Father Cesare Bonizzi, OFMCap (born 15 March 1946), also known as "Frate Cesare" and mistakenly as "Fratello Metallo" ("Brother Metal") is an Italian Capuchin friar, who was known as a heavy metal singer. "Fratello Metallo" is the name that Frate Cesare gave to heavy metal, not to himself.
Cesare Bonizzi, OFMCap
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Bonizzi in 2008
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Frate Cesare Fratello Metallo |
| Born | (1946-03-15) 15 March 1946 (age 78) Offanengo, Cremona, Italy |
| Genres | Heavy metal, hard rock, Christian metal |
| Occupation(s) | friar and religious priest, musician, singer-songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals |
| Years active | 1990–2009 |
| Website | FrateCesare.com |
Bonizzi was born in Offanengo, in the Province of Cremona, Italy. He entered the Capuchin Order in 1975, and subsequently carried out missionary work in the Ivory Coast. After returning to Italy he was ordained a priest in 1983.[1] Since 1990 he has been interested in using music as a means of contemplation and spiritual devotion, and he has released numerous albums in various styles from new age to rock. After seeing Metallica in concert, however, he became passionate about heavy metal as a musical vehicle.[1] According to him, "Metal is the most energetic, vital, deep and true musical language that I know."[2] He currently lives in the convent of Musocco, a district of Milan. In late 2009, he announced that he would no longer perform, because "The devil has separated me from my managers, risked making me break up with my band colleagues and also risked making me break up with my fellow monks. He lifted me up to the point where I become a celebrity and now I want to kill him."[3]
Although Bonizzi's full transformation to heavy metal is only found on Fratello Metallo's 2008 release Misteri, Bonizzi has recorded numerous albums in various musical genres. With his new style of music, which he calls "Metrock" as a combination of metal and rock, he was the opening act at 2008's Gods of Metal, Italy's largest heavy metal festival.[1] Bonizzi performed in full Franciscan habit.[citation needed]
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