Luca Bergia, 54, historical drummer and founder of Marlene Kuntz, a cult band on the Italian independent scene, was found dead in his apartment in Cuneo on Thursday morning.
He had given up music a few years ago to devote himself to science classes at the high schools of Madonna dell’Olmo di Cuneo and Chiusa Pesio and justified his choice with a post: «I left the solemn tour on 20.30.10, at dawn of Marlene’s eleventh album, literally exhausted, disoriented, without mental and creative energies. I had to pull the plug and take a year off (which later turned into two) to get back on my feet both physically and mentally: this is the origin of the general “personal reasons” we shared with you at the time. I needed time and the right amount of calm to be able to answer the unexpected questions that were becoming more and more pressing in my head. I thank Cristiano and Riccardo who understood and allowed me to put everything on standby to give me time that belongs to me alone. To be honest, I didn’t feel physically or creatively ready to face yet another pivotal album: the abyss of failure on the one hand, and the hoped-for success on the other, for what such a contradictory word might mean these days. Hence the detachment from the world of music and teaching, a challenge that is embraced with enthusiasm: «It’s a bit of what I want to do in my short-term future».
Most recently, the drummer worked on the soundtrack for two video installations by the Masbedo duo at Art Basel, the Venice Biennale and Indeepandance, and with the Teatro Stabile di Torino for Brecht’s Fatzer show in 2012.
Bergia, who along with Riccardo Tesio was one of the two authentic founders of Marlene Kuntz even before Cristiano Godano got the project going as frontman, guitarist and lyricist, turned 54. The causes of death are currently unknown, he leaves behind two children, Tommaso and Alessandro, as well as his brother Antonello and sister Elisabetta. The date of the funeral is to be fixed.
Article is updated…