Conducted August 8, 2020
1. Hello Jerry, this virus forced us to abruptly change our habits. How is this period going?
IN MANY WAYS MY LIFE HASN’T CHANGED MUCH. I MOSTLY GO FROM MY HOME TO MY STUDIO, DREAMLAND. THEN HOME AGAIN AT THE END OF THE DAY. I CONTINUE TO BE PRETTY BUSY DOING REMOTE DRUM TRACKS FOR PEOPLE SENT TO ME OVER THE INTERNET. VERY MUCH INVOLVED WITH OGD AND PROMOTING ‘THE BIG GAME’ ALSO WORKING ON FINISHING ANOTHER PRODUCTION AND PLAYING DRUMS IN THE STUDIO ON VARIOUS PROJECTS BY ARTISTS WHO ARE COMING IN TO RECORD.
2. “The Big Game” is very beautiful. Is there a song on this album that you are particularly fond of?
THANK YOU. I’M VERY PROUD OF THE WAY THE RECORD TURNED OUT. I’M LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM OF PEOPLE TO HELP MAKE ME SOUND LIKE I KNOW WHAT I’M DOING. KEN HELMLINGER, ARIEL SHAFIR, MICHAEL COZZI, CHRIS ATHENS, HUGH SYME, RON TOTH. I REALLY LIKE ALL THE SONGS ON THE RECORD. NO PARTICULAR FAVORITE ALTHOUGH ‘THE WORD’ ‘OUTLAND’ AND ‘OUT IN THE WEST’ KINDA STICK OUT FOR ME.
3. How did you get involved in this project?
I THINK THE GUYS CONTACTED ME ABOUT POSSIBLY WORKING WITH THEM. I INVITED THEM UP TO DREAMLAND FOR A DAY TO HEAR WHAT THEY WERE UP TO. THE MINUTE THEY STARTED PLAYING I WAS HOOKED. LOVED WHAT THEY WERE GOING FOR AND FELT I COULD DEFINITELY BRING SOMETHING TO THE TABLE FOR THEM. I ALSO REALLY JUST LIKED THEM AS PEOPLE. WE ARE AND WILL REMAIN CLOSE FRIENDS FOREVER.
4. How was work with them?
I PRETTY MUCH LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF WORKING ON THE MUSIC WITH THEM. THEY ARE TOTALLY SINCERE AND DEDICATED TO WHAT THEY ARE DOING. NOTHING AT ALL CONTRIVED ABOUT THEM. JUST STRAIGHT AHEAD ROCK/PROG WITH MEANINGFUL STORIES AND LYRICS. ALL 3 GUYS PLAY THEIR ASSES OFF SO GETTING A PERFORMANCE OUT OF THEM WAS EASY. TOUGH PART WAS NARROWING DOWN THEIR MANY MANY IDEAS. I’M A 300 POUND ITALIAN/AMERICAN SO I’M NOT AFRAID TO KICK ASS WHEN NECESSARY … SOMETIMES I HAVE TO PULL OUT A GUN. IN THIS CASE THAT WASN’T NECESSARY …
5. Any chance to see you play with this band?
I’D LOVE TO PLAY WITH THEM! THEY HAVE A KILLER DRUMMER IN BOBBY GAVIN. I DID GET TO SCREAM ON THE RECORD AND ALSO ADD A BACKGROUND VOCAL HERE AND THERE BUT HONESTLY … THEY DON’T NEED ME.
6. Can we hope to see this album live soon?
ABSOLUTELY. THEY’RE REHEARSING EVERY WEEK. AS SOON AS THIS WRETCHED VIRUS GOES AWAY THEY’LL BE ALL OVER THE WORLD. THESE GUYS ARE LATHERED UP AND READY TO DESTROY!
7. Project for the next future?
I’M ALWAYS WORKING ON MULTIPLE PROJECTS. THIS YEAR SHOULD SEE ANOTHER ‘FRAGILE FATE’ RECORD. A BAND I’M IN WITH RUPERT GREENALL FROM ‘THE FIXX’ AND ERIK TAYLOR FROM ‘THE BROKEN’ JUST FINISHING A PRODUCTION I’VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR 3 YEARS WITH AN ARTIST CALLED SARAH PERROTTA. REALLY AWESOME RECORD. I’VE ENLISTED TONY LEVIN TO PLAY BASS ON SOME OF THE TRACKS. I’VE ALSO BEEN GOING THRU MATERIAL OF MY OWN I’VE STARTED OVER THE YEARS. SO MUCH TO CHOOSE FROM. I ALSO PUT A BAND TOGETHER ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO WITH MY BROTHER RICK. ‘THE MAROTTA BROTHERS BAND’ KILLER BAND. 2 PRETTY DECENT DRUMMERS. I’D LOVE TO DO MORE WITH THAT. I’M ALSO WORKING ON GETTING MY ITALIAN PASSPORT. I’M GATHERING ALL THE INFORMATION FOR THAT. CRAZY WHAT THEY’RE ASKING FOR. MY GRANDPARENTS ALL CAME TO AMERICA IN THE EARLY 1900’S. ITALIAN RECORD KEEPING IS COMMENDABLE BUT NOT NECESSARILY DIGITAL IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. THEY CAME FROM SMALL VILLAGES IN CAMPOBASSO. SAN BUONO, GUGLIENESE, TERMOLI. CAN ANYONE HELP?
8. Is there an artist that you’d like to work with?
NUMBER ONE WOULD BE TO WORK AGAIN WITH TONY LEVIN, LARRY FAST, DAVID RHODES AND PETER GABRIEL. WE HAD SUCH A TREMENDOUS CHEMISTRY TOGETHER. I LOVE THOSE RECORDS WE DID TOGETHER AND I LOVE THOSE GUYS. STEVE WINWOOD IS SOMEONE I ALWAYS WANTED TO WORK WITH. THERE ARE ACTUALLY TOO MANY OTHERS TO MENTION AT THE MOMENT.
9. We are italians. Did you have special memories regarding our country?
I ALWAYS LOVE BEING IN ITALY. TOURING WITH PETER GABRIEL, RECORDING WITH ALICE, NINO BUONOCORE, CLAUDIO BAGLIONI, PINO DANIELLE, GAZEBO, FRANCESCO RAINERO. LOVE THE PEOPLE. LOVE THE PASSION. I’M DEFINITELY LOOKING TO LIVE PART TIME IN ITALY WHICH IS WHY I’M TRYING TO GET MY ITALIAN PASSPORT. I HAVE SO MANY WONDERFUL FRIENDS THERE NOT TO MENTION THE FOOD …
10. Last question: a message for your italian fans
ITALY HAS BEEN GOING THROUGH A VERY HARD TIME FOR QUITE A WHILE. PART OF WHY I’D LIKE TO SPEND MORE TIME THERE. CREATE MUSIC. JOY. HAPPINESS. HOPE … AND PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO LISTEN TO ‘THE BIG GAME’ BY OGD! CIAO