Stairway to Heaven is a very difficult song to pull off live for any band, but Italy’s The Blind Monkeys do a fabulous job trying to deliver a live Zep-styled rendition, complete with the Gibson double-neck and Page’s own TSRTS arrangement (which includes all kinds on unique guitar flourishes that have become signature unto themselves). The Blind Monkeys are a 5 man, retro 70’s rock band out of Milan, and are dedicated to celebrating the dynamic spirit of that decade by replicating its unique expressiveness and power while following in the tradition of some of the greats. Not just classic rock influenced, but versed in prog, with each member bringing their own unique style and influence to the table, The Blind Monkeys are available for booking and have a single available for sale and download on CD baby. You can check out their website here and sign up for their newsletter for future tour announcements.
#26
It takes a bold guitar player to strap on a Gibson double-neck and strike the pose for Stairway, but Paolo Malocco shows no fear. A schooled musician, having studied Classical and Jazz at the Milan Conservatory, as well as the finger-picking styles of Peppino D’Agostino, and later, Jazz Fusion with Pietro La Pietra, Paolo is more than up to the task. In front of an enthusiastic crowd at Alcatraz Milano, The Blind Monkeys play a full length version of Stairway that is incredibly faithful in spirit to the original. Particularly cool was Paolo’s solo, which was done very much in the style of a Page improvisation.
What does the future hold for The Blind Monkeys? Only Time will tell – but all the raw ingredients are there to make this band a live performance favourite. Here’s hoping that they will find their own niche with original music while paying homage to their own 70’s rock heroes, and bring a full-length album to the fore. The Blind Monkeys are proof that you don’t need to be from the land of ice and snow to Rock like the Gods.
You can find The Blind Monkeys on Spotify here:
Photo Credit: #26 & #2 from the website of The Blind Monkeys