The Obelisk Questionnaire: Fabio Chiarazzo of Rainbow Bridge
Posted in Questionnaire on April 28th, 2023 by JJ Koczan
The Obelisk Questionnaire is a series of open questions intended to give the answerer an opportunity to explore these ideas and stories from their life as deeply as they choose. Answers can be short or long, and that reveals something in itself, but the most important factor is honesty.
Based on the Proust Questionnaire, the goal over time is to show a diverse range of perspectives as those who take part bring their own points of view to answering the same questions. To see all The Obelisk Questionnaire posts, click here.
Thank you for reading and thanks to all who participate.
The Obelisk Questionnaire: Fabio Chiarazzo of Rainbow Bridge
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How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?
It’s basically a good sound developed over the years. Good lines, trying to be as regular as possible. Being my life and more precisely my thoughts, very unregulated, full of anxieties, a good bass line cancels all this. I got to this because my father gave me a guitar when I was fourteen. I thought I could become Malcolm Young. But there were too many strings to play.
The bass has only four. So I took the easy way out. However, I do it because he makes me feel good about myself and others. I’m with Rainbow Bridge because they called me years ago, but I was sure I was THEIR bassist, always. I like their smile when there is interplay. I like to be understood and understand others.
Describe your first musical memory.
I remember my father taking me to record stores to buy CDs. He had a lot of rock collections and a big jazz collection. The latter also had the part with images of people playing. An encyclopedic part, let’s say. I was fascinated by it.
Zenyatta Mondatta of The Police was one of the first real albums I ever listened to in its entirety. I wanted to play drums as a kid, but never really got the chance, guitar was cheaper and less noisy, so my dad bought me that. The rhythm section on that record is amazing. I remember real euphoria. Then when I got older (twelve years old), a friend of mine lent me an AC/DC tape. Side A began with “Whola Lotta Rosie” from the live album “If you Want blood, You’ve Got It”. “What the fuck is this shit? I gotta do this shit too” I said.
Describe your best musical memory to date.
We recorded “Live at Cittadella Degli Artisti” with Rainbow Bridge. It was emotionally destructive. Tiring. Also because I couldn’t drink on stage. It’s awful not being able to drink.
When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?
Many times you think about falling. There have been times when fucking boredom attacks you, when you see your economic conditions not improving. Those are moments where you say, “Look at this, I don’t want to do this anymore.” Our musical context, geographically speaking, is very difficult, it’s not easy for us to play “exactly” what we want.
Being a live band is not easy. So you think “fuck you”. But it’s temporary. It’s just boredom. Then you go to the rehearsal room and have fun. End of the story. They are temporary beliefs. Bullshits. If we don’t play, we’re sick. Physically I mean. Haha!
Where do you feel artistic progression leads?
Nowhere. More tracks in the studio.
How do you define success?
What success?
What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?
Myself. Once in Bologna, after a concert, Paolo (the drummer) saved me from a fight. I was devastated by alcohol, and I was looking for a dimebag in a square. It ended badly. Because these guys started to yell and I punched a guy. Another guy came and threw a full bottle of beer on my chest. I said: “come bastard, I’ll kill you.” He smashed the bottle and it almost hit my chest. Paolo stopped him and took me away. I spent the night crying thinking my life with the band was over. It didn’t happen. The band forgive me a lot of these stories. Less serious, but still funny to tell anyway.
Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.
I’d like to hear lots of acoustic guitars. But I can’t tell you how.
What do you believe is the most essential function of art?
Be a part of it.
Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?
Buying a house?
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