Goblin

Goblin is a progressive rock band formed in Italy in 1972. Originally focusing on their own original rock albums, the band is better known for their soundtracks for horror films by directors Dario Argento and George A. Romero. While the line-up would change frequently, the band’s core members during their 1970s heyday – and later reunions - were Fabio Pignatelli (bass), Massimo Morante (guitar), and Claudio Simonetti (keyboards). Briefly performing under the name Oliver, the group changed their name to Cherry Five by the time they recorded their 1975 self-titled debut album. During the recording of the album, they were asked to record music for the 1975 film Profondo Rosso, directed by Dario Argento. The soundtrack – their first release under their new band name Goblin - was an enormous success and set the stage for the rest of their career. Their catalog is filled with critically acclaimed original music written for films such as Suspiria (1977), Martin (1978), Zombi a.k.a. Dawn of the Dead (1978), Patrick (1978), Contamination (1980), and Tenebre (1982). The group had already begun to splinter in the late ‘70s and by ’82, they were submitting music for soundtracks separately and not as a group. After a decade together, Goblin split up and each member pursued different musical avenues. They reunited in 2000 to write and perform the score to Daria Argento’s Non hon sonno, but the reunion was short-lived, and they split up again. In 2005, Fabio Pignatelli and Massimo Morante reformed the group for the BackToTheGoblin2005 album. Four years later, they changed their name to Back to the Goblin and performed several European concerts. Unfortunately, the reformation didn’t last long, and the group fell apart again. Since then, there have been several reformations under various names including New Goblin, Goblin Rebirth, the Goblin Keys, and Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin. Four of the original five members reunited for the 2015 album Four of a Kind, followed four years later by Fearless (37513 Zombie Ave.). Guitarist Massimo Morante died on June 23, 2022.