Artist description Alternative Rock Progressive Band with Hard Rock & Folk influences.

Music Style Progressive Rock and Mainstream

Musical Influences Peter Gabriel, Marillion, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd

Artist History The group is founded toward the end of 1989 by Luca Sabia (Voice and Guitars). The initial line-up, that also includes Fabio Antonelli (Guitars), auto produces a first demo-tape "Art and Illusion" in 1990. In the three years that follow the band is almost primarily devoted to Live activity, even if circumscribed in a local area; the organic of the band is expanded in perspective of the live shows, including another guitarist (Andrea Giganti), a bass player (Pier Mazza) and a drummer (Dario Broglia), the last one soon becomes integral part of the group also collaborating to the recordings of the first official album realized between March and November ' 92. Published toward the end of 1993, " Monolithos " is produced and distributed by Mellow Records, the record company the group has signed a five years contract with. The CD is recorded and arranged at " Studio Elfo" in Agazzano (PC), that shortly becomes a focal point in the activity of the band. The official line-up that takes part in the realization of the first album is composed of: Luca Sabia (Voice and Guitars), Fabio Antonelli (Guitars), Marco Morandotti (Keyboards), Dario Broglia (Drums) and Alberto Callegari (Bass guitar, as well as arranger and owner of " Studio Elfo "), that from this moment will remain, with Luca Sabia, the only stable member of the group. In this period Art and Illusion's repertoire is composed by the original songs from the first demo-tape and from " Monolithos ", and by a series of cover version of bands like Genesis, Marillion, Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, etc… After a quite difficult period that seems to alternate moments of live activity and other moments of stalemate, owed to the continuous turnover of musicians, the group lives some months of stability and productivity with a line-up that includes, besides Luca Sabia, Fabio Antonelli and Alberto Callegari (as sound technician), Barbara Martini (Keyboards and backing vocals), Elena Bensi (Bass) and Roberto Lupo (Drums). In the August of ' 94 Luca and Alberto begin to tape some material for the new album. In the autumn of ' 95 there is another change of line-up: Fabio, Elena and Roberto leave the group and they are replaced by Alberto Callegari (that returns to Live activity after a long period of time devoted to the recording studio) and from Paolo Lisè (Drums). The band is finally ready to concentrate on the realization of the new album. December ' 94 marks the exit of the first Tribute to Genesis compilation ever realized, produced by the Mellow Records label. The group take part of the tribute with a cover version of Lilywhite Lilith, a song taken from the album "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" of 1974. The Line-up is stable now, Luca Sabia (Voice and Guitars), Alberto Callegari (Bass, Mandolin, Keyboards and backing vocals), Barbara Martini (Keyboards and backing vocals) and Paolo Lisè (Drums and Percussions), nevertheless during the recording of the new job numerous guests join in, among these are Massimo Braghieri and Marco Morandotti (both on Keyboards). The CD " Seasons ", a concept album, is ready before the end of autumn and will be published toward the end of the year, but not before the group has the time to participate to another compilation, this time dedicated to Van Der Graaf Generator, to which Art and Illusion contributes with the cover version of Lizard Play (taken from "The Quite Zone/The Pleasure Dome" of 1977). The months that follow are marked by an intense Live activity and the promotion of the new record; in addition to this the band is involved in an important tour in the North Italy and in a special tribute organized in Venice for Peter Gabriel. In these occasions the group is distinguished either for the new songs that for a very skilled and dynamic repertoire of cover versions that, whilst maintaining the references to the music of the 70s, is enriched of more actual influences (Peter Gabriel as more explicit example…). Highs and lows again: at the beginning of Spring Barbara Martini leaves and the efforts are intensified to redefine the ranks of the group ending up with the arrival of Mario Rossi (Guitars) and Roberto Comaschi (Keyboards). But the problems are not destined to end, even if the perspectives for the future are tempting (a one-month tour in Greece for the summer of the ' 96). In the August of ' 96 a limited line-up (Luca, Alberto and Paul) leaves for Rhodes to face one month of concerts on the Greek shores. For the first time during the concerts of the band a section of more commercial covers and a section dedicated to the remaking of the "Rocky Horror Show" is introduced, as well as stage costumes; this part of the show will remain in the program of the live-act up to the January of ' 97, arousing a lot of interest in the public. At the return from the tour there is a new change in the ranks: Mario and Roberto leave and they are replaced by Alessandro Bertonazzi (Guitars), Max Bravi (Keyboards) and Barbara Cecere (Backing Vocals). The Live activity of the band is frantic, the technical and spectacular quality of the performances is of good level; some promos containing live and studio material destined to the clubs are recorded (but only cover versions); during live performances the band's own compositions tend to be fewer and fewer. The pressure climbs and the demand to propose more and more cover version with the purpose to get more contracts with the live music clubs threatens to mine the inner equilibriums of the group dissuading the attention from the original objective of Art and Illusion: to propose their own music. They are these the main reasons that lead Luca Sabia, founder of the group, to decide of interrupting the activity of the band in January of 1997 and to leave the project Art and Illusion frozen and waiting to future developments.

Group Members Luca Sabia - Voacals & GuitarsAlberto Callegari - Bass, programming & Engineering+ Additional Studio Musicians

Instruments Vocals, Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Bass, Drums, Keyboards, Additional acoustic instruments

Albums Monolithos (1993), Seasons (1995)

Additional Info "Lilywhite Lilith" - Genesis cover version for the Tribute to Genesis CD "The River of Constant Change" (1994) - "Lizard Play" - Van Der Graaf Generator cover version for the Tribute to VDGG "Eyewitness" (1995)

Location Castel San Giovanni, Piacenza - Italy

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