R.I.P. - Walter Martino - March 7, 2026 - Italian Drummer (Goblin)

In 1974, drummer Carlo Bordini and singer Tony Tartarini, along with keyboardist Claudio Simonetti and guitarist Massimo Morante, founded the band Cherry Five. They were reportedly also in contact with Eddie Offord, producer of the famous English progressive rock band Yes, who wanted to record an album with the four musicians in England under the band name Oliver. However, due to an extended stay in the USA with Yes, he was no longer available as producer. So, after a few gigs and sporadic recording sessions, the members packed their bags and returned to Italy to record the album, also titled Cherry Five.

They were reportedly also in contact with Eddie Offord, producer of the famous English progressive rock band Yes. After that, the band broke up again until 1975, when director Dario Argento reunited Massimo Morante and Claudio Simonetti of Cherry Five and brought them together with Agostino Marangolo, drummer of the Italian prog-rock band Etna, bassist Fabio Pignatelli, and keyboardist Maurizio Guarini to write and record a soundtrack for his film Profondo Rosso. For this project, the band adopted the name Goblin. After the collaboration, they decided not to disband again, but instead to record the album Roller (1976).

In the same year, they also worked on another soundtrack, this time for the film Perché si uccidono. However, they recorded this soundtrack not under the name Goblin, but under the name Il Reale Impero Britannico. In the following years, the band continued to compose soundtracks, mostly for horror films, and recorded another concept album, Il Fantastico Viaggio del Bagarozzo Mark (1978).

Although the band broke up in 1989, they reunited in 1998 for the title song of the film Mind's Eye and again in 2001 for the soundtrack to Dario Argento's film Sleepless. Afterward, the band broke up once more due to disagreements during the production.

In 2005, they reunited again. The new studio album, Back to the Goblin 2005, was recorded by the classic lineup. However, longtime band member Maurizio Guarini replaced Claudio Simonetti on keyboards. After the album's release, the band broke up again, but reunited in 2009 for a series of concerts with the same lineup. Further internal disagreements arose, and this reunion, too, was short-lived.

The band achieved cult status alongside Argento's films, and their numerous soundtracks and two studio albums have been re-released multiple times, allowing Goblin to cultivate a large fan base over the years.
Currently (2011), there are two incarnations of the band. Founding members Claudio Simonetti and Massimo Morante launched the project "New Goblin" in 2010, with Maurizio Guarini as a second keyboardist. The other half of the classic lineup, Fabio Pignatelli and Agostino Marangolo, has also been active since 2010 under the name "Goblin Rebirth." Keyboardist Aidan Zammit had already contributed to the last "Goblin" album in 2005.
On June 23, 2022, the band announced Massimo Morante's death via their Facebook page.

On March 7, 2026, Walter Martino died in Livorno at the age of 72.

1975: Profondo Rosso (Soundtrack)

La Via Della Droga (Original Soundtrack) - Goblin

Il Reale Impero Britannico - Ammoniaca - Perché Si Uccidono (1975)