ANTHONY PADULA/THE SUBJEX

by Martha Lima Dunne

BATTLING THE DARKNESS IN HIS HEART CAUSED BY TRAGEDY WAS TROUBLESOME.

Envision smelling the pleasant aroma of Italian food. Mama Padula is cooking in their family home, now in Toronto, Ontario. It had been a few years since they moved there from Italy. Can you just hear the Rockin sounds of Adriano Celentano (Italy's Elvis) spinning on the turntable? Later, maybe the pounding sounds of Phil, Anthony's brother, playing his drums or Nancy, his sister, playing her accordion. All the while, baby brother Anthony is content to be hanging with Dad, enveloped by the sweet sounds of love in his home.

Although Mom, nor Dad were musicians, their love for music extended to their children, and they encouraged the youngsters by gifting them with instruments of their own. At the age of eight years, Anthony already showed a natural talent for playing drums, and so he did. It came naturally to him. He was fascinated by Elvis, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and most 50's, 60's rebels such as Eddie Cochran, Buddy Holly, and others. He loved to pretend to be them, including gyrating like Elvis. In Eighth grade, hos inspiration to start a band came from his new-found love of punk rock music, especially the Ramones and the Sex Pistols. High school years brought about new friends and a punk band they called "Riel". After that was a reggae band called "Jahged Edge", and all the while, Anthony worked on his own music 24/7 when he could.

In the interim, he learned how to play all instruments and shares, "I could not voice the music in my head with just drums. I needed to learn them all, especially guitar and bass, in-order-to express it completely." Gigging was constant throughout the '80s and '90s, allowing Anthony to perfect his skills for what was to come.

When Anthony was eighteen, life took a turn for the worse. His father, a kind, loving, attentive man, whom he was very close with, suddenly passed away, which left Anthony and his Mom in a quiet household that once thrived with activity and sound. His older brother and 2 sisters had already moved on. Battling the darkness in his heart caused by this tragedy, was troublesome. Writing, playing, creating music, became part of the healing process and accentuated his gifts. Life continued, but the curveballs just kept coming.

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"It's a Punked up World!"

Anthony Padula