Back to the roots
Vinnie Camilleri Viking Music composer and ex-guitarist for Pete Best creates cinematic Nordic soundscapes that tell the sagas of the North.
Vinnie Camilleri toured the world playing guitar for THE BEATLES drummer, Pete Best, also known as The Fifth Beatle. Vinnie recorded two albums with Pete Best, Once A Beatle Always and The Pete Best Band Live At The Cavern.
Out There & Dust
After touring the world with Pete Best, the original drummer of The Beatles, Vinnie Camilleri continued to develop his craft by studying music at college in Liverpool. It was here that he co-founded the band Out There alongside Jeff Jones and George Payne. This early group eventually evolved into Dust, with Jeff Jones on bass and Vinnie Jamison from Echo and the Bunnymen on drums. The lineup later featured Jamie Murphy and Franny Griffiths from the acclaimed Liverpool band Space, famous for their chart-topping hits like Female of the Species, Neighbourhood, and Tom Jones.
Liverpool Connections
When Space re-formed, Dust eventually disbanded, and Vinnie’s musical path shifted once more. Seeking new horizons, he joined the army. Yet despite his time in service, his creative spark never fully faded. The passion for music that had been with him since his earliest days reignited in a profound way when he encountered the television series Vikings. The show’s epic soundtracks introduced him to Viking-style music and lit a fire that would shape the next stage of his career.
Discovering Danheim and Dark Folk Viking Music
Driven by curiosity, Vinnie reached out to Danheim, one of the artists behind the Vikings soundtrack, whose music had inspired millions worldwide. Vinnie not only connected with Danheim but also purchased his music software package known as the Asgard Sampler. This tool gave him the ability to experiment with the atmospheric sounds of the North, blending deep drum patterns, haunting horns, and traditional instruments. It became the foundation for what would evolve into his most ambitious creative project yet.
Creating The Viking Saga
From this spark came the Viking Saga series of albums. Each volume told a story drawn from Norse myth, history, and imagination, combining traditional Nordic folk elements with cinematic soundscapes. Vinnie’s dedication to authenticity and emotion gave the albums a raw, organic sound that resonated with listeners across the globe. Tracks blended tagelharpa strings, war drums, and epic guitar riffs into a sound that felt both ancient and modern.
Recognition from Danheim
As the Viking Saga albums gained traction, Danheim himself recognized Vinnie’s unique voice within the genre. He featured Vinnie’s music on his 24/7 YouTube Viking radio station, exposing these compositions to an ever-growing global audience. That exposure proved pivotal: more and more fans began to connect with the sound of Vinnie Camilleri Viking Music, describing it as powerful, atmospheric, and deeply evocative of Northern sagas and legends.
The Viking Saga Series
Over time, the Viking Saga series became not just an artistic pursuit but a cultural journey. Vinnie has released eight full albums in the saga so far, each expanding on the themes of warriors, gods, voyages, and the eternal struggles of life and fate. He is now working on Viking Saga Part 9, further deepening the world he has created and continuing to blend traditional Norse instruments with modern cinematic production. His music seeks to capture the essence of Viking storytelling — organic, raw, and alive with the energy of history.
Vinnie Camilleri’s Viking Music Today
Today, Vinnie Camilleri’s reputation extends well beyond his roots as Pete Best’s guitarist. His work as a composer of Viking-inspired music has carved out a unique place in the modern music landscape. With every release, he invites listeners into an immersive world of warriors, myths, and sagas, ensuring that the stories of the North continue to resonate in a modern age.