Aaron Grech July 6th, 2020 - 3:40 PM
The music world is mourning the loss of legendary film composer Ennio Morricone, who passed away earlier today at the age of 91. Morricone is best known for scoring the iconic Sergio Leone Spaghetti Westerns A Fistful of Dollars, Once Upon a Time in the West, My Name is Nobody and his most popular film The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly.
Pioneering thrash metal outfit Metallica posted two statements on their Instagram regarding the death of Morricone, one by the band and a larger message written by frontman James Hetfield. The group have used the composer’s iconic song “The Ecstasy of Gold” as the introduction for their live sets in 1983, which Hetfield has called part of the band’s “inspiration,” before adding that he will always consider the composer “as part of the Metallica family.”
Massive Attack said goodbye to Ennio and called him a genius composer in Italian, the artist’s native tongue. The outfit also have a close connection to “The Ecstasy of Gold,” as it appeared on their 1994 BBC Radio One Essential Mix. The band Health simply put a time frame of years when Morricone was alive, alongside a picture of the composer
Addio Ennio – geniale compositore. https://t.co/mbDgF3XdXa
— Massive Attack (@MassiveAttackUK) July 6, 2020
1928-2020 pic.twitter.com/NaMUxXoAfF
— HEALTH (@_HEALTH_) July 6, 2020
Joy Division and New Order founders Peter Hook and Bernard Summer both spoke on Morricone’s passing, with Hook crediting the composer for inspiring the legendary “Blue Monday” bassline from New Order, while Summer said that Morricone’s album was one of the first records he purchased.
I remember well being blown away by Ennio Morricone’s music on so many films. We would then spend hours trying to get that guitar sound – on Elegia & Sunrise specifically – and of course, he was the inspiration for the Blue Monday bassline. Thank you Ennio & rest in peace.
— Peter Hook (@peterhook) July 6, 2020
“I saw with great sadness that one of my musical heroes, Ennio Morricone has passed away today. His music introduced me to albums and the first album I ever bought was one of his. He made beautiful emotional music and was the master of melody.”
– Bernard Sumner pic.twitter.com/yBBK5GYDLe
— New Order (@neworder) July 6, 2020
Chance the Rapper and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon have both shared Morricone’s “The Crisis” from The Legend of 1900 starring Tim Roth. Rapper El-P of Run The Jewels also gave his condolences, giving the legendary composer a simple “thank you.”
RIP Ennio Morricone 🥺💙 https://t.co/DBBhIMAWqj
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) July 6, 2020
few have as much impact on the entire world of music than Ennio Morricone …
this is my personal favorite from a (for some reason) lesser known film about a piano player who lives on a ship for his whole life.https://t.co/poWzeANLGI
RIP
film – The Legend of 1900 feat Tim Roth— blobtower (@blobtower) July 6, 2020
thank you Ennio Morricone ❤️
— el-p (@therealelp) July 6, 2020
Pioneering electronic artist Jean-Michel Jarre praised Morricone’s melodies, while guitarist and Bruce Springsteen collaborator Stevie Van Zandt said Morricone’s passing was “another tragic loss to our culture.”
Ennio Morricone a unique sound magnificent melodies,a major influence & constant source of inspiration: Love and respect.
Ennio Morricone un son unique, des mélodies magnifiques, une influence majeure et une source d’inspiration constante: avec amour et respect.#EnnioMoricone pic.twitter.com/H9oiCXk0qa— Jean-Michel Jarre (@jeanmicheljarre) July 6, 2020
RIP And now Ennio Morricone. One of the greatest composers of all time. You can hear our tributes to him in Africa Dawn on the Lilyhammer Score, and the new arrangement of Standing In The Line of Fire on Soulfire & Soulfire Live. Like Nick, another tragic loss to our culture.
— Stevie Van Zandt (@StevieVanZandt) July 6, 2020
