Piero Esteriore's new album release would probably not have been major news in Switzerland, until he crashed a Mercedes into the offices of a large tabloid-style Swiss newspaper in retaliation for a sarcastic article the paper printed. The music star and hairdresser largely disappeared from public view after a “Null point” performance in the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest Semi Final. But now Piero is dominating the tabloid news-cycle and even getting serious notice from the mainstream press after his unprecedented drive-thru attack and overnight stay in the Zurich city jail. The Zurich city attorney dropped all charges against Piero on Friday.
The incident
Last Thursday, Piero drove to Zurich from his home in Basel, Switzerland. He has told reporters that he was very upset about a report in that day's edition of the Blick. A Blick reporter – known for his sarcastic column in another Swiss magazine – had compared Piero's 30th birthday party (which doubled as an album launch party) to a "Mafia-funeral" before going on to mock the singers disappointing Song Contest entry "Celebrate!". Piero told Blick reporters later that he only intended to speak with the paper's Chief. However after pulling his mother's black Mercedes to the sidewalk (and bumping a parked BMW), Piero stepped on the gas (as previously reported by esctoday.com) and crashed through the paper's front door during lunch hour.
With the car stuck in the paper's entrance, Piero got out. "This is Piero Esteriore," he shouted as he smashed boxes of autographed CDs to the ground at the feet of on-lookers, "not this sh**** article!"
The arrest and jail
Zurich police quickly arrived and arrested Piero. He was booked into the Zurich city jail where he was forced to spend the night to "cool down". At times Piero seems very sorry about the experience. He told Blick later that he said 300 "Our Father's" and "Hail Mary's" in his cell before starting to cry. "I've disappointed God," he told the Blick reporter.
At other times however he seems less sorry and more proud. According to an interview published today in another paper the singer said, "Naturally, I didn't regain my honour in this attack , but it eased the pain." The 20 Minuten reported that the singer continued, "I had to show the entire nation that we don't belong to the Mafia."
The city attorny initially charged Piero Esteriore with "reckless endangerment of lives" an offence that could carry a sentence of three years in jail if proven.
The release and cross-promotion
After authorities determined on Friday that there was no reason to hold the singer in prison for further questioning, he was allowed to leave after spending 24-hours behind bars. He swaggered as he left the prison and exclaimed to waiting reporters, "Io vivo!" That's Italian for "I'm alive!" But, it's also the name of Piero's come-back album – due next Friday – that has suddenly received more publicity then anyone ever expected.
Has the entire occasion been an attempt on Piero's part to grab headlines in the recent style of Paris Hilton or Britney Spears? "Nonsense!" Piero told a Blick reporter yesterday, "Anyone who believes that is repulsively cynical. Sorry, but I wouldn't risk five years in jail for that."
City authorities dropped all charges against Piero Esteriore last Friday after eyewitnesses confirmed his claim that no-one was in danger at any time during the attack. The Blick also decided not to press charges against the singer for property damage, and their Sunday edition also featured their exclusive first interview with Piero after the incident.
