Birdmen Of Alkatraz
From The Birdcage

If someone wanted to get an idea of what Italian psychedelia was, they should absolutely obtain the entire production of the Birdmen Of Alkatraz, consisting of a mythical and legendary EP entitled “Glidin’ Off” (1986) and the album “From The Birdcage” (1989). The group rose from the ashes of the Useless Boys, a band that gifted the universe with a striking garage-rock demo tape called “Dreams’s Dust Factory” (1983). It must be said straight away that the most acid and creative Birdmen Of Alkatraz were those of “Glidin’ Off”: the lineup included the great drummer Daniele Caputo, the genius guitarist Maurizio Curadi – later founder of the Steeplejack – Gianfranco Migliaccio on bass, and Marcello Ventura on the other guitar. Their sound was devoted to the lesson of the American acid psychedelia of the 13TH Floor Elevators as can be heard in “Glidin’ Off”: a sound surely derivative but, in any case, creative. Unfortunately, both Caputo and Curadi, besides being great artists, were also hotheads. Coexistence soon became impossible, and Curadi left the Birdmen Of Alkatraz to embark on the adventure with Steeplejack. Caputo reorganized the lineup with guitarist Francesco Bocciardi, bassist Gianfranco Migliaccio, and Stefano Magni. In 1989, the Birdmen Of Alkatraz released their first LP titled “From The Birdcage” for Contempo, then a very well-known label in the indie scene. The cover is the work of the late Rick Griffin, a true legend of psychedelic culture who had designed many covers in the '60s for bands like Quicksilver Messenger Service and Grateful Dead. The drawing of “From The Birdcage” features the colorful and imaginative style of the '60s. The overall level of the album is very good, although it does not reach the same crazy creative peaks as “Glidin’ Off”. Tracks like the lysergic and epic “Puzzle Of A Downfall Child”, the acid ballad “Beggar Girl”, the Quicksilver Messenger Service cover “Codine”, the irresistible and lysergic “April Dancer”, and the mystical "Lord Of Flies" are to be considered small classics. Due to incomprehensible issues, it has not yet been possible to reissue the work of the Birdmen Of Alkatraz on CD. Today Daniele Caputo, after being active with the psych-progressive Standarte and the London Underground, has left music. Curadi, on the other hand, is still active with Steeplejack. Someone who can should address this gap.