On Thursday 19th June at the Lazzaretto in Cagliari comes Il Duo Italia Due Menti a Confronto , the song-theatre of the Duo Italia composed of Claudio Gregori and Max Paiella. The occasion is the Festival La Musica che gira intorno , organized by the Association La via del Collegio .
We chat with Claudio Gregori, aka Greg, born in '63, one of those artists who have always lived between irony and style. Actor, comedian, musician, radio-TV host and author, he is also known, together with Pasquale 'Lillo' Petrolo, for the comic duo Lillo & Greg, and was the founder of the crazy rock group Latte & i suoi derivati.
Greg, how did the name Duo Italia with Max come about? A patriotic marketing reasoning?
No marketing, just something disturbing. We were two friends with good wine and guitars, we enjoyed stringing together 20s blues, plaintive voices and rough arrangements. A bit nihilistic, like Andy Kaufman. We also called ourselves Trio Italia, because there was a keyboard player, and every time we chose one who then left. We remained two charlatans trying to cajole the audience, with a retro name and a song-theatre of various geographical extractions, which we then “destroy” with irony.
Speaking of geography, you chose Greek, Romanian, even Hawaiian pieces. Is there a logic?
They just amuse us. It's all about bitterness, a force that keeps people standing. Pouring bile on something gives meaning to life. That Slavic music, for example, gives us the idea of populations that are always a bit destitute but who party as long as they live. They spin, they whirl, with a sad air. Now, we like that contrast...
This creative force has kept you and Max together since 1995. What is the secret?
Friendship. We still like to drink, eat and play together. This show was born just like that: two friends who have fun and then want to make others have fun too, without limits.
What should the Cagliari public expect on June 19th at the Lazzaretto? Come relax and ask yourself: "but how did he come up with the idea of doing all this?". You will be amazed. Crazy things will happen, and we will have a lot of fun!
