Nowhere Men Biography

The Nowhere Men were born in Palermo in 1994. From the beginning the band has become one of the most respected "Beatlesque" bands in Sicily. They have three characteristics that make them unique

1) Their voices sound similar the Beatles (Martinez/Lennon, Cusimano/McCartney, Adelfio/Harrison) , with three different timbres (just like the Fab Four) 

2) The band , even if they have something peculiar that distinguishes them from the others, reproposes the typical Beatle style and sound without using any effect/processor but the natural distortion obtainable by a valve amplifier and performing just live without any sequencer (then you can guess why the six members are all necessary).  

3) All songs are performed in their original tonality.

 

1994-1996 The band begins a musical approach that leads them to long series of rehearsals, own compositions and recording sessions. They held occasional gigs during this period.

 

1997 There was one of the best group performance at the "Omaggio ai Beatles" (Palermo Fest) in Palermo. The performance was extremely appreciated (about 4.500 people) and received many good reviews. December: they inaugurate the "Beatles Fun Club" of Palermo.

 

1998 The band increases its commitments performing several gigs  in Palermo (just to mention some pubs: Candelai, Eden Rock, Malaluna, B Side, etc.), taking part in a great deal of parties and playing in several towns around Sicily. The same year they are invited , first by Artillio Bergholtz (vice president of the Beatles Information Center - Sweden) at the Swedish Beatles Convention (in Stockholm) , and then to perform at the Cavern in Liverpool during the "Liverpool Beatles Convention". On June they perform at the "Tennis Club 2" during a special gig organized by "Radio Action" and the same season they start a monthly recording session at the Penny Media studio (Palermo) with the help of the sound engineer Paolo Caltagirone.

 

1999 In the beginning of the year the band gets an invitation  by Dan Jordan, president of the GEMS, to participate to the Los Angeles Fab Fest '99, an event that involves the most famous Tribute Bands in the world.

Same year they are mentioned by Jon Raymond of Plazm in the Beatles Tribute Bands book, published in the U.S.A. On May they are invited by Rolando Giambelli (president of the Italian Beatles Fan club) to the "Beatles Day" in Brescia.On June the band performs during a charity - day called "Emathlon", and they are invited for the next year as well.

 

2000 Besides playing in ordinary pubs and clubs , the band performs in a party organized at the "Kandisky Florio" (Palermo) , first on their own and then joining a jam session with the band "Fala Brasil", M. Cafiero (drummer) and P. Rigano (lutist). 10th October : the band inaugurates piazzale John Lennon (a big square in Palermo dedicated to John Lennon) together with the Mayor of Liverpool (Edwin Clein) , Leoluca Orlando (Mayor of Palermo), R. Giambelli (president of the Italian Beatles Fan Club), J. Garrett (president of the Beatles Fan Club of Palermo), and some other celebrities. In the evening (same day) the band perform at the Gorky Club in Palermo, together with Adrienne Edwards.

 

2001 In July in conjunction with the opening night of the Planetarium at Villa Lampedusa (known as the Leopard’s villas), the Nowhere Men entertained the guests with a two hours performance. 23rd July and 27th August, the band performed in one of the most suggestive place in Sicily: "the Ancient Greek Theatre of Segesta". The show - called “Remembering the Beatles” - was organized by the "Brass Group" directed by Ignazio Garsia and the Art Director Michele La Tona. In December, during a gig organized by G. Verdelli in the Sport Hall of Acireale (Catania), many famous people took part such as Vince Tempera and the ex beatle-drummer Pete Best. Marco Adelfio of Nowhere Men performed alone, in duet with Rolando Giambelli and later with Shampoo (Beatle-band from Naples) and the Vince Tempera Orchestra. The same month McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio takes place in Palermo, directed by Carmelo Caruso. During this exhibition the Nowhere Men are lucky to meet Alan Crowder, McCartney’s personal secretary, who promises to put a Nowhere Men cd directly in the hands of Paul.

2002 16th January Nowhere Men play during a Beatle Fest together with other Beatles Tribute Bands. They perform with the Ed Sullivan Show and R. Giambelli.

On 8th September Nowhere Men performed as the final group of the “Imagine” concert, organized with the help of Comune di Palermo, playing several hits of the Liverpool quartet.
On 12th September they organized a show titled “Yesterday and Today, a gift to the Fab Four” which was held in the historical Villa Lampedusa in Palermo.

 

2003 – 27th February : Nowhere Men play in Palermo during a charity show dedicated to George Harrison. 27th June : the band performs at the Teatro Adriano in Rome with many important Italian groups for the 38th Anniversary of the Beatles peformance in the same place. Valter Iannuzzi leaves the band. In September the Band peforms an acoustic gig in Cagliari (Sardinia) during a national Beatles Day in front of a big audience.

 

2004 – The Nowhere Men go on with their live exhibitions: Beatles Tribute (tMalaluna Pub 14/05/2004 and Agricantus 06/06/2004), Nowhere Men Naked (17th december) an acoustic concert which was held in the Parco Letterario Tomasi Di Lampedusa, etc. But the most important gig this year is a competition called: Premio Abbey Road (27 th june - Rome - Teatro Adriano). The band reached the second position.

 

2005 – 2nd April, at the Affiche Gallery, the band inaugurates together “Le Cozze” (a sicilian comic duet) a recipes book inspired by Beatles music titled “Metti i Beatles nella zuppa”. On June their bassist Antonio Alaimo plays in Rome together “The Ed Sullivan Show” for the 40th Anniversary of the Beatles performance in the same place. On September, one more time again together “Le Cozze”, the band plays during a show titled “I Beatles visti da Andrea Rauch” a projection of art paintings by Andrea Rauch which was held in Petralia.

 

The Band

 

Name: Marco Adelfio 
Instruments  played: Lead guitar, recorder, sitar and vocals (only Harrison's vocal part). 
Favourite song: You've got to hide your love away and While my guitar gently weeps. 
Favourite LP: Revolver. 
The greatest thing about the Beatles: If we compare the Beatles with the bands of their age the former ones are beyond comparison. 
The greatest thing about George Harrison: He's one of the best slide guitarists in the world. 
Best memory: Santana's concert at Naples. 
Other musical preferences: Cream, Eric Clapton, Kula Shaker, Santana. 

This is happiness to me: A sweet and lovely girl, Lennon's scream in the song called: "Slow Down" and the friendship.

Marco Adelfio

Name: Antonio Alaimo. 
Instruments played:
Bass, vocals and keyboards. 
Favourite song:
In My Life. 
Favourite LP:
Rubber Soul. 
The greatest thing about the Beatles:
Thoughtlessness. The spirit of youth. 

Best memory: When we finished playing at Palermo Fest '97, one of the spectators approached us and said: Lads, you made us reminisce. We had goosbumps! 
Other musical preferences:
Doors, Sting, Pink Floyd, Sade,  James Taylor, Iron Maiden.
This is happiness to me:
Computers, ethnic musical instruments. 
internet site: http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Alley/5579


Antonio Alaimo

Name: Marcello Costa 
Instruments played:
Keyboards, harmonica and percussions.
Favourite song:
A day in the life. 
Favourite LP:
Sgt. Pepper's lonely hearts club band. 
The greatest thing about the Beatles:
They'll never be out of fashion! They are always in time with the times. 

The best thing about George Martin: He was able to blend well with a musical culture not belonging to himself. 
Best memory:
My performance at Augustus Fest. 
Other musical preferences:
Pink Floyd, Marillion, Led Zeppelin and U2. 
This is happiness to me:
Girls and  the architecture. 


Marcello Costa

Name: Giuseppe Cusimano 
Instruments played:
Guitar, bass and vocals (only McCartney's vocal part). 
Favourite song:
Yesterday. 
Favourite LP:
Abbey Road. 
The greatest thing about the Beatles:
The creators of a new genre, from which we have all taken advantage of. 
The best thing about Paul McCartney: A cameleon! A huge capacity and versatility to interpret a variety of musical genre. Excellent intuition to approach the world of music. In a few words: genius! 

Best memory:  Palermo Fest '97. It was a fantastic concert in front of a wonderful audience. 
Other musical preferences:
Simon & Garfunkel, Who, Queen and Police. 
This is happiness to me:
Every wonderful thing. 


Pippo Cusimano

Name: Daniele Martinez.
Instruments played:
Guitar and vocals (only Lennon's vocal part) 
Favourite song:
I'm so tired. 
Favourite LP:
The White Album. 
The greatest thing about the Beatles:
Every time I listen to their music there's always something new. You never get bored! 

The best thing about John Lennon: He had a very ironic approach towards life! 

Best memory: When I read Beatles biography at the age of 13, I began to play guitar. 
Other musical preferences:
Cohen, Velvet Underground and all the bands that  performed in Woodstock.
This is happiness to me:
To love and to be loved, the art, the philosophy and the friendship.


Daniele Martinez

Name: Leonardo Signorino.
Instruments played:
Drums and percussions.
Favourite song:
Tomorrow never knows.
Favourite LP:
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
The greatest thing about the Beatles:
Catchy!

The best thing about Ringo Starr: The right man in the right place! 

Best memory: I began to play drums thanks to the Beatles!
Other musical preferences:
All the British rock. 
This is happiness to me:
Memorabilia. 


Leonardo Signorino

The Manager

Name: Antonio  Matranga 
Profession: Manager. 
Favourite song:
Here, there and everywhere. 
Favourite LP:
Abbey Road. 
The greatest thing about the Beatles:
A revolution towards a freedom of continuous artistic expression. A freedom of individual and humanitarian expression based on love, fraternity and friendship, well-being and the best future, which goes against every form of opposition and "Constitutional Authority". 
The best thing about Brian Epstein:  A sharp observer.  He knew how totake the correct decision at the right time. 

Other musical preferences: Bowie, Oasis, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Kenny G. 
This is happiness to me:
The correct Scientology, according with all original works of L. Ron Hubbard. 


Antonio Matranga

 

They took part to the band!

 

Name: Antonino Zasa.
Instruments played:
Keyboards. 
Favourite song:
Strawberry Fields Forever. 
Favourite LP:
The White Album. 
The greatest thing about the Beatles:
Very avangard, if you consider the time in which they performed. 
The best thing about George Martin: Congratulations! 

Best memory: All the concerts I performed in! 
Other musical preferences:
Pink Floyd and Radiohead. 
This is happiness to me: 
Playing, talking, discovering sleeping and dreaming.


Luca Zasa

Name: Leonardo Zinna 
Instruments played:
Drums, keyboards and vocals. 
Favourite song:
Golden Slumber. 
Favourite LP:
Abbey Road. 
The greatest thing about the Beatles:
Genius! 

The best thing about Ringo Starr:  He is the most popular drummer (even if he's not the best!). 

Best memory: See Paul McCartney live and a few steps away from me. 
Other musical preferences:
Anything that make me feel good. 
This is happiness to me:
Play the drums on stage in a live concert.


Sergio Zinna

Name: Valter Iannuzzi 
Instruments played:
Drums and percussions. 
Favourite song:
Sergent Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. 
Favourite LP:
Sergent Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. 
The greatest thing about the Beatles:
I began to play their music at the age of 37, after experiencing different kinds of music. Just think about...(it must be worth it!) 

The best thing about Ringo Starr:  He was the most suitable drummer for the Beatles. 

Best memory: The first time I listened to "Picture of home" (by Deep Purple). 
Other musical preferences:
Deep Purple, Electric Band, Corea and Vannelli. 
This is happiness to me:
Playing drums.


Valter Iannuzzi


 Repertoire

 

I Saw Her Standing There - Misery - Love Me Do - Baby It's You - Do You Want To Know A Secret - Twist And Shout - All My Loving - Don't Bother Me - Till there Was You - Roll Over Beethoven - Money - A Hard Day's Night - I Should Have Known Better - If I Fell - And I Love Her - Can't Buy Me Love -  Things We Said Today - I'll Be Back - I'm A Loser - Baby's In Black -  I'll Follow The Sun - Mr. Moonlight - Kansas City/Hey Hey Hey Hey - Eight Days A Week - Honey Don't - I Don't Want To Spoil The Party - Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby - Help! - The Night Before - You've Got To Hide Your Love Away - Another Girl - Ticket To Ride - - You Like Me Too Much -  I've Just Seen a Face - Yesterday - Dizzy Miss Lizzie - Drive My Car - Norwegian Wood - Nowhere Man - Michelle - What Goes On - Girl - I'm Looking Thorough You - In My Life - If I Needed Someone - Taxman -  Eleanor Rigby - Here, There and Everywhere - Yellow Submarine - For No One - Got To Get You Into My Life - A Little Help From My Friends - Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds - Lovely Rita - The Fool On The Hill - I Am The Walrus - Strawberry Fields Forever - Penny Lane - Hey Bulldog - Back In The USSR - Blackbird  While My Guitar Gently Weeps -  Why Don't We Do It In The Road - Mother Nature's Son - Helter Skelter - Revolution I - Come Together - Something - Oh! Darling - You Never Give Me Your Money - Mean Mr. Mustard - Polythene Pam - She Came in Through the Bathroom Window - Golden Slumbers - Carry That Weight - The End - Her Majesty - Two of Us - Dig a Pony - Across the Universe - Let It Be - Maggie Mae - One After 909 - The Long and Winding Road - Get Back - From Me To You - She Loves You - I'll Get You - I Want To Hold Your Hand - This Boy - Slow Down - Matchbox - I Feel Fine - She's A Woman - I'm Down - Day Tripper - We Can Work It Out - Rain - Lady Madonna - Hey Jude - Revolution - Don't Let Me Down - The Ballad Of John And Yoko - Old Brown Shoe - I Got A Woman - I'll Be On My Way - To Know Her Is To Love Her - Johnny B. Goode - Lucille - I Just Don't Understand - My Bonnie - Ain't She Sweet - Besame Mucho - Leave My Kitten Alone - Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues - Blue Suede Shoes - My sweet Lord.