Somewhere in
Italy, there is a group that eats and breathes T. Rex records while watching
endless reruns of Marc. One of these disciples is Faz Waltz, one of two major
glam punk bands originating from Italy. Faz Waltz plays the style of glam, punk,
Rock N’ Roll that T. Rex, Sweet and Slade played before they musical term was
coined. Just because the 20th Century is gone doesn’t mean there are
those that forgotten the influence of “20th Century Boy.” It is only
fitting Faz Waltz comes from Italy, a country shaped like a boot, and is the
heir apparent to wear the same silver glam boots that Slade wore.
Interview by Ed
Stuart
Who’s answering the questions?
Hi, I’m Faz La Rocca.
Where is the band from?
Como, Italy.
Who is in the band and what instruments
do they play?
Faz La Rocca: Vocals, Guitar
Diego Angelini: Bass
Marco Galimberti:
Drums
How did the band start?
I have played in a band since 1998 and
after some experiences with punk rock; I started to write material for a new
project, Faz Waltz in 2006. I just wanted to have some fun
with the roots of punk and try to stand out from all the other bands around.
What is it about glam music that is so
endearing? At first, glam music was, arguably, thought of a passing fad, but it
has been very influential especially in the last few years considering bands like
Giuda and Faz Waltz are heavily influenced by glam. Any thoughts on why that
is?
Well, glam rock
has never been taken too seriously, it has been seen as a kind of joke. At the
beginning, it was the same for Rock N’ Roll in the fifties. In 1970, the rock
scene was founded on the magniloquence and the virtuosity, with a serious
approach to the lyrics and the technical skills; glam rock wasn’t anything like
that. Simple, easy, and fun just like Rock N’ Roll. Punk was coming.
What is the music scene like in your
hometown?
We’ve got plenty
of punk bands, some are very good, The Leeches for example, but apart from Faz
Waltz and Giuda, there isn’t really a glam rock scene in Italy nowadays. That’s
why in the beginning it wasn’t so easy to get gigs.
Do you feel being in a glam band gives
you more songwriting freedom? On Back to
Mondo, the band has melodic ballads like “King of Nowhere” and classic glam
stompers like “I Wanna Find My Place.”
If Faz Waltz was a punk band do you think you would have the same
songwriting freedom?
I’ve never
thought about it. I just write songs, the way I like, the way they come, and it
doesn’t matter. If a song is good, it’s good, sometimes it depends on who is
listening I think. I know punks that love the ballads more than the glam
stompers.
Do you think music can still be a vital
force in such a disposable age?
For sure. music
is what I breathe from the time I open my eyes in the morning till I go to bed,
the way the music make you feel is irreplaceable.
Five essential glam records you feel everyone
should own.
It’s not easy to
choose just 5 records. I’ll name the most popular and easy to find records, in
case you’re new to the genre:
-Slade “Slayed”
LP 1972
-T.Rex “Electric
Warrior” LP 1971
-David Bowie “The Rise And Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders from
Mars” LP 1972
-Gary Glitter “Glitter” LP 1972
-T.Rex “The
Slider” LP 1972
If you had the opportunity to have Marc
Bolan or Mick Ronson in Faz Waltz whom would you pick? Or if neither of these
guys, whom would you pick? Why?
Bolan was the
head behind T.Rex, so I don’t think it would work very well; too many cooks
spoil the broth. Mick Ronson did a perfect job with Bowie. He’s the perfect
right-hand man.
50 years ago people used to buy music and
get their water for free, now people pay for water and get their music for
free. How do you think this affects music in any way?
Well, you know,
being a musician should be a job, exactly like being a plumber. If you didn’t
get paid for your work and your effort it would be very difficult to keep
afloat, and it is. Fortunately, for the moment, we all also have a “real job,” like
someone use to say.
In a Global
Texan Chronicles article, they stated, “Faz Waltz isn't necessarily
a straight forward nostalgia band simply re-working bygone
sounds in an effort to emulate their sonic heroes. More of a band who
understands the importance of an era in music that most have decided to leave
to history.”
Do you feel this is an accurate of
the band?
We just do our
best to make good music in the most genuine way, we don’t try to be
spontaneously nostalgic or original, but I don’t think there is another band
just like Faz Waltz at the moment.
The band is diehard analog fans. Why do
you think recording analog is so important as opposed to recording digital?
It could seem
obvious, but I think it’s a just a matter of sound, and what you want to
achieve.
Analog recording
could work for some bands and not for others … it isn’t a magic formula, for
the way we want to sound, it’s perfect, for example.
Where can people hear the band?
You can listen
to our music on records and live first then Bandcamp, Soundcloud, Reverbnation,
YouTube and on our official site www.fazwaltz.com , where you can find all
the links to the social networks too.
What’s next for Faz Waltz?
We’re working on
the new album; we’ll be in the studio this summer. Some new songs we’re playing
now…
-Kids Are All
Wild
-Makin’ Noise
-Hot Class
(Working Class Teacher)
-Back In Town
-Crazy Little
fun
-Telepath Baby
-Ready To Go
-Let’s Get
Around
-Move over
-We’re All We
Got
-Change
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