Marco Mendess

Italian musician
Marco Mendess
Also known asCpt. Mendess
Born (1978-11-10) 10 November 1978 (age 45)
Caorle, Italy
GenresHard rock, heavy metal, glam rock
Occupation(s)Musician, singer-songwriter, producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, bass guitar, drums, piano
Years active2004–present
LabelsPerris Records, Supraphon
Musical artist

Marco Mendess is an Italian multi-instrumentalist, singer and music producer, who has released a number of band and solo albums since 2005. Born on 10 November 1978 in Caorle, Italy, after his studies at the Liceo Classico in Portogruaro and the experience in the Italian navy, Coast Guard, he left Italy in 2001 and devoted himself entirely to his musical projects living and working in Holland, the United States, Czech Republic and Sweden.

Hollywood Vampires, S.E.X. Department

Marco Mendess' first project was the glam rock band Hollywood Vampires. Born in Venice, their opening CD Night Club 666.[1] was recorded in Miloš DoDo Doležal's Hacienda recording studio, and was released in 2005 under the Supraphon - Popron music label in Czech Republic. The video clip for the single "No way to Pussycat" was placed on 69th  position in the Czech music award Anděl[2] for 2005.

In 2007 the band landed second in the Bodog Music Battle finals in the Melkweg club, Amsterdam and moved for a period to the Netherlands, where they obtained the promotional contract.[3]

The band in 2007 changed name from Hollywood Vampires to S.E.X. Department.[4]

Marco Mendess' heavy metal project under the new name S.E.X. Department comes out with the debut album S.E.X. Department[5] in 2007 under Perris Records, Texas label.

The same record company places their single Call me baby call me on their annual Hollywood Hairspray vol.7 compilation[6] and the song No way to pussycat on Perris Worldwide Network compilation.[7]

After the release of the self titled album, that received rave reviews in the actual glam scene, the band leaves in 2008 for an American coast to coast tour,[8] from New York to Los Angeles, touching with its shows the Rocklahoma festival,[9] South Texas Rock Fest[10] in San Antonio, The Cat Club and the Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood. In the Whisky a Go Go Club the band played at the annual Cruefest Hollywood event, organized by the fans of the Mötley Crüe, to raise money for medical research in the memory of Skylar Neil.

Mendess' songs Revenge of Vampires and Drive me insane chosen by Versailles Records for the compilation Lick it up - A millennium tribute to Kiss, featuring former members of Skid Row, Deep Purple, Alice Cooper Band and White Lion, are part of the bonus CD entitled Strip Club Rock.[11]

In 2009 Marco Mendess collaborated on a new album with Pedro Ferreira,[12] Brit award music producer of the band The Darkness. The album was recorded by Chapel Studios in Lincolnshire, UK, but this album will never be released by decision of Mendess himself.

The same year the new album was released with the name Rock N Roll Suicide[13] under Perris records.

In 2009 Marco Mendess moved to Los Angeles, on the Sunset strip,[14] to rebuild his band there with American musicians.

In 2010 he then moved to Sweden to work on the new album with Finnish producer Ilkka Wirtanen.[15] From this partnership comes out a double record, Rock N Roll SS and Italiani[16] with hard rock songs in Italian.

Rock N Roll Army

After a serious health problem that even causes the singer to suffer months of total blindness, resolved by an eye surgery, Marco Mendess returns as Captain Mendess with his new Rock N Roll Army project[17]

In 2014 he plays on the Ronnie James Dio stage on the Masters of Rock[18] festival in Czech Republic, sharing the stage with Dream Theater, Arch Enemy and Helloween. He took part  to the same festival also in 2015 and 2017.

In 2016 the five-episode series on Marco Mendess' musical and non-musical adventures was released under the name Backstage - The true story of Rock'n'Roll[19]

In 2018 was confirmed the participation of Cpt. Mendess and his Rock N Roll Army at the 32nd edition of the Italian music competition, Sanremo Rock[20]

The same year Marco Mendess takes part in the TV show Československo má talent[21] broadcast on Prima TV (Czech Republic) and TV Joj (Slovakia). With the song Don't you treat me bad, Rock N Roll Army ranks to the final.

In 2015 is published in Italian the book Prostitute, prostituti, prostituti by Feltrinelli, written by Petra Klabouchova about Mendess from his childhood to tragic family events.[22][23]

In November 2019 is published in Czech the book Appetite for Destruction and in April 2023 the book Na plný koule by Petra Klabouchová which narrates in comic style all the rock adventures around the world of Captain Mendess and his bands.[24][25]


In 2020 Marco Mendess comes out with the single The Captain of Rock ’n’ Roll,[26] which is completely recorded, mixed and mastered by himself.

Songs Don't ya treat me bad ( 2021 ) and Terror Training ( 2021 ) are entirely created by Captain Mendess, in his new music style called black boogie, conceived by himself. "It's black colored Boogie Woogie, when classic Rock n Roll meets Heavy Metal and turns into Rockabilly for vampires."[27]

Discography

Albums with Hollywood Vampires

  • Night Club 666 (Popron Music, 2005)

Albums with S.E.X. Department

  • S.E.X. Department (Perris, 2007)
  • Rock N Roll Suicide (Perris, 2009)
  • Rock N Roll SS (2011) – digital release
  • Italiani (2011) – digital release

Albums with Rock N Roll Army

  • The Captain of Rock N Roll (2020) – digital release
  • Don't ya treat me bad (2021) – digital release
  • Terror Training (2021) – digital release

Contributions to compilation albums

Further reading

  • Prostitute, prostituti, prostitutti ( Petra Klabouchová, La Feltrinelli, 2015 ) ISBN 978-88-910-9640-1
  • Appetite for Destruction ( Petra Klabouchová, RNR Army edice, 2019 ) ISBN 978-80-7597-706-9
  • Na plný koule ( Petra Klabouchová, Motto, 2023 ) ISBN 978-80-267-2463-6

References

  1. ^ BraveWords. "S.E.X. DEPARTMENT - Night Club 666 Now Available Everywhere". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
  2. ^ "Czech Music Award Anděl". Česká televize.
  3. ^ "Bodog Battle of the Bands in Melkweg - amsterdam". 3voor12 (in Dutch). Retrieved 2020-11-14.
  4. ^ Coma, Alexis (2012). "Hollywood Vampires - Night Club 666 - S.E.X. Department". Neon Lights.
  5. ^ Rockitt, Rob (2007-11-29). "S.E.X. Department – S/T (2007)". Hard Rock Hideout. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  6. ^ Salomoni, Raffaele. "AAVV - Hollywood Hairspray Vol. 7" (in Italian). Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  7. ^ "Perris Worldwide Network CD - various artists". Allmusic.
  8. ^ BraveWords. "S.E.X. DEPARTMENT Announce Live Dates". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  9. ^ Rockitt, Rob (2008-03-13). "S.E.X. Department and Deathriders confirmed for Rocklahoma". Hard Rock Hideout. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  10. ^ BraveWords. "S.E.X. DEPARTMENT, MAD TEMPLE, SNAKE SKIN PRISON Confirmed For South Texas Rock Fest". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  11. ^ "Lick It Up: A Millenium Tribute to Kiss - Various Artists | Release Info". Allmusic. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
  12. ^ Blabbermouth (2008-09-09). "S.E.X. DEPARTMENT To Enter Studio Next Week". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  13. ^ BraveWords. "S.E.X. DEPARTMENT - Rock 'N' Roll Suicide Due Out On July 1st". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
  14. ^ BraveWords. "S.E.X. DEPARTMENT Moves To L.A.; Booking US Dates". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  15. ^ BraveWords. "S.E.X. DEPARTMENT Mixing New Album; First Single Due In July". bravewords.com. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  16. ^ BraveWords. "S.E.X. DEPARTMENT Release Double Album Rock 'N' Roll SS And Italiani". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  17. ^ s.r.o, MEDIA CLUB. "Rock N Roll Army". Radio Beat (in Czech). Retrieved 2020-11-14.
  18. ^ Stejskal, Pavel. "10.-13.7. Masters of Rock - Vizovice". Radio Beat (in Czech). Retrieved 2020-11-14.
  19. ^ "Backstage - The true story of Rock'n'roll". Pragokoncert Bohemia. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  20. ^ Artisti 2018-19 (2018-11-26). "I Rock N Roll Army a Sanremo Rock 32^Edizione!". Sanremo Rock (in Italian). Retrieved 2020-11-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ Filipová, Lenka. "Bizarná kapela dvihla porotu zo stoličiek: Hororový výzor ich poriadne vydesil!". TV JOJ (in Slovak). Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  22. ^ "Libro Prostitute, prostituti, prostitutti - P. Klabouch - LaFeltrinelli". Feltrinelli (in Italian). Retrieved 2020-11-14.
  23. ^ "Prostitute, prostituti, prostitutti| libro| Petra Klabouch|". Prostitutti Libro (in Italian). Retrieved 2020-11-14.
  24. ^ "Přímo z kasáren Rock N Roll Army právě vychází kniha "Appetite For Destruction"". musicserver.cz. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
  25. ^ "Petra Klabouchová | Knihy autora | ČBDB.cz". Československá_bibliografická_databáze (in Czech). Retrieved 2020-11-14.
  26. ^ Dungworth, Alex Dungworth·MusicReview·5 min (2020-05-08). "RGM Recommends – The Singles | RNR Army". Retrieved 2020-11-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  27. ^ "Rock n Roll Army - Don't ya treat me bad". Emsumedia. Retrieved 2020-07-08.

External links

  • Rock N Roll Army website
  • Perris Records
  • Popron Music
  • Bandzone profile
  • S.E.X. Department AllMusic