Life changed – but far from completely – way before his 40th birthday for musician/DJ/performer Gianni, but age has nothing to do with it, as Colin Fitz recently found out.

Gianni at 40 – has this milestone made a difference in your life?

Absolutely none at all! Obviously I’d say that because I’m 40 and not 24… seriously though – I really think that you’re as old as you feel – I’m still doing lots of the same stuff I did 10 to 15 years ago and I’m still putting all my heart and soul in what I do. It’s mainly my attitude and insight that have changed. I suppose you can say I’ve ‘grown’ over the years.

How have you ‘grown’?

The way I think has changed – but it’s a constant and gradual change that took place over the years and not something instantaneous that happened at 40! Experience teaches you many things and each incident (good or bad) teaches you something new and makes you think, act and react in a different way. I believe the scientists call it ‘maturity’. My priorities have also changed – dramatically but naturally – but when my daughter was born a few years ago not when I turned 40. Don’t get me wrong: it’s not like I’ve re-written any business plans or life goals. It’s just the way I look at life that changed so naturally everything changed with it.

What’s your daughter like?

Kay is mini-me! She’s actually very girly (she wants everything in pink and purple and wants to wear long dresses) but then she has certain traits that are very similar to me – she loves loud music (rock: please note), she’s a big fan of KISS and the Foo Fighters, although there are moments when she likes to watch Shakira videos, (but hey, I do too). She’s very artistic and can spend hours drawing and painting.
In winter we go for picnics and fly kites, stuff I’ve always loved doing and always did. She’s brought out the kid in me again – although I don’t think the kid in me ever left!

Do you find yourself, having turned 40, thinking about your past – or your future more?

I’m here to love my life and get the most out of it – I want to leave a comfortable life for my daughter and try not to hurt anyone in the process. I’m not too concerned with ‘how will people remember me’ or ‘what will my daughter think of me when she’s older’. I’m living a great life and my goal is to get Kay to appreciate what she has and enjoy life to the max. On stage and radio I’m still the same as I always was – age won’t calm down any of the antics.

You’re known to have had dreams of being an international rock star. How have they evolved?

The international rock star ‘thing’ will always remain there – a dream hanging in my closet of life. I’m very happy with a guitar in my hand performing on stage, but I’m not ready to give up what I have now to try and succeed internationally. To be honest I don’t think I ever was ready to do that… If this dream ever came to be it would probably have to fall into my lap – which doesn’t mean that it won’t happen – it just means that it’s not a priority in my life but still a goal.

But you have lived abroad for short periods...

I’m very much a home-boy – I love Malta and the life we live here – nowhere in the world (at least where I’ve travelled to) compares to Malta. We complain and grumble and huff and puff about our little island, but it’s a great place to live, although America and Australia were incredible experiences and great fun. Would I have ‘made it’ there? No idea. There are many more opportunities and the scale of things is much bigger but then the whole ‘game’ is different, so I wouldn’t know how to answer that.

Is it true you were going to be an architect?

Yes, I studied architecture at University – BUT IT SUCKED… or maybe I sucked at it… I think I would have made a good designer but not a good architect. There’d be many guitar shaped houses around if I had graduated, but luckily for the world I only lasted a few months in the course before I changed to communications.

How did you feel about your participation in Eurovision earlier this year?

Eurovision turned out to be a great experience – and we (as a band) all really had a good time. We were like fish out of water as we were older (I was the eldest participant), all hairy rockers and not very Eurovision-y, but we placed fourth and in my opinion kicked ass and gave a great show.

What about TV? We hardly see you on it anymore.

TV is very time consuming and time is what I don’t have much of nowadays. It’s not easy juggling family life, the events management company JugsMalta, Vibe FM, YoYo Child Care, Business Leaders Malta and the band so I prioritise, and TV is low on my list unfortunately. 

Are you still involved in NnG promotions?

I closed the NnG chapter way back in 2007 – I just didn’t have the time that it required. I don’t really miss it because I still organise big events for clients so I still get the same kicks. Mind you, the experiences of spending a day on a boat with Bryan Adams and Roger Waters were unique but probably the best story I remember from that period is the Elton John erotic massage story. It was quite odd trying to explain to Elton John’s manager that you don’t really find erotic massages readily available in Catholic Malta on a Sunday…

Do you keep fit and eat healthy and all that stuff that comes with getting older?

I have started exercising again – running. I had stopped all exercise for a while because of my workload but lately I decided to get fitter. I stopped eating junk food but I don’t consider myself a healthy eater. I’m not a food fan – I eat because I have to and not because I love it, so food is not really an issue with me. My body doesn’t respond as well as it used to 20 years ago (where I could spend a night out drinking and partying and be as fresh as a flower by 9am, but it’s still okay.

Do you still feel ‘relevant’ as performer to today’s teens and 20s who don’t remember your early media antics that got everyone talking?

The 90s and 2000s were prime time for me vis-à-vis clubbing etc, and I cannot expect to remain ‘relevant’ today without following it up and keeping it alive.
DJing is something that I mostly gave up years ago – but there is a 90s/2000s niche that I’m active in with the Kings of The 90s parties. The band is a different story.  I believe we’re actually stronger as a band today than we were 20 years ago ansd we’re sounding better than ever, the energy is still maxed out and with the return of Anthony, our keyboardist, hopefully soon, we’re going to re-rock EVERYONE again.

Take us through the stages of your life so far.

In my teens my life was great – university days were fabulous. I used to play guitar all the time, DJ at many parties, dress awfully, party hard, and love life!

In my 20s my life was great – my first ‘real life’ jobs were hard but great fun, I used to play guitar all the time, DJ in many clubs and work in radio. My dress code improved slightly but I still partied hard and still loved life!

In my 30s my life was great – my business life started falling into place, I still played a substantial amount of guitar, I cut down on DJing in clubs slightly, I still worked in radio, and took it a step further by opening a radio station. My dress code got better, I settled down with a super girl, I still partied (not so hard) and I still loved life!

In my 40s... till now life is great too. I’m working like a dog but business is doing well; I’m still playing guitar (not as much as I’d like to but enough); I occasionally DJ in a club; I’m still doing radio; I dress comfortably; I’m still happily in love with my super girl; I don’t party much but I have the most beautiful and fun daughter in the world whom my life rotates around… so I love my life!

Any regrets?

Times have obviously changed and so have I, but I have absolutely no regrets – I am what I am today because of what I’ve done in my past, good or bad. Change one thing from my past and it may change my present and future – so no thanks.

10 highlights of Gianni’s life so far

1.     Kay singing KISS’ God Gave Rock’n’Roll To You

2.     Running various successful businesses

3.     Seeing KISS live (many times!)

4.     Graduating (with honours) from University

5.     Performing to 10,000 people (DJing on the Fosos a long time ago, Rockestra)

6.     Rocking the Eurovision 2012

7.     Still being very close with most of my childhood friends

8.     Pissing off a historic tower in Switzerland

9.     Performing in full KISS costume at Rockestra

10.   Buying guitars just because I can