Sergio Pizzorno

Sergio Pizzorno
Sergio Pizzorno performing with Kasabian, july 2010.
Background information
Birth name	Sergio Lorenzo Pizzorno
Born	15 December 1980 (1980-12-15)
Origin	Newton Abbot, Devon, England
Genres	Indie rock, space rock, neo-psychedelia, electronica
Occupations	Singer, guitarist
Instruments	Guitar, synthesizer, piano, omnichord, bass
Associated acts	Kasabian
Website	www.kasabian.co.uk
Notable instruments
Rickenbacker 481 Fender Coronado

Sergio Lorenzo "Serge" Pizzorno (Born 15 December 1980 in Newton Abbot, Devon) is a British guitarist and songwriter, best known for his work with the indie rock band Kasabian. He became Kasabian's lead song-writer after the departure of Christopher Karloff.

Biography

Serge's father emigrated from Genoa, Italy to England and settled in Leicester. Despite being brought up in the city, Serge was born in Newton Abbot, Devon.

Serge originally had intentions to start a career in football. He says “I told my careers adviser I wanted to be centre forward for Leicester City. When he said 'No' I thought I'd be in a rock 'n' roll band." He also stated as a young boy that his main aim in life is to become as successful as possible.

Kasabian

Serge is not seen as being fond of Kasabian being compared to similar, older bands, including Oasis and The Stone Roses. He says “The foreign fans listen to the music more and don’t call us The Stone Roses or anything. “I think they get us for who we are, especially in France and places like that. There’s no baggage like in the UK.”^{[citation needed]}

Despite this, Serge is still a keen admirer of Britpop band Oasis, in particular former lead guitarist Noel Gallagher. “At our school, if you played guitar you got beat up for being a ponce. Then Oasis came along and suddenly playing guitar was cool. They inspired a whole generation of bands. When we started out as kids, it was Noel Gallagher who inspired me more than any teacher or historical figure I’d heard about.” “For Oasis to ask us to go with them is an honour and a pleasure. I imagine they see a lot of themselves in us and I don’t imagine they’d go on tour with a band they didn’t like.”

Other work

Serge has also worked with former Kasabian lead guitarist and song writer Chris Karloff on the DJ Shadow track “The Tiger” from the album “The Outsider”. He notably scored a fabulous volley in the "Road to Wembley" segment on Soccer AM.

Serge was at Wembley in December 2010 to make the draw for the FA Cup Third Round Proper, along with former Oasis guitarist and good friend Noel Gallagher. There were allegations of the draw being fixed after both men drew out their favourite teams - Leicester City and Manchester City - to play each other in a Third Round tie, however these were denied by the FA, Pizzorno and Gallagher.

In 2010, he composed the music for the movie "London Boulevard" with Colin Farrell, Ray Winstone and Keira Knightley. Serge along with Noel Fielding have written and recorded the soundtrack for Noel's new comedy sketch show on E4 airing in January 2012 called Noel Fielding's Luxury Comedy and they have also started a band together called The Loose Tapestries.

Equipment

Serge’s guitar of choice is a red Rickenbacker 481 which he has played in nearly all of Kasabian’s music videos (excluding the video for Switchblade Smiles), and nearly all their live performances. He also uses another rare guitar, a red 1966 Fender Coronado II with a golden pickguard, notable for unique guitar sound from their 2009 single "Underdog" despite the Rickenbacker 481 being shown in the music video. The Fender Coronado is used for their live performances of the song. The Fender Coronado is also during live performances of their 2009 song "Where Did All the Love Go?". A Full List of His Guitars is:

FireGlo Rickenbacker 481,

JetGlo Rickenbacker 481,

MapleGlo Rickenbacker 480,

Red 1966 Fender Coronado II,

Vox Ultrasonic

Epiphone Casino (Resprayed with matte black finish)

White Vox teardrop (Also resprayed with Matte black finish)

Mick Johnson Vox Teardrop,

Vox Semi acoustic,

Gibson J-160e Acoustic,

Gibson Hummingbird,

Gibson J-200

1950's Hofner Senator (which he stole from his old guitar teacher)

Sergio Pizzorno utilises many guitar pedals to achieve his sound such as Electro Harmonix POG, Electro Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man, Electro Harmonix Microsynth, Roger Mayer Voodoo Vibe, Boss tuner, Vintage Fuzz Face, Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Roger Mayer Axis Fuzz, Line 6 Echo Park, a Boss Digital Delay, and an Mxr Blue Box. He uses a Fender Bandmaster Reverb head into a Marshall Cab and a Vox AC30 Heritage, and also a Fender Blues Deville combo and a Vox AC30 Top Boost.

On Kasabian's new video: Days Are Forgotten, Sergio is seen using a Marshall MA Series amp.

Discography

With Kasabian:

• Kasabian (2004) - Rhythm guitar, backing vocals and piano.
• Empire (2006) - Lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals.
• West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum (2009) - Lead guitar, backing vocals.
• Velociraptor! (2011) - Lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals.

Other:

• London Boulevard soundtrack (2010) - composer
• Noel Fielding's Luxury Comedy (2011) - composer, with Noel Fielding