From local bars and taverns to some of the biggest festivals in Europe, Giac Taylor has stood as the undisputed ‘Godfather of Spaghetti Rock’. With his charismatic onstage presence and unmistakable style, he is without question, an essential addition to any live music venue.
Across five studio albums with his band Romano Nervoso – as exciting an Italian/Belgian gaggle of ne’er-do-wells you’re likely to find – he tore up the European underground rock scene, full tilt boogie. After turning up the heat and opening for artists such as Johnny Hallyday, Triggerfinger, The Datsuns, The Sonics, and King Khan & The Shrines, the time has finally come for Taylor to take centre stage with the anticipated arrival of his debut album, The Last Sicilian Standing.
In what initially started out life as a Covid-19 side-project, in a mere 72-hours Giac Taylor and sound engineer Moorad Agjij, captured a prolific outpouring of new material. From behind his drum kit (microphone firmly in hand), Taylor built upon the classic rock foundations of his previous Romano Nerovoso album; From Villarosa To Rotherham. Making way for more direct and aggressive compositions, songs like ‘Armchair Warrior’ and ‘May Satan Bless Your Soul’ gives listeners a glimpse into his unmistakable love for fuzz and Giallo cinema. Where firebrand guitars, thumping bass and melodic keys hint at the influence of John Carpenter, forcing The Last Sicilian Standing to quake under the weight of heavy doom riffs, mood swings and an unmistakable lust for life.
The Last Sicilian Standing is out now on Le Cèpe Records/Monomonomaniac and can be ordered here.
We asked Giac Taylor about 3 releases/songs that have played a huge part in his musical upbringing.
Black Mountain – Destroyer
All their records are amazing but my favourite Black Mountain song at the moment is ‘Horns are Rising’ from their last album, Destroyer. I just love everything about this band, the songs, the sounds, the vocals and especially their live concerts. I must’ve seen them more than ten times in recent years and it’s the one band that influences me the most. On the next Giac Taylor album, we recorded two songs with their singer/guitarist Stephen McBean… ‘Century of Sins’ and ‘On my Arm & Around my Neck’.
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
I think ‘The Chain’ must be one of the most profound songs I’ve ever heard in my life. I love that there are two parts to this song, and they mix two or three vocals in at the same time. I try to do similar things with my solo stuff as Giac Taylor too. In ‘The Chain’, you can feel the sadness in the first act and that heavy psychedelia in the second.
The Desert Sessions – Various Artists
I have always been a huge fan of the album …And the Circus Leaves Town by Kyuss so Josh Homme’s continual involvement in The Desert Sessions is something I’ve kept a close eye and ear on since I was twelve years old. Particularly Desert Sessions Vol. I and II and the song ‘Johnny the Boy’. I was shocked the first time I heard that guitar sound. Right after that, I felt in love with stoner music, and it reignited my love of Black Sabbath, who are another band I’ve loved since I was a kid. Even though I don’t smoke weed anymore, I still listen to stoner rock every day.
