TONY RACITI
Guitarist • Composer • Creator of Humanity Falls
I grew up listening to KISS, AC/DC and Van Halen blasting through the radio. Later I discovered Iron Maiden and became completely hooked.
At around 13 years old, I heard Black Sabbath — especially Tony Iommi. The Vol 4 album changed everything. Hearing Wheels Of Confusion made me say to myself:
“I want to play guitar like that.”
At 15, I bought my first guitar from a second-hand shop — an Onyx guitar and a Gorilla amp.
By 19, I was playing in different bands most nights.
At 20, I started my own band, writing original music while continuing to play with other projects. By then I had built a solid guitar collection, but Ibanez became the guitar that suited me best.
I was also teaching guitar lessons at a music shop.
Playing original heavy music in Brisbane was frustrating at times. It was difficult to be seen and heard playing original metal music.
Like many musicians, I dreamed of going to America for a real opportunity — but with no money and no contacts, that dream felt out of reach.
I later auditioned for a touring band travelling through Australia and New Zealand after their guitarist left to study at the Australian Institute of Music.
I believed this could be my break.
Ironically, I was told I was too good to tour with them — they worried another band would hear me and try to take me away.
By around 26, I became disheartened and needed to focus on making a living.
I pursued another passion — bodybuilding — and in 1999 began working as a personal trainer, a career I continue today.
But music and guitar never left me.
Even while competing in bodybuilding and building a career as a trainer, I never stopped playing.
Now it’s time for a comeback.
I like thinking outside the box — being creative, approaching music differently and playing a little differently.
There’s still a lot left on the table for me musically, and I’m looking forward to getting back out there.
Humanity Falls is an instrumental concept album — a story of how humanity falls.
I hope you enjoy the journey.
Forever a student of music.
Tony Raciti