Not Who You Think

by Sean O’Neal

I don’t really know why Bruno Ciarrochi (a.k.a. Bruno 88), 26, and his girlfriend, Katie Lazaro, were shot to death in their South Philly home on a sunny Sunday afternoon -- coincidentally enough, the day after he judged City Paper’s “Pitch Control” DJ contest at Shampoo. And it’s not my place to go into what I think about the murder. But I will say this: I am not so sure that everything you may have read in the newspapers or have seen on the news is completely accurate. I myself was a good friend of Bruno’s. I met him years ago while working at 611 Records. He was a tattooist working across the street. One day, he popped into the store with a stack of fliers for a rave that he was throwing at the Electric Factory. That particular party didn’t do so hot, but it was just enough to get Bruno started.

Since the murder, the media has been all over it on a day-to-day basis, making Bruno out to sound like a piece-of-shit, waste-of-life gangster who manipulated a wonderful, promising, innocent girl into marriage. After a few days of reading the slander, it became hard for me to swallow, as it did for many of Bruno's other friends and family, because this representation is biased, unmerited and lazy. I was appalled by lines such as, "An argument over money and drugs led to the violent deaths of a popular deejay with a dark past and his beautiful, aristocratic fiancée with a glowing future," courtesy of the Philadelphia Daily News. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what kind of image they are trying to paint for the readers with a statement like this one. The more they make Bruno and Katie out to sound like oil and water, the more of an interesting story it is. But that's all it is -- just a fictional story. I mean, shit, even the name "Bruno" is a curse in this situation. What is even funnier is that Bruno was never a "popular deejay." Actually, he only spun out a handful of times and wasn't even really that good at it. He was more recognized for throwing his own events that changed Philly's electronic music scene forever. Not only that, but he helped to push other local DJs who later joined the Eternal crew -- such as Hectic, Warlock, Vaughn, Bluff, Dream Weaver, Xonel Smart, Monica Sharp, Advance, Taurus and others. Because of Bruno's love and loyalty, these DJs now have a brighter future.

I became closer to Bruno through 611 Records employee Mike Pizzuti, 29, a popular DJ known as Circuit Breaker. Together, Mike and Bruno conceived Eternal Productions in the spring of 1999. "A strong friendship had evolved between [us]," remembers Pizzuti, "and we unleashed Eternal Productions on an unsuspecting world with one focused mission -- to change the face of the Philadelphia electronic dance scene forever. ... Bruno was the first person who ever gave me the chance to chase my dream. For that, we are eternal."

And what were these parties? Well, according to the Daily News, Bruno's parties were "loud techno music events in which participants dance for long periods, sometimes under the influence of illegal drugs such as Ecstasy." Here's another false image that attacks Bruno's reputation. People didn't always dance at Bruno's parties, and if people were on drugs, it wasn't obvious, and Bruno had nothing to do with it. That statement, too, only creates a subjective view of Bruno's life for the reader. It makes me wonder if the reader even realizes that drugs are just as rampant at raves as they are at all sorts of clubs, sporting events and even commonplace corner bars. But regardless, Bruno's parties were not drug-crazed, and less than half of them were even well-attended.

Throughout this entire joy ride, I can honestly say that Bruno never made any money from these events. It was purely a labor of love. He was touched so profoundly by the power of dance music, and being the leader that he was, he was wholeheartedly committed to resurrecting a dying scene that revolved around peace, love and unity. For Bruno, it was truly about the music, and everyone who knew him loved and admired him for it.

Monica Sharp was an aspiring female drum 'n' bass DJ trying to get her feet off the ground before joining with Eternal. "When I first met Bruno," she recalls, "I thought he was the usual South Philly type. He was somewhat hard, quiet and reserved, and was scaring the shit outta me ... [but] Bruno was full of life. He was a beautiful and intelligent man. There was never a sad or dull moment when he was around. Bruno was the type of man to help anyone. He was a visionary and a dreamer. ... There will never be another Bruno. He made me the person I am today. He gave so much to everyone."

Who knows what suspect Eric "Shady" Mueller's problem was? I do not know a single person who knew Bruno that wasn't been deeply affected in a positive way. It was inspirational. I just want him to be remembered for what he was, not for what he wasn't.

Sean O’Neal is a freelance writer for the City Paper. If you would like to respond to this Slant or have one of your own (850 words), contact Howard Altman, City Paper executive editor, 123 Chestnut St., third floor, Phila., PA 19106 or e-mail altman@citypaper.net.

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