Betty Poison formed in 2005 under a slightly different name, Betty Ford Center, as a guitar bass and drums combo. As well as having changed the name, they have changed the line-up twice. “In 2007 we replaced the bass with another guitar,” says Lucia, “and in 2010 when our former drummer quit, Mirko took his place. We were lucky. I know many bands who have gone through many line-up changes and never seem to find the right one.” The name change, on the other hand wasn’t expected: “One day our videos and all references to the band were removed overnight, so we thought it better to change the name immediately to avoid further issues. The name ‘Betty Poison’ popped up spontaneously and we liked it” explains Nunzio.
I don’t remember the first time I met Nunzio, although I’m certain it was through a mutual friend, the Rome-based singer songwriter, Ilenia Volpe. Lucia, on the other hand, I met when the group played at a club in Veneto behind wire-mesh fencing – and Mirko only recently when they played at Le Mura as part of Heroes, here in Rome. “Heroes is a beautiful project supported by bands, promoters, journalists and ‘qualified’ music lovers who are trying to encourage a ‘real’ alternative scene” he says, “Italian ‘self-proclaimed-indie’ is over-hyped fashionable crap... once ‘indie’ meant freedom from stereotypes, now it’s just a pathetic mockery for rich kids. Heroes is creating a circuit which connects similar minds and we are part of it because we strongly believe in opposing systems and in the capacity of people to determine their own future. And in revolution, of course.”
The band has already had some overseas success, having performed across mainland Europe: Italy, Germany, Belgium, Austria, France, Switzerland, Hungary, the Czech Republic… an almost endless list but not the UK. “We haven’t played there yet,” explains Mirko “but we will as soon as we can because our English fans would be happy to see us live! We also want to get some gigs in Scandinavia because we really appreciate the rock circuits there.” The Belgian band, Pandora, has toured with the group on several occasions: “They’re the most beautiful people you could ever meet,” continues Mirko “We have the same idea of art, music and life, and this empathy is the base of our long time collaboration and friendship. We share beautiful memories of our past tours together and we’re working on many new projects side by side.”
There has also been a tour of the East Coast of the USA: “It was simply amazing,” says Lucia “the audiences were totally supportive and we had the time of our lives. We toured down the East Coast like crazy horses, having so many stunning experiences and obviously a lot of fun. I just couldn’t get over a huge problem with jet lag the first day… I was so fucked up that I even fell asleep standing at the entrance of a store! Mirko took a pic of me and he still keeps it on his mobile for future reference.”
Perhaps the highlight of the bands history so far was opening for Hole both in Milan and in Rome: “When we knew that Hole were come to Italy to play some gigs we proposed our band as opening act,” explains Nunzio, “Lucia and I grew up listening to ‘Pretty on the inside’ and ‘Live through this’ and we’ve kept on following Hole. We were told we were not the only ones asking and that Hole and their management would choose the ‘lucky ones’.” While waiting the band left for a tour and it was while they were in Belgium that they got the news they’d been chosen. In Milan, Courtney gave an interview to an important Italian Magazine in which she praised Betty Poison, and they also then opened for Hole in Rome. “They were both amazing nights, everything was magic,” says Nunzio “we gained a lot of new supporters and in Rome we spent a great time with the members of Hole … we still talk from time to time. As for Courtney, in Milan she went away immediately after the gig and in Rome was stuck with journalists all the time, so we only had the opportunity to see her: she’s much more beautiful in person than how she appears in photos and videos. And so fucking tall!”
The band has released an EP “Uncool” (2008) and two albums “Poison for You” (2009) and “Beauty is Over” (2011): “They were beautiful releases and everything was just great” says Lucia. Beauty is Over was presented both in Rome and in Berlin. In Rome, Lucia wore a Chinese dress and the event was part of a special gay night against homophobia – the band are strong gay right defenders – Annika Kreusch of Pandora also played with the group on bass: “She wore a Chinese dress too,” explains Lucia “but with trousers under it… she can’t even think female!” The release in Berlin was attended by fans and many musicians that the band loves: “We got utterly and totally drunk!” laughs Lucia. Beauty is Over has been received very well both by the public and the critics and understandably the band is pleased.
Solobuio has shot three videos for the group: “Psychovicious”, inspired by Art Spiegelman and based on the complex theme of Stockholm Syndrome, “Silly pop song” and the latest, “July”, which contains a reference to the last scene of Blade Runner at the very end. Minimal Cinema, on the other hand, shot the video for “Paris Hilton up your ass” the band’s anthem “against superficiality which Paris Hilton fully embodies” explains Nunzio, also “Time” and a video of a beautiful performance by Anton Perich, long time photographer for Andy Warhol and member of “the Factory” in New York. “Time was chosen as the soundtrack for the performance,” says Nunzio “and Perich reactivated his famous painting machine for the first time since the 70s! Both Solobuio and Minimal Cinema are gorgeous teams.“
Lucia explains a little about Italy, its current economic and political crisis, and music: “At the moment Italy is going through a bad structural crisis and a totally uncertain political transition: the economy is falling apart and the new generations seem to have been robbed of their future. Everything, including making music, is more difficult than anywhere else. That said, there are plenty of stunning musicians who are fighting tooth and nail to survive and since rock has always been nourished by rage and desperation I wouldn’t be surprised if Italian bands will rock really hard from now on… even more so than before!”
“Actually, we’re thinking of moving to Berlin for a while” Mirko adds, “Life seems to be violently taking us there, all of a sudden.” Lucia agrees, adding “we like the German rock scene very much and Berlin’s in particular… people there really seem to be fond of grunge, punk and noise rock.”
Currently the band are organising a tour of Japan and China with Pandora while booking more gigs across Europe, writing new songs and “trying to overcome new challenges, because this is the way we like living our lives” says Lucia “As soon as we’re back home we think of moving again, as soon as we achieve a result we think of a new one… we all have just one life and we wanna live it to the full. We wanna stuff ourselves full of memories and songs and miles and landscapes and people and heartbeats. We want something to remember.”
Betty Poison are: Lucia Rehab (Voice/Guitar), Nunzio Falla (Guitar) and Mirko Caiazza (Drums) – they’re pretty unforgettable!
Contacts details and links for Betty Poison:
website:http://www.bettypoison.com/
myspace: http://www.myspace.com/bettypoison1
twitter: http://twitter.com/BettyPoison
vimeo: http://vimeo.com/bettypoison
tumblr: http://bettypoison.tumblr.com/
email: info@bettypoison.com
Betty Poison recommended these videos:
"Patti Smith is one my favourite artists ever. She ended up singing but
she started writing poems. Listening to this song makes me shudder,
thinking at that time she was starting her career, she was getting to
know herself and put it all in art, this gives strength and heart to my
own vision of life and creativity"
Mirko: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vabnZ9-ex7o&ob=av3e
Mirko: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vabnZ9-ex7o&ob=av3e
“Come as you are” is the first Nirvana video I ever saw and I dug the
song so much that I fell in love with music. Everything started from
then on and I wanna dedicate it to Betties ‘cause they “came as they
were” and I liked it and still do.
Lucia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wU8N7TGHUQ
I love this song so much… it gives me the shivers, seriously. It’s just perfect. Amanda Palmer is an outstanding talent and she would deserve much more attention than she gets in this stupid sick world.
Lucia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wU8N7TGHUQ
I love this song so much… it gives me the shivers, seriously. It’s just perfect. Amanda Palmer is an outstanding talent and she would deserve much more attention than she gets in this stupid sick world.
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