THE STORY
Danger Zone: A Journey Through Hard Rock
Formation and Early Years (1980s)
Guitarist Roberto Priori founded the Italian band Danger Zone in the early 1980s. After recording various demos and undergoing several line-up changes, the band released their first LP, "Victim Of Time," in 1984. By 1987, they began attracting significant attention in Italy through their live performances at various hard rock festivals.
Breakthrough Performance and Production Deal (1988-1989)
In the spring of 1988, Danger Zone opened for heavy metal legends Saxon in Verona, Italy. This performance led promoter and manager Francesco Sanavio to offer the band a production deal aimed at breaking into the US market. That summer, Danger Zone played a successful gig at the Whiskey A Go Go in Los Angeles.
By May 1989, they began working on a new album with executive producer Stephan Galfas, known for his work with Meat Loaf, Savatage, and Saxon. Producers Jody Gray and Mark Cobrin, successful with the Japanese hard rock bands Loudness and EZO, also joined the project. Recording sessions took place from June to October 1989 in Venice, Italy, with mixing handled in New York City.
Challenges and "Line of Fire" (1989-2011)
"Line Of Fire" featured songs from Danger Zone’s demos and new tunes written for the record. After the studio sessions, the band rehearsed for live shows and moved to Los Angeles to pursue their dream. However, due to various challenges, they had to abandon their plans and return to Italy. The album was shelved but gained an underground cult status over time. Finally, in 2011, "Line Of Fire" was released through Avenue Of Allies, remastered by Roberto Priori as a Special Limited Edition.
Reunion and "Undying" (2010-2012)
Danger Zone reunited in 2010, working on new material and rehearsing for live shows. By 2011, original members Roberto Priori (guitars), Paolo Palmieri (drums), and Giacomo Gigantelli (vocals) were joined by new bassist Roberto Galli. Out of 15 demos, 12 were chosen for their upcoming album, featuring a mix of new songs and reworked unreleased tunes from the "Line Of Fire" era. Initial sessions took place at Priori’s PriStudio in Bologna, followed by a trip to New York by Gigantelli to work on lyrics with Jody Gray. Grammy-winning composer Don Rollins contributed to two tracks.
Work continued on both sides of the Atlantic, with Gray assisting Priori with vocal production. After completing the recording sessions, Priori mixed and mastered the album in the spring of 2012. Titled "Undying," the album blended their 80s musical roots with a modern edge and was released to positive reviews.
"Closer to Heaven" and Recent Activities (2014-2017)
To promote "Undying," Danger Zone played several shows in Italy and summer festivals. In March 2014, they released a single and video for E.Z.O.'s "Fire Fire," introducing new bassist Matteo Minghetti. The band then began working on a new album, adding Pier Mazzini (Perfect View) and Whitesnake's Michele Luppi on keyboards for a more melodic sound.
In the summer of 2015, they started recording their new album at PriStudio in Bologna, with Priori and Gray producing. "Closer To Heaven" was released by Pride & Joy/EDEL in April 2016, receiving rave reviews and selling out its first print. The album was hailed as their best work to date and one of the top AOR/Hard Rock albums of 2016. The band, now joined by Pier Mazzini and guitarist Danilo Faggiolino, released a limited edition of "Undying" for the Japanese market in April 2017, titled "Undying Reloaded," featuring additional keyboard work, two unreleased tracks, and new mixing and mastering.
