"Who would have thought that four young men from the province of Cagliari would have traveled all this way, still on the road after 40 years?". This is how Franco Onnis, founder of Rod Sacred, reflects on the career of the band that this year is preparing to celebrate its fourth decade in business. A metal band that has managed to make its way outside of Sardinia, finding fans all over the world, not only on the island or in Italy. Many initiatives, including celebratory albums, concerts and an opening in June of the historic band Europe in Cagliari.
We need to go back in time to better understand the story of these guys . "The 80s, a different world," explains Onnis. "There were no smartphones, there was no YouTube or internet, but we were dreamers with a passion for music. We were afraid, but also brave: we lived very intensely, with many concerts in Sardinia, in Italy, but I also remember the stages in Germany. I remember the contract with Metal Master, Severino Bernardoni's record company, an unimaginable achievement at the time, we were among the first."
And then a big thank you to our traveling companions, "my brothers", as Onnis describes them. "I think of those of the past and those present. We have been celebrated also in Italy and in Europe, we are considered one of the metal bands let's say "cult". A great achievement that finds us truly excited".
The current lineup features Onnis on bass, vocals and moog, Tonio Deriu on vocals, Jimmy Carboni on guitar and Ricky Sedda on drums supported by their current record company, Metal Zone Italia. A short time ago, in January, the celebratory box of Rod Sacred's "40 years on the road" was released, with all the albums except the latest, Another day.
The summer of 2025 therefore represents the “swan song” of this historic band which, in some way, also closes the circle (metaphorically) of the history of Rod Sacred, returning to their provincial origins, but also retracing in some way their foreign history.
"I think about how we saw Europe in the 80s, how great they were. For us, they were myths. I wouldn't have thought that even when we were on tour in Germany. And now we'll have the chance to play on the same stage, I would never have said that."
The appointment is on June 14th in Cagliari at the Arena Fiera, where the two bands will play in front of what will (hopefully) be a huge crowd and music .
Then it's back home: on July 12, in Villasor they will play at "Sorres in Rock", the event designed by fans for fans. Among the organizers is Franco Onnis, with the Centro commerciale naturale (Ccn) of Villasor, which in a double role will also be on stage. Special guests are Bonfire, a historic German heavy metal group who in this case will bring a bit of Germany to the country of origin of Rod Sacred. "We will be at all three obligatory events for metal fans: on August 1 we will be at Rock 'n beer in Valledoria".