arthemis andrea martongelli

Interview by: Lynn Wyeth

Date: 15 August 2009

Venue: Bloodstock Open Air, Derby, UK

Photos by: Arthemis

Italian rock band Arthemis were playing their last show with current singer Alessio at this year’s Bloodstock festival. MusicXtra asked them what would be happening next…

Could you give us a brief intro to the band and explain what’s happening next as your singer is leaving after his last gig here today at Bloodstock?

Well Arthemis started properly in 2001, and we’ve been releasing albums since then. The new album is Black Society, mainly for the Japanese market. We’ve been touring a lot, and playing festivals like Revolution in Italy with bands like Cradle of Filth. We’re just back from a Japan tour which was great, and we’re recording the new album which will be released in 2010. Alessio is going to have a new band, it’s not so metal. He wants to explore other music. I can understand, he’s my brother, you know? I said, you don’t have to explain to me, if it’s the thing you want to do, you have to do it. Me and Alessio found the new singer…

Can we announce who that is or is it still a secret?

It’s still a secret! But he’s a great singer, he’s amazing. As good as Alessio, kinda a voice like that. At the moment we’re writing the new album, and then touring in the UK in December with Eden’s Curse, and playing Hard Rock Hell. I’m looking forward to that and focussing on the new material.

Right, so you guys are Italian, and based in Verona…

Yeah, Verona.

Can you tell us something we don’t know about Verona?

It’s a pretty good place! Everyone knows about the story of Romeo & Juliet? But it’s a good place to be and relax. We’re full-time musicians and busy, so it’s a good place to be to relax for maybe two days now and then, near Lake Garda, I like to travel a lot.

So have you played at any UK festivals in the past?

It’s our first ever UK appearance! It’s exciting! We’re gonna be playing the Sophie Lancaster stage at 7pm.

You’re also playing the Hard Rock Hell festival in Wales… do you know about that place and what to expect?

*laughs* Yeah, I’ve played there before, with my other band Power Quest, so I already know the place. No surprises for me!

So the water chutes…?

Yeah, and all the toys! We like those. It’s a great place.

So what other bands are you looking forward to seeing today at Bloodstock?

Honestly? We were really busy before we came here today, we flew here today, so I don’t know who is playing! Blind Guardian I knew and maybe Saxon… but I’m just discovering today. I was like, f***, Wolf are playing! They’re my friends!

So you’ve been around for some time now, what’s changed in the music business for you in that time and has it been good or bad?

Well the band really started in 1994 when we were 14.

Awww, we’re you rubbish or any good?!

We were good! Well, you know! We spent the whole time, 7 days a week, 2 until 7 rehearsing! I like to play with the guys! But yeah things change. Big changes. It’s all new because of the internet now, and downloading happening. It’s a new animal and you have to learn how to handle it. I’m still finding myself learning, but everything is always changing. I’m not saying it was better… but it was! *laughs* I am trying to find the positive in everything. At the moment it is going well for us so I don’t have to complain!

Artemis, without the H, is of course a Greek Goddess...

Yes, we put the H in as it was cooler! She was the Goddess of the moon... and hunting. And revenge!

So if you could be the God of anything, what would you be the God of?

The God of Rock of course!

Of course!

Or pizza! The God of pizza!

Ok, final question. For all our non-UK bands we’re asking them to teach the Bloodstock crowd a phrase they need to know in the bands' own language. What Italian phrase should Bloodstock learn?

Ciao ragazzi!! Ascoltate il fottuto sano heavy metal!!