After progressive rock group The Night Watch disbanded, its leader and vocalist, Simone Rossetti started a new band with a shortened name, The Watch in the early 2000s. This outfit was also strongly influenced by progressive rock-era Genesis.
The Watch released two excellent albums, included “Ghost” (2001) and “Vacuum” (2004). The band members at that time included Ettore Salati on guitar; Gabriele Manzini on keyboards; Marco Schembri on bass and guitar; Roberto Leoni on drums; and guest Sergio Taglioni on keyboards.
Notably, The Watch went through several lineup changes in the following years. After Gabriele Manzini left the band, Sergio Taglioni became a full-time member and an additional keyboardist was added, Fabio Mancini. They appeared on the “Primitive” (2007) album.
By 2010, The Watch experienced more changes. Simone Rossetti recruited guitarist Giorgio Gabriel; keyboardist Valerio De Vittorio; bassist Guglielmo Mariotti; and drummer Marco Fabbri. Despite the new lineup, the band still had the deep Genesis flavor that Simone Rossetti loved so much. This new lineup recorded the album “Planet Earth?” (2010).
The Watch released “Timeless” in 2011. The album featured a guest appearance by flute player John Hackett (Steve Hackett’s brother). This album celebrated very early Genesis songs.
In 2014, Simone Rossetti’s son, bassist Mattia Rossetti, replaced Guglielmo Mariotti. Next, The Watch released “Tracks from the Alps” (2014) and “Seven” (2017).
“Seven” included a guest performance by Steve Hackett on the musical piece “The Hermit” from his first solo album, “Voyage of the Acolyte.”
In 2021, The Watch released its first concept album, “The Art Of Bleeding.”
Discography:
Twilight (as The Night Watch) (1997)
Ghost (Lizard Records, 2001)
Vacuum (Lizard Records, 2004)
Primitive (Lizard Records, 2007)
Planet Earth? (Lizard Records, 2010)
Timeless (2011)
Tracks from the Alps (2014)
Seven (2017)
The Art Of Bleeding (2021)