About

Alex Mari is an Italian singer, guitarist, bassist, songwriter, and vocal coach, born in Ferrara on January 3, 1981. He is the lead singer and songwriter of Night Pleasure Hotel and Ophiura, as well as the singer for Barock Project.

Since childhood, Alex has had a strong passion for both music and sports. Every day, he watched Queen's Live at Wembley concert, dreaming of one day standing on that same stage to sing, play, and write songs alongside his idols—all before heading off to football training. Alex played football for the SPAL youth team, and many said he was a promising young player with great enthusiasm who could have achieved significant success in sports.

Despite being surrounded by sports, Alex sang, played the keyboard, and strummed the guitar—albeit with little skill but with great passion, enthusiasm, and a strong desire to create. He received his first keyboard at the age of six and his first guitar at twelve. His shy and insecure nature led him to miss out on becoming a professional athlete, but his passion for music grew steadily. He began forming small garage bands and, by 2002, found the drive and determination to become a professional musician.

His favorite bands are Queen, Toto, Symphony X, and Pooh, while his favorite singers include Freddie Mercury, Michele Luppi, Russell Allen, and Amy Lee.

Artistic Career

Alex has been the lead singer of the Italian prog rock band Barock Project since 2016, singer and founder of the Rock AOR band Night Pleasure Hotel since 2023, and a backing vocalist for Michele Luppi’s band (Whitesnake) since 2014. He is also the singer, bassist, and founder of the rock cover band Alex Mari & The Lovers since 2013, as well as the lead singer for MadQueen (Queen tribute band) since 2024.

Previously, Alex was the singer and founder of the metal band Ophiura (2007–present), lead singer of Dia Logo (a music, theater, and literature project from 2011 to 2016), and the lead singer of the Iron Maiden tribute band Darkstalkers (2004–2024) and the Queen tribute band Queen & The Choir (2015–present).

In 2017, he collaborated as a live backing vocalist for the metal band Secret Sphere at the "Metalitalia.com Festival" (Live Club, Milan) and "Rock Towers Festival" (Estragon, Bologna). He has also worked as a songwriter and musician with rapper and sports commentator Max Fogli and in the band Rock Legend (since 2020).

Alex has worked with Rhapsody of Fire as a backing vocalist on the albums Legendary Years, The Eighth Mountain, and Glory of Salvation, as well as with Andrea Poltronieri. He performed as a stand-in singer for Break Free and Queen Vision (both Queen tribute bands) and toured with Markonee on the "UK Tour 2011," opening for Vain’s Hot Stage Lights Tour 2011.

As a stand-in guitarist, Alex collaborated with the dance music orchestra Il Mulino del Po and Soliti Noti by Luca Longhini during the summer of 2006. In the past, he was also the frontman of Queen on Stage (a Queen tribute band) and various other hard rock cover bands.

Training

1999 – Studied guitar with Michele Canella (classical pianist from Ferrara, rock guitarist, songwriter, and piano teacher)

2002–2006 – Studied guitar with Luca Longhini (former guitarist of Taglia 42 and Pia Tuccitto)

2003–2005 – Studied modern singing with Gloria Aleotti (classical singer and music teacher)

2007–present – Studied the “Voice Control” method with Michele Luppi (Whitesnake, former Mr. Pig, Vision Divine, and Secret Sphere)

2017–2019 – Studied jazz singing at the G. Frescobaldi Conservatory in Ferrara

2022 – Earned a first-level degree in Pop/Rock Singing at the F. Venezze Conservatory in Rovigo

2024 – Earned a second-level degree in Pop/Rock Singing at the F. Venezze Conservatory in Rovigo

Music Schools

Alex has been a vocal coach since 2011. He has collaborated with the Estense Music Academy in Ferrara since 2014, and since 2019, he has also worked at the San Giovanni di Ostellato branch. From 2013 to 2023, he collaborated with Delta Music Modern in Lagosanto.

Recordings

Singles

2020 – Milan Skriniar (Max Fogli)

2021 – Lido Nazioni (Max Fogli)

2022 – Notte Rosa (Max Fogli)

2025 – Sick Love (Night Pleasure Hotel) - Compilation "We Still Rock... The World"

Albums

2024 – Maledetta Riviera (Max Fogli)

2024 – Time Voyager (Barock Project)

2024 – Portraits (Night Pleasure Hotel)

2021 – Glory For Salvation (Rhapsody of Fire)

2021 – The Boxset (Barock Project)

2019 – The Eighth Mountain (Rhapsody of Fire)

2019 – Seven Seas (Barock Project)

2017 – Legendary Years (Rhapsody of Fire)

2017 – Detachment (Barock Project)

2016 – Se ti scappa di cantare (Ninne nanne per bambini)

2011 – BeMind (Ophiura)

2007 – Invidia Kamikaze (Max Fogli Max Machete - FPC)

2007 – Ancestral Whispers (Ophiura)