Belladonna (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Belladonna


Img_capt =
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Background = group_or_band
Origin = flagicon|Italy Rome, Italy
Genre = Rock noir
Years_active = 2005 – present
Label = Unsigned
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.belladonna.tv/ http://www.belladonna.tv]
Current_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 explored such themes as murder, mystery, reincarnation, and magic and defined a new genre of music: Rock noir.

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 songs, 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: Rock noir.

The two songwriters, Dani and Luana, experimented with minor keys and piano arpeggios. They found that 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 2007, Belladonna released their video version of "Mystical Elysian Love" which was filmed on location in Berlin, Germany. 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 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, System Of A Down, Skunk Anansie, and Johnny Cash.

Belladonna was the headliner musical act for the Erotica 07 event at The Grand Hall, Olympia in London. Another artist who shared the stage with Belladonna at Erotica 07 was Marilyn Manson's former wife Dita Von Teese. The attendance of the Erotica 07 event was estimated at over 100,000 people.

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

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)

Discography

Albums

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

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) [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0323807/] - 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.

External links

Official Sites
* http://www.belladonna.tv
* http://www.myspace.com/wwwbelladonnatv
* http://www.youtube.com/BelladonnaTV
* http://cdbaby.com/cd/belladonnatv

Fansites / Street Team
* http://www.myspace.com/belladonnastreetteam
* http://www.myspace.com/belladonnaizeit

References

^1,2 Fireworks Magazine Issue #24 (July/August 2006), pg. 72 [http://www.melodicrock.com/fireworks.html]