spicy), roast lamb, ‘mbacchiuse potatoes (a traditional way of frying potatoes in Cosenza), and assorted salads, all washed down with a fine Savuto wine, followed by fruit, coffee, and “paisanella” a traditional grappa from the Cosenza area.

We bring our proverbial hospitality, while Deniz and Scott offer a warmth that exceeds expectations, making for a delightful dinner that concludes with the customary photos and the memory of a memorable evening we’ll cherish dearly.

Late at night, it’s time to go to sleep. Roberto and I head back to my place, and while good old Rob drifts off into the arms of Morpheus, I slip out quietly and make my way to the quiet RLB studios to finalize the concert recording. I transfer the recording to one of the first desktop CD burners and enjoy the entire concert through my headphones. I emerge from the RLB studios at the first light of dawn, with a copy of the CD ready to give to Deniz, but before the band leaves for their next show in Pescara, I get to enjoy a few hours of well-deserved rest.

Mid-morning, we head back to Marzi to say goodbye to the group, which would soon be setting off again to continue the tour. I hand Deniz the recording of the concert, never imagining that this moment would have such a positive impact on my life and fill me with immense pride.

But it’s not over yet, because this adventure, which began with a series of unexpected events, could only end with another one. While Roberto says goodbye and continues his journey home, the band gets ready to leave, and I climb into my old Opel Vectra to head back to Cosenza, but the car won’t start due to a breakdown that seems irreparable at the moment.

Since the band is heading north and passing through Cosenza, I find myself riding in the van with Deniz, Scott, Stefano, Pippo, and Romano, who invite me to join them for the rest of the tour. For the few kilometers separating Marzi from Cosenza, the phrase “Eliseno is in the van” quickly becomes a catchphrase—as brief as the highway journey itself.

After our final goodbyes, we parted ways, both feeling satisfied. I would run into Deniz several times in the years to come; Pippo, Romano, and Stefano and I would stay in touch for a few radio interviews; as for Scott, I would only see him again through Facebook.

Several months later—I don’t remember who it was, whether Deniz or Roberto—I receive a request for the photos taken during the concert. I have a copy made and send them to the U.S., unaware of what they would do with them. 

Three years have passed since that magical evening in March when I receive an envelope in the mail from the United States, sent by Career Records, a small independent label in Montana that I would soon come to know. Upon opening the envelope, I found a CD with a cover featuring three Native Americans brandishing rifles, with the names “Deniz Tek” and “Scott Morgan” written in green above them, while the words “3 Assassins” stood out in red on the side. On the back was the tracklist, with a photo in the background of what appears to be (and is) a view of Calabria landscape, taken by Mr. Demetrio Calabrò, Roberto’s father.

I put the CD on to relive that evening, without imagining what I was about to see inside the CD booklet. Once I pulled out the four-page booklet, I jumped in my seat: I recognized my photo of the band taken during the concert, and through a clever graphic design, it incorporated my other shots from the evening into the background. But the biggest surprise hits me when I read my name in the credits, followed by “recording engineer and live photos.” Only then do I realize that my recording had, for the most part, become an official album by my musical idol, Deniz Tek.

As a sincere fan, music lover, and promoter of rock music, I couldn’t have asked for anything better.

This post is dedicated to: Romano Pasquini, who suddenly passed away a few weeks ago; to my late friend Carlo Cuccomarino and the many musical discussions we had at the various locations of his record store, “Orfeo”; and to Giuseppe Cuccomarino, who made everything described so far possible.

In particular, this post is also dedicated to my unforgettable brother Rino, who one day, when he came to my house, told me that a record store (Carlo’s, in fact) had opened in front of the Citrigno cinema, and that I absolutely had to go there because “It’s all ‘your kind’ of music (the kind you like)”. If I hadn’t taken him up on his invitation, none of what I’ve described would have happened. I miss you so much!