Bella Morte

Bella Morte
Founding member and singer Andy Deane of Bella Morte at Dragon Con in 2006
Founding member and singer Andy Deane of Bella Morte at Dragon Con in 2006
Background information
OriginCharlottesville, Virginia, U.S.
GenresGothic rock, dark wave, industrial, deathrock
Years active1996–2023
LabelMetropolis
Past membersAndy Deane
Tony Lechmanski
Gopal Metro
Marshall Camden
Branden Shores

Bella Morte was a gothic rock band formed in 1996 in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. They incorporate elements of metal, dark wave, deathrock, alternative, and synthpop. The band's name means "Beautiful Death" in Italian language. According to the band's vocalist, Andy Deane, the name was chosen to suggest that beauty can be found in tragedy, which is a re-occurring theme in Bella Morte's albums.

In 2002, they signed with Metropolis Records having previously self-released albums through their own label, Some Wear Leather, and, also, Cleopatra Records. In early fall 2006, Metropolis Records announced that Bella Morte had reached number one on the company's pre-order sales list with their new album, Bleed the Grey Sky Black, which was released on October 10, 2006.

The bass guitarist and co-founder Gopal Metro decided to leave the band, playing his last show on March 10, 2007, in Charlottesville. At the same show, the vocalist Andy Deane announced that Tony Pugh would replace Metro. At the beginning of summer 2008, it was announced that Jordan Marchini would not be touring with the band any longer. Nevertheless, he returned in 2011.

In July 2023, front-man and founding member Andy Deane announced that Bella Morte was retired. Their final live performance took place on March 31, 2023, at Dark Force Fest in New Jersey.  

The decision to bring the project to a close was heavily influenced by the tragic passing of long-time guitarist Tony Lechmanski, whose loss marked a natural end to that era of the group.

Deane then formed the project The Rain Within.

Former Band Members

Discography

Full releases

Side projects

Andy Deane released a solo album as "The Rain Within", a reference to the Bella Morte's song "The Rain Within Her Hands", in 2010 titled Pain Management. "Brighter Fires" is another side project of Andy Deane and ex-bandmate Gopal Metro which released a self-titled album in 2012.

Compilations

Music videos

References

  1. 1 2 Wilson, MacKenzie. Biography for Bella Morte at AllMusic. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  2. ↑ Torstensson, Helena. "Bella Morte (Andy Deane) Interview". Venia-mag.net. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Artists – Metropolis Records". Metropolis-records.com. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Innovative Pop, Rock and Electronic Music – Metropolis Records". Metropolis-records.com. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Bella Morte Official Website". Archived from the original on October 26, 2007. Retrieved March 23, 2020.