Huge thanks to lead singer Alex Burnett, who was gracious enough to take time out between shows in England to chat with LNaP about the surrealness of their success, haircuts, and his grandma.
.
Loud Noise and Pictures: Sparkadia pretty much burst onto the music consciousness in what seems like an overnight success. At what point did you think "wow, this band thing might be pretty successful?"
Alex Burnett: If it was an overnight success - it has been a very long evening...We started writing tunes of which some of them made it onto the debut record in 2003 and our first show was in mid 2005 so we have been doing what we do for a while now. 
We always loved what we were playing and writing and believed in the songs, however we never really thought about "being successful" and never in our wildest dreams believed that we would be playing Glastonbury and all these other ridiculous festivals in the UK and Europe. My mum always said that we were pretty good, but i suppose that all mothers say that anyway!
.
LNaP: Tracks from Postcards have been getting a fair bit of play on Triple J and on Rage, how has public feedback been for the album?
AB: I don't really get involved with reviews, however my grandma keeps all of them and she makes sure to read out all the good ones. Apparently there have been quite a few. Either way, we are excited that people have embraced the album and i am always amazed how each song is someone elses favourite song. It's always fantastic for people to dig the album tracks as well as the singles.
.
LNaP: Generally, the reviews of Postcards have been quite positive and many reviewers have compared tracks to bands such as The Beatles, Pulp, Coldplay, Franz Ferdinand, The Smiths and others.
What has been:
A)    The most flattering comparison? 
AB: A girl once said that we sounded like a couple making love in studio 54!
B)    The most bewildering comparison?
AB: There have been too many. Someone said that we sounded "brutal". That was pretty metal!
C)    The most accurate comparison?
AB: Bands never really like to compare their music to others as you always strive to be original. Someone said to me that we sounded like "hot liquid sex". Awesome.
.
LNaP: Sparkadia was touring overseas, then popped back to Australia to release Postcards then you pretty much took off again. You guys must enjoy England/Europe?
AB: We will pretty much tour wherever will have us. We all live in Australia, however we have been given the opportunities to tour overseas so you would be mad not to say "yes"! 
.
LNaP: There is a great Spinal Tap quote:
            Nigel Tufnel: We're very big in Bulgaria. And...wossisname...the other "Garia"...
            David St. Hubbins: Hungaria.
            Nigel Tufnel: Yeah, whatever.
You toured Europe extensively prior to the release of Postcards. Have you found that you now have a weird range of countries who are now Sparkadia fans – and how are you dealing with the international fame?
AB: We are really not that famous - if at all, however i heard that there is a german fanclub and a similar thing going on in scandinavia. We are very flattered! Someone stopped me in the street yesterday for a photos only to realise that i wasn't the guy from stereophonics...
.
LNaP: Does it seem a bit 'unreal' that one day you're in Sydney where a limited amount of people know the band, and then the next day, you're playing gigs in countries that don't even speak the same language?
AB: We do live quite a surreal life. Two weekends ago we had just finished our first sold-out headline tour around Australia and then we were on a jetplane to play Glastonbury. Last night we played a small club show in London. Today we play the wireless festival in Hyde Park and tomorrow we are playing at a festival in a zoo. It is the stuff of dreams.
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LNaP: How does the band psyche up to get out on stage before a concert?
AB: We always have a few drinks, run through the setlist, and ensure to have good music playing in the background. We are in a hip-hop phase at the moment so we are usually bouncing Jay-z styles before we hit the stage. 
.
LNaP: Have you managed to catch any good shows while you've been touring?
AB: A few nights ago we went to a local bar and it was a dennis wilson tribute night. Imagine the hoey except the performers were the magic numbers, ed harcourt, the dude from starsailor and a few others. Basically a "Heavenly records'' evening for free. It was the best free show I've ever attended. 
.
LNaP: Who in the band is the hardest to put up with in close quarters and how do you deal with it?
AB: We all have our virtues and our vices. When you are living out of each other's pockets you learn how to be patient and considerate - Or just do the complete opposite and all be divas. Always good to be extreme!
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LNaP: Sparkadia has played with artists such as, Hot Hot Heat, Modest Mouse, The Thrills, Vampire Weekend, Jimmy Eat World, Death Cab for Cutie, Ben Lee, The Bravery and Tegan & Sara – in an ideal world, who would you love to open for, and who would you love to have open for you?
AB: We would love to open for the Beatles and then have Roy Orbison as a support.
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LNaP: Sparkadia's sensational and highly fortuitous rise to stardom evolved from somewhat of a chance encounter. What advice would you give to new bands trying to make it big?
AB: Don't follow trends as your hair doesn't grow as quick as the new haircut required. Make sure to write music that you are passionate about.
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LNaP: You plan to tour Australia throughout August and September when you finish up overseas, will you have any new material written to try out on us?
AB: I believe so. We have many new tunes so expect some madness!
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LNaP: If I was to tell you that I've been to the future and that Sparkadia's Postcards wins the Breakthrough Artist–Album, how would you feel?
AB: That would be very flattering. I don't believe in the whole music awards systems as all music has a purpose-it's not like sport where there is always a winner and a loser! 
.
LNaP: And finally, who would win in a fight between Mr T and Chuck Norris and why?
AB: Chuck Norris. You wouldn't know why as you would be dead too! 
.
Sparkadia return to Australia in September to tour the country extensively. Until then they are spreading their sweet melodic rock around Europe. If you can make it overseas, you can catch them here: 

If not - you will have to wait before you see them play down under at a show near you!

Lots More Cowbell!

E de súbito desaba o silêncio.
É um silêncio sem ti,
sem álamos,
sem luas.

Download this episode

Show Notes
It’s that time of year again… when we sit around and talk about Depeche Mode and call it a show! For you regulars, Neil finds a new guy attractive, and the fourth and final season of Battlestar Galactica keeps us on the edge of our seats. But the main focus is on the ever-lovin’ Mode. We talk to a special guest about her own personal Depeche Mode encounter, play some of our favorite Depeche Mode covers, delve into DM’s work in soundtracks and discuss our favorite B-sides and instrumentals. All this and Duran Duran takes a beating! Oh, snap!

Listen in to hear some of our favorite musicians put their personal twist on Depeche Mode songs. Featuring Duncan Sheik, Pat MacDonald and Flunk.

All original Depeche Mode songs in this episode were played with the understanding that Apple has an agreement with music companies that allows podcasters to play 30 second song clips in their shows. We in no way intend to infringe on the copyright of this music. We love you, Depeche Mode!

Music Guide
“Blue Dress”
Demo
Artist: Neil Smith (Featuring vocals by Laura Smith)
http://neilsmithmusic.com

“Blasphemous Rumours”
Artist: Duncan Sheik
Album: Humming Along
http://www.myspace.com/duncansheik
http://www.duncansheik.com

“Master and Servant”
Artist: Pat MacDonald
Album: Strangelove: PM Does DM
http://www.myspace.com/patmacdonald
iTunes

“See You”
Artist: Flunk
Album: Personal Stereo
http://www.Flunkmusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/flunktheband
iTunes

Misc. Goodies and Links

Want us to love you forever? Write us a review on iTunes. You will? You’re the best. Really!

Diane and her Tasty Jewelry
http://www.tastyjewelry.com/

Depeche Mode Ticket Stub Project on Flickr

Read about and see photos from Martin’s latest DJ event

More about Martin at The Cure

Movies Discussed in This Episode
The Lost Boys: The Tribe
Trailer on official site

Until the End of the World

Resident Evil

Gallery of Guys Neil Finds Attractive

See Gavin. See Gavin play guitar. See Gavin Shower.

The obligatory Depeche Mode Link
http://www.depechemode.com

Still, I love dancing, singing in the shower, and opening the windows in my car and singing full blast as others travel by. Ok...so maybe I don't remember any songs that remind me of Mr. Right, but I certainly have songs that remind me of amazing moments in my life. During my daily torture session (aka...my daily workout), I started thinking about all of those fabulous songs. I was hoping that some of them would pop up on my ipod as I fought hard to make it through just one more minute on my ellipictal trainer.

Wake Up Little Suzie - Everly Brothers

My father used to sing this to me in the mornings to get me to wake up. He would then proceed to flip on the light without warning. Nothing like waking up to dad singing at 5:30am with lights full blast!

Conga - Gloria Estefan

My Aunt Sherry (may she rest in peace) first introduced me to Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine when I was about 10 years old. I've been Gloria's biggest fan ever since. Whenever I am feeling down, I just listen to the Conga and dance around the room. Don't know why...but it reminds me of my Aunt and all the positive things she stood for.

People are People - Depeche Mode

I guess I've always liked all types of music; from moody to upbeat. You name it, I've probably listened to it and enjoyed it at least once. In my early teens I took a liking to Depeche Mode. Must have been all the cool older teens that I was hanging around at summer camp that forced me to listen to it too often. It finally just sunk in.

Life is a Highway - Tom Cochrane

Ahhh...car rides and summer trips to the beach with my very best friends. This song brings back all of those fabulous memories. I remember driving down the road, windows rolled down, hair getting tangled in the wind and all of us singing as loudly as possible!!!

Ooo She She Wa Wa - Apollonia 6

No other person on this planet has as much fun with this song as my dear friend Lori. It is almost ridiculous that both of us know all the words to this song by heart. We must be the weirdest people on the planet for even listening to this song. We had the best time blaring this song while driving down Tennessee Street in Tallahassee after FSU football games.

Blister in the Sun - Violent Femmes

College came, all of my friends went their separate ways, but we still wouldn't let go of fun times together at a moments notice. My dear friend Lori and I always managed to start off any dance floor. We didn't care who was watching, we'd just dance. Miraculously, people followed. And of course, if we had heard 'Blister in the Sun' at least once, we knew if was a good night!

Zoom - Soda Stereo

Ok...so there are far many more songs that bring back fond memories, but this is the final one that I will write about today. That would be Zoom by Soda Stereo. It is no secret that I love Latin American music. In fact, I have an entire case of CDs dedicated to Latin American music. I don't know what it is about this song that just draws me in every time that I listen to it. The words are even kind of bizarre, but it just sticks with me like no other.

Feel free to share new songs with me. You never know what my next favorite will be!

I want somebody who cares
For me passionately
With every thought and
With every breath
Someone wholl help me see things
In a different light
All the things I detest
I will almost like
I dont want to be tied
To anyones strings
Im carefully trying to steer clear of
Those things
But when Im asleep
I want somebody
Who will put their arms around me
And kiss me tenderly
Though things like this
Make me sick
In a case like this
Ill get away with it
Aaaahhhhh....

Just been listening to Johnny Cashes version of 'Personal Jesus' by Depeche Mode. According to the Wiki

The song was inspired by the book Elvis and Me by Priscilla Presley. According to songwriter Martin Gore:

It's a song about being a Jesus for somebody else, someone to give you hope and care. It's about how Elvis was her man and her mentor and how often that happens in love relationships; how everybody's heart is like a god in some way, and that's not a very balanced view of someone, is it?

Oh moaning, there has been truth in these words for me. But not just looking for Jesus in people but lots of things around me. Idols.

"Words like violence
Break the silence
Come crashing in
Into my little world"

Am redescoperit una dintre cele mai bune creatii DM. Probabil ca am uitat de cantecul asta din cauza ca Violator mi se pare, in general, un album mediocru. Si totusi, da doua dintre cel mai bine scrise cantece ever. Sweetest Perfection si, of course, Enjoy the Silence. Mai punem si Personal Jesus la plusuri.

Cum naiba sa uit un cantec ca asta? Trebuie sa reiau discografia DM, cine stie peste ce am mai trecut.

(quite right! hat tip: ASC)

Julia, my love, ce zici, ne apucam incet de bucataria aia? :)

Беше 21-ви юни – ден, в който една мечта, споделяна от хиляди, щеше да умре, за да се роди нова. Облечен с няколко номера по-широки дънки, няколко номера по-широка блуза, с ужасяваща коса ала "Джим Морисън + евтин гел" и изпълнен с очакването да преживея нещо, което никога не съм преживявал, аз бях готов да посрещна моя Woodstock. Помня в най-малки детайли всичко, което случи до вечерта. Първите ми срещи с някои хора, последните ми с други, случайните такива по улиците и в трамвая, радостното високоволтово напрежение и уникалността на това да видиш как три поколения се събират и стават едно. Винаги е интересно, когато идеалите на миналото и настоящето се срещат, жалко, че това все по-рядко се случва.

Но от самия концерт на Depeche Mode, случил се преди точно две години, не мога да възстановя почти нищо. Отделни размазани картини са се запазили в съзнанието ми, It Doesn't Matter Two звучеше в ушите ми няколко дни след това, но и споменът за нея избледнява с времето. Но дори и да не помня ясно какво съм видял от 21.06.06, помня какво почувствах и какво значение имаше това.

Надявам се, че тези думи не звучат носталгично, защото това не е целта. Онези моменти не поставяха край, те създадоха едно ново начало. Странно е как някои песни за безизходност събарят бариерите, странно е как нещо такова оцветява в бяло тъмните мисли...може би това е провокирало един мъдър човек да напише "this is my church/ this is where I heal my hurts" с идеята за пречиствателната сила на живата музика.

Скоро пък ще се навърши едногодишнината от концерта на Placebo, като вероятно това най-добрият, на който съм бил, просто защото...този го помня! Но първата среща с любовта винаги е различна от всички следващи и има специално място в сърцето.

São uma das bandas com maior influência no meu crescimento musical.  Não posso dizer que conheça absolutamente tudo o que fazem nem que os oiça todos os dias. Mas é completamente verdade que têm uma presença muito forte no meu universo sonoro. Há musicas dos Depeche Mode que eu não imaginaria, nunca, poderem ser tocadas ou inventadas por nenhuma outra banda.

Por tudo o que passou, por tudo o que fez e faz, Dave Gahan é uma referência. Sê-lo-á sempre e acho que mesmo para que não aprecia DM, fica sempre a pontinha de respeito pelo menos por tudo o que conseguiram fazer na e pela musica.

Deixo aqui um dos (muitos muitos!) temas que me apaixonam sempre que tocam.

"Well it's about time
It's beginning to hurt
Time you made up your mind
Just what is it all worth

All your stupid ideals
You've got your head in the clouds
You should see how it feels
With your feet on the ground"

Depeche Mode. Useless. Ultra

recently i've started working on some music with my good friend Chris. We've decided to start up a project which we call "Da Kriska Kids" (a combination of his name and my last name, and the fact that is sounds silly). The goal of this project is to laugh at the superficiality of society and people, and especially the state of rap/hip-hop music these days.

we tend to get together about once a week here at my house, in what Chris likes to call "the temple of boom" where we sit around for 4-6 hours working on music. i leave the lyrics up to him, he seems to have a good way of putting his feelings into words, in a very cynical way.
he leaves the music up to me. I enjoy sitting and programming my nord modular and lead 2 synths, and just the general recording process. obvious the "temple of boom" consists of my bedroom and the gear contained within it, but i seem quite happy with what i have, and i'm happy with the way things end up sounding usually.

today we recorded a track that, unlike the last two we recorded, are not hip-hop/rap in style, but rather a depeche mode/NIN sounding industrial track. a current favorite tool of mine are my abbey road studio sample packs for reason. I love the mellotron, so i've been using that a lot recently.
the Roland Space Echo got a lot of use today (i decided to use that instead of the delays in Logic, which would hog the CPU) and it sounded great. its a very warm sounding delay, and we used it all over. it makes things "thick"

my new krk vxt4 monitors have already shown what they can do, and this mix is one of the clearest ive heard in a while. speakers really do make the difference.

hopefully we get together again soon and work on more stuff. its great having someone right there while writing and recording to get feedback and suggestions from. i also enjoy having to work faster than when i write on my own, because i don't have the time to fuck around pointlessly with gear, but rather, dial in sounds, and GO.

Lacuna Coil ha participado en los más grandes festivales de metal en todo el mundo, incluyendo Ozzfest, Bloodstock Open Air, Wacken Open Air, y en el Loudpark Festival en Japón.

Actualmente son considerados como una de las bandas de hard rock y metal más influyentes en Italia, así como una de las bandas italianas con mayor éxito en el extranjero. y de las mas influyentes en el metal gótico

Inicios y Ethereal

El génesis de Lacuna Coil se inicia en Milán en 1994, cuando el guitarrista y compositor Marco Coti Zelati y su amigo, Andrea Ferro, forman la banda Sleep of Right. Coti tocaba la guitarra, Ferro el bajo y Raffaele Zagaria se une como guitarrista y Michelangelo como baterista. La banda tocó su primera presentación en vivo en Bologna, Italia en 1994. Grabaron Bleeding Souls, el cual fue publicado en 1995 en el disco compilatorio Noise of Bolgia.

Coti empieza a tocar el bajo, así Andrea se concentró como vocalista. Se les unió Claudio Leo, como segunda guitarra, y Leonardo Forti como baterista; luego de la partida de Michelangelo. Su siguiente decisión fue incorporar a Cristina Scabbia, amiga de ellos, para que cante algunas canciones. Debido a que Scabbia complementaba muy bien la banda, fue incluida como un miembro permanente.

Luego de la unión de Scabbia como vocalista de la banda, esta cambia su nombre a Ethereal y en mayo de 1996 graban y envían un demo, de dos canciones, Shallow End y Frozen Feeling, a diversas disqueras europeas. La banda recibe respuestas de Nuclear Blast y Century Media; luego deciden sellar el trato con Century Media y descubren que el nombre Ethereal ya había sido tomado por una banda griega. La banda, en aquel entonces formada por Scabbia, Ferro, Coti Zelati, Leo, Zagaria y Forti, decide nombrarse Lacuna Coil, que significa "espiral vació".

El primer EP y la separación

En 1997, en el Woodhouse Studio en Alemania, Lacuna Coil empiezan a grabar sus primeras canciones con la firma Century Media. Las diferencias musicales entre Zagaria, Forti y el resto de la banda empiezan a surgir. A pesar de estos problemas, la banda graba seis canciones, producidas por el guitarrista Waldemar Sorychta de Grip Inc. Sin embargo, la banda decidió no incluir las canciones del demo Ethereal ya que no encajaban con el nuevo estilo de la banda.

Con el EP, también llamado Lacuna Coil el cual sería lanzado a inicios del año 1998, la banda se une al grupo de metal gótico Moonspell en diciembre de 1997, en una gira promocional europea. Raffaele Zagaria, Claudio Leo y Leonardo Forti abandonan la banda luego de sólo tres de doce presentaciones. Lacuna Coil continúa en la gira, con ayuda del guitarrista Anders Iwes de Tiamat y el baterista Markus de Kreator.

En enero de 1998, incorporan a Cristiano Migliore de la banda Thy Nature, y a Cristiano "Criz" Mozzati de Time Machine. En marzo del mismo año, la banda inicia su segunda gira europea con la banda neerlandesa The Gathering y Siegmen. Durante la gira, Steve Minelli de la banda Node toca la guitarra luego de que el nuevo guitarrista de Lacuna Coil, Cristiano Migliore se hiriese. Además, Alice Chiarelli colaboró como tecladista.

En agosto, Lacuna Coil participa por primera vez en un festival, Wacken Open-Air. La banda empieza a sobresalir, por lo que deciden incorporar a la banda un segundo guitarrista en vez de un tecladista. Esto recién sucede luego de que terminar la grabación de su primer álbum de estudio.

In A Reverie y Halflife EP

En octubre de 1998, Lacuna Coil regresa a Woodhouse Studio en Alemania y una vez más, con el productor Waldemar Sorychta, graban su primer álbum titulado In A Reverie. El sonido es más pesado que en su primer EP y logra el un mayor reconocimiento de la banda en toda Europa, especialmente en Alemania y Escandinavia. Sin embargo, su música no les daba fama en un país de origen, Italia.

En enero de 1999 la banda finalmente completa su alineación luego de que Marco "Maus" Biazzi es incorporado para tocar la segunda guitarra, y en febrero del mismo año, tocan el primer show para promocionar su álbum In A Reverie en la avenida "Rolling Stone" en Milán.

El resto de aquel año, Lacuna Coil se mantiene de gira por toda Europa, empezando con Inglaterra en abril, en mayo con la gira "Into de Darkness" junto a la banda Samael, My Insanity y Grip Inc, y continúan haciendo más de 20 presentaciones terminando en el Dynamo Open Air Festival el 21 de mayo, frente a 20 mil personas. El 5 de junio, la banda regresa a Italia para tocar en el festival "Gods of Metal" frente a 25 mil personas, encabezado por Metallica.

Luego de algunos shows en Rotterdam en julio, la banda concluye su gira entre septiembre y octubre con una gira por Alemania, encabezada por Lacrimosa. La banda cancela sus últimas tres presentaciones debido a que Marco Coti Zelati sufre un accidente y se rompe una costilla ayudando a un técnico de luces.

A inicios del 2000, Lacuna Coil y Waldemar Sorychta vuelven al estudio, esta vez en Ventimiglia, Italia, para grabar un nuevo EP titulado Halflife, el cual contenía cinco canciones y un cover, Stars, de la banda inglesa de pop Dub Star. En este EP, la banda por primera vez usa técnicas de grabación digital. Entre las canciones, se encuentra una canción totalmente en italiano, llamada "Senzafine". El 20 de marzo del mismo año, Halflife es oficialmente lanzado, siendo un total éxito para la banda.

Unleashed Memories

Luego de una festividad en agosto de 2000, Lacuna Coil y Waldemar Sorychta regresan nuevamente al Woodhouse Studio en octubre del mismo año, para graban su segundo álbum, Unleashed Memories. El álbum contuvo nueve canciones y una versión diferente de "Senzafine" que, de acuerdo a la banda, es la versión original de la canción. El álbum es completado a finales de noviembre, y en diciembre, la banda se dirige hacia México para realizar dos presentaciones junto a Theatre of Tragedy en Guadalajara y en Ciudad de México el 16 y el 17 respectivamente.

Al igual que el lanzamiento de Unleashed Memories el 29 de enero de 2001, aquel sería un año intenso de gira para la banda, empezando con un tour europeo de 31 presentaciones con Theatre of Tragedy y Beseech. También estuvieron incluidos en el tour "Metal Odyssey" con Dimmu Borgir, Nevermore, In Flames, y Susperia, tocando en 13 fechas por Europa. En abril, Lacuna Coil regresa a Italia para tocar en diversas giras.

La banda toca en varias presentaciones y festivales durante el verano, incluyendo Wacken y Neerpelt en agosto; sin embargo, Marco Coti Zelati no estuvo junto a la banda en ciertos festivales debido a que tuvo una operación de los ligamentos de su rodilla. Estos festivales reúnen a Lacuna Coil con In Flames, Dimmu Borgir, Nevermore, y Theatre of Tragedy, y el 1 de septiembre en el festival Mera Luna, Cristina Scabbia canta "You Can Have All My Love Tonight" junto a Lucyfire.

Al terminar los festivales de verano, Lacuna Coil empiezan a trabajar en su nuevo material para la grabación de un nuevo álbum - sólo 10 meses luego del lanzamiento de Unleashed Memories. La banda aún tenía tiempo para apoyar al nuevo canal de música italiano "Rock TV", con un show en la avenida "Rolling Stone" en Milán. Luego, Marco Biazzi y Cristiano Mozzati también aparecen en el canal de música "Database".

En el 2001, Claudio Leo y Raffaele Zagaria, ambos ex miembros y fundadores de la banda, forman un grupo de metal gótico llamado Cayne. También lanzan su primer álbum Old Faded Pictures en la disquera Scarlet Records. Otra ex miembro de la banda, Alice Chiarelli, quien había tocado el teclado en las presentaciones en vivo de la banda, anuncia su nuevo proyecto de doom metal, Alice in Darkland, con su nuevo álbum, The Evil's Entrails siendo lanzado en marzo del 2002.

La banda también participa en su primer tour estadounidense, tocando en 12 fechas con la banda portuguesa Moonspell durante diciembre. La banda tuvo dificultades con la compañía de transporte para la gira, por lo que tuvo que cancelar dos presentaciones en Canadá.

Comalies

Luego de su regreso de América y de un descanso por Navidad, Lacuna Coil empieza a trabajar en su material para el tercer álbum. La banda continúa apoyando al canal italiano "Rock TV", encontrando tiempo para entrevistar a otros artistas incluyendo Slipknot, Nickelback, POD, System of a Down, entre otros; pero los siguientes meses se dedicaron por completo a la composición de su álbum. En abril del 2002, inicia la pre-producción en Milán, una vez más con el productor Waldemar Sorychta. El 17 de abril, ingresan al Woodhouse Studio en Alemania y empiezan la grabación del álbum que les traería el éxito global.

Durante mayo del 2002, luego de dos intensos meses de producción, el álbum es completado y la banda lo nombra Comalies, el cual más pesado y dinámico que su producción anterior, Unleashed Memories. La canción "Comalies" es cantada en inglés e italiano.

Comalies es lanzada en septiembre de 2002 con muy buenas críticas. La banda inicia una gira europea de 28 fechas en octubre del mismo año con la banda Sentenced. Las nuevas canciones son escuchadas en vivo por primera vez y el sencillo "Heaven's A Lie" ubica a la banda en la escena post-gótica. Un video de producción, filmado durante la grabación de Comalies, es transmitido en "Rock TV".

Luego del tour con Sentenced, Lacuna Coil toma un corto descanso antes de empezar una nueva gira, empezando un tour italiano en febrero del 2003, continuando en Estados Unidos en abril con un tour de 30 fechas junto a Opeth. Durante esta gira, la banda trabajó con el director Chade Seide para la producción de su primer video, "Heaven's A Lie", el cual empezó a ser transmitido en estaciones de radio estadounidenses. En octubre del 2003, la canción era transmitida en 65 estaciones diferentes.

La gira continúa durante el verano, regresando a Europa para tocar en algunos festivales, siendo el más notable el Heineken Jammin' Festiva en Imola, frente a 40 mil personas. Luego esto, la banda regresa a Estados Unidos para tocar junto a Type O Negative y Anthrax, haciendo un total de 75 shows diferentes desde julio hasta diciembre.

Con la popularidad del sencillo "Heaven's A Lie" creciendo, la banda decide regrabar un nuevo video, dirigido por Patric Ullaeus. La canción es acortada para este lanzamiento, el cual es mostrado por primera vez en "Fuse TV", en Estados Unidos, el 9 de diciembre del 2003.

Después de la interminable gira del 2003, Lacuna Coil se une a Moonspell, Passenger y Posion Black para encabezar el Xmas Tour, iniciando el día de Navidad en Hamburgo, e incluyendo un memorable show en Z7 en Pratteln mientras el año nuevo empezaba.

Luego de que la banda renueva su contrato con Century Media en enero del 2004, empiezan ese año con el Piorno Festival en España. En abril, la banda recorre Italia, mientras "Heaven's A Lie" continuaba dominando la radio italiana. El 1 de mayo, Lacuna Coil se une a POD en una gira estadounidense de dos meses.

Las ventas de Comalies sobrepasan las 60 mil copias, y la banda regresa al estudio para grabar algunas canciones acústicas para una realización especial de Comalies para conmemorar una de los logros más grandes de la banda: Ozzfest. También lanzan un nuevo sencillo del álbum, "Swamped" el cual es prontamente escuchado en más de 100 estaciones de radio en Estados Unidos y el video para este sencillo es lanzado a finales de mayo del 2004.

"Ozzfest" — 2005

La banda participa en la gira estadounidense "Ozzfest", fundada por Sharon Osbourne y organizado por su esposo Ozzy Osbourne, que dura desde julio hasta septiembre del 2004. La edición del 2002 de Comalies para el Ozzfest es lanzada e incluye canciones acústicas de varias de sus canciones, así como los videos de los singles de la banda, "Heaven's A Lie" y "Swamped".

En Julio es revelado que Comalies superó las 100 mil ventas en los Estados Unidos y que Lacuna Coil se había convertido en el mayor artista de la disquera Century Media, y con 250 mil copias, la banda con más ventas de la música italiana. Así, la banda se coloca entre la posición número 194 de las listas de Billboard de julio del 2004 por vender 5,818 copias en una semana. El sencillo "Swamped", fue incluido en la banda sonora de la película de terror Resident Evil: Apocalypse.

Al terminar la gira en Estados Unidos, la banda retorna a Italia. Cristina Scabbia inmediatamente regresa al estudio de grabación, para grabar la canción "I'm That", haciendo un dueto con el famoso cantante italiano, Franco Battiato, para su álbum Dieci Stratagemmi que fue lanzado bajo la firma Sony Records.

En noviembre del 2004, Lacuna Coil empieza a trabajar en un nuevo material en Milán con Waldemar Sorychta. La banda toma un descanso para tocar en una presentación especial el 27 de diciembre en el Carling Apollo, en Hammersmith, Londres junto a In Flames, Caliban y Chimaira.

Century Media termina el año más exitoso de la banda anunciando que no sólo Comalies fue el álbum más vendido hasta aquella fecha de la disquera, vendiendo cerca de 150 mil copias sólo en los Estados Unidos, sino que también el álbum batió todos los récords anteriores de la Century Media.

A inicios del año 2005, la banda continúa trabajando en el nuevo álbum, mientras Comalies continúa aumentando sus ventas, alcanzando en mayo las 200 mil copias. El sucesor de Comalies estaba provisto para ser lanzado a finales del 2005, pero luego la banda anuncia que se tomarían tiempo en el proceso de grabarían; así, a medida que pasaba el tiempo era menos probable que el álbum se lanzara en ese año.

Al llegar el verano, la banda se prepara para participar en algunos de los más grandes festivales en Europa, empezando el 21 de mayo en el Rotonde Festival en Francia y sorprendiendo a la audiencia al tocar una nueva canción, la cual era más pesada, pero sin desviarse del estilo musical de la banda. El 12 de junio en el Donnington Park, Lacuna Coil toca en el Download Festival, junto a Slipknot, System of A Down, Mastodon y otros.

Karmacode

En julio del 2005, Century Media relanza todos los álbumes y EPs anteriores a Comalies de Lacuna Coil, con nuevas portadas y extras, y el 24 de setiembre anuncia que el nuevo álbum sería titulado Karmacode.

Los festivales continúan durante los meses de verano, la banda sigue tocando la nueva canción y el 22 de octubre en el Metal Female Voices Fest en Bélgica, la banda toca otra nueva canción. El día siguiente, la prensa internacionales es invitada a una sesión especial en el Galaxy Studios en Mol, Bélgica, en donde la banda revela seis nuevas canciones: "What I See", "Fragile", "In Visible Light", "Fragments of Faith", "Within Me" y "Our Truth".

La popularidad de la banda crece en Reino Unido, y el éxito de su presentación en el Download Festival en Junio, resulta en su primera gira británica en octubre de 2005, "Evening with Lacuna Coil" (Noche con Lacuna Coil), la cual constó de 5 fechas, empezando en Londres y terminando en Halloween en el Wulfrum Hall en Wolverhampton.

Al terminar el año 2005, y en las últimas etapas del proceso de grabación de Karmacode, la banda se prepara para el lanzamiento de este álbum y para la gira posterior.

A inicios del 2006, el primer sencillo en tres años de la banda, "Our Truth" es incluido en la banda sonora de la película Underworld Evolution. "Our Truth" es posteriormente lanzado en Europa como sencillo en marzo, siendo bien recibido por las críticas, y entrando en el puesto 19 en España y el Top 40 en Reino Unido.

Lacuna Coil continúa preparándose para el lanzamiento de Karmacode con una presentación en EMI Records en París, en el mes de febrero. En el evento, la banda toca más canciones del álbum, mostrando cómo el sonido había evolucionado desde Comalies. A inicios de abril, el cuarto álbum de la banda, Karmacode es lanzado mundialmente, siendo un éxito total y vendiendo 34 mil copias en Estados Unidos en su primera semana, alcanzando el puesto 28 en las listas Billboard y el puesto 1 en las listas independientes. En Italia, el álbum alcanza el puesto 17 y la banda es finalmente reconocida en su país de origen. Karmacode aparece en múltiples revistas como 'Álbum del Mes' y la vocalista Cristina Scabbia también aparece en las portadas de diversas revistas.

Con Karmacode lanzado, Lacuna Coil se concentra en las giras, empezando con un tour estadounidense de dos meses junto a Rob Zombie, tocando frente a multitudes más grandes. Cernca del fin de la gira, Lacuna Coil aparece en televesión estadounidense por primera vez, mostrando un mini-concierto en Jimmy Kimmel Live Show, por ABC.

La banda regresa a Europa para los festivales de verano, incluyendo Download Festival en Reino Unido y Graspop Metal Meeting en Bélgica, el cual fue transimitod en vivo por Internet. En junio, en el Metal Hammer 'Golden Gods' Awards, Cristina Sccabia recibe el premio 'Metal Icon', siendo la primera mujer en hacerlo.

En ese mismo mes, la banda lanza "Enjoy The Silence" como su segundo sencillo del álbum Karmacode, el cual es un cover de la canción del mismo nombre de la banda Depeche Mode. A finales de junio, la banda ya había hecho 46 presentaciones en vivo desde febrero, pero la gira no se detiene y la banda se une al "Ozzfest", apareciendo con Avenged Sevenfold, Dragonforce, Disturbed, Hatebreed y System of A Down.

La banda toma un pequeño descando antes de iniciar su propia gira por Europa, con 38 fechas en 15 países, apoyados por Poisonblack y otras bandas, la cual es todo un éxito. En octubre del 2006, Lacuna Coil lanza su tercer sencillo, "Closer", el cual posee un sonido diferente al estilo característico de la banda. Una semama después del fin del tour europeo, la banda regresa a Estados Unidos para unirse a la gira "Blackest of the Black Tour", de Danzig, el cual dura dos semanas hasta finales de noviembre del 2006.

La banda inmediatamente hace 2 presentaciones en México, siendo ésta la primera vez que tocan en este país desde su gira "Halflife on Tour" en el 2000. El tour del 2006 terminando con una gira de 13 fechas con In Flames, el cual termina una semana antes de Navidad.

Miembros

Actuales

• Cristina Scabbia - voces
• Andrea Ferro - voces
• Cristiano Migliore - Guitarra
• Marco Biazzi - Guitarra
• Marco Coti Zelati - bajo
• Cristiano Mozzati - Batería

Anteriores

• Raffaele Zagaria - Guitarra
• Claudio Leo - Guitarra
• Leonardo Forti - Batería

Discografía

Covers

• Enjoy the Silence (2008, Depeche mode)

Álbumes

• Ethereal (Demo) (1996)
• Lacuna Coil (EP, 1997)
• In a Reverie (1999)
• Halflife (EP, 2000)
• Unleashed Memories (2001)
• Comalies (2002)
• Karmacode (2006)
• Reinventing The Spiral (2008 )

Sencillos

• Heavens A Lie (2002)
• Swamped (2004)
• Our Truth (2006)
• Enjoy the Silence (2006)
• Closer (2006)
• Within Me (2007)

Re-ediciones

• Unleashed Memories (2005)
• In A Reverie (2005)
• Heaven`s A Lie (First Version) - 2003
• Heaven`s A Lie (USA Version) - 2003
• Heaven's A Lie (Studio Version) - 2003
• Swamped - 2004
• Our Truth - 2006
• Enjoy The Silence - 2006
• Closer - 2006
• Within Me - 2007

That day was also the day (or night) of Depeche Mode's infamous Concert For The Masses at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. The bill also included Wire, Thomas Dolby and OMD.

Was it an amazing show? You bet your sweet ass it was. And in case you want to know the prices of the event, let me consult my ticket stub which is in a frame with my autographed "Music for the Masses" LP.

• Ticket cost: $22.50
• Parking cost: $5

Wow! That's, like, almost $30! I could have filled up my Chevette for the month with that money! Yeesh! But remember, $22.50 was a lot of freaking money for a 18-year-old back then (especially one working at a photo lab making $4.25 an hour). And what was great about the parking was that I parked on a golf course and made some serious donuts on it after the show. I bet some golfers were seriously pissed off the next morning.

But I digress. The 101 show was about as memorable as any I've ever been to: 80,000 fans, the food fight, the thunderstorm during "Something To Do" and "Blasphemous Rumours," visiting all the local record stores in Pasadena before the show began. And did I mention 80,000 screaming fans? It was truly a day to remember.

I bought a couple of t-shirts at the show--$20 each--and still have them today. In fact, I tried one on tonight and guess what?

The fruits of my weight loss labor have paid off--the shirt effing fits 20 years later! And that's an XL, not XXL. Me so happy. But I wish I had my 1988 hair back. Damn you, receding hairline!

(Note to self: get somebody to start taking your picture.)

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Take a trip down Memory Lane. Check out some most outstanding 101 audio and video clips on Depeche Mode's main page.

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Continuing the series about music fan, I met Mariola a couple of years ago, she's a big fan of Depeche Mode (DM). It's always very interesting to discover how a big music fan feel about a band and their music, to see how her life is influenced by the band. There always are amazing stories in each fan, nice anecdotes, funny moments to share. Mariola told me how she fell in love with DM, how their videos influenced the choice for a career and how their music opened her to other music genres.

How and when did it start between you and Depeche Mode?

It was when I was 15... ten years ago. I used to watch loads of MTV, when it was still a music channel.. and I watched a video called Barrel of a Gun.. and I loved it and then it came It's no good.. and I became a fan. It was hard because I lived in a small town and no one, at least not the guys my age I knew, liked Depeche Mode too much. Of course with the time, I started to meet people who loved Depeche Mode too, but at the beginning I felt a little bit lonely about my obsession.

Do you have a big collection of their records? Any rarities among that?

I have all Depeche Mode Cd's.. and most of the videos (mostly in VHS) but no rarities. Some of my friends have many rarities, really cool ones, but I have never been the collector kind. But I do have a Depeche Mode treasure, something that I really value, and it is the drumstick of the drummer who was with David Gahan on the Paper Monster's tour and the one touring with Depeche Mode in Playing the Angel. He threw the drumstick at a concert in Copenhagen. Of course everyone around me was fighting to take it because it fell on the floor, and I couldn´t reach it... but then the bodyguard took it, told all the guys to calm down and he gave it to me. It was an amazing feeling and it surpasses all the rarities.

How much do you follow their news (TV documentaries, books, website) ?

Until I was 18 I bought all the magazines, recorded all their TV shows and documentaries and had all the DM books. But now my interests are wider and I don't really have the time to follow their news too much. Of course I visit their website once in a while, but that`s it.

What is your best memories related with Depeche Mode?

Many of the good memories in my life are related with Depeche Mode. I met many of my friends because we love Depeche Mode.
One of my favorite recent memories are the concert in Monterrey MX, another is the David Gahan concert in Copenhagen, in which we sang together (DG and me) the chorus of the song I Need you.. uf.. I almost fainted. And another is about a Depeche Mode tribute me and a friend organized in Uruapan when we were 16. The place had never been that full, singing Depeche Mode and having a great time.

What is the craziest thing you've done for that band?

mmm. nothing really.. besides the normal things like going to concert and scream, or going alone to a cold city for a concert.. that´s all.. maybe if i lived in England or something, I would stand outside their record studios or their houses :P but I live faaar faar away.. (lucky them :P)

What do you think of Dave Gahan solo career?

Paper Monsters is brilliant, it was a very good chance to hear what Dave has to say and to hear his own compositions. I think it was a very healthy thing for the band and for him.. and now he is more confident and he could write some songs for the Playing the angel album. But I must say it´s pretty difficult to separate his work from DM music and even in the Paper Monsters concert, it was more like a Depeche Mode concert than a Dave Gahan solo concert. Anyway, I love this guy and whatever he does.

You now have started a career in the picture and movie industry, to which extend does the videos form DM (and others) have an influence on your work?

One of my main interests in my professional and personal life are music videos and photography, and actually I decided that I wanted to be a video director after I saw Anton Corbijn´s work with Depeche Mode. One of the Depeche Mode´s videos that has influenced the most is Never Let me Down again (see video below) and Barrel of a Gun. I love the black and white imagery, the use of the grain, the natural light, the eastern Europe style, the Berliner style, the makeup, and the contrasts.
Also, when I take photos as a hobby, I think that many of them reflect the style and the lyrics of Depeche Mode, at least that is what I want to reflect on them. Of course, Depeche Mode and Anton Corbijn are not my only influences, I am also very influenced by the works from Chris Cunningham, Floria Sigismondi, Mark Romanek and art and music in general. Other videos that are a main inspiration for me are "Perfect Drug" from Nine Inch Nails, "This is Hardcore" from Pulp and "Untitled no. 1" from Sigur Ros.  
 

Thanks to Mariola for her brilliant words about Depeche Mode. If you want to see how depenche mode and other videos might have influenced her, here are some of the art work she did: on deviantart and baklight.
Depeche Mode - Never let me down again 

[dailymotion id=x1w8f0&related=1]

"No están todas las que son, ni son todas las que están", así que espero que el éxito que tuvo nuestra selección de las mejores canciones de los 80, se repita en esta nueva mini-galería de recuerdos.

¿Qué canciones crees que hacen falta en esta recopilación?. Anímate, ayúdame a mejorar esta selección de temas noventeros :)

A
AC/DC – Hard As a Rock
Ace Of Base - All That She Wants
Ace of Base - Beautiful Life
Ace of Base - The Sign
Aerosmith - Livin' On the Edge
Aerosmith - Cryin
Aerosmith - Crazy
Aerosmith - Amazing
Aerosmith - I don't want to miss a thing
Aerosmith - Sweet Emotion
Air Supply - Without You
Air Supply - Goodbye
Alanis Morissette - You oughta know
Alanis Morissette - Ironic
Alanis Morissette - Thank U
Andrés Calamarao - Crímenes Perfectos
Andrés Calamarao - Media Verónica
Annie Lennox – No More I Love You’s

B
Backstreet Boys - As long as you love me
Backstreet Boys - I Want It That Way
Billy Idol - Shock to the System
Bodyjar - Not The Same
Bon Jovi – Always
Bon Jovi – Bed Of Roses
Bon Jovi – Blaze of Glory
Bon Jovi – This is ain't love song
Boston – I Need Your Love
Bruce Springsteen - Streets of Philadelphia
Bryan Adams - Everything I Do) I Do It For You
Bryan Adams - Do I Have To Say The Words?
Bryan Adams - Please Forgive Me
Bryan Adams Sting y Rod Steward - All For Love

C
Chris Isaak - Somebody´s Crying
Collective Soul - Run
Cómplices: Es por ti
Counting Crows - Mr. Jones
Counting Crows - Accidentally in Love
Cranberries, The – Zombie
Cranberries, The – I Can’t Be With You
Cranberries, The – Ode To My Family

CH
Chemical Brothers - Let Forever Be
Cher - Believe

D
David Bowie – Jump They Say
David Bowie & Nine Inch Niles – I’m Afraid Of Americans
Depeche Mode - Enjoy the Silence
Depeche Mode - Policy of Truth
Depeche Mode - Higher Love
Destiny’s Child – Say My Name
Dido – Thank You
Dido & Eminem - Stan
Dire Straits - Millionaire Blues
Dire Straits - You and Your Friend
Duran Duran - Ordinary World

E
Elton John - Candle in the Wind
Elton John - Sacrifice
Elton John - Can You Feel the Love Tonight
Enanitos Verdes - Lamento boliviano
Enanitos Verdes - Mi primer día sin ti
Erasure - Love To Hate You
Erasure - Run To The Sun
Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven
Eric Clapton - Change the World
Eric Clapton - My Father's Eyes
Evanescence - My inmortal
Extreme - More Than Words

F
4Non Blondes – What’s Up
Fool's Garden – Lemon Tree
Foo Fighters - Learn to Fly

G
George Michael - Older
George Michael – Fastlove
George Michael – Jesus To A Child
Gloria Estefan - Comming Out of the Dark
Gloria Estefan - Mi Buen Amor
Gloria Estefan - Steal Your Heart
Gloria Estefan - Oye!
Goo Goo Dolls - Iris
Goo Goo Dolls - Lazy Eye
Green Day - Basket Case
Green Day - Good Riddance
Guns N' Roses - You Could Be Mine
Guns N' Roses - Knockin' on Heaven's Door
Guns N' Roses - Don't Cry

H
Héroes del Silencio - Entre dos tierras
Hootie & the Blowfish – Only Wanna Be With You

I
INXS - Suicide Blonde
INXS - Beautiful Girl

J
Jamiroquai - When You Gonna Learn?
Jamiroquai - Too Young To Die
Jamiroquai - Cosmic Girl
Joan Osborne – One Of Us

L
La Bouche - Be My Lover
La Bouche - Sweet Dreams
Lenny Kravitz - Rock and roll is dead
Lenny Kravitz - Are you Gonna go my way
Lenny Kravitz - I Belong to You
Los Prisioneros - Tren al sur
Los Prisioneros - Amiga mía
Los Prisioneros - Estrechez de corazón
Los Rodríguez - Mi enfermedad
Los Rodríguez - Sin documentos

M
Madonna – You'll See
Madonna – Ray Of Light
Madonna – Substitute For Love
Mariah Carey - Vision of Love
Mariah Carey - Love Takes Time
Mariah Carey - Without You
Marilyn Manson – Sweet Dreams
Megadeth – Tout Le Monde
Metallica - Until it sleeps
Metallica - Unforgiven
Metallica - Unforgiven II
Metallica - Nothing else matters
Midnight Oil - Blue Sky Mine
Midnight Oil - Beds Are Burning
Mr.President - Coco Jambo

N
Natalie Imbruglia - Torn
Natalie Imbruglia - Big Mistake
Neil Young – Philadelphia
Nirvana - Come As You Are
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Nirvana - Lithium
Nirvana - Poly
Nirvana - All Apologies
Nou Doubt – Don’t Speak
Nou Doubt – Sunday Morning

O
Oasis – Wonderwall
Oasis – Supersonic

P
Pearl Jam – Better Man
Pearl Jam – Once
Pearl Jam – Nothing Man
Pet Shop Boys – Can You Forgive He
Phil Collins - Both sides of the story
Phil Collins - Against All Odds
Phil Collins - Another Day In Paradise
Phil Collins - You'll Be in My Heart
Phil Collins - Two Worlds
Pink Floyd - Learning to Fly

Q
Queen - All God's people
Queen - I'm Going Slightly Mad

R
Radiohead - Karma Police
Radiohead - Paranoid Android
Radiohead - No Surprises
Radiohead - Street Spirit (Fade Out)
Radiohead - Creep
Radiohead - Thinking About You
R.E.M. - The Great Beyond
R.E.M. - Losing My Religion
R.E.M. - Everybody Hurts
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Scar Tissue
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Give It Away
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Under the Bridge
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Otherside
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication
Rod Steward - When we were the new boys
Rolling Stones - Saint of Me
Rolling Stones - You Got Me Rocking
Roxette - How do you do
Roxette – Sleeping In My Car

S
Santana & Rob Thomas – Smooth
Santana – Maria Maria
Savage Garden - To the moon and back
Savage Garden - Trully Madly Deeply
Savage Garden - Break and shake me
Shaggy – Mr. Boombastic
Shania Twain - You're Still the One
Shania Twain - From This Moment On
Shania Twain - That Don't Impress Me Much
Sheryl Crow – Everyday Is a Winding Road
Sheryl Crow – Hard to Make a Stand
Smashing Pumpkins - Perfect
Smashing Pumpkins – 1979
Soda Stereo - De música ligera
Soda Stereo - Té para tres
Soda Stereo - Un millón de años luz
Soda Stereo - En la ciudad de la furia
Spice Girls - Wannabe
Spice Girls - 2 Become 1
Sting - All this time
Sting - Desert Rose
Sting - You Still Touch Me
Sting & Eric Clapton – It’s Probaly Me
Sugar - If I can Change your mind

T
Take That - Back for Good
Take That - Could It Be Magic
Take That - How deep is your love
Tears For Fears – Goodnight Song
Tears For Fears – God’s Mistake
The Cardigans – My Favorite Game
The Cure - Friday I'm in love
The Cure - High
Toni Braxton – Unbreak My Heart
Tracy Chapman – Gime Me One Reason

U
U2 – One
U2 – Miss Sarajevo
UB40 - Can't Help Falling In Love

W
Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You

Z
ZZ Top – She’s Just Killing Me

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