Litfiba was an Italian rock band formed in Florence in 1980. The band evolved from British-influenced new wave rock to a more personal rock sound influenced by Mediterranean vibes; their songs are mostly sung in Italian.
The band was formed in Florence in 1980,[1] and was named after the telex code for Via dei Bardi, Florence, where the band rehearsed (Località ITalia FIrenze via dei BArdi). The early line-up consisted of Federico Renzulli (nicknamed Ghigo) on guitars and lead vocals, Gianni Maroccolo on bass, Sandro Dotta on lead guitar (who left the band after a few weeks) and Francesco Calamai on drums. Antonio Aiazzi on keyboards and Piero Pelù on vocals joined the band shortly after. Punk and new wave were a huge influence on the band's early songs, which often had English lyrics.
Their first show took place on 6 December 1980 in Settignano, near Florence.
The band's first recording was a five-track EP titled Guerra (1982), followed one year later by a 7-inch single, "Luna/La preda", which won the band first place at the 2° Festival Rock Italiano.
Meanwhile, Calamai was replaced on drums by Renzo Franchi; with this line-up, the band worked on a soundtrack album, Eneide di Krypton.
After a while, Franchi then left the band, to be replaced by Luca De Benedectis, known as Ringo De Palma with whom the band recorded Yassassin, a 12-inch (300mm) single containing a brand new track, "Electrica Danza", and a David Bowie cover.
Trilogy of power
The band released their first full-length album, Desaparecido (Spanish for "Disappeared") in 1985. Following the EP, Transea (1986) and the second full-length 17 RE (17 Kings in Italian), Litfiba toured for the first time, subsequently releasing 12/5/87 (aprite i vostri occhi), their first live album. Litfiba 3 (1988) was the last recording featuring Maroccolo, de Palma et Aiazzi as permanent members, although the latter would stay as session musician until 1996.
The first three albums form the "Trilogy of power" (in Italian, "Trilogia del potere"), stating the refusal of every kind of totalitarianism. The release of the Pirata live album, recorded on the 1988–89 tour, marked the end of the "Trilogy of power" years.
Second era (1989–1999)
The second leg of the tour was filmed and released as a VHS tape titled "Pirata Tour", featuring Roberto Terzani on bass, Daniele Trambusti on drums and Candelo Cabezas on percussions besides Pelù, Renzulli and Aiazzi. Pelù and Renzulli then went back to the studio to record El Diablo, which achieved Platinum sales in Italy. The following tour, with Federico Poggipollini on rhythm guitar, was also filmed for home video release.
Sogno Ribelle (1992) was a compilation of re-arranged songs from previous albums, live tracks and a previously unreleased song titled "Linea d'ombra". It was once more followed by a VHS featuring music videos, live performances samples and interviews. The year after, the band released Terremoto ("Earthquake"), soon followed by the double live CD Colpo di coda.
When changing their label from CGD to EMI (with legal complications due to the release of unauthorized compilations), the band hired a new bass player, Daniele "Barny" Bagni, and recorded the third volume of its "tetralogy of elements": El Diablo was celebrating fire, Terremoto soil, the new album Spirito (1994) celebrates the air. The record was, as usual, followed by a VHS: Lacio drom which contains extracts from the "Spirito tour".
The 1997 Mondi Sommersi album brought out the missing element, water, as Aiazzi left the band, replaced on keyboards by Terzani, who also remained the second guitar player (as it appears to be in the last tour). Litfiba's biggest tour was immortalized on a VHS, whose profits went to the victims of earthquakes in Umbria and Marche regions, and on a double live CD both titled Croce e delizia. Infinito (1999) was the very last chapter of the band's history with frontman Piero Pelù as a vocalist. The last show with Pelù took place at the "Monza Rock Festival 1999".
Third era (1999–2009)
When Pelù said farewell to the band three of Litfiba's musicians also left with him: Bagni, Terzani and Caforio. Renzulli lost the rights to the band's logo, a horned heart, but kept the name Litfiba, which is copyrighted under his name. The guitarist then decided to follow on immediately with a renewed and rejuvenated band, including the new singer Gianluigi "Cabo" Cavallo, bass and drums player Gianluca Venier, and Ugo Nativi, coming from the funk-rock band Malfunk.
The 2000 album was titled Elettromacumba. On the following "Elettro tour", Litfiba, with Mauro Sabbione, who had already played on the El Diablo album, on keyboards, played in smaller halls than before. After the tour, the band released Live on Line, including 15 tracks recorded during the last tour available only for download under MP3 format through web portal Lycos.
The musicians went back to the studio, with Nativi replaced on drums by Gianmarco Colzi, who had played with band Rockgalileo and singer Biagio Antonacci, for the recording of the Insidia album (2001). The record was much different from the previous album, due to darker lyrics with many symbolic references and the significant use of electronics. It was soon followed by the "Insidia tour", a 73 concerts tour that was the first part of the "Never ending tour". The band was then requested to release the soundtrack for the Italian version of the Tomb raider 6 – The Angel of Darkness video game, resulting in the issue of "Larasong", a stand-alone single. Former keyboards player Antonio Aiazzi returned to the band for the 2003 "Lara Tour" and 2004 "04 Tour", the second and third part of the "Never ending tour". The last concert was recorded for the release of Litfiba's official first DVD.
The last album to date, Essere o sembrare (2005), appeared to be moderately inspired and had a relative success. The release of the record was followed by a short tour, almost 15 concerts, followed by others during 2006 summer. In late 2006 singer Gianluigi "Cabo" Cavallo leaves the band, followed by bass player Gianluca Venier and keyboard player Antonio Aiazzi. Filippo Margheri, who previously fronted Miir, replaced Cavallo, while Roberto Terzani, who had previously played with Litfiba, and Pino Fidanza join respectively at bass and drums.
Fourth era (2009–2022)
Litfiba performing in 2010
In November 2009, the long-time manager of the band Alberto Pirelli announced Litfiba was going to break up. One month later, on 11 December 2009, a message posted on the official website of the band announced the surprising reunion of the two historical founders: Piero Pelù and Ghigo Renzulli. They played four concerts in spring 2010 as Litfiba: Milan (13 April), Florence (16 April), Rome (19 April), and Acireale (21 April). A longer tour and a new album was expected in the second half of the year. The band published the successful live album Stato libero di Litfiba which also included two unreleased tracks: "Sole Nero" and "Barcollo". On 17 January 2012 the new album Grande nazione came out, led by the singles Squalo (25 November 2011) and La mia valigia (13 January 2012). In January 2013 the band reunited with original founders Gianni Maroccolo and Antonio Aiazzi, as well as new addition on drums Luca Martelli (from Giorgio Canali's Rossofuoco) and started a tour called "Trilogia 1983-1989", playing only songs from the historical "Trilogy Of Power" plus some related singles from the same period. The band produced a live CD ("Trilogia '83-'89") at the end of the historical reunion. Later in 2013, Litfiba began a hiatus to permit its members to pursue their personal and artistic projects. After a last gig with the "Trilogia" line-up in Sardinia, the band announces a tour for 2015 which celebrated the following era of the band. The "Tetralogia Tour" focused on the 4 albums "El Diablo", "Terremoto", "Spirito" and "Mondi Sommersi", dedicated to the elements of fire, earth, air and water respectively. Ghigo and Piero hit the stage with a renewed line-up which included drummer Luca Martelli, keyboardist Federico Sagona (already on "Stato Libero" and "Grande Nazione") and new bass player Franco Li Causi. New album "Eutopia" follows, followed by some last tours in which keyboard player Fabrizio Simoncioni (already with the band as musician and engineer in the 1990s) and bass player Dado Neri are involved.
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Mondi sommersi is the seventh studio album by the Italian rock band Litfiba. It is the fourth chapter of the "Tetralogy of elements". It is dedicated to water. The album has sold 700,000 copies in Italy.
Spirito is the sixth studio album by the Italian rock band Litfiba. It is the third chapter of the "Tetralogy of elements", dedicated to air.
El Diablo is the fourth studio album by the Italian rock band Litfiba. It introduces a more rock sounding in the band's music, which used to be much more new wave influenced until there. It is the first chapter of the "Tetralogy of elements" and it is dedicated to fire.
Litfiba 3 is the third studio album by the Italian rock band Litfiba. It ends the "Trilogy of power" started with the first album Desaparecido. It is the last album on which new wave influences can be heard.
Terremoto is the fifth studio album by the Italian rock band Litfiba. It is the second chapter of the "tetralogy of elements", started on El Diablo. It is dedicated to earth. It was produced by Alberto Pirelli. It is considered one of their most hard rock albums, with many songs featuring socially and politically charged lyrics. It sold over 700,000 copies.
17 RE is the second full-length studio album by the Italian rock band Litfiba and the second part of the "Trilogy of power", as begun with the debut, Desaparecido.
Desaparecido is the first full-length studio album by the Italian rock band Litfiba, though the band had previously released five EPs or singles and a soundtrack album, Eneide di Krypton. The music is very British new wave-influenced, though the lyrics are in Italian.
Infinito is the eighth studio album by the Italian rock band Litfiba and the last one to feature vocalist Piero Pelù until 2009. It is the band's best-selling album to date as it sold one million copies, despite being criticized by some fans for its softer, more commercial sound. It was also the second-best selling album of 1999 in Italy.
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Pietro "Piero" Pelù is an Italian singer-songwriter. One of the most popular artists of the Italian rock scene, he is known for being the lead singer and co-founder of the band Litfiba, as well as for his solo activity. He is also known for his social and political commitment.
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Grande nazione is an album by the Italian rock band Litfiba, released in 2012. The album achieved great success and has been certified gold in Italy.
Stato libero di Litfiba is a 2010 double live album by the Italian rock band Litfiba. The album marks the return of lead singer Piero Pelù to the band, which he had left in 1999. The album was recorded in two dates, on 16 and 17 April, in Florence, during the 2010 reunion tour. It also contains two previously unreleased tracks: "Sole nero" and "Barcollo", both released as singles. Stato libero di Litfiba was welcomed with great favour by the audience and has been certified platinum in Italy.
Gianluigi Cavallo, also known as Cabo is an Italian singer, guitarist, composer, system integrator and programmer. He played in the band Litfiba from 1999 to 2006.
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