Interview:

Antonio, thank you very much for taking your time and effort to do this interview. You were born in Milano. I would like to ask you what were some of the early influences in your life that guide you later to create so dark atmosphere and very unique music in Jacula?

I was not born in Milano but in the Marche Apennines….wolves, wild boars, foxes, owls, magic fogs, witches, gnomes and the old house of magician Parthenzy which I visited every night from 14 to 16 and from 20 to 23 to see the “Invisible Force”.

When and how was Jacula born? Why the name Jacula?

The Band Jacula was born in 1969 in Milano after meeting Travers, draftman of the Jacula Comics, a really nice person.Travers introduced me in London to make first album recording.

In Cauda Semper Stat Venenum is the name of your first album. I would like to know if you could tell us some of the strongest memories from recording and producing this LP? Where did you record it? What can you say about the cover artwork? How many pressings were made? Can you tell me what is the concept of the LP?

In 1969 we signed with a little label company who gave the label code AR 299. Gnome Record had a little private studio in the outskirts of London, where we could realise “In Cauda Semper Stat Venenum”. The six compositions were written based on some Franz Parthenzy melodies did during effects of trance mediumship. I really love the 6 sketches on the back cover which represent the six songs of the album. This album was pressed in a strictly limited edition, I guess around 200, and gave to religious sects. The concept of In Cauda was born through Spiritual Seances.

Tardo Pede in Magiam Versus is your next LP from 1971. The atmosphere on this one is again mind blowing. Would you like to share with us the experience you had from producing this LP?

Tardo Pede in Magiam Versus is a 1972 album. We recorded it in Milano (supported  by Gualtiero Guerrini and by a mystical congregation) because in Angelicum Studio there was a church organ who played with a real “ritual” feeling.

The band was: Doris Norton (synthesizers, keyboards, effects), Charles Tiring (church organ) and me (all other instruments).

Did Jacula performed live and where? If you have any interesting stories from concerts, I would love if you could share some of them with us!

The band played only one time in Milano for Tardo Pede promotion. We were in 1973. Ticket was really expensive, only 35-36 paying spectators, no lights except of a big candle. The band later played several times in castles for promotional events. Now Jacula could be on stage (except Tiring who died) ….. the cachet is eur 20.000 circa.

This year you have released a brand new album called Pre Viam. How was it to record again music of Jacula and what is in your opinion the main difference between music of Jacula and Antonius Rex?

After 43 years, “Pre Viam”  maintains the thread of mistery, the fog over the lake, the gothic girls suicide, the occult presences (there are 468 micro-demons around the world ready to possess you), the esoteric charm of the two previous albums. In the meantime Doris Norton abandoned Antonius Rex and Jacula, replaced by my son Rexanthony, for sure a great keyboard player. There was also a new executive producer, Pino Pintabona who had the role to try to avoid big distances between the old sound of Jacula and the new sound… and he reached the goal. “Pre Viam” satisfied me and our fans. Differences from Antonius Rex? For sure Jacula is more mystical, more biblical, more gothic, more melancholy, more trascendence … Antonius Rex has various influences, is harder, is doom and prog too.

Preferred progressive band…

Van Der Graaf Generator… nowadays Dream Theater are the best.

Jacula’s new projects….

All Jacula album titles finished and will finish with a word beginning with “V”…the next one will read “Mystic Voices”.

Antonius Rex’s next albums…

A Big Project… almost finished called “H.D.”… of course does NOT means “High Definition”… is a fusion between Metal, Hard, Doom, Dark, Trascendence…. classic music and impressionist music.  “H.D.” will be issued at the beginning of 2012… Immediately after a new project never experienced before called “C.M.”

Antonius Rex private life…..

Monastery, Recording Studio, composition, contacts with spirits; therapy support for psychiatric patients, drug addicts, girls with suicidal tendencies and cases of demonic possession… trying to understand how much human mind could divert and go crazy…