THROUGH
THE EARWORMHOLE
Part
II: PROGRESSIVO ITALIANO
In the early
70's, three bands were touring extensively in Italy - Genesis, Gentle Giant and
Van Der Graaf Generator. Two of these
bands (Genesis and VDGG) were on The Famous Charisma Label.
Unable to gain ground in their home country, all three
found enthusiastic audiences in Italy. Van Der Graaf Generator's 1971 album "Pawn Hearts" was #1 on
Italy's charts for 12 weeks, prompting Pete Hammill & crew to tour so
exhaustively that they split up. The band did not reform until 1975 when they
released "Godbluff"In 1973 Genesis
met with Le Orme, one of the seminal bands of the Progressivo Italiano scene.
It's clear to see
what a major influence the masters of British Progressive Rock had on the
burgeoning Italian music scene.
Le Orme was one
of the first bands to be received favorably abroad with the release of 1971's
"Collage". The scene itself boomed in 1972 and ran dry around 1975.
Most bands only released one or two albums before disbanding. A revival revitalized the scene in the 1990's
due, in part, to the advent of the internet and compact disc reissues. A second revival
occurred in 2009 when, at the time, the
top 100 contained a total of 14 Prog Rock albums - the biggest number since
1977. Nowadays, with the rise of social media and the uploading of long out of
print albums on YouTube - in addition to streaming music sites and the ability
to easily purchase import albums - Progressivo Italiano is more accessible than
ever.THE
GENESIS OF PROGRESSIVO ITALIANO
The trinity of
albums that opened the floodgates of Italian Prog all came out in 1971.
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| Terra in Bocca by iGiganti (Dirt in the Mouth by The Giants) |
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| Collage by Le Orme & Concerto Grosso (Big Concert) by New Trolls
The
Argentinian-Italian composer Luis Bacalov collaborated with New Trolls on
Concerto Grosso - as well as working with other Progressivo Italiano bands such
as Osanna on their sophomore effort 1972's "Preludio Tema Variazioni e
Canzona" & "Il Rovescio della Medaglia" on 1973's genre cornerstone "Contaminazione".
Luis Bacalov is the other great Spaghetti Western composer in addition
to Ennio Morricone. Bacalov composed scores for the 1966 Sergio Corbucci film
"Django" as well as 1971's "Lo Chiamavano King" and 1972's
"Il Grande Duello".
Quentin Tarantino used the main themes of "Lo
Chiamavano King" and "Django" in his 2012 Spaghetti Western "Django
Unchained".
The same music
was used previously in the 2004 videogame "Red Dead Revolver".
The
Floodgates
Between 1972
and 1974 there were a flood of releases under the Progressivo Italiano banner.
By 1975 the genre was dormant and would not be rediscovered for another fifteen
years.
How and why did
this happen? Why was such a vibrant and creative music genre so short lived? To
answer that we must look at the Spaghetti West - and beyond.
In 1961 a
Japanese director named Akira Kurosawa was set to release a film starring
Toshiro Mifune.
The film itself is
based on a novel by the writer Dashiell Hammett.
The novel was Hammett's 1929 "Red Harvest"
which was inspired by a labor dispute at a Butte, Montana copper mine that
erupted in violence on April 21, 1920.
The film was "Yojimbo".
"Yojimbo" was seen by Italian director Sergio
Leone who was inspired to make his film, 1964's "A Fistful of Dollars" Sergio Leone's film broke the dam and created a tidal
wave of films with a similar sensibility, thus creating the genre known as the
Spaghetti Western.
The whole scene lasted from 1964 to the
mid 1970's. Cinecitta studios in Rome (aka Hollywood on the Tiber) was
known for churning out popular movies by creating imitations of hit films in a
boom & bust cycle that spawned genres galore. Here's a list of the genres
that came and went - the best of which had lasting influential impact, followed
by the origin film(s) that created the craze.
Peplum aka Sword & Sandal films - 1958's "Hercules" starring Steve Reeves
Mondo films - 1962's
"Mondo Cane"
Giallo - 1963's "The Girl
Who Knew Too Much" directed by Mario Bava
Spaghetti Westerns - 1964's
"A Fistful of Dollars" starring Clint Eastwood
Subgenres
Zapata
Westerns - 1966's "A Bullett for the General" directed by Damiano
Damiani
Django films
- 1966's "Django" directed by Sergio Corbucci & starring Franco
Nero
Sartana
Films - 1968's "If You Meet Sartana Pray For Your Death" starring
Gianni Garko
Trinity
films - 1970's "They Call Me Trinity" starring Bud Spencer & Terence
Hill
Twilight
films - 1976's "Keoma" directed by Enzo G. Castellari & starring
Franco Nero
Eurospy - 1964's
"Goldfinger" starring Sean Connery
Macaroni Combat films - 1967's
"The Dirty Dozen" & 1968's "Where Eagles Dare"
Poliziotteschi - 1971's
"Dirty Harry" & "The French Connection" + 1973's
"Serpico"
Exploitation films
Subgenres
Nazisploitation - 1975's "Ilsa, She
Wolf of the SS" Canadian production
Sharksploitation - 1975's
"Jaws" directed by Steven Spielberg
Cannibal films - 1980's "Cannibal
Holocaust"
The basic structure here is a hit movie is made - there is a rush to
cash in on the craze by making thinly veiled copies - some of these are
actually pretty good (such as Enzo G. Castellari's 1981 Sharksploitation film
"Great White" starring Vic Morrow) - the market is flooded - the
market collapses - then the next craze comes along.
During the period of 1964 -1973, 500+ Spaghetti Westerns were made.
Primarily shot in Almeria, Spain.
Cinecitta Studios primarily represented the filmmakers of Southern Italy
(Mezzogiorno). This region has a generally higher rate of poverty than the
industrialized North. Southern Italy has been subjected to invaders and
conquerors throughout history and as a result the population tends to reflect the traits of the
different cultures that have occupied the region. Whereas people of Northern
Italy tend to have fairer skin and lighter hair, the Southern Italians tend to
be more "Mediterranean"
with darker hair and darker features. This distinction between the two regions
of Italy is important - mirroring the complex relationship between the Northern
and Southern United States.
Filmmakers out of the North such as
Fellini, Passolini & Visconti made films that were accepted more broadly by
the intelligentsia - whereas Sergio Leone, Corbucci & Castellari made films
for the masses. Passolini referred to the South as "the belching stomach of Italy."
There is quite a bit of competition between artists, musicians and
filmmakers in Italy that tends to winnow out gems from the mass of media that
is produced. This is thought to be a holdover from artisans of the Renaissance
who dueled frequently in order to catch the eye of wealthy patrons. This
competition has led Italy to create masterpieces of art, literature, fashion,
film and music.
The Years of Lead
The1970's were a watershed period in Italy. Progressive political measures
were passed in defiance of the Catholic Church and as a result, the country
began to evolve and modernize.
However, when you shake up the status quo there is always an inevitable
blowback. The period of violence and corruption that ensued became known as
"Anni di Piombo" (The Years of
Lead).
December 12, 1969 Piazza Fontana Bombing
March 26, 1971 Alessandro Floris is Assassinated in Genoa
May 17, 1972 Luigi Calabresi is Assassinated in Milan.
May 31, 1972 Peteano Car Bombing
April 16, 1973 Primavelle Fire
May 17, 1973 Milan Police Headquarters Bombing
May 28, 1974 Piazza Della Loggia Bombing
August 4, 1974 Italicus Express Bombing
May 14, 1977 Shootout With Police - Policeman Antonio Custra killed.
August 2, 1980 Bologna Central Station Bombing - 85 killed, 200 wounded.
Perhaps
no two figures epitomize this era better than these two men.
Giulio Andreotti & Aldo Moro
Giulio Andreotti and Aldo
Moro were rivals within Italy's Democrazia Cristiana (Christian Democracy
Party). Andreotti represented the right,
and Moro represented the left. Moro had
negotiated a compromise with the Partito Comunista Italiano (Italian Communist
Party) to form a coalition government.
He was due to sign the historic agreement amidst rumblings from both the
right and the far left.
On the morning
of March 16, 1978 Aldo Moro was kidnapped by members of the Brigate Rosse (Red
Brigades).
He was held for 55 days, during which he wrote 86 letters to the leaders
of his party, members of his family and the Pope, pleading for negotiation.
Giulio Andreotti was Prime Minister during this
time and his government refused to release prisoners in exchange for Moro. On May 9, 1978, Aldo Moro's bullet riddled
body was found in the trunk of a Renault 4 in the Via Caetani.
This incident sparked more violence and corruption, the
latter of which still plagues Italian government to this day. Allegations of
Mafia collusion with political leaders are rampant and ongoing. To say that
there is mistrust for authority, especially among the youth in Italy, is a vast
understatement.
It's important
to note that the music of Progressivo Italiano, which is exuberant and
inventive and vibrant, was made with these headlines blaring in the background.
The
Bands
  
Alphataurus
hailed from Milan. Under the original lineup Alphataurus released only one
album, 1973's "Alphataurus". The band split up in 1973. In 1992 their
2nd album "Dietro l'uragano" was released. In 2009 Alphataurus
reformed and is still active today.
  
Inspired by
progressive rock acts from England's Gentle Giant, Jethro Tull and Emerson,
Lake & Palmer, keyboardists Vittorio Nocenzi and his brother Gianni founded
Banco del Mutuo Soccorso in Rome, Italy. They later recorded their eponymous
debut in 1972, soon to be followed by "Darwin!", and in 1973 "Io
sono nato libero".
The band remained active until February 21, 2014 when
singer Francesco di Giacomo died in a car accident, in Zagarolo, at the age of
67.
  
As CD reissues started appearing and the Internet made information flow
easier during the 1990's, the Italian bands were discovered and rediscovered by
a number of progressive rock fans internationally. Reissues proved so
successful that several recordings which were never released at the time
received their first pressings on CD in the 1990's and 2000's. The
"discovery" of Italian progressive rock by foreign fans also led to
bands such as Celeste being re-evaluated as core bands, despite the fact that
they were virtually unknown in Italy at the time.
Cherry Five
Cherry Five was heavily influenced
by Genesis, Yes and King Crimson. The original line-up included three of the musicians
who would later found Goblin: Claudio Simonetti (keyboards), Massimo Morante
(electric guitar) and Fabio Pignatelli (bass). They released only one eponymous
album in 1975.
They were then called in to compose the soundtrack for the
Giallo film "Profondo Rosso" by director Dario Argento. The band
changed their name to Goblin, rewriting most of the score, originally written
by Giorgio Gaslini.
Giallo
"Giallo" (yellow) refers to an
Italian crime and mystery genre of literature and film which sometimes
contained elements of horror and eroticism. The word "giallo" comes
from a series of cheap paperback mystery novels with trademark yellow covers.
 
Goblin is
primarily known for their soundtrack work. They have frequently collaborated
with Dario Argento, most notably creating soundtracks for "Profondo Rosso"
in 1975 and "Suspiria" in 1977. Goblin returned with a series of live
concerts in Europe in 2009 and in North America in 2013.
Goblin and Argento
  
Il Balletto di
Bronzo (Bronze Ballet) formed in Naples in the mid 1960's, and released two
albums, "Sirio 2222" and "Ys" before disbanding in 1973. In
the late 90's, vocalist and keyboard player Gianni Leone reformed the band as a
trio, recording the live album "Trys". This incarnation of the band
is still active as a live ensemble with a rotating roster, Leone being the sole
constant.
"Ys" is their second studio album. It was
released in 1972. It's a concept album in which the protagonist is the only man left
on Earth, who makes 3 incredible journeys before being swallowed up by the darkness.
Ys refers to a mythical city that was built on the coast of Brittany and later
swallowed by the ocean. Most versions of the legend place the city in the
Douarnenez Bay.
Flight of King Gradlon, by E. V. Luminais, 1884
  
Jacula was an
Italian progressive rock band founded in 1968 in Milan as an experiment by
Antonio Bartoccetti, Doris Norton (also known as Fiamma Dello Spirito),
organist Charles Tiring and medium Franz Porthenzy.
Jacula's music
is innovative, but dark and strange, reminiscent of a gothic horror film in the
vein of Mario Bava. The group completed two albums: "In Cauda Semper Stat
Venenum" which has a superposition of an organ, piano and other sound
effects, and "Tardo Pede in Magiam Versus" which features Doris
Norton's vocals.
After nearly
four decades, Jacula released their third studio album "Pre Viam" - an anagram of the word "Vampire", in
May 2011.
Jacula
Fumetti
The singular term
fumetto (literally "little puff of smoke") refers to the balloon that
contains the dialogue in a comic book or cartoon strip. "Jacula" was
a vampire in an Italian fumetti title.
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A total of 327 issues were produced between 1969 and 1982.
"Jacula", along with "Zora" and "Sukia",
contained strong sexual themes.
  
Le Orme ("The Footprints") is an Italian progressive rock band
formed in 1966 in Venice. The band was one of the major groups of the Italian
progressive rock scene in the 1970's. They are one of few Italian rock bands to
have success outside their own country, having played concerts across North
America and Europe, and releasing an album in English at the height of their
success.
In 1973 they released "Felona e Sorona".
Commonly named as one of the finest examples of Italian progressive rock, it is
a concept album pivoting on the story of two planets which revolve one around
the other, without ever coming in contact. While Felona is shiny and flourishing,
Sorona is dark and home to plagues and catastrophes: however, in the second
part of the suite, the fate of the two planets is inverted.
This story may
reflect the tale of the two great rivers of Egypt - The Tigris & Euphrates.
Euphrates translates roughly to "good bountiful one". The Tigris, as
a result of its swift current, has a low silt bed and is more prone to
flooding. One people saw two rivers very differently and life evolved in
disparate directions according to which system you were in proximity.
 
La Locanda delle
Fate (The Fairy Inn) is an Italian progressive rock band from the end of the
Italian prog rock movement. Despite good reviews, they encountered little
success with their first 1977 album "Forse le lucciole non si amano più"
and disbanded in 1980 after releasing two further singles. The band reunited
without their lead vocalist, releasing the album "Homo Homini Lupus"
in 1999.
  
Maxophone formed
in Milan in 1973. They released one self-titled album in 1975. Maxophone have
since acquired a minor cult following that has endured for over three decades,
long after their short career had ended.
However,
they
released 2 singles in 1977, "Il Fischio del Vapore" (Steam Whistle)
and "Cono di Gelato" (Ice Cream Cone.) The 2 single tracks have since
been added to some versions of the CD re-issues of their album.
Gelato
Gelato is the Italian word for ice cream. Gelato is made with milk,
cream, various sugars, and flavoring such as fresh fruit and nut purees. Gelato
is a type of soft ice cream containing a relatively small amount of air. By
statute, gelato in Italy must have at least 3.5% butterfat, with no upper limit
established.
  
Metamorfosi are
an Italian symphonic rock band from Rome. They have released three albums,
"E Fu Il Sesto Giorno" (1972) "Inferno" (1973) and "Paradiso"
(2004). The two latter are concept albums based on Dante's "The Divine
Comedy". Inferno in particular has received critical acclaim amongst
progressive rock fans.
  
Murple formed in Rome in 1973. Their first studio album "Io sono
Murple" (I am Murple) was released in 1974.
The concept album has 2 long suites divided into six movements each
that tell the sad story of the penguin Murple that, to escape the unchanging
day to day of his life, decides spontaneously to move away from the herd and
from his natural habitat. Before Murple has time to enjoy the wonders of the
world he is captured by humans ("Nessuna scelta" - No Choice) and
forced to perform first in a circus ("Tra i fili" - Between the
wires), then in the zoo "Antarplastic" where the adventure concludes
with Murple perched inside a small plastic iceberg.
 
Museo Rosenbach formed in Bordighera, Italy in 1971.
In 1973 they released
the album "Zarathustra" based on the philosophy of Nietzsche. In
spite of the limited success it scored in the 1970's, it is today considered a
cornerstone of the genre.
In 1884, Claude Monet traveled to Bordighera, a town on the Italian
Riviera, close to the border between Italy and France, for a working visit of
three weeks that turned into nearly three months.
  
Osanna - The "Kiss" of Italy.
Osanna formed in 1970. In 1973 they released "Palepoli"
which is widely considered amongst the best in the Italian progressive rock
genre. Palepolis was the name of the pre-Greek settlement of Naples, the city
from which the band members originated. The album shows a wild mix of
progressive and Neapolitan-Mediterranean influences. The lyrics, composed by
vocalist Lino Vairetti, mix social themes with mythological and mystic ones. Osanna liked to add an air of theatricality to their shows, often appearing in costumes and make-up.
  
Premiata Forneria Marconi (P.F.M.) (Award-winning Marconi Bakery) formed in
Milan in 1970. They were the first Italian group to have success abroad, entering
both the British and American charts. Between 1973 and 1977 they released five
albums with English lyrics. They also had several successful European and
American tours. P.F.M. introduced new sounds, such as the synthesizer, to the
Italian musical world. They were also among the first to combine symphonic
classical and traditional Italian musical influences in a pop music context.
Such innovations and their longevity have made them among the most important
bands in the international Progressive rock genre.
"Chocolate Kings" is P.F.M's fourth album released in 1975 - and a personal
favorite. It was the first album to include Bernardo Lanzetti on lead vocals.
It was also the band's first album to be written natively in English. Many
Italian Prog bands tried to translate previous albums into English and were
largely unsuccessful. Part of the mystique of the genre is in not knowing the
language and many aficionados prefer the Italian language version of the
albums.
The actual "Award Winning Marconi Bakery" in Chiari, Italy.
 
Semiramis formed in 1970 by
Maurizio Zarrillo (keyboards) and the two cousins Marcello Reddavide (bass) and
Memmo Pulvano (drums). They were all 15-years old. Two years later they were
joined by 16 year old Michele Zarrillo who replaced former singer Maurizio
Macioce.
Their 1973 album "Dedicato a Frazz" was commercially unsuccessful,
but later became regarded as a classic of Italian progressive rock. After the
band split up, singer and guitarist Michele Zarrillo joined a later incarnation
of Il Rovescio della Medaglia.
This is just the tip of the "Antarplastic" iceberg. There is so much more to discover. Blow the dust from the grooves and
check out some of this great music. You never know where it will take you. So crack open a cold Lemonsoda and Buon
Ascolto (Good Listening)!
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