Ennio Morricone Tributes Pour In as the World Mourns the Loss of a Legend
Metallica, Massive Attack, Yo-Yo Ma and the Academy Awards have all paid their respects to the late composer

Tributes have come in from all corners of the music industry. Among those are posts from artists such as Massive Attack, El-P, New Order and Morricone collaborator Yo-Yo Ma, while film industry figures such as Kevin Smith, Edgar Wright, Antonio Banderas and James Woods have all honoured the late composer.
Metallica — who used Morricone's "The Ecstasy of Gold" from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly to open their concerts ever since 1983 — also penned a pair of tribute posts.
Beyond that, there are posts from the Academy Awards, Criterion Collection, Sonor Music Editions and multiple labels who worked with Morricone over the years.
You can see just some of the tributes to Morricone below.
To learn much more about the work of the composer, read Exclaim!'s Essential Guide to Ennio Morricone.
"Music is mysterious; it doesn't offer many answers. Film music, on the other hand, is even more mysterious at times, both because of its bond with images and because of its way of bonding with the audience."
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) July 6, 2020
Thank you, Ennio Morricone, for all that you've given us. pic.twitter.com/8RsP1aIrbg
Addio Ennio - geniale compositore. https://t.co/mbDgF3XdXa
— Massive Attack (@MassiveAttackUK) July 6, 2020
Where to even begin with iconic composer Ennio Morricone? He could make an average movie into a must see, a good movie into art, and a great movie into legend. He hasn't been off my stereo my entire life. What a legacy of work he leaves behind. RIP. https://t.co/qZX6qE10ke
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) July 6, 2020
"I saw with great sadness that one of my musical heroes, Ennio Morricone has passed away today. His music introduced me to albums and the first album I ever bought was one of his. He made beautiful emotional music and was the master of melody."
— New Order (@neworder) July 6, 2020
- Bernard Sumner pic.twitter.com/yBBK5GYDLe
thank you Ennio Morricone ❤️
— el-p (@therealelp) July 6, 2020
RIP And now Ennio Morricone. One of the greatest composers of all time. You can hear our tributes to him in Africa Dawn on the Lilyhammer Score, and the new arrangement of Standing In The Line of Fire on Soulfire & Soulfire Live. Like Nick, another tragic loss to our culture.
— Stevie Van Zandt (@StevieVanZandt) July 6, 2020
With great sadness, we say goodbye to a big master of cinema. His music will keep playing in our memories. Rest in peace #EnnioMorricone. pic.twitter.com/KWwJbfHzRx
— Antonio Banderas (@antoniobanderas) July 6, 2020
One of the most emotional moments in cinema history is this final scene from CINEMA PARADISO - a montage of movie kisses celebrating life, love, and the life-affirming magic of the movies. It was scored by the late, great #EnnioMorricone. RIP, Maestro. https://t.co/aQnTV7UqkY pic.twitter.com/ILlQJtTChh
— KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) July 6, 2020
#EnnioMorricone was a film composer for the ages. Sergio Leone had him orchestrate the final scene of Once Upon a Time in America before filming. As shooting commenced, suddenly the music soared live on the sound stage. Greatest movie experience of my life. #RIPEnnioMorricone pic.twitter.com/Cr7wHA8c8b
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) July 6, 2020
I remember well being blown away by Ennio Morricone's music on so many films. We would then spend hours trying to get that guitar sound - on Elegia & Sunrise specifically - and of course, he was the inspiration for the Blue Monday bassline. Thank you Ennio & rest in peace.
— Peter Hook (@peterhook) July 6, 2020
RIP Ennio Morricone, the celebrated Italian composer known the world over for his instantly identifiable scores, who lent his talents to directors from Sergio Leone and Pasolini to Elio Petri and Terrence Malick.
— Criterion Collection (@Criterion) July 6, 2020
A conversation with the great Morricone: https://t.co/oCSTP7kK15 pic.twitter.com/0yToMz7aHY
I'll never forget the way Ennio Morricone described music as "energy, space, and time." It is, perhaps, the most concise and accurate description I've ever heard. We'll truly miss him. This is the Love Theme from "Cinema Paradiso." #EnnioMorricone pic.twitter.com/kpbkodhHrh
— Yo-Yo Ma (@YoYo_Ma) July 6, 2020
Farewell, maestro.
— Elijah Wood (@elijahwood) July 6, 2020
One of my favorite's from a lesser appreciated work:https://t.co/MxzOqRRnXM
As I grew up, Ennio Morricone was a major inspiration.
— Tom Holkenborg (@Junkie_XL) July 6, 2020
From Once Upon a Time in the West to The Mission—his dramatic themes always touched me. Right through the heart. Straight in my stomach. You could feel his music everywhere in your body while listening to it.
RIP, Ennio. pic.twitter.com/y0LznDLbzs