Dario Argento
Dario Argento answers questions at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival in 2007.
Born	Dario Argento (1940-09-07) 7 September 1940 (age 71) Rome, Italy
Other names	Sirio Bernadotte[1][2]
Occupation	Film director, producer and screenwriter
Spouse	Marisa Casale (1968 -1972) (divorced)[3]
Partner	Daria Nicolodi (1974–1985)

Dario Argento (Italian pronunciation: [ˈdarjo arˈdʒɛnto]; born 7 September 1940) is an Italian film director, producer and screenwriter. He is best known for his work in the horror film genre, particularly in the subgenre known as giallo, and for his influence on modern horror and slasher movies.

Life and career[link]

Argento was born in Rome, the son of film producer/executive Salvatore Argento and Brazilian-born photographer Elda Luxardo. He began his career in film as a critic, writing for various magazines while still attending high school.

Argento did not attend college, electing rather to take a job as a columnist at the newspaper Paese Sera. While working at the newspaper, Argento also began working as a screenwriter. His most notable work was for Sergio Leone; he and Bernardo Bertolucci collaborated on the story for the spaghetti western classic Once Upon a Time in the West. Soon after that film's 1969 release, Argento began working on his directorial debut, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, which was released in 1970 and was a major hit in Italy.

Early in his directing career, Argento continued to concentrate largely on the giallo genre (more precisely known as "thriller" in Italy, as the word "giallo"--Italian for yellow-- usually refers to generic mystery works). Although Mario Bava created the first cinematic giallo with 1964's Blood and Black Lace, Argento further developed this style in his first three films.^[4]

Argento directed two additional successful thrillers, The Cat o' Nine Tails (1971) and Four Flies on Grey Velvet (1972). Along with The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, these three films are frequently referred to as Argento's "animal trilogy". The director then turned his attention away from giallo movies, filming two Italian TV dramas and a period comedy (Five Days in Milan) in 1973 before returning to thrillers with 1975's Deep Red, frequently cited by many critics as the best giallo ever made. The film made Argento famous internationally, and inspired a number of other directors to work in the genre (John Carpenter has frequently referred to the influence Argento's early work had on Halloween).

Argento's next movie was Suspiria (1977), a violent supernatural thriller. Lacking the constraints of the more conventional giallo subgenre, Suspiria is a semi-surreal work of art, where plot and character are secondary to sound and vision. Argento planned for Suspiria to be the first of a trilogy about "The Three Mothers", three ancient witches residing in three different modern cities. The second movie of the trilogy was 1980's Inferno. The Mother of Tears (2007) belatedly concluded the trilogy.

In between the making of the first two "mothers", in 1978, Argento collaborated with George A. Romero on Dawn of the Dead, earning a producer credit and also providing soundtrack work for the zombie classic. Argento oversaw the European release of the film (where it was titled Zombi) which was much shorter and featured much more of the score written and performed by Goblin.

After Inferno, Argento returned to the more conventional giallo style with Tenebrae (1982). He then attempted to combine giallo and supernatural fantasy in Phenomena, also known as Creepers (1985), which was one of Jennifer Connelly's earliest movies. Phenomena also showed Argento's predilection for using new technology, as evidenced by the film's several prowling Steadicam shots. Both films received a lukewarm reception upon their release (although each has been positively reappraised retrospectively).

Argento subsequently took a break from directing to write two screenplays for Mario Bava's son Lamberto Bava, Dèmoni (1985) and Dèmoni 2 (1986).

Dario Argento interviewed by Martin Sauvageau during the Festival International du Cinéma Fantastique de Montréal in 1994.

Opera followed in 1987. Set in Parma's Regio Theatre during a production of Verdi's Macbeth, the production was beset by real-life misfortunes that Argento suspected were caused by the supposed traditional "curse" on the Shakespearean play. Argento's father died during its production, Vanessa Redgrave quit the project before filming began, he had problems working with his former long-time girlfriend and collaborator Daria Nicolodi on-set, and the cast and crew were plagued by several minor accidents and mishaps.

His 1996 The Stendhal Syndrome, in which a policewoman (played by Argento's daughter, Asia) who suffers from Stendhal syndrome is trapped by a serial killer in an abandoned warehouse, was the first Italian film to use computer-generated imagery (CGI). Moreover, the film's opening scene was shot in Florence, at Italy's famed Uffizi Gallery. Argento is the only director ever granted permission to shoot there. The Stendhal Syndrome was distributed in the U.S. by cult B-movie distribution company Troma Entertainment.

Dario Argento discusses his film Pelts at the Torino Film Festival in 2006.

2004's The Card Player, a giallo about a killer whose murders are conducted during Internet poker matches with the Rome police, earned a mixed reception: some fans appreciated the techno music score composed by ex-Goblin member Claudio Simonetti, but felt the film was too mainstream, with little of Argento's usual flourish.

2005 saw the TV broadcast of Argento's Do You Like Hitchcock?, in which the director paid homage to Alfred Hitchcock after decades of being compared to him by critics. Later that year, he directed a segment of Masters of Horror, a Showtime television series called "Jenifer". Soon afterwards, Argento directed an adaption of the F. Paul Wilson short story "Pelts" for season 2 of the same series.

Argento finished the final film of his Three Mothers trilogy, The Mother of Tears, which is set in Rome and centers on the titular "third mother", Mater Lacrimarum. Argento and Jace Anderson share writing credits for the film. Argento's daughter Asia was cast as the lead player, along with her mother and frequent Argento collaborator Daria Nicolodi in a supporting role. Udo Kier, who appeared in Argento's Suspiria, and Coralina Cataldi-Tassoni, who appeared in three of his previous films, both have pivotal roles in the final Mothers chapter.

On 26 June 2009, Argento's latest movie Giallo premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival. The following month he announced that he had started working on the 3D remake of Profondo Rosso,^[5] but subsequently this project was shelved due to the failure of Giallo in Italian cinemas. He then announced his decision to write a new screenplay. In 2011, Argento will produce the American remake of his cult film Suspiria.^[6] On March 4, 2011, it was announced that Rutger Hauer had signed on to play Van Helsing in Argento's Dracula 3D which is scheduled to begin shooting in Budapest later in the year.^[7]

Works and criticism on Argento[link]

Maitland McDonagh^[8] wrote about Argento in Broken Mirrors/Broken Minds: The Dark Dreams of Dario Argento (1991). Argento is also mentioned in Art of Darkness, a collection of promotional stills, poster art and critical essays edited by Chris Gallant. British journalist Alan Jones published Profondo Argento, a compendium of set reports, interviews and biographical detail. A recent book by James Gracey, simply titled Dario Argento, provides fresh critical analysis and an exploration of Argento's far-reaching impact on modern horror cinema and popular culture.^[9] English sound designer, writer and musician Heather Emmett published Sounds to Die For:Speaking the Language of Horror Film Sound, ISBN 978-0-9563020-1-4, which includes the first in-depth study of the use of sound in Argento's films.^[10]

Other work[link]

He is involved in a horror memorabilia store located at Via dei Gracchi 260 in Rome named Profondo Rosso, after his classic film Deep Red. In the cellar is a collection from his movies. The store is managed by his long time collaborator and friend Luigi Cozzi.

During the early 1990s, Argento was in the process of collaborating with contemporary Italian director Lucio Fulci on a horror film. But due to financial trouble, the project was continually postponed. Fortunately in 1996, Argento was able to gather funding, but was unable to actually collaborate with Fulci, as Fulci died in March that year. The film would be later be directed by Sergio Stivaletti as Maschera di cera (The Wax Mask), with Argento and Fulci both receiving screenwriting credits.

He has contributed in the development of the survival horror video game Dead Space, and also in the dubbing of Dr. Kyne character in the Italian version of the game.

Filmography[link]

As director[link]

• The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (L'uccello dalle piume di cristallo) (1970) (Also Writer)
• The Cat o' Nine Tails (Il gatto a nove code) (1971) (Also Writer)
• Four Flies on Grey Velvet (4 mosche di velluto grigio) (1971) (Also Writer)
• The Five Days (Le cinque giornate) (1973) (Also Writer)
• Door into Darkness (TV Series, Episodes Testimone oculare, Il tram) (1973) (Also Writer, Producer)
• Deep Red (Profondo rosso) (aka The Hatchet Murders) (1975) (Also Writer)
• Suspiria (1977) (Also Writer)
• Inferno (1980) (Also Writer)
• Tenebrae (aka Unsane) (1982) (Also Writer)
• Phenomena (aka Creepers) (1985) (Also Writer, Producer)
• Opera (aka Terror at the Opera) (1987) (Also Writer, Producer)
• Two Evil Eyes (Due occhi diabolici) (Segment, The Black Cat) (1990) (Also Writer, Executive Producer)
• Trauma (1993) (Also Writer, Producer)
• The Stendhal Syndrome (La sindrome di Stendhal) (1996) (Also Writer, Producer)
• The Phantom of the Opera (Il fantasma dell'opera) (1998) (Also Writer)
• Sleepless (Non ho sonno) (2001) (Also Writer, Producer)
• The Card Player (Il cartaio) (2004) (Also Writer, Producer)
• Do You Like Hitchcock? (Ti piace Hitchcock?) (2005) (Also Writer)
• Masters of Horror (TV Series, Episode Jenifer) (2005)
• Masters of Horror (TV Series, Episode Pelts) (2006)
• The Mother of Tears (2007) (Also Writer, Producer)
• Giallo (2009) (Also Writer)
• Dracula 3D (2012) (Also co-writer)
• La quarta dimensione (2012) (TV Series, also writer)

As writer (not director)[link]

• Scusi, Lei è favorevole o contrario? (1967)
• Every Man Is My Enemy Qualcuno ha tradito (1967)
• Heroes Never Die (Les Héros ne Meurent Jamais) (1968)
• Once Upon a Time in the West (C'era una volta il West) (1968) (Story)
• Today It's Me... Tomorrow It's You! (Oggi a me... domani a te!) (1968)
• Comandamenti per un Gangster (1968)
• Commandos (1968)
• La Rivoluzione sessuale (The Sexual Revolution) (1968)
• Cemetery Without Crosses (Une Corde, un Colt) (1969)
• Love Circle (Metti una sera a cena) (aka One Night at Dinner) (1969)
• Probabilità Zero (1969)
• Legion of the Damned (La legione dei dannati) (aka Battle of the Commandos) (1969)
• The Five Man Army (Un esercito di cinque uomini) (1969)
• Season of the Senses (La stagione dei sensi') (1969)
• Man Called Amen (Così sia) (1972)
• Demons (Dèmoni) (1985) (Also Producer)
• Demons 2 (Demoni 2) (1986) (Also Producer)
• The Church (La Chiesa) (aka Demons 3) (1989) (Also Producer)
• The Sect (La setta) (aka Demons 4) (1991) (Also Producer)
• The Wax Mask (M.D.C. – Maschera di cera) (1997) (Story) (Also Producer)

As producer (neither writer nor director)[link]

• Door into Darkness (Episode La bambola) (1973)
• Dawn of the Dead (Zombi) (1978)
• Turno di Notte (TV Series) (1987)
• Scarlet Diva (2000)

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Dario Argento

• Dark Dreams: The Films of Dario Argento
• Dario Argento at the Internet Movie Database
• Interview with Dario Argento

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Claudio Simonetti (born February 19, 1952 in São Paulo, Brazil) is an Italian composer who has specialized in the scores for Italian and American horror films since the 1970s.

Biography[link]

He was also the keyboard player for the Italian progressive rock band Cherry Five/Goblin.

Simonetti is probably best-known for his electronic score to the George A. Romero classic Dawn of the Dead, but is also highly-regarded for his work in the films of Italian horror maestro Dario Argento, with whom he has worked almost exclusively since 1975. Goblin's score to his film Profondo rosso was one of the highest-selling horror movie soundtracks ever produced.

When Goblin disbanded in 1979, Claudio began his solo career as an electronic musician. However, the band reunited in 2000 to score the Argento film Nonhosonno and received outstanding critical acclaim.

Beginning in 1978, Claudio founded a number of electronic disco projects. In 1979, with Giancarlo Meo, he formed perhaps his best-known project behind singer Vivien Vee (Viviana Andreattini), whose song "Give Me a Break" became a minor hit in the American dance charts. Later Vivien Vee tracks particularly "Blue Disease" from 1983, showcased some of the darker and edgier sounds familiar from the Goblin years. Another project was Easy Going, with "Fear" from 1979, also an American hit. In 1983, he was the central member of the Italo disco group Crazy Gang.

In 1999, Simonetti formed the heavy metal band Daemonia, which has recorded updated versions of Goblin favorites in addition to original material. Daemonia has also contributed tracks to U.S. DVD releases of Italian horror movies. He composed the title track Mater Lacrimarum for The Mother of Tears soundtrack, the song features background vocals by Dani Filth.

In 2009, Claudio collaborated with the Los Angeles Heavy Metal band Rusty Eye. He played keyboard on "Mondo Cane" and "Wings of the Demon" from the album "Possessor".

See also[link]

• Tenebrae (soundtrack)

External links[link]

• Official website (Italian) (English)
• Claudio Simonetti RBMA lecture
• The Fantastic Journey of GOBLIN
• Official website of Daemonia (Italian) (English)
• Claudio Simonetti interviewed by Tim Fife for Cinema Suicide (in English)

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Bill Wyman
Wyman with Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings Middelburg, January 2009
Background information
Birth name	William George Perks
Also known as	Lee Wyman
Born	(1936-10-24) 24 October 1936 (age 75) Lewisham, London England United Kingdom
Genres	Rock, rock and roll, swing, rhythm and blues, jazz, blues, skiffle
Occupations	Musician, composer, author, record producer, film producer, bandleader, photographer, inventor
Instruments	Vocals, bass guitar, guitar, keyboards, percussion
Years active	1962–present
Labels	Velvel, Koch International, Rolling Stones, BMG
Associated acts	The Rolling Stones, Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings, Wilie & the Poor Boys, The Cliftons
Website	www.billwyman.com
Notable instruments
Framus Star Bass Vox Teardrop bass Fender Mustang Bass Ampeg Dan Armstrong

Bill Wyman (born William George Perks; 24 October 1936) is an English musician best known as the bass guitarist for the English rock and roll band the Rolling Stones from 1962 until 1992. Since 1997, he has recorded and toured with his own band, Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings. He has worked producing both records and film, and has scored music for film in movies and television.

Wyman has kept a journal since he was a child after World War II. It has been useful to him as an author who has written seven books, selling two million copies. Wyman's love of art has additionally led to his proficiency in photography and his photographs have hung in galleries around the world.^[1] Wyman's lack of funds in his early years led him to create and build his own fretless bass guitar. He became an amateur archaeologist and enjoys relic hunting; The Times published a letter about his hobby (Friday 2 March 2007). He designed and markets a patented Bill Wyman signature metal detector, which he has used to find relics in the English countryside dating back to the era of the Roman Empire. As a businessman, he owns several establishments including the famous Sticky Fingers Café, a rock & roll-themed bistro serving American cuisine first opened in 1989 in the Kensington area of London and later, two additional locations in Cambridge and Manchester, England.

Early life[link]

Bill Wyman was born in Lewisham Hospital in Lewisham, South London, the son of William Perks, a bricklayer, and his wife, Molly. One of five children, Wyman spent most of his early life living in a terraced house in one of the roughest streets in Sydenham, southeast London. He describes his childhood as "scarred by poverty".^[2]

He attended Beckenham and Penge Grammar School from 1947 to Easter 1953, leaving before the GCE exams after his father found him a job working for a bookmaker and insisted that he take it.

Music career[link]

Wyman took piano lessons from age 10 to 13. A year after his marriage on 24 October 1959 to Diane Cory, an 18-year-old bank clerk, he bought a Burns electric guitar for £52 on hire-purchase, but was not satisfied by his progress.^[3] After hearing a bass guitar at the Barron Knights' concert, he fell in love with the sound of it and decided this was his instrument. He created the first fretless electric bass^[4] by removing the frets from a cheap Japanese bass guitar he was reworking and played this in a south London band, the Cliftons, in 1961. He used the stage name Lee (later Bill) Wyman, taking the surname of a friend with whom he had done national service in the Royal Air Force from 1955 to 1957.^[5]

The Rolling Stones[link]

When drummer Tony Chapman told him that a rhythm and blues band called the Rolling Stones needed a bass player, he auditioned and was hired on 7 December 1962 as a successor to Dick Taylor. The band were impressed by his instrument and amplifiers (one of which Wyman built himself), but because he was married, employed, and older, Wyman remained an outsider.^[6] In addition to playing bass, Wyman frequently sang harmony on early records, and through 1967 in concert as well. He sang lead vocals on the track "In Another Land", on the Their Satanic Majesties Request album and a single. The song is one of two Wyman compositions released by the Rolling Stones; the second is "Downtown Suzie" (sung by Mick Jagger), on Metamorphosis, a collection of Rolling Stones outtakes. The title "Downtown Suzie" was chosen by the Rolling Stones' erstwhile manager Allen Klein without consulting Wyman or the band. The original title was "Sweet Lyle Lucy", named after Lyle Street, a street in the red light district in Soho, London.

Wyman kept a journal throughout his life, beginning when he was a child, and used it in writing his 1990 autobiography Stone Alone and his 2002 book Rolling with the Stones. In Stone Alone, Wyman claims to have composed the riff of "Jumpin' Jack Flash" with Brian Jones and drummer Charlie Watts. Wyman mentions that "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" was released as a single only after a 3-2 vote within the band: Wyman, Watts and Jones voted for, Jagger and Richards against, feeling it not sufficiently commercial. By the 1970s, Wyman, tired of the monopolisation of songwriting and production by Jagger and Richards,^{[citation needed]} began solo projects. In the 1970s and early '80s he made three solo albums, none commercially very successful but all well received by critics.^{[citation needed]} In July 1981 his "(Si, Si) Je suis un rock star" became a top-20 hit in many countries.^[7]

Wyman also played on the London Howlin' Wolf Sessions, released 1971, with Howlin' Wolf, Eric Clapton, Charlie Watts and Stevie Winwood, and on the album Jamming with Edward, released in 1972, with Ry Cooder, Nicky Hopkins, Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts.

Wyman composed the score of the 1981 Ryan O'Neal-Omar Sharif film Green Ice; and in the mid-'80s, he composed music for two films by Italian director Dario Argento: Phenomena (1985) and Terror at the Opera (1987). He made a cameo appearance in the 1987 film Eat the Rich. He produced and managed the group Tucky Buzzard.

Wyman was close to Brian Jones; he and Watts were the only members at Jones' funeral in July 1969. Wyman was also friends with guitarist Mick Taylor. Like the Rolling Stones, he has worked with Taylor since Taylor's departure from the band.

After the Rolling Stones' 1989-90 Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle tours, Wyman left the group; his decision was announced in December 1992.^[8] The Rolling Stones have continued to record and tour with Darryl Jones on bass.

Later activity[link]

Wyman continues to tour with the Rhythm Kings, which has featured such musicians as Martin Taylor,^[9] Albert Lee, Gary Brooker, Terry Taylor (formerly with Tucky Buzzard), Mike Sanchez and Georgie Fame. Following his 70th birthday in October 2006, Wyman undertook another British tour.

On 10 December 2007, Wyman and his band appeared alongside a reunited Led Zeppelin at the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert at the O2 in London.

Wyman was a judge for the 5th annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers.^[10]

In 2009, ex-Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor was invited as a guest performer with Wyman's Rhythm Kings.

On 25 October 2009, Wyman performed a reunion show with Faces, filling in for the late Ronnie Lane as he had previously done in 1986 and 1993.^[11][12]

On 19 April 2011, pianist Ben Waters released an Ian Stewart tribute album titled Boogie 4 Stu. Wyman played on two tracks: "Rooming House Boogie" and "Watchin' the River Flow", the latter recorded with the Rolling Stones.

Musical instruments[link]

Wyman, on bass during the Rolling Stones' tour in 1975 - vertically holding the instrument is his trademark.

Wyman's bass sound came not only from his home-made fretless bass, but the "walking bass" style he adopted, inspired by Willie Dixon and Ricky Fenson.^{[citation needed]} Wyman has played a number of basses, including a Framus Star bass and a number of other Framus basses, a Vox Teardrop bass (issued as a Bill Wyman signature model), a Fender Mustang Bass, two Ampeg Dan Armstrong basses, a Gibson SG Bass, a Rickenbacker 4005, and a Travis Bean bass. His current favourite is a Steinberger bass. Wyman's amplifers over the years have included a Vox T-60, a piggyback Fender Bassman, a Hiwatt bass stack, and an Ampeg SVT. Wyman, especially in the early Stones' years, had a distinctive way of holding his bass - almost vertical. He stated that the reason he held a bass in this position is simply because his hands were small.

Personal life[link]

Wyman, although moderate in his use of alcohol and drugs, has stated that he became "girl mad" as a psychological crutch.^[13] Maxim magazine ranked Wyman at number 10 on its "Living Sex Legends" list, as he is reputed to have had sex with over 1,000 women.^[14]

Wyman married his first wife Dianne in 1959 and their son Stephen Paul Wyman was born on 29 March 1962. They separated in 1967 and divorced in 1969.^[15]

From 1967 to 1983 Wyman was romantically linked to Astrid Lundström.

On 2 June 1989 Wyman married 18-year-old Mandy Smith whom he had been dating since she was 13. Their relationship was the subject of considerable media attention. The marriage ended in spring 1991, although the divorce was not finalised until 1993.^[16] In 1993, while Wyman was still married to Smith, Stephen, his son from his first marriage, became engaged to Smith's mother.^[17]

In April 1993 he married Suzanne Accosta. The couple have three daughters, Katherine Noelle (September 1994), Jessica Rose (November 1995) and Matilda Mae (April 1998).^[18]

Wyman lives in a country house in Suffolk and in St. Paul de Vence in the South of France; in St. Paul de Vence his friends include numerous artists. He is a cricket supporter (as is Mick Jagger) and played in a celebrity match at the Oval against a former England XI taking a hat-trick.^[19][20]

Wyman started selling metal detectors in 2007.^[21] Treasure detecting adventures in the British Isles are detailed in his 2005 illustrated book Treasure Islands co-written with Richard Havers.^[22][23]

Wyman is a keen photographer. He has taken photographs throughout his career and in June 2010 launched a retrospective of his work in an exhibition in St. Paul de Vence. The exhibition included images of his music acquaintances as well as famous artists from the South of France including Marc Chagall.^[24]

Wyman is also a supporter of his local football team, Crystal Palace.

Wyman has supported Britain's Conservative Party.^[25]

Discography[link]

Solo albums[link]

• Monkey Grip (June 1974) UK #39 [1 wk], US #99 [11 wks]
• Stone Alone (March 1976) US #166 [5 wks]
• Bill Wyman (April 1982) UK #55 [6 wks]
• Willie & The Poor Boys (May 1985) US #96 [12 wks]
• Stuff (October 1992 in Japan and Argentina only, 2000 UK)
• A Stone Alone: The Solo Anthology 1974-2002 (2002, UK)

Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings[link]

• Struttin' Our Stuff (October 1997)
• Anyway The Wind Blows (February 1999)
• Groovin' (May 2000) UK #52 [3 wks]
• Double Bill (May 2001) UK #88 [2 wks]
• Just For A Thrill (May 2004) UK #149 [1 wk]

Also plays on[link]

• The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions, 1971
• Jamming with Edward!, 1972

Solo singles[link]

• "In Another Land" (December 1967) Peaked US #87
• "(Si, Si) Je suis un rock star" (July 1981) UK #14 [9 wks]
• " A New Fashion" (March 1982) UK #37 [4 wks]
• "Baby Please Don't Go" (June 1985) US Mainstream Rock #35 [7 wks]

Bibliography[link]

Bill Wyman has authored or co-authored the following titles

Archaeology[link]

• Bill Wyman's Treasure Islands ISBN 0-7509-3967-2

Rolling Stones[link]

• Stone Alone ISBN 0-306-80783-1
• Rolling with the Stones ISBN 0-7513-4646-2.
• Bill Wyman's Blues Odyssey ISBN 0-7513-3442-1
• The Stones - A History in Cartoons ISBN 0-7509-4248-7

The last three books and Bill Wyman's Treasure Islands were all written in collaboration with Richard Havers.

Art[link]

• Wyman Shoots Chagall ISBN 09043516291

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Bill Wyman

• Bill Wyman's website

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2007)

Terry Taylor (born Paul Worden Taylor III on August 12, 1955),^[1] is an American retired professional wrestler best known for his time in the National Wrestling Alliance, World Championship Wrestling, and the World Wrestling Federation. From 2003 until 2011, Taylor was the Director of Talent Relations in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).

Career[link]

Early career[link]

Terry Taylor was a popular fan favorite for much of his early career in the Mid-South region, as well as the Mid-Atlantic in the 1980s. Taylor was originally selected to be part of The Fabulous Ones tag team with Stan Lane^{[citation needed]}, but that role went to Florida wrestler, Steve Keirn. Taylor then formed a tag team with Bobby Fulton called the Fantastic Ones. After they split up, Fulton teamed with Tommy Rogers to form The Fantastics.

National Wrestling Alliance[link]

Taylor made his way to Mid-South in January 1984 and feuded with the team of Nikolai Volkoff and Krusher Darsow. Darsow changed his name to Krusher Khruschev, and he and Taylor met in the finals of a May tournament to crown the first ever Mid-South TV champion, which Khruschev won. 45 days later, Taylor defeated Khruschev in New Orleans to begin his first of four TV title reigns.

Taylor feuded with "Nature Boy" Buddy Landel over the NWA National Heavyweight Championship in 1985. Later that year, he defeated Ted DiBiase for the North American Heavyweight Championship, the Mid South region's top title at the time.

Universal Wrestling Federation[link]

Moving back to the Mid-South region in 1986 (which had since broken away from the NWA and been renamed the Universal Wrestling Federation, or UWF), Taylor became one of the promotion's biggest stars and defeated Buzz Sawyer for the UWF Television Championship in May. He won the UWF Tag Team Championship with "Gentleman" Chris Adams in early 1987, before breaking up their "Dream Team" to begin a heated rivalry. After Jim Crockett Promotions took over the UWF later that year, Taylor (then the UWF Television Champion) initiated a dispute with Nikita Koloff over the NWA World Television Championship by stealing Koloff's belt, which led to a unification match of the two titles at Starrcade 1987, which Taylor would lose before abruptly leaving the promotion.^[2]

World Class Championship Wrestling[link]

In early 1988, Taylor debuted in World Class Championship Wrestling, where he and Adams continued their feud until early June. Taylor won the Texas Heavyweight Championship from Matt Borne and defended it against Adams, Kevin Von Erich, and others. Terry also held the tag team title with Iceman King Parsons for a short time. Taylor eventually departed WCCW when his feud with Von Erich was about to kick into high gear^{[clarification needed]}.

World Wrestling Federation[link]

In 1988, Taylor signed with the World Wrestling Federation. Debuting as babyface Scary Terry Taylor, he teamed with Sam Houston against Los Conquistadores in his television debut on the August 1, 1988 airing of Prime Time Wrestling. After Houston was pinned, Taylor got on the mic and berated him for losing the match, before attacking him and turning heel.^[3] Taylor soon acquired Bobby "The Brain" Heenan as his manager and was rebranded "The Red Rooster", a gimmick which saw him don red tights and ring coat and, later as a babyface, style his hair like a rooster's comb and strut like a rooster. Early in his Red Rooster stint, the heel Taylor was portrayed as a novice wrestler who could not navigate his way through matches without constant instructions from Heenan. The Rooster made his pay-per-view debut in the main event of Survivor Series '88, where he was the first wrestler eliminated from the match.^[4]

On the January 7, 1989 episode of Saturday Night's Main Event, the Rooster lost a match to Tito Santana due to being distracted by an argument with Heenan. Following the loss, Heenan slapped Taylor. Taylor, tired of Heenan's demeaning style of coaching, turned against his manager and attacked him. He became a face as a result, though he retained the Red Rooster gimmick. Heenan feigned wanting to make amends with Taylor on Prime Time Wrestling, but it was a set-up for Taylor to be ambushed by Heenan's new protege, long-time enhancement talent Steve Lombardi, who Heenan reinvented as The Brooklyn Brawler. The two feuded, leading to the Rooster defeating the Brawler on the March 11, 1989 edition of Saturday Night's Main Event and then defeating Heenan in a 30-second squash at WrestleMania V.^[5][6] Taylor would then primarily be used to put over other talent. While he still earned victories against enhancement talent, he was usually on the losing end against established stars. He worked a program with Mr. Perfect, losing to him at SummerSlam '89 and again on the November 25, 1989 episode of Saturday Night's Main Event.^[7][8] At Survivor Series '89, he was part of Dusty Rhodes's "Dream Team." Though Taylor was eliminated from the match, the Dream Team was victorious.^[9] The Rooster's last pay-per-view appearance was as a participant in the 1990 Royal Rumble match (replacing The Widow Maker), where he lasted only two minutes before being eliminated by André the Giant.^[10] Taylor left the Federation in June 1990.

World Championship Wrestling[link]

Taylor received a lesser push in World Championship Wrestling in late 1990. He debuted as "Terry Taylor" and unsuccessfully challenged Arn Anderson for the WCW World Television Championship on several occasions, with most of the matches ending in time-limit draws. Taylor then began a short feud with Michael Wallstreet, which ended abruptly after Wallstreet jumped to the WWF. Taylor took Wallstreet's place in the The York Foundation and was renamed Terrence Taylor (It was customary for York Foundation members to use formalized versions of their first names and wear suits as part of the "business" gimmick). He feuded with Tom Zenk, Dustin Rhodes and Bobby Eaton, and won the WCW World Six-Man Tag Team Championships with Richard Morton and Thomas Rich. Taylor was the senior wrestling member of the York Foundation throughout its existence. For a time in late 1991-early 1992, Taylor teased a face turn by arguing with manager Alexandra York and the rest of the group. After the York Foundation disbanded, Taylor (billed as 'The Taylor Made Man') remained heel and formed a tag team with Greg Valentine in 1992. They held the WCW United States Tag Team Championship for three months.

World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling: Second stints[link]

In September 1992, Taylor returned to the WWF as "Terrific" Terry Taylor. He continued wrestling as a heel and was primarily used to put over other talent. He appeared in the 1993 Royal Rumble match, but was eliminated in 24 seconds by Ted DiBiase.^[11] Taylor then became a broadcaster before he left the company in August 1993 and then turned up in WCW again soon after, wrestling as a face. He was featured in mid-card feuds for about a year.

American Wrestling Federation[link]

Taylor became an announcer for the American Wrestling Federation (AWF) in 1994. A fan of wrestling announcer Gordon Solie^{[citation needed]}, Taylor would often use Solie's famous phrases, pronouncing a suplex as a "soo-play" and a clothesline as a "lariat," seemingly unaware that a clothesline and a lariat are not, in fact, exactly the same thing.

World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling: Third stints[link]

Taylor spent several years in WCW working backstage, as a road agent and a writer. Along with Annette Yother, Craig Leathers, Eric Bischoff and Kevin Sullivan, he wrote content for Nitro and WCW PPVs.

World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling: Fourth stints[link]

Taylor returned to the WWF in 1998, doing interviews backstage. He lasted in this capacity for about a year, before leaving for WCW yet again.

During this run in WCW, Taylor co-hosted and provided commentary for WCW Saturday Night with Larry Zbyszko. He remained with the company until WWF bought it out in March 2001.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling[link]

Taylor began working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in 2003. Prior to becoming Head of Talent Relations, he also worked as a road agent, trainer, and interviewer. On May 20, 2011, Taylor was fired from the promotion.^[12]

Personal life[link]

On April 12, 2004, Taylor had three vertebrae in his neck fused together. Two years later, on April 3, 2006, Taylor underwent a three hour cervical fusion surgery in which his sixth and seventh vertebrae were joined. Following the second operation, Taylor announced his retirement from the ring.

Taylor is a born-again Christian and has appeared on some of the wrestling and religion shows that Ted DiBiase produces^{[citation needed]}.

Taylor has two sons. His wife Trudy died of cancer on July 14, 2011.^[13]

In wrestling[link]

• Finishing moves
  • As Terry Taylor
    • Five-arm (Flying forearm smash)^[1]
    • Sharpshooter^[1]
    • Sitout gutwrench powerbomb^[14]
  • As The Red Rooster
    • Cock of the Walk (Sharpshooter)^[1]
    • Rooster Wing (Lifting hammerlock)^[1]

• Signature moves
  • Jawbreaker
  • Neckbreaker
  • Roll-through counter into a Boston crab
  • Sunset flip^[1]

• Managers
  • Bobby Heenan^[1]
  • Alexandra York^[1]
  • Eddie Gilbert
  • Stevie Wonderful

• Nicknames
  • "Scary"^[1]
  • "Terrible"^[1]
  • "Terrific" Terry Taylor^[1]
  • "The Mecca of Manhood"
  • "The Taylor Made Man"
  • "The Computerized Man of the 1990s"
  • "The Red Rooster"
  • "Judas" (given by Rip Rogers)

Championships and accomplishments[link]

• Border City Wrestling
  • BCW Can-Am Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Cyrus^[15]

• Central States Wrestling
  • NWA Central States Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Bob Brown^[16]
  • NWA Central States Television Championship (1 time)^[17]

• Continental Wrestling Association
  • AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (3 times)^[18]
  • AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Steve Keirn^[19]
  • CWA International Heavyweight Championship (2 times)^[20]
  • NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[21]

• Georgia Championship Wrestling
  • NWA National Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[22]
  • NWA National Television Championship (1 time)^[23]

• Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling / World Championship Wrestling
  • NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[24]
  • WCW United States Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Greg Valentine^[25]
  • WCW World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Richard Morton and Thomas Rich^[26]

• Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling¹
  • NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Rick Steiner

• Mid-South Wrestling Association / Universal Wrestling Federation
  • Mid-South North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[27]
  • Mid-South Television Championship (2 times)^[28]
  • UWF World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Chris Adams (1) and Jim Duggan (1)^[29]
  • UWF World Television Championship (2 times)^[30]

• NWA Music City Wrestling
  • NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[31]

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked him #197 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003
  • Rookie of the Year (1980)

• Southeastern Championship Wrestling
  • NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship (Northern Division) (1 time)^[32]
  • NWA Southeastern Television Championship (1 time)^[33]

• World Class Wrestling Association
  • WCWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[34]
  • WCWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Iceman Parsons^[35]

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
  • Most Underrated (1991, 1992)
  • Worst Worked Match of the Year (1991) with Steve Austin vs. P.N. News and Bobby Eaton in a Scaffold match at The Great American Bash

¹The Mid-Atlantic promotion in which Taylor and Steiner won the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship is not the same promotion that was once owned by Jim Crockett, Jr. and sold to Ted Turner in 1988. That promotion went on to be renamed World Championship Wrestling and was sold to World Wrestling Entertainment in 2001. This current promotion, however, operates within the same region as the original and uses some of the same regional championships, primarily the NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight and Tag Team Championships.^[36]

References[link]

External links[link]

Professional wrestling portal

• TNA News Update: AMW, Traci, Taylor and more