Premiata Forneria Marconi — commonly known by the acronym PFM — are an Italian symphonic-rock band from Milano, Lombardia, formed in 1970. The band released four albums and a live disc on Numero Uno between 1972 and 1975, followed by two further titles on Zoo Records during the latter half of the decade. After a […]
Banco del Mutuo Soccorso is an Italian rock band that co-headed the nation’s symphonic boom with the classic 1972/73 albums Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, Darwin!, and Io Sono Nato Libero. They re-recorded some of their best-loved material in English for the 1975 release Banco on ELP’s Manticore label, which issued their 1976 titles Garofano Rosso […]
Area was an Italian avant-garde jazz-rock band that released the 1973–76 studio albums Arbeit macht frei, Caution Radiation Area, Crac!, and Maledetti (Maudits). They moved from Cramps to Ascolto for the 1978–80 albums 1978 gli dei se ne vanno and Tic & Tac. Members: Patrizio Fariselli (keyboards), Giulio Capiozzo (drums, percussion, 1972-76, 1977-99), Victor Edouard […]
Le Orme are an Italian symphonic-rock band from Marghera, Veneto, formed in 1966. The band released a string of pop-psych singles during 1968 and 1969, culminating with a debut album on the Car Juke Box label. Between 1971 and 1980, the band released nine albums and a live disc on Philips, followed by an eleventh […]
Arti & Mestieri was an Italian jazz-rock band that released the 1974/75 albums Tilt (Immagini per un Orecchio) and Giro di Valzer per Domani. After a four-year pause, they issued three further albums between 1979 and 1985. Along with Area and Perigeo, they were Italy’s most prominent jazz-rock band of the 1970s. Drummer Furio Chirico […]
Il Balletto di Bronzo was an Italian symphonic/psych band that released the 1970 album Sirio 2222, followed by the 1972 classic Ys. Members: Lino Ajello (guitar, vocals 1969-73), Giancarlo Stinga (drums, 1969-73), Marco Cecioni (guitar, vocals, 1969-70), Michele Cupaiuolo (bass, 1969-70), Vito Manzari (bass, 1971-73), Gianni Leone [aka Leo Nero] (keyboards, vocals) Background Il Balletto […]
Goblin are an Italian symphonic and experimental rock group that evolved out of Cherry Five. They gained prominence in 1975 with their breakout score to Profondo Rosso, the first in a series of film collaborations with horror director Dario Argento. Between 1975 and 1983, they released three proper studio albums and scored more than ten […]
Lucio Dalla (March 4, 1943 — March 1, 2012) was an Italian singer/songwriter with a career that spanned five decades. During the second half of the 1960s, he released multiple singles and the album 1999 (1966) on ARC. Between 1970 and 1990, he released more than fifteen albums on RCA Italiana. Background Lucio Dalla was […]
Osanna was an Italian symphonic/hard-rock band on Fonit Cetra that released the 1971–74 albums L’uomo, Palepoli, and Landscape of Life, plus the soundtrack to the 1972 crime film Milano calibro 9. In 1974, the members split for the one-album acts Città Frontale and Uno. They reunited Osanna for the 1978 CBS release Suddance. Members: Lino […]
Lucio Battisti (March 5, 1943 — Sept. 9, 1998) was an Italian singer, songwriter, arranger, and producer who released Ricordi albums between 1969 and 1971, then moved through a long Numero Uno run from Umanamente uomo: il sogno through L’apparenza. His later CBS and Columbia albums closed a studio sequence that ran through Hegel in […]
Chrisma was an Italian synthpunk duo that released the 1977–79 Polydor albums Chinese Restaurant and Hibernation. They respelled their name Krisma for a string of Eighties synthpop albums. Members: Maurizio Arcieri, Christina Moser Background Chrisma formed in Milan in 1976 when Italian pop veteran Maurizio Arcieri (b. April 30, 1941, Milan) formed a duo with […]
Alphataurus was an Italian symphonic-rock band that released a 1973 self-titled album on Magma. A second album, recorded later that same year, surfaced in 1992 as an archival disc on Mellow Records. Members: Pietro Pellegrini (Hammond organ, keyboards, vibraphone), Guido Wasserman (guitar), Giorgio Santandrea (drums), Alfonso Oliva (bass, 1970-73), Michele Bavaro (lead vocals, 1970-73) Background […]
Sensations’ Fix was an Italian space-rock band that released six albums between 1974 and 1978 on Polydor. Members: Franco Falsini (guitar, keyboards, vocals, 1974-75), Richard Ursillo (bass), Keith Edwards (drums, 1974-77), Stephen Head (keyboards, 1975-?, drums, 1976-?) Background Sensations’ Fix formed in Florence in 1973 when guitarist/keyboardist Franco Falsini teamed with bassist Richard Ursillo and […]
Semiramis was an Italian symphonic/art-rock band that released the 1973 Trident album Dedicato a Frazz. The members of the band were 17–18 years old at the time of the album’s release. Members: Maurizio Zarrillo (keyboards), Marcello Reddavide (bass), Memmo Pulvano (drums, 1970-73), Maurizio Macos [Maurizio Macioce] (vocals, 1970-72), Michele Zarrillo (guitar, vocals, 1972-74), Paolo Faenza […]
Locanda delle Fate was an Italian symphonic-rock band that released the 1977 Polydor album Forse le Lucciole non si Amano Più. Members: Giorgio Gardino (drums, vibraphone), Luciano Boero (bass), Oscar Mazzoglio (Hammond organ, keyboards), Alberto Gaviglio (rhythm guitar, flute, backing vocals, 1973-78), Ezio Vevey (lead guitar, backing vocals, 1973-78), Michele Conta (piano, keyboards, 1973-78), Leonardo […]
Picchio dal Pozzo are an Italian avant-jazz/rock band from Genova, Liguria, formed in 1973. The band debuted with a 1976 self-titled album on Grog Records, followed by the 1980 L’Orchestra release Abbiamo Tutti i Suoi Problemi. Cuneiform later issued Camere Zimmer Rooms, comprised of tracks from an intended 1977 album. Members: Aldo De Scalzi (keyboards, […]
Stormy Six was an Italian multi-style band from Milan, active from 1966 to 1983. They cut two pop singles in 1967 for Mini Records, followed by two albums between 1969 and 1972 on First, a division of Ariston. In 1975, a revamped Stormy Six released the folk-oriented album Un Biglietto del Tram on L’Orchestra, a […]
Il Volo was an Italian symphonic-rock supergroup that released the 1974/75 albums Il Volo and Essere o Non Essere? on Numero Uno. Members: Alberto Radius (guitar, vocals), Mario Lavezzi (guitar, mandolin, vocals), Vince Tempera (keyboards), Gabriele Lorenzi (keyboards), Bob Callero (bass), Gianni Dall’Aglio (drums, percussion, vocals) Background Il Volo (The Flight) formed in early 1974 […]
Celeste was an Italian symphonic combo that released a 1976 self-titled album on Grog Records. They recorded a second album that surfaced fifteen years later on Mellow Records, which also unearthed an earlier soundtrack recording, I Suoni in Una Sfera. Members: Ciro Perrino (drums, percussion, flute, keyboards, vocals), Leonardo Lagorio (keyboards, flute, saxophone), Mariano Schiavolini […]
Maxophone was an Italian symphonic-rock band that released a 1975 self-titled album and a 1977 standalone single. Members: Alberto Ravasini (vocals, bass, acoustic guitar, flute), Sergio Lattuada (keyboards, vocals), Roberto Giuliani (guitar, piano, vocals, 1973-77), Leonardo Schiavone (clarinet, flute, saxophone, 1973-77), Maurizio Bianchini (French horn, trumpet, vibraphone, percussion, vocals, 1973-77), Sandro Lorenzetti (drums, 1973-77) Inception […]
Quella Vecchia Locanda was an Italian symphonic-rock band that released a 1972 self-titled album on Help!, followed by the 1974 title Il Tempo Della Gioia on RCA Italiana. Members: Giorgio Giorgi (vocals, flute), Raimondo Maria Cocco (guitar, vocals, clarinet), Massimo Roselli (keyboards, vocals), Romualdo Coletta (bass), Patrick Traina (drums, percussion), Donald Lax (violin, 1972-74), Massimo […]
Nova was an Italian jazz-rock band that released four albums between 1975 and 1978 on Arista. They formed around saxophonist Elio D’Anna and guitarist Corrado Rustici, blending rock instrumentation with jazz and fusion textures. After a debut that emphasized technical interplay, the band expanded into more polished, keyboard-driven arrangements with international session players. Wings of […]
Perigeo was an Italian jazz-rock band that released five albums between 1972 and 1976 on RCA Italiana. Members: Tony Sidney (guitar), Franco D’Andrea (keyboards), Claudio Fasoli (saxophone), Giovanni Tommaso (bass, double bass, vocals), Bruno Biriaco (drums, percussion) Background Perigeo formed in 1971 when bassist Giovanni Tommaso (b. January 10, 1941), active since the 1950s in […]
Museo Rosenbach are an Italian symphonic-rock band that released the 1973 album Zarathustra on Ricordi. To mark the album’s 40th anniversary, the band regrouped for the well-received 2013 disc Barbarica. Members: Alberto Moreno (bass, piano, Mellotron), Giancarlo Golzi (drums, timpani, bells, percussion, 1971-75, 2012-15), Stefano Galifi (vocals, 1971-73, 2012-present), Enzo Merogno (guitar, vocals, 1971-73), Pit […]
Latte e Miele was an Italian symphonic-rock band that made the 1972/73 Polydor albums Passio Secundum Mattheum and Papillon, followed by the 1976 release Aquile e Scoiattoli. They continued through 1980 with four non-album singles. Members: Alfio Vitanza (drums, flute, acoustic guitar, vocals), Oliviero Lacagnina (keyboards, piano, vocals), Marcello Giancarlo Dellacasa (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, […]
Alusa Fallax was an Italian symphonic-rock band that released two 1969 singles and the 1974 album Intorno alla mia Cattiva Educazione. Members: Augusto “Duty” Cirla (vocals, drums, recorder), Guido Gabet (guitar, vocals), Massimo Parretti (keyboards), Mario Cirla (flute, saxophone, French horn, vocals), Guido Cirla (bass, vocals) Background Alusa Fallax formed in Milan in 1969 under […]
Matia Bazar are an Italian pop group that released nine studio albums on Ariston between 1976 and 1985, then moved to CGD for the late-Eighties titles Melò and Red Corner. They had a 1983 No. 1 hit with “Vacanze Romane” from their seventh album, Tango, which launched their popular synthpop phase continued with Aristocratica and […]
Delirium was an Italian folk-rock band that released the 1971/72 albums Dolce Acqua and Lo Scemo e il Villaggio, followed in 1974 by the symphonic-style III – Viaggio negli Arcipelaghi del Tempo. Members: Ivano Fossati (vocals, flute, acoustic guitar, 1970-72), Ettore Vigo (keyboards, vocals), Marcello Reale (bass, vocals), Peppino Di Santo (drums, percussion, vocals), Martin […]
Procession was an Italian symphonic/hard-rock band that released the 1972–74 albums Frontiera and Fiaba. Members: Gianfranco Gaza (vocals, harmonica, 1971-74), Marcello Capra (guitar, 1971-73), Angelo Girardi (bass, mandolin), Ivan Fontanella (drums), Roby Munciguerra [Roberto Bonfiglio] (guitar, vocals, 1972-present), Giancarlo Capello (drums, percussion, 1972-74), Paolo D’Angelo (bass, 1974), Maurizio Gianotti (saxophone, flute, 1974) Background Procession formed […]
The Trip was an Italian symphonic/psych band that released three albums between 1970 and 1973 on RCA Italiana (The Trip, Caronte, Atlantide) and Trident (Time of Change). Members: Arvid “Wegg” Andersen (bass, vocals), Joe Vescovi (keyboards, vocals), Billy Gray (guitar, vocals, 1966-71), Ian Broad (drums, 1966-67), Ritchie Blackmore (guitar, 1966), Pino Sinnone (drums, 1967-72), Furio […]
Metamorfosi was an Italian symphonic-rock band that released the 1972/73 albums …E fu il Sesto Giorno and Inferno on Vedette Records. Members: Davide “Jimmy” Spitaleri (vocals, flute), Enrico Olivieri (keyboards, vocals, flute), Luciano Tamburro (guitar, 1969-73), Roberto Turbitosi (bass, vocals), Mario Natali (drums, percussion, 1969-73), Gianluca Herygers (drums, percussion, 1973-?), Leonardo Gallucci (bass, classical guitar), […]
New Trolls were an Italian symphonic-rock band that released five albums on Fonit Cetre between 1968 and 1972, followed by six further titles through the close of the 1970s on Magma and Warner Bros. Members: Vittorio De Scalzi (guitar, keyboards, flute, vocals), Nico Di Palo (guitar, vocals), Mauro Chiarugi (keyboards, 1967-70), Giorgio D’Adamo (bass, vocals, […]
Jumbo was an Italian symphonic-rock band that released the 1972/73 Philips albums Jumbo, DNA, and Vietato ai minori di 18 anni? Members: Alvaro “Jumbo” Fella (vocals, acoustic guitar, saxophone, keyboards, percussion), Daniele Bianchini (guitar), Dario Guidotti (flute, harmonica, acoustic guitar, percussion), Sergio Conte (keyboards, vocals), Aldo Gargano (bass, guitar), Vito Balzano (drums, percussion, vocals, 1971-72), […]
Nuova Idea was an Italian symphonic-rock band that released the 1971–73 Ariston albums In the Beginning, Mr. E. Jones, and Clowns. Members: Marco Zoccheddu (guitar, vocals, 1969-72), Claudio Ghiglino (guitar, vocals), Giorgio Usai (keyboards), Enrico Casagni (bass, flute, vocals), Paolo Siani (drums, vocals), Antonello Gabelli [aka Duke Lake] (guitar, vocals, 1972), Ricky Belloni (guitar, vocals, […]
Venegoni & Co. were an Italian jazz-rock band that released the 1977–79 albums Rumore Rosso and Sarabanda. Members: Luigi “Gigi” Venegoni (guitar, bass, percussion), Ludovico Einaudi (keyboards), Luca Francesconi (keyboards), Ciro Buttari (percussion, vocals, piano), Pietro Pirelli (percussion), Massimo Aimone (drums) Background Venegoni & Co. formed in Turin in 1977 when guitarist-composer Luigi “Gigi” Venegoni […]
Il Baricentro was an Italian jazz-rock band that released the 1976–78 EMI Italiana albums Sconcerto and Trusciant. Members: Francesco Boccuzzi (keyboards, guitar, percussion), Vanni Boccuzzi (keyboards, percussion), Tonio Napolitano (bass, percussion), Piero Mangini (drums, percussion) Inception Il Baricentro formed in 1974 as an offshoot of Festa Mobile, a Bari symphonic trio with bassist Tonio Napolitano […]
L’ Uovo di Colombo was an Italian symphonic-rock band that released a 1973 self-titled album on Columbia. Members: Toni Gionta (vocals), Enzo Volpini (keyboards, acoustic guitar, vocals), Elio Volpini (bass, guitar, vocals), Ruggero Stefani (drums, percussion, vocals) Background L’ Uovo di Colombo (Columbus’s Egg) formed in 1973 in Rome. Keyboardist Enzo Volpini and drummer Ruggero […]
Campo di Marte was an Italian symphonic/psych band that released a 1973 self-titled album on United Artists. Members: Enrico Rosa (guitar, vocals, Mellotron), Alfredo Barducci (horns, piano, organ, vocals), Paul Richard [Paul Ursillo] (bass, vocals), Mauro Sarti (drums, percussion, flute, vocals), Carlo Felice Marcovecchio (drums, percussion, vocals) Background Campo di Marte formed in 1971 in […]
Pierrot Lunaire was an Italian avant/symphonic-folk combo that released two albums on RCA-subsidiary It between 1974 and 1977. Members: Arturo Stàlteri (vocals, piano, organ, spinet, celesta, keyboards, percussion), Gaio Chiocchio (sitar, mandolin, vocals, guitar, Hammond organ, cymbal, timpani), Vincenzo Caporaletti (acoustic guitar, classical guitar, electric guitar, 12-string guitar, bass, drums, flute, 1974), Jacqueline Darby (vocals, […]
Le Groupe X was an Italian electro-funk/psych project headed by musician Gianluigi Pezzera. The project yielded the album Frrrrrigidaire on Cipiti Record in 1973, followed by the Radio Records release Out, Off in 1978. Before settling on the project name, Pezzera released a 1972 EP as The Vietnam. Members: Gianluigi Pezzera Background Le Groupe X […]
Il Rovescio della Medaglia was an Italian symphonic/hard-rock quartet that released the 1971/72 albums La Bibbia and Io come Io, then added keyboardist Franco di Sabbatino for the 1973 release Contaminazione. Members: Enzo Vita (guitar), Stefano Urso (bass), Gino Campoli (drums), Gianni Mereu (lead vocals, 1970), Sandro Falbo (lead vocals, 1970), Pino Ballarini (vocals, flute, 1970-73), […]
I Giganti was an Italian beat group that released thirteen singles and the 1966–69 albums I Giganti and Mille idee dei Giganti, followed by the 1971 symphonic album Terra in bocca (Poesia di un delitto). Members: Mino Di Martino (vocals, guitar), Francesco “Checco” Marsella (vocals, keyboards), Sergio Di Martino (vocals, bass), Enrico Maria Papes (vocals, […]
Biglietto per l’Inferno was an Italian symphonic-rock band that released a 1974 self-titled album. Soon after, they recorded a second album that surfaced in 1992 on Mellow Records. Keyboardist Baffo Banfi released three electronic albums. Members: Claudio Canali (vocals, flute, flugelhorn), Marco Mainetti (guitar), Baffo Banfi (organ, Moog), Giuseppe “Pilly” Cossa (piano, organ), Fausto Branchini […]
Saint Just was an Italian symphonic-folk band that released the 1973/74 Harvest albums Saint Just and La Casa del Lago. Members: Jenny Sorrenti (vocals), Antonio Verde (guitar, bass, vocals), Robert Fix (saxophone, 1973), Tito Rinesi (guitar, vocals, 1974), Andrea Faccenda (guitar, keyboards, 1974), Fulvio Maras (drums, percussion, 1974) Background Saint Just formed in 1972 in […]
Reale Accademia di Musica was an Italian symphonic-rock band that released a 1972 self-titled album, followed by a 1974 collaborative effort with guitarist/songwriter Adriano Monteduro. Members: Henryk “Enrique” Topel Cabanes (vocals), Federico Troiani (keyboards, vocals), Pericle Sponzilli (guitar), Nicola Agrimi (guitar), Pierfranco Pavone (bass), Roberto Senzasono (drums, percussion), Nicola di Staso (guitar), Walter Martino (drums), […]
Circus 2000 was an Italian pop-psych band that released four singles and the 1970–72 Rifi albums Circus 2000 and An Escape From a Box. Members: Silvana Aliotta (vocals, percussion), Marcello Quartarone (guitar, vocals), Gianni Bianco (bass), Roberto “Johnny” Betti (drums, 1970-71), Franco Lo Previte (drums, vocals, 1972-73) Background Circus 2000 formed in 1969 in Torino, […]
Madrugada was an Italian jazz-rock trio that made a 1974 self-titled album on Philips, followed by the 1977 release Incastro. Members: Gianfranco Pinto (keyboards, vocals), Alessandro “Billy” Zanelli (bass, vocals), Pietro Rapelli (drums, vocals) Background Madrugada formed in 1970 in Bergamo, Lombardia. The name, taken from the Spanish word for “dawn,” followed a sequence of […]
Acqua Fragile was an Italian symphonic/hard-rock band that released the 1973/74 albums Acqua Fragile and Mass-Media Stars. Singer Bernardo Lanzetti joined Premiata Forneria Marconi for a three-album stint. Members: Bernardo Lanzetti (vocals, guitar), Gino Campanini (guitar, vocals), Maurizio Mori (keyboards, vocals), Franz Dondi (bass), Piero Canavera (drums, acoustic guitar, vocals), Joe Vescovi (keyboards, 1975) Background […]
Aktuala was an Italian ethno-folk band that released three albums on Bla Bla between 1973 and 1976. Led by multi-instrumentalist Walter Maioli, they pioneered an acoustic, trance-based fusion of African, Middle Eastern, Indian, and Mediterranean traditions using a wide array of non-Western instruments. Across shifting lineups, core contributors included percussionist Lino Vaccina, saxophonist Daniele Cavallanti, […]
Ibis was an Italian symphonic-rock band that released the 1973 Fonit Cetra album Canti d’innocenza, canti d’esperienza, followed by the 1974/75 Polydor titles Sun Supreme and Ibis. Members: Nico Di Palo (guitar, vocals), Maurizio Salvi (keyboards), Frank Laugelli (bass, vocals), Gianni Belleno (drums, vocals, 1973-74), Rick Parnell (drums, 1974), Pasquale Venditto (drums, vocals, 1975), Renzo […]
Flea was an Italian symphonic/hard-rock band that appeared with a 1971 album as Flea on the Honey. As Flea, they made the 1972 album Topi o Uomini on Fonit Cetra. They morphed into the jazz-rock Etna for a 1975 self-titled album. Members: Tony [Antonio Marangolo] (vocals, keyboards, flute, harmonica), Charlie [Carlo Pennisi] (guitar, mandolin, vocals), […]
Raccomandata Ricevuta di Ritorno was an Italian symphonic-rock band that released the 1972 album Per… un Mondo di Cristallo. Members: Luciano Regoli (vocals, acoustic guitar), Nanni Civitenga (guitar), Stefano Piermarioli (keyboards), Damaso Grassi (flute, saxophone), Manlio Zacchia (bass, double bass), Francesco Francica [aka Froggio] (drums, percussion) Background Raccomandata Ricevuta di Ritorno (Registered Mail Return Receipt) […]
Garybaldi was an Italian symphonic/hard-rock band that first recorded as Gleemen. After the 1970 release Gleeman, Garybaldi made the 1972/73 albums Nuda and Astrolabio. Two members continued as Bambibanda e Melodie. Members: Pier Nicolò “Bambi” Fossati (guitar, vocals), Lio Marchi (keyboards, 1972-73), Angelo Traverso (bass, 1972-73), Maurizio Cassinelli (drums), Sandro Serra (bass, 1973-74) Background Garybaldi […]
Kaleidon was an Italian jazz-rock band that released the 1973 album Free Love on Fonit Cetra. Members: Stefano Sabatini (keyboards, 1973-74), Massimo Balla (saxophone, flute, 1973-74), Franco Tallarita (bass, 1973), Giovanni Liberti (drums, 1973), Francesco Bruno (guitar, 1974), Gianni Colaiacomo (bass, 1974), Francesco Froggio Francica (drums, 1974), Mandrake (percussion, 1974) Background Kaleidon formed in Rome in […]
Corte dei Miracoli was an Italian symphonic-rock band that released a 1976 self-titled album on Grog Records. Three years earlier, they recorded nine demos later compiled as Dimensione Onirica. Members: Graziano Zippo (vocals), Alessio Feltri (keyboards), Michele Carlone (keyboards, 1973-75), Gabriele Siri (bass), Flavio Scogna (drums, percussion), Riccardo Zegna (keyboards, 1975-76) Background Corte dei Miracoli […]
Dedalus was an Italian jazz-rock band that released two albums in 1973/74 on Trident. Members: Fiorenzo Michele Bonansone (keyboards, cello, accordion, vocals, 1972-79, 1990-present), Marco Di Castri (guitar, saxophone, 1972-79, 1990-99), Furio Di Castri (bass, 1972-74), Enrico Grosso (drums, 1972-77, 1990-97) Background Dedalus formed in early 1973 in Pinerolo, a town near Turin. The original […]
Blocco Mentale was an Italian symphonic-rock band that released the 1973 album Πόα (Poa) on Titania. Members: Bernardo “Dino” Finocchi (vocals, saxophone, flute), Aldo Angeletti (vocals, bass), Gigi Bianchi (guitar, vocals), Filippo Lazzari (keyboards, vocals, harmonica), Michele Arena (drums, vocals) Background Blocco Mentale formed in late 1972 in the Viterbo province of Lazio. The group […]
Frigidaire Tango was an Italian new wave band that released the album The Cock in 1982 on small-press Young Records. In 1983, the band released a self-titled EP on their own namesake label. Members: Charlie Cazale [Carlo Casale] (vocals), Steve Dal Col [Stefano Dal Col] (guitar, vocals), Mark Brenda (keyboards), JM le Baptiste (drums), Dave […]
Capitolo 6 was an Italian symphonic-rock band that released three singles and the 1972 album Frutti per Kagua on it/RCA Italiana. Members: Riccardo Bartolotti (vocals, guitar, flute), Jimmy Santerini (keyboards, vocals), Mauro Romani (bass), Lorenzo Donati (drums, vocals), Luciano Casa (drums, acoustic guitar, vocals, 1969-71), Loriano “Fischio” Berti (saxophone, flute, 1971-72) Background Capitolo 6 formed […]
Libra was an Italian symphonic/jazz-rock/funk band that made the 1975 album Musica e Parole on Ricordi. The album appeared abroad as a self-titled release on Motown, which also carried their 1976 followup Winter Day’s Nightmare. Libra also made the soundtrack to the 1977 horror film Schock (Transfert-Suspence-Hypnos). Members: Federico D’Andrea (vocals, guitar, 1973-76), Franco Ventura […]
Cherry Five was an Italian symphonic-rock band that released a 1975 self-titled album on Cinevox. Guitarist Massimo Morante and bassist Fabio Pignatelli continued in Goblin. Members: Tony Tartarini [aka Toni Gionta] (vocals), Claudio Simonetti (keyboards), Massimo Morante (guitar), Fabio Pignatelli (bass), Carlo Bordini (drums) Background Cherry Five formed in 1973 in Rome. The group originally […]
Maad was an Italian avant-jazz/rock band that released a 1976 album on Divergo, followed by two Philips singles. Members: Pino Devita (keyboards), Attilio Zanchi (guitar), Jonathan Scully (percussion, vibraphone), Joe Castanuela (drums) Background Maad emerged in mid-1970s Milan as a studio-oriented avant-jazz/rock ensemble. Formed by pianist and trombonist Pino Devita, the band brought together American […]
J.E.T. was an Italian symphonic-psych band that released six singles and the 1972 album Fede, Speranza, Carità. Three-fourths of the band formed Matia Bazar. Members: Carlo Marrale (guitar, vocals), Piero Cassano (keyboards), Aldo Stellita (bass, vocals), Renzo “Pucci” Cochis (drums) Inception J.E.T. formed in 1971 in Genova. Their name (a stylization of Jet) was not […]
Festa Mobile was an Italian symphonic keyboard trio that released the 1973 album Diario di Viaggio della Festa Mobile on RCA Italiana. They morphed into Il Baricentro and released two late-Seventies jazz-funk albums. Members: Francesco Boccuzzi (keyboards), Giovanni Boccuzzi (keyboards, guitar), Tonio Napolitano (bass), Alessio Alba (guitar) Background Festa Mobile (Italian for Traveling Festival or […]
Errata Corrige was the Italian symphonic/chamber-folk combo behind the 1976 album Siegfried, il Drago e Altre Storie. They recorded a second album that surfaced in 1992 on Mellow Records. Members: Mike Abate (guitar, vocals), Marco Cimino (flute, keyboards, cello), Gianni Cremona (bass, vocals), Guido Giovine (drums, vocals) Background Errata Corrige formed in 1974 in Torino as […]
Einzelgänger — German for “individualist” — was the name used by Italian keyboardist/producer Giorgio Moroder for a 1975 electronic album, issued on his Oasis label with an accompanying single. Background Giorgio Moroder adopted the Einzelgänger for a dip into Berlin School experimentation. By this time, he’d already established himself as a key figure in early […]
Duello Madre was an Italian jazz-rock band that released a self-titled album in 1973 on Produttori Associati. Members: Marco Zoccheddu (guitar, vocals), Pippo Trentin (saxophone, flute), Bob Callero (bass), Franco Lo Previte (drums, percussion) Background Duello Madre (Italian for “duel mother”) formed in Genoa in early 1973 when guitarist/singer Marco Zoccheddu and bassist Bob Callero […]
Esagono was an Italian jazz-rock band that released the 1976 album Vicolo on Mu Records. Members: Aldo Rindone, Claudio Montafia, Giorgio Diaferia, Marco Cimino, Marco Gallesi Background Esagono formed in Turin in 1975 when bassist Marco Gallesi teamed with keyboardist Marco Cimino, keyboardist Aldo Rindone, and drummer Giorgio Diaferia. Gallesi played in Arti & Mestieri, […]
Panna Fredda was an Italian symphonic-rock band that released the 1971 album Uno on Vedette Records. Members: Angelo Giardinelli (guitar, vocals), Giorgio Brandi (keyboards, guitar, vocals, 1969-70), Carlo Bruno (bass, 1969-70), Filippo Carnevale (drums, guitar, 1969-70), Lino Stopponi (keyboards, 1970-71), Pasquale “Windy” Cavallo (bass, 1970-71), Roberto Balocco (drums, 1970-71) Background Panna Fredda (Cold Cream) formed […]
E. A. Poe was an Italian symphonic-rock band that released the 1974 album Generazioni (Storia di Sempre) on the Milano-based Kansas label. Members: Angelo (1967-69), Giorgio Foti (keyboards, vocals), Beppe Ronco (guitar, mandolin), Lello Foti (drums, mandolin), Marco Maggi (bass), Roberto Bertazzi (guitar) Background E. A. Poe formed in 1967 in the Lombard town of […]
Napoli Centrale was an Italian jazz-rock band that released three albums between 1975 and 1977 on Ricordi. Members: James Senese (saxophone, flute, vocals), Franco Del Prete (drums, percussion 1974-77), Mark Harris (keyboards, 1974-75), Tony Walmsley (bass, 1974-75), Bruno Biriaco (drums, 1975), Ciro Ciscognetti (keyboards, 1975), Pino Daniele (bass, 1975), Pippo Guarnera (keyboards, 1976-77), Kelvin Bullen […]
De De Lind was an Italian post-psych/symphonic band that cut three singles and a 1972 album on Mercury. Members: Vito Paradiso (vocals, acoustic guitar), Gilberto Trama (flute, saxophone, keyboards), Matteo Vitolli (guitar, percussion, piano, flute), Eddy Lorigiola (bass), Ricky Rebajoli (drums, percussion) Background De De Lind formed in 1969 in Milan with vocalist–guitarist Vito Paradiso, […]
Cervello was an Italian symphonic/jazz-rock band that released the 1973 album Melos on Ricordi. Members: Gianluigi Di Franco (vocals, flute, percussion), Corrado Rustici (guitar, flute, vibraphone, vocals), Giulio D’Ambrosio (saxophone, flute, vocals), Antonio Spagnolo (bass, acoustic guitar, flute, vocals), Remigio Esposito (drums, vibraphone) Background Cervello formed in Naples in 1970 when multi-instrumentalists and students of […]
Formula 3 was an Italian post-psych band that released four albums on Numero Uno between 1970 and 1973. The first two were produced and largely written by Lucio Battisti. Guitarist/singer Alberto Radius and keyboardist Gabriele Lorenzi later co-founded the super-group Il Volo. Members: Alberto Radius (guitar, vocals), Gabriele Lorenzi (keyboards, vocals, 1969-74, 1990-92), Tony Cicco […]
Dalton was an Italian symphonic/hard-rock band that released the 1973–75 albums Riflessioni: idea d’infinito and Argitari. Members: Aronne Cereda (guitar, vocals), Rino Limonta (bass, vocals), Walter Locatelli (drums, vocals), Temistocle Reduzzi (keyboards, vocals, 1972-74), Alex Chiesa (flute, vocals, 1972-74), Giancarlo Brambilla (keyboards, 1975-79) Background Dalton formed in 1972 in Bergamo, Lombardia, when guitarist/singer Aronne Cereda […]
I Salis was an Italian pop band fronted by brothers Antonio and Francesco Salis. After two late-Sixties singles as Salis ‘n Salis, they made the 1971–74 albums Sa Vida Ita Est and Seduto Sull’alba a Guardare. In 1979, they returned with the symphonic album Dopo il Buio la Luce. Members: Antonio Salis (bass, vocals), Francesco […]
Apoteosi was an Italian symphonic-rock band that released a 1975 eponymous album on self-press Said Record. Members: Silvana Idà (vocals), Massimo Idà (keyboards), Franco Vinci (guitar, vocals), Federico Idà (bass, flute), Marcello Surace (drums) Background Apoteosi (Apotheosis) formed in 1974 in Palmi, Calabria, centered around the Idà family. Keyboardist Massimo Idà, bassist–flautist Federico Idà, and […]
Capsicum Red was an Italian symphonic-rock band that released two singles and the 1972 album Appunti per un’idea Fissa, all on Edizioni Musicali Bla Bla. Members: Bruno Canzian [aka Red] (guitar, vocals), Mauro Bolzan (keyboards), Paolo Steffan (bass, vocals, piano), Roberto Balocco (drums) Background Capsicum Red formed in 1970 in Treviso when producer Pino Massara […]
Murple was an Italian symphonic-rock band that released the 1974 album Io Sono Murple. Members: Piercarlo Zanco (keyboards, vocals), Mario Garbarino (bass, percussion), Duilio Sorrenti (drums, percussion), Pino Santamaria (guitar, vocals) Background Murple formed in 1971 in Rome through the collaboration of bassist Mario Garbarino and drummer Duilio Sorrenti, musical partners from school. They partnered […]
Rustichelli e Bordini was an Italian symphonic-rock duo that released the 1973 RCA album Opera Prima. Members: Paolo Rustichelli (keyboards), Carlo Bordini (drums) Background Keyboardist Paolo Rustichelli and drummer Carlo Bordini began performing together in the early 1970s as members of the Roman group Cammello Buck, alongside guitarist Pino Belardinelli and bassist Mauro Morlacchi. The […]
Il Paese dei Balocchi was an Italian symphonic-rock band that released a 1972 self-titled album on CGD. Members: Armando Paone (vocals, keyboards), Fabio Fabiani (guitar), Marcello Martorelli (bass), Sandro Laudadio (drums, vocals), Franco Di Sabbatino (keyboards) Background Il Paese dei Balocchi (The Land of Toys) formed in Rome in 1971 with guitarist Fabio Fabiani and […]
