The former orfine arrives in Brazil and resembles the tragic singer Death on stage: “I still feel and try to face”

The saxophonist who founded the cultivated rock band of the 90s performs in San Paolo on Friday 14, with the vapors of the Morfina project; For “Estadão”, he spoke of the singer Mark Sandman, victim of heart attack during a presentation in 1999

In Greek mythology, Morfeo was the god of dreams. Not by chance, the figure inspired the name of the drug morphine, which causes drowsiness and hallucinations and the name of the band Morphinewhose trajectory was fleeting and intense as a daydream of dawn.

The power trio created in Massachusetts in 1989 distinguished itself from the unlikely union of a bass with only two strings (Mark Sandmansinger and composer), battery (Jerome Defupre Then, Billy Conway) and baritone saxophone (Dana Colley) – Without any guitar, it must be said, which has provided a dense and mysterious sound, with elements of jazz and blues immersed in the dark poetry of Sandman.

Also unaware of the grunge phenomenon – a genre that dominated the radios of the time with the Nirvana, the Jam Perla or Alice in chains – the group was adored due to albums such as Treatment for pain (1993) e YES (1995), until everything was interrupted in 1999, when Sandman had a huge heart attack on stage during a show in Italy and died at the age of 46, before a petrified look of 5,000 spectators.

After the tragic end of the band, Dana Colley continued to perpetuate the memory of the set in the project Morphine vaporsthat returns to Brazil this month a Shows in San Paolo And Porto Alegre. In the state capital, the presentation will be in February 14th node Chine jewel.

In an interview with EstadãoFor videoconference, the 63 -year -old saxophonist spoke of the return to the country after eight years, his influences and the relationship with the deceased singer, among other topics.

What are you more proud of in the steam of the Morphine project and what can fans expect from these shows in Brazil?

Well, we play some old morphine songs and people will listen to Jeremy Lyons playing the sliding bass, which is an original tool created by Mark [Sandman]I will feel by playing my baritone saxophone and listen to Tom Arey on drums. We play some songs that have African origins, some that come from the southern area and others that we have not played for some time. So we can’t wait to spend funny time.

How have you been attracted to the saxophone?

Growing up in the 70s, it was the guitar that attracted me at the beginning and most of my influences were guitarists. The saxophone has a purpose and has always been in Rock ‘n’ Roll since the 1950s. And at the time, many jazz saxophonists crawled their noses at the idea of ​​the saxophone in the rock, because it is much simpler and perhaps use the most carnal aspects of the instrument and not so much virtuosity that you could find in a Bebop or Charlie agreement Parker. In the 80s, the famous saxophonists like Kenny G and David Sanborn played in high tones and wanted to go down (laugh).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ethwxa_2lfq

When did you realize that it was possible to create a powerful rock sound without guitar?

I think this type of evolved essentially because Mark and I joined and we played how you would do in a room with only a friend. We liked the sound and always worked on some songs. And we realized that with a drummer we could bring these songs to the stage, but he didn’t need to be a great stage. It started in a very small bar and we just saw what happened. And people liked people. I was surprised by the fact that people liked it very much. I felt that there was even much more development to do, but there were people who were very encouraging. So, let’s continue. It was the mood of the time when everyone played in a band and you just wanted to do it.

What struck you most about your first contacts with Mark Sandman?

His creativity. Mark was someone who felt very comfortable and at ease in inventing things at that moment, improvisation. We just started playing and things have just arrived. There was chemistry. He had his ideas and then turned into improvised performance, so that whatever could be anything.

Morphine’s music has appeared in some series and films over the years, such as “Family soprano” and “Bisvis and Butt-head”. What is your feeling when you see the songs of the band evaluated in this way?

In case of Nickname familyThe cable television at that time was new and the series was breaking with the model of traditional networks in which we had three broadcasters: NBC, ABC and CBS. All these broadcasters had a censorship. You could not say bad words, show nakedness, no violence, that kind of things. Cable TV, in particular HBO, has started to have more freedom in this. And nobody knew who the soprano were at that moment. Nobody had seen the program. It was the first season and we had songs that were ready and easily introduced into a film. We had a consultant who was really good at putting our music in the right hands. Here’s how it happened. It was a way to spread our music. We are always happy when someone thought that our music was good enough to be on your project. The first time it happened surprisingly, so to speak, it was with the film The hand of desire (1994).

How did you deal with Mark’s death in the past 25 years?

It is a daily thing, something I think and always feel. I always see his face, his photo, listening to his voice. It is such a great part of what they are. I was my brother, a bandmate. Both he and Billy Conway [morto em 2021] They were two of the most surprising people you could imagine to get around. I had the opportunity to live with these guys for about 10 years or more. So, I feel very blessed and grateful to have had this time with Mark. [A tragédia] It seems that it is always there, but you continue to move and you are trying to face it every day. He made me an idea of ​​the privilege that is life.

His premature death raised him to mythical status, how did Kurt Cobain or Jim Morrison happened? And how do these famous tragedies tend to have an impact on society?

As for anyone who dies, we tend to romance them in a way that may not completely characterize those who are in everyday life, as normal humans. So, if you leave a work of work behind people that people recognize, then yes, I think there is a potential for that person to be canonized or idolized. And I am also guilty because, in a sense, this mythology is perpetrated. But for me, music is a mythology and the stories we tell come from our ancestors. So we are always mythologizing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iz1t3x2fei

Morphine vapors

• When: February 14, 2025
• Where: Cine Joia (Carlos Gomes Square, 82 – Freedom)
• Prices: R $ 160 A R $ 460 (3rd Lotto)

Source: Terra

Earl

Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.