R.I.P. Massimo Morante

Founding member and guitar player of Italian progressive rock band Goblin, Massimo Morante, has died, aged 69, the band have reported. Moranteis is far left in the above photo.

Morante’s daughter Valerie added in her own social media post: «It is with indescribable pain, a pain that trumps words, that breaks the breath and hammer the heart, that I announce the death of my father, Massimo Morante».

Goblin is best known for their work on the soundtrack to the horror film Suspiria, which was released in 1977. Between 1975 and 1978 the band were hugely successful, working with Argento on 1977’s Suspiria and his George Romero’s Dawn Of The Dead as well as many other film scores. Profondo Rosso would sell over a million copies and spent 52 weeks on the Italian charts.

 The band’s music has been described as dark, atmospheric, and progressive. Goblin was also known for their use of synthesizers and other electronic instruments.

The band’s music has been featured in a number of films, including Deep Red, Dawn of the Dead, and The Cabin in the Woods. Goblin has also been credited with influencing a number of other musicians, including Metallica, Nine Inch Nails, and Tool.

Morante co-founded Goblin in 1972 with Claudio Simonetti, Maurizio Guarini, and Massimo Pupillo. The band released their debut album, Roller, in 1974. Goblin went on to release a number of other albums, including Suspiria, Tenebrae, and Profondo Rosso.