Goblin is an Italian instrumental progressive rock band with a cult following. In the 1970s, keyboardist Claudio Simonetti, guitarist Massimo Morante, bassist Fabio Pignatelli and drummer Walter Martino had a band called Cherry Five that released a self-titled progressive rock album. Later, they changed the name to Goblin.
Goblin started composing soundtracks for Italian horror and thriller movies directed by Dario Dargento.
The band’s discography includes regular studio albums such as Roller and many movie soundtracks, with a progressive rock foundation. Indeed, Goblin composed acclaimed film scores of the movies Profondo Rosso (1975) and Suspiria (1977).
After Walter Martino left the band, two musicians joined Goblin: Agostino Marangolo on drums;
and Maurizio Guarini on keyboards.
The group got back together in 2000 and yet again years later in 2013, .when Massimo Morante and keyboardist Maurizio Guarini (who joined Goblin in 1975), together with other members of Goblin, released a new album titled Back to the Goblin, after a long absence.
In 2009, Goblin started touring once more, performing at major European cities in Germany, Italy and France. In 2010, Claudio Simonetti re-joined the band.
Goblin’s European tour success led to additional international tours during 2011-2013 in Japan, Australia and North America. Coinciding with the 2013 North American tour, Goblin released an exclusive tour EP released by Death Waltz Records. The EP included new versions of classic Goblin tracks re-recorded by the recently reunited band.
The 2013 lineup included Claudio Simonetti, Maurizio Guarini, and Massimo Morante along with drummer Titta Tani and bassist Bruno Previtali who joined in 2010.
In 2017, Goblin released a 40th Anniversary Edition boxed set of the legendary Suspiria album. The audio CD included the original soundtrack plus bonus tracks, while the DVD contained a documentary with interviews with Dario Argento and Goblin.
The band had numerous lineup changes and several spinoffs that used the name Goblin: New Goblin, Goblin Rebirth, the Goblin Keys, the Goblins and Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin.
Guitarist, composer and Goblin cofounder Massimo Morante died on June 23, 2022.
Discography:
Profondo Rosso O.S.T. (Cinevox, 1975)
Roller (Cinevox, 1976)
Perché Si Uccidono (O.S.T. with the name Reale Impero Britannico) (Cinevox, 1976)
Suspiria (Cinevox, 1977)
Il Fantastico Viaggio Del Bagarozzo Mark (Cinevox, 1978)
Zombi – Dawn of the Dead (Cinevox, 1978)
Amo non amo (Cinevox, 1979)
Squadra Anti-Gangsters (Cinevox, 1979)
Patrick (Cinevox, 1979)
Contamination (Cinevox, 1980)
Volo (Cinevox, 1982)
Tenebre (Cinevox, 1982)
Phenomena (Cinevox, 1984)
La Chiesa (Cinevox, 1989)
Solamente Nero (1996)
Phenomena – The Complete Soundtrack (1997)
Buio Omega (1997)
La Via Della Droga (1999)
Non Ho Sonn (Cinevox, 2001)
BackToTheGoblin (BackToTheFudda, 2006)
Goblin – Tour 2013 (2013)
Suspiria 40th Anniversary Edition boxed set (2017)
Fearless (BackToTheFudda, 2018)