Loadstar

LOADSTAR - Biographical notes Loadstar were formed in Naples, Italy, in January 1985, when Stefano Guercia (guitar), Alessandro Pacella (bass) and Massimo Tatafiore (drums) met; their musical inspiration came from their passion for the legendary Great British heavy metal bands like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Saxon, and later incorporated influences from the then up-and-coming groups Metallica and Helloween. After various line-up changes, in January 1987, the line-up was complete with th...

LOADSTAR - Biographical notes Loadstar were formed in Naples, Italy, in January 1985, when Stefano Guercia (guitar), Alessandro Pacella (bass) and Massimo Tatafiore (drums) met; their musical inspiration came from their passion for the legendary Great British heavy metal bands like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Saxon, and later incorporated influences from the then up-and-coming groups Metallica and Helloween. After various line-up changes, in January 1987, the line-up was complete with the addition of Venanzio Ciuffetti on vocals and Ugo Ciaccio as second lead guitar. In September 1987, Loadstar recorded the demo-tape "Ashes or Glory”, containing four original songs. The technical and compositive level secured the demo a good rewiew on “HM” (the main Metal magazine in Italy at the time), which defined the product ‘…highly competitive, very well recorded and rich in ideas which make the quintet one of the most interesting in the peninsula…’ . Nearly at the same time, in January 1988, the italian specialised monthly “Chitarre", published an arcticle about the up-and-coming italian metal guitarists in which was written: ‘…a true surprise is Stefano Guercia of Loadstar, with no doubt a really interesting guitarist, who produces good solos in the Mercyful Fate and Helloween style…’ Meanwhile, they continued gigging, and the group started to enjoy a certain fame amongst the kids, both local and otherwise. But, in 1988, the group split up and Stefano joined “Hell’s” (a Neapolitan Power Metal band). In November 2005, Stefano, Alessandro and Massimo decided to re-form Loadstar. After recruiting Arnaldo “AL” Laghi on vocals they tried out some songs from the old set list and began writing new ones. In September 2006 Riccardo Napoli (guitarist founder of Hell’s) joined Loadstar thus completing the line-up and the band eventually recorded the Promo 2007 cd, which consists of five self-produced tracks and which received very good rewiews from magazines and webzines, in particular is awarded “Album of the Month” on www.hardnheavy.org and “Top Demo” on www.eutk.net . A series of live gigs around Italy follows, and after that, in June, the song Voodoo Star is included in SG Revolution vol. II, an italian HM compilation double cd (www.sgmetal.it ). The same label, a few months later, published the compilation cd “Cover for madness”, containing Loadstar’s cover version of the traditional 1922 neapolitan song “Canzone Appassiunata”. The debut album “Calls From the Outer Space” is recorded between January and April 2008 under the direction of the producer Maddalena Bellini and consists of 10 original songs plus 2 bonus tracks. The album has come out in february 2009 for UK Division label.