Heavy Metal Monk is Mild-mannered at Heart
"I do it to convert people to life, to understand life, to grab hold of life, to savor it and enjoy it?"
(Rome, Italy)?A former missionary in the Ivory Coast, Cesare Bonizzi looks like the archetypal Capuchin monk. He has a round face, is rather stout, with twinkling eyes and a long flowing white beard, and lives in a small friary in the Milan hinterland.
But beneath his brown robes beats a heart of metal?Brother Cesare is the lead singer in a heavy metal band, which has just released its second album, according to a story posted to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) website...
The 62-year-old monk started playing and recording cassettes, firstly with "lighter" metal music, but gradually he realized that what really moved him was the hard core, the BBC story says.
The members of his band were at first skeptical at the idea of teaming up with a Capuchin monk, but their doubts soon evaporated.
"Five minutes after meeting Brother Cesare I decided to go ahead, because he manages to convey so much energy, that other musicians and youngsters often don't manage to express," lead guitarist, Cesare Zanotti, told Reuters.
?With his booming voice, Brother Metal belts out lyrics that are decidedly gritty, talking about real life issues....
The BBC says he does touch on faith and religion, but is adamant that he is not seeking to draw people to Catholicism through his stage performances.
?Brother Cesare says he has never had any trouble with his superiors over his choice of musical career and would like to send his new album to the Pope. "He is a music lover and metal is music!" he said.
The BBC explains that while Brother Cesare always wears his traditional brown robe and sandals as a reminder that he has chosen a life of devotion to God, he is keen to distinguish established religion from faith, and from proselytizing.
"I do it to convert people to life, to understand life, to grab hold of life, to savor it and enjoy it. Full stop," he says.
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