Interview & Stage Photos by Steve Foglia
Two-day Scream Rock Fest 2026 took Italy’s City of Flowers, Sanremo by Storm at the end of May, with pure energy dedicated to the best independent and historic bands from the Ligurian and national music scene.
The event’s organizer Steve Foglia conducted an interview with Ligurian Legendary old-school punk rockers LE CAROGNE (formed in 2008), join the chat below.
Since 2008, you’ve been spreading your sound from the far Western Ligurian coast. What is it like playing old-school punk rock in that part of Italy? Is there still a “scene” supporting you, or do you feel like odd-man-out?
A. Making music in the Western Ligurian area, and in general, is getting harder and harder. There’s a lack of venues that give space to original music projects. There isn’t a real scene as such; let’s just say there’s a handful of bands made of friends, and we support each other as much as we can.
In your bio, you define yourselves as “five shady figures.” Who are the Carogne really, and how do you tolerate each other and stay together after almost twenty years?
A. The figures are back to being four after a brief stint as a five-piece. We tolerate each other because we act as a rehab community for our own misery.
Your style is a lethal mix: garage, old-school punk, rotten rock ‘n’ roll, but also harsh synths and “lo-fi” electronics. How do such different elements blend together when you are in the rehearsal room composing?
A. It’s just something that happens. You just have to put stylistic prejudices aside.
Your lyrics are in “coarse Italian, between anger and irony.” How difficult is it today to use irony without being misunderstood, and what are the things that make you angriest and end up straight into your songs?
A. Oh, we get misunderstood all the time! It has often happened that our stuff was reviewed as “comedy rock.” That doesn’t happen with other languages; it’s just an idiocy born from Italian provincialism. Anyway, starting from our fourth album, we began alternating songs in Italian and English.
There is a beautiful definition in your press kit: “a loud, ignorant rhythm section.” Do we want to defend this musical “ignorance”? How much instinct and how much intention is there behind your racket?
A. Of course we defend it! There is no rule: there is room for both instinct and intention.
You have three albums and several compilations under your belt. If you had to choose just one song from your repertoire to introduce Carogne to someone who has never heard you, which one would it be and why?
A. We actually have four albums out already, plus we also released a 7-inch vinyl. Dunno… maybe “Carogne Blues”?
Since 2008, music has changed a lot, especially with the rise of streaming and social media. How does an old-school garage-punk band adapt to this ultra-digital world?
A. Initially, streaming and social media had a great impact on spreading music of any genre, thanks to the service being free. But everything got saturated very quickly. Now there is way too much stuff, everything is scattered, and a lot of interesting music doesn’t get the attention it deserves.
You have done live raids not only in Italy, but also in France, Switzerland, and Germany. How does the audience abroad react to lyrics sung strictly in Italian? Does punk really break down every language barrier?
A. People abroad have fewer prejudices than we do, and there is still a curiosity for the “live concert experience.” They actually listen to what you have to offer, even if they don’t understand a single fucking word!
Your live shows are described as actual “raids.” What is the most absurd, crazy, or “rotten” anecdote that has happened to you on stage or during a European tour?
A. Very weird things happen! A guy who asked our singer to give him his sweat-stained, rotten towel as a gift! A crust punk’s huge, furious dog that wanted to eat our drummer! Ending up drinking Pastis with the mayor of the town hosting the gig!
Three albums, many gigs, but the hunger for rock ‘n’ roll doesn’t seem to be gone. What are the future plans for Carogne? Should we expect a fourth album or new live raids anytime soon?
A. We have the material for a new album (which would actually be the fifth), but we still need to work on it. A new compilation we’re featured on will be released soon, produced by the DIY label TADCA Records. And then, we trust that this interview will interest some Finnish promoter who will book us a nice Scandinavian tour! Get in touch!
More info: https://lecarogne.bandcamp.com/
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