Page 73 - ION Indie Magazine MayJune 2018 Issue

ION Indie Magazine had an opportunity to catch up with Marc Rizzo before he took the stage with Soulfly at
The Chop Shop in Seabrook, New Hampshire. We were grateful for the time given, as Marc is a man who
doesn’t sit still very often or for very long. In addition to his solo project, he is still a member of Soulfly and
Cavalera Conspiracy. It can’t go unmentioned that all three of his bands have albums that have been or will
be released within six months of each another.

The last time ION saw Marc, he was playing solo at The Cove Music Hall in Worcester during the winter of
2017. Marc often plays at clubs up and down the East Coast on the rare weekend that he may have to do so.
Rizzo played a searing set on his seven-string guitar that commanded the audience’s attention. When asked
how he came to find the seven-string guitar, Marc said he switched to it after doing more low tunings and
incorporating more guitar solos with his bands. He added that it took him only about a week to get used to
the additional strings.

Rizzo started playing guitar at 8-years old. It was 1986, so 80’s thrash metal bands were big at the time --
Slayer, Metallica, Megadeth, and Overkill were a few who Rizzo turned to for inspiration. Marc also drew
from 1970’s rockers like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple, though Rizzo will tell you, “I got so much from
listening to Joe Satriani,” -- who he still idolizes to this day. By the time Rizzo was in high school, he was
playing trumpet as well as guitar in the jazz band. At the age of 14, he had started his first punk rock band.
Present day, Rizzo just released his new solo album, “Rotation,” which though written six years ago, is named
after his travels touring the globe. The first single off “Rotation” is entitled “Isosceles,” complete with all the
heavy riffs Rizzo’s fans have come to expect. There is nothing square about this track. His album is
appropriately titled, seeing how when we spoke with him he had just returned from three weeks in Canada
touring with Soulfly. While in Canada, he had the opportunity to play with the band Overkill, a group whose
rock stylings have inspired him since high school.
At The Chop Shop with Soulfly that night, the band played the album “Nailbomb” in its entirely. Fans took to
the floor moshing around, jumping up and down to the music. Rizzo let his fans know he would be hanging
around after the show at the bar having a beer if they wanted to come and chat. He is by far and away one of
the most approachable musicians -- always wanting to maintain that connection with his fan base.

www.marcrizzo.net