NIGEL GLOCKLER
The Saxon drummer waxes lyrical over Franz Di Cioccio, singer and fellow sticksman for Italian proggers Premiata Forneria Marconi.
“People might not expect a drummer from Saxon to be into a prog band that features flute and violin, but bollocks to that – I adore Premiata Forneria Marconi! They feature my favourite instrument, the Mellotron. Apart from Bill Ward of Black Sabbath, I was never really into heavy metal drummers. I love classical music and fusion, so with PFM it was like all these rolled into one.
“I first heard PFM’s single Celebration on the car radio, so as soon as the album Photos Of Ghosts [1973] came out I bought it, and I’ve been a convert ever since. I love that they have so many different styles – one minute they’re playing jazzy fusion, the next they’re almost baroque, and of course they’re great at rock music.
“PFM, and Franz, were big influences on my own playing. I can’t be specific about the parts that affected my style because all of it did. Franz could be so subtle. On those first few PFM albums he reminds me of Michael Giles on King Crimson’s debut, and before you know it he’s blasting away. At times it’s like listening to Chick Corea.
“PFM have recorded in their native Italian and also in English, but I will listen to them in any language. Photos Of Ghosts had lyrics by Pete Sinfield, who of course was involved with Crimson and ELP. After that I bought the two Italian albums which had come out previously, Storia Di Un Minuto and Per Un Amico. They were so great that I started getting the whole catalogue. And when the live album, Cook, came out in 1974, I just couldn’t stop playing it. I had my drum kit set up in my bedroom and I would play along to it endlessly wearing headphones. For a while my parents hated me.
“Unfortunately I’ve never met Franz but there was a near-miss. On my first tour with Saxon in late 1981 in Italy we did a TV playback and PFM were also due to play. I was so thrilled, but the production team rushed us out to our tour bus, and as we pulled away I saw theirs arrive and I cried, ‘No-o-o-o!’
I haven’t seen PFM live either, though I have watched endless YouTube videos.” DML
“Franz could be so subtle, then before you know it he’s blasting away…”