Biography
Nicky Scarola was born in Venezuela from Italian ancestors for whom music was very important. In his house, Opera and the San Remo Festivals were always heard, until one day Nicky heard the Beatles. But it was not until high school that together with his classmates, he began to listen to rock, especially when in 1978 he went to see the Led Zeppelin movie “The Song Remains the Same”. This movie was such an impact on Nicky that he went back to see it on ten different occasions at the same movie theater. The magic within Jimmy Page marked him for the rest of his life and it was at that time that he decided that that was what he wanted to be. By then, he had heard “Deep Purple” and was attracted by the quality and expression bestowed by Ritchie Blackmore. Both Page and Blackmore would become Nicky’s great influence.
In 1978, Nicky founded “Cheese Factory” along with his neighbor, Luis Panero (Later bass player of the Venezuelan rock group “Resistencia”) and Felix Guerra (Kashmir, Gillman). After many years without a lead singer, in 1980, Nicky meets a singer named Paco Andrieu (Francisco Mosquera R.I.P.) and they begin to rehearse. Their first performance was on a TV show called “Fiebre en el 8”. It was a Disco-Music-Dance program and Cheese Factory was in charge of making all of the audience sweat. From then on, the band performs at mid-night concerts at “Teatro Santa Sofia” and at friends’ parties. In 1982, during the National Rock boom, “Radio Difusora Venezuela” begins to air the song “Alasthor” and it hits the charts in Number 10, along with other bands such as: Resistencia, Témpano and others. From the break-up of Cheese Factory in 1985, “Kashmir” is born, band with which Nicky plays in night clubs in Caracas. In 1987, they record two songs (No se decir adiós & No puede Ser) the record was a complier of various groups, and was called “La Respuesta”. That record consisted of the bands Arkángel, Radio Clip, Alta Frecuencia & Kashmir. The songs were aired all over the country by radio stations of the time. The theme “No se decir adios” was so especial that it caused that they be taken on a tour of concerts all over the country.
In 1988, they were the warm-up group for the Canadian group “Saga” at the “Poliedro de Caracas”. They were two very successful nights, Nicky remembers. During the 80’s, Nicky plays with the Danny King band and in the year 1990 with Mirna Rios. In 1989, Nicky leaves Kashmir and founded “Black & White” with Victor Fiol (Tempano’s Bass) Pedro Rodriguez (Franco De Vita’s drummer), Broris Milan (Keyboards) and Dina Saavedra (Lead Singer). That band lasted a year playing at night clubs in Caracas and other parts of the country. In 1990, Nicky also forms part of the band “Express” where he meets up with Alexis Peña. They eventually produced a record called “Alexis” with Sony Music in 1997. In 1991, Ricardo Escobar contacts Nicky and offers to form part of the band “Resistencia”. At that moment, Ricardo Escobar, Cesar Somoza and Luis Panero with Nicky on the guitar had gotten together to make up what would be the third formation of Resistencia that continues until 1999. As of 96, Nicky takes some time off from performances, until 98 when he begins with the new “Express” until 99. As of 2000, Nicky is more dedicated to recording and producing in his studio until 2003. In January, 2004, he gets together with Resistencia at the Metal Awards in Venezuela, with Alexis Peña and Aquiles Cortina on Bass. They get the idea to record a record. Aquiles is replaced by Miguel Blanco on the bass. “Intenso” is released in December 2004. In 2005, he retires for a year due to diagnosis from "Tinitus" (A noise in the inner ear).
From 2003 to 2005, Nicky was the musical producer of the tv channel Televen, producing the music of some tv show such as De Novela con Beatriz, Muévelo and Noche de Perros, a comic guest & host show that he headed with his band. In 2006, Federico Capocci becomes a member returning to the formation, Nicky. Resistencia plays in Valencia with a two guitar format. Resistencia continues to perform once in a while in the following years. After the death of Ricardo Escobar in December of 2010, Nicky gets together the remaining members of that Resistencia, Alexis Peña is replaced by Andres Csizmadia (Tabako) in the lead voice, Eduardo Saez takes the place of Ricardo. Using the name Resistencia: The Tribute they have some memorable performances with Judas Priest and Whitesnake in Caracas. And the Gillmanfest in Cumaná, Maracay (with legends Uriah Heep), also the special edition of Gillmanfest at Teresa Carreño Theater, along with Gillman, La Misma Gente y Uriah Heep.
At the end of 2011, Nicky is the guitar player and musical director of Guillermo Davila’s band. By 2012, Nicky finds himself recording Guillermo Davila’s next album and a solo record. intensive tours with Guillermo Davila all around South America, USA and other places, at the end of 2014, Guillermo Davila’s record “Mi Vida” is produced by Nicky and Guillermo, including Nicky’s themes “Milagro de Amor”, “Morrocoy” and other themes co-written with Guillermo like “Obsesión” and “Amor presente”. In 2015, Nicky releases his solo album “Con Caracter” (With Attitude), which includes musical themes and songs sung by Alexis Peña, Luis (Bananaz) Alvarez, special guest Biella Da Costa, singing vocal scats in the song “Catch the Rainbow”, from 1975 “Ritchie Blackmore´s Rainbow” LP.
