The Pikes in Panic story begins with the Siennese band Rumble Fish (1983/84)
founded by Lorenzo Carlucci (guitar and vocals), Roberto Censi (bass),
Gianni Bertacchi (guitar and vocals – then with Barbieri), Marco Pallassini
(drums).
After two years and two self produced cassettes Marco Pallassini decided
to leave the band and move to London where he later joined the Cannibals
of Mike Spenser, in the early 1980’s one of London’s Psychos most followed
bands.
Andrea Brogi(then with Psychomotor Pluck) took Marco’s place and Marco
Sammicheli became lead guitarist, at the same time he also played with
Arco e I Bizzarri, a band founded by Luca Losi (vocals), Michele Landi
(drums) and Claudio Maccari (bass). The Bizzarri were working out a sixty’s
sound with various influences and the next step was the obvious merge of
the two bands with the addition of the keyboard player Angelo Giallombardo
who had already played with the Rumble Fish in the self produced cassette
“Garage Band”.
This new merge produced an infernal array of sounds ranging from the
most diverse musical genders that went from Punk-Psychedelia-Sixties Punk-
Hammond style (the first Deep Purple)-Hendrix-Soul Stax and Motown and
these influences where clearly perceivable in their songs.
The Band’s original name Pikes in Panic (invented by Luca) was inspired
by Marco and Roberto’s passion for fishing.
The band quickly tried to develop its own unique sound and they tried
to achieve this with their instruments . Just before their first recordings
and concerts they roamed across Italy, sacrificing time and money, in search
of original instruments (at the time the word “vintage” was unknown and
the prices were not as exorbitant as nowadays):
Lorenzo: a 1966 semiacustic Rickenbacher and Vox ac30 amplifier found
at a knock out price in a shop in Siena and a 1964 Fender Jaguar;
Marco: a 1966 country gentlemen “Chet Atkins” Gretsch all the
way from London (carried through customs by two trustworthy friends), a
Fender super reverb and twin reverb Fender amplifier. During the recording
of the album he also played a 335;
Angelo: the most perseverant: he managed to get his hands on three
Farfisa compacts, a Farfisa professional, two Vox, a very heavy Hammond
that caused back ache at every gig (three flights of stairs in Naples at
the “Riot” in S. Biagio dei Librai won’t be forgotten in a hurry!), a Fender
Leslie amplifier with a powerful ventilator;
Michele often used to play a Luca’s a set of Hollywood drums
with trolley;
Roberto never abandoned his Ibanez bass from his punk origins.
The powerful and relentless rhythm of Michele, Roberto and Lorenzo (the
overwhelming punk energy), Marco’s cutting guitar riffs, distorted and
pure, Angelo’s melodious arrangements, his solos on the Farfisa, on the
Hammond and on the electric keyboard are a few of the Pike’s characteristics
that made them stand out from all the other bands.
Finally we can't forget Luca’s deep, black vocalist voice that so distinguished
itself.
An important presence for the band was Marco Begani, their manager.
He offered his friendship but also searched for gigs, record labels, distributors
and maintained contacts with other aficionados up until his departure,
He produced (together with Massimo Mini) the first e.p. Chiavoni Day
(Microbonf 1985), four songs mixed and recorded in just one day ! The 1000
copies were quickly sold out.
This period was characterised by enthusiastic reviews and articles
in fanzines (the real source of the underground scene), in specialist magazines
(Rockerilla, Il Mucchio Selvaggio, Buscadero) and nights spent playing
and listening to the music of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.
An important acknowledgment and a great satisfaction for the band was
a letter from Jello Biafra (singer of the Dead Kennedys, an expert of sixties
punk and a legend for all generations) that spurred the band on to continue
and asked for information on the band’s sound!!!
The band was constantly supported by a group of wild aficionados that
were musically very up-to-date going to all their gigs wherever they played:
in and around Siena there was a movement of people, ideas and music that
made this Tuscan town one of the liveliest places in central Italy for
the sixties-oriented music scene.
The ep “Chiavoni Day” was recorded at the Gas studios in Florence that
later proposed a contract that brought to the recording of the album Keep
it cool and dry (1988) and taking part in the Eighties colour vol. 2 (a
compilation edited by Claudio Sorge for his label Electric Eye)
The tiresome wait for the debut album, with months and months of delay
and the diverging ideas regarding the production became a real burden for
the Pikes. The aims of the record label were a far cry from those of the
band and so were the different ideas on just about everything (sound-gigs-photographs).
The 2 record producers insisted on separate recordings for each instrument
the Pikes were totally against this (in fact all went well when a live
recording was decided) and apart from the excellent relationship with the
sound technician (Mario Fani) and the less than poor results of the recording,
the year and half delay, the long time spent in the recording studios,
that was so far from the Pikes’ concept of live band, and lastly the horrendous
album cover led to the first real crisis.
Soon after this, Roberto Censi, who wanted a much harder musical approach
whilst the other members were listening to more and more rhythm & blues,
left and Paolo Migliorini, who definitely preferred this kind of music,
took his place (he had played with a rhythm & blues cover band at the
same time as the Pikes: Fat Peep Combo where every now and then Luca and
Marco would session).
The band took part in a compilation “Lose your mind” (with a demo version
of Summer Girl) together with the best Italian psychedelic/garage groups.
With more than 50 concerts throughout Italy those that will be mostly
remembered are as support band to the Prisoners (one of the Pikes’ members
favourite groups – James Taylor played with Angelo’s farfisa and leslie-fender!!!!!!)
and to the Lyres of Jeff “Mono-man” Connolly.
The Pikes like to remember and greet the great bands of that period
of the Italian music underground scene with whom they had the pleasure
to play: Birdman of Alcatraz (the group that the Pikes most admired and
were tied to through mutual respect and friendship) – SteepleJack – Kim
Squad & Dinah Shore Hearthbangers – The Storks – The Liars – Gli Avvoltoi
– Funhouse – Joe Perrino & the Mellowtones – Double Deck Five – The
Gift – The Lager – Psychomotor Pluck.
Once the Pikes broke up:
Michele has sung and played in Barbieri. Quarrymen, Ray
Daytona & The GooGooBombos and now in the B-Back and Goldfingers.
Luca has sung and played in Ghostrider.
Roberto has played in Wilderness Underground and in Modulo 101.
Angelo play in the Goldfingers.
Marco play in the Goldfingers.
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