Witches loom

Dario Argento told Claudio Simonetti he wanted the audience to feel as if witches loomed everywhere in Suspiria.

Simonetti, then leader of Italian prog rock band Goblin, had already penned one soundtrack for the cult film but Argento asked for a rewrite.

“What we had written before was too rocky,” explains Simonetti. “It was not good for the ambience.”

He adds: “Because it was his first film about witches, not a psychic, he wanted something completely different.”

The film follows a girl starting a new school where, after a series of disappearances, she discovers a coven of witches. It is colourful, imaginative and considered a classic in the Italian Giallo horror form.

Simonetti says Goblin worked for two months to write the music once the decision had been made to scrap the first draft – even though the initial score had been used on set to help the actors.

The band went to the film studio to see the scenes acted out and returned to their studio to compose the arrangements.

“We worked more than two months in the studio inventing everything. We had no synthesizers, so every sound was built. For example the bouzouki, the Indian tabla, the big Moog, we had to play the real ones because we didn’t have the keyboards to make those sounds.”

Nowadays, with modern software, film score composers can turn music out in days.

In general, he says, “it is much easier – but maybe there is less creativity.”

Argento first used Goblin’s music on Deep Red in 1975.

“I was lucky I met him when I was 22 years old and it was incredible he chose a young band like us to record because he was big star. But he needed a different sound. That is why.”

Forty years on Simonetti’s relationship with Argento is stronger than ever. They are great friends. Simonetti scores most Argento films.

“Success has spurred us on. Deep Red had a huge success.

“It sold four million copies of the record and Suspiria two years later as well was a huge success, then the run continued with Tenebre then Phenomena then Opera. Every film has its own story.”

It contrasts to Goblin’s inter-band relations, which have had more twists and turns than even the most creative horror movie.

The band first formed as Cherry Pie in 1972. They were inspired by Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Black Sabbath and Jethro Tull. But since those early days they have split and reformed twice and had a rotating cast of members as well as spin-off groups.

Two years ago they tried to patch over the cracks for a tour but could not get on.

“After many years we are now completely different people,” explains Simonetti.

“We don’t like the same music and all the troubles we had before are still the same. We tried to put the band together but it was impossible. It’s like a marriage: when it’s finished it is finished.”

Interest in Goblin’s music is going in the other direction. Simonetti has formed Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin to perform the group’s original film scores alongside movie screenings.

Suspiria, whose soundtrack he calls Goblin’s “masterpiece”, is to be shown in St Bart’s Church as part of Drill Festival.

Essential info:

Drill weekend tickets, £70.
Day tickets: Friday, £17.50;
Saturday and Sunday, £22.50.
Tickets from Resident Records on
01273 606312.