Banco del Mutuo Soccorso (English: ''Bank of Mutual Relief'') is an Italian rock band. A popular

progressive rock Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog) is a broad genre of rock music that primarily developed in the United Kingdom through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early-to-mid-1970s. Initially termed " progressive pop", the ...

band in the 1970s, they continued making music in the 1980s and 1990s. They were still active, playing live in 2001 and 2008 at NEARfest. Their charismatic frontman,

Francesco Di Giacomo Francesco, the Italian (and original) version of the personal name "Francis", is one of the most common given name among males in Italy. Notable persons with that name include: People with the given name Francesco * Francesco I (disambiguation) ...

, died in 2014.

History

Inspired by

acts from

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

, in particular

Gentle Giant Gentle Giant were a British progressive rock band active between 1970 and 1980. They were known for the complexity and sophistication of their music and for the varied musical skills of the members. All of the band members were multi-instrument ...

, Jethro Tull and

Emerson, Lake & Palmer Emerson, Lake & Palmer (informally known as ELP) were an English progressive rock Supergroup (music), supergroup formed in London in 1970. The band consisted of Keith Emerson (keyboards) of The Nice, Greg Lake (vocals, bass, guitars, producer) ...

, keyboardists Vittorio Nocenzi and his brother

Gianni Gianni is an Italian name (occasionally a surname), a short form of the Italian Giovanni and a cognate of John meaning God is gracious. Gianni is the most common diminutive of Giovanni in Italian. People with this given name * Gianni Agnelli (19 ...

founded Banco del Mutuo Soccorso in

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

. In 1972, together with other musicians from

progressive scene, they recorded their eponymous debut album which, with songs such as "R.I.P. (Requiescant in pace)", "Il giardino del mago" and "Metamorfosi", immediately attracted the attention of the public of the nascent

scene in

. The graphic design of the cover is also very particular: shaped as a

terracotta Terracotta, also known as terra cotta or terra-cotta (; ; ), is a clay-based non-vitreous ceramic OED, "Terracotta""Terracotta" MFA Boston, "Cameo" database fired at relatively low temperatures. It is therefore a term used for earthenware obj ...

piggy bank. In the same year, the second album was released, ''

Darwin! ''Darwin!'' is the second studio album by Banco del Mutuo Soccorso and the second album they released in 1972. It was recorded and released in 1972 on the Ricordi label. The album is a concept album that covers Darwin's theory of evolution and th ...

'', the first

concept album A concept album is an album whose tracks hold a larger purpose or meaning collectively than they do individually. This is typically achieved through a single central narrative or theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, or lyrical. Som ...

made by the group: the songs are all linked to the central theme of

Charles Darwin Charles Robert Darwin ( ; 12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English Natural history#Before 1900, naturalist, geologist, and biologist, widely known for his contributions to evolutionary biology. His proposition that all speci ...

's theory on the evolution of species. In 1973 ''

Io sono nato libero ''Io sono nato libero'' (translated from Italian to "I Was Born Free") is the third studio album by Italian progressive rock band Banco del Mutuo Soccorso. The album had a more pastoral, poetic, and melancholic atmosphere compared to their last a ...

'' increased their notoriety thanks to the single "Non mi rompete", an acoustic ballad with poetic dreamy lyrics. The most prominent features of their sound are the complex textures provided by the piano,

Hammond organ The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond and John M. Hanert, first manufactured in 1935. Multiple models have been produced, most of which use sliding #Drawbars, drawbars to vary sounds. Until 1975, sound was created ...

and synthesizers played by the Nocenzi brothers, along with the vocals of former frontman

. A careful balance of electronic and acoustic instruments, with the use of

reed Reed or Reeds may refer to: Science, technology, biology, and medicine * Reed bird (disambiguation) * Reed pen, writing implement in use since ancient times * Reed (plant), one of several tall, grass-like wetland plants of the order Poales * Re ...

s (played by some of the members of the band, in addition to their usual instrument), made Banco's sound increasingly original and innovative, with a blend of rock, jazz and classical music which did not, however, forsake the Italian melodic tradition. Proving popular in Italy and becoming known abroad, the band signed with

Manticore Records Manticore Records is a record label launched by the Manticore production company in 1973. These companies were owned by the members of the progressive rock group Emerson, Lake & Palmer (commonly known as ELP) and their manager, Stewart Young. T ...

together with the

Premiata Forneria Marconi Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM) (translation: ''Award-winning Marconi Bakery'') is an Italian progressive rock band founded in 1970 which continues to the present day. They were the first Italian group to have success internationally. The group ...

. In 1975 ''

Banco Banco may refer to: Places * Banc (Barcelona Metro), also called Banco, a closed metro stop on the Barcelona metro * Banco, Virginia, an unincorporated community * Banco, West Virginia, an unincorporated community * Banco National Park, a nationa ...

'' was released, a collection of translated songs together with new material, targeting the international market. '' Come in un'ultima cena'' was also translated as '' As in a Last Supper''. The late 1970s saw Banco del Mutuo Soccorso going in new directions, with a

film soundtrack A soundtrack is a recorded audio signal accompanying and synchronised to the images of a book, drama, motion picture, radio program, television program, or video game; colloquially, a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured ...

in 1976's '' Garofano rosso'' and recordings with an orchestra in 1978's '' ...di terra''. They changed their name to the simplified Banco. The 1980s saw Banco's musical direction change towards lighter

pop Pop or POP may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Pop music, a musical genre Artists * POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade * Pop! (British group), a UK pop group * Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band Album ...

and shorter songs, producing some

hits Hits or H.I.T.S. may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * '' H.I.T.S.'', 1991 album by New Kids on the Block * ''...Hits'' (Phil Collins album), 1998 * ''Hits'' (compilation series), 1984–2006; 2014, a British compilation album s ...

. This is due to the limited success they had abroad with their albums with English lyrics (also due to the shutdown of Manticore in 1977), which led to the decision to exploit Di Giacomo's remarkable vocal gifts with more marketable songs. Gianni Nocenzi left the band for a solo career. Other members came and went. In the 1990s and now back to using the longer name, they started playing their 1970s material again. They performed

unplugged Unplugged may refer to: *Acoustic music, music not produced through electronic means * "Unplugged" (B.A.P song), 2014 * "Unplugged" (''Modern Family''), a 2010 episode of ''Modern Family'' Albums and EPs * ''Unplugged'' (5'nizza album), 2002 * '' ...

versions of their songs

live Live may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Live!'' (2007 film), 2007 American film * ''Live'' (2014 film), a 2014 Japanese film * ''Live'' (2023 film), a Malayalam-language film *'' Live: Phát Trực Tiếp'', a Vietnamese-langua ...

and re-recorded their first albums. New material was also produced. On 21 February 2014, Francesco di Giacomo died in a car accident, in

Zagarolo Zagarolo is a town and ''comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Rome, in the region of Lazio of central Italy. It lies southeast of Rome, and it borders the municipalities of Colonna, Gallicano nel Lazio, Monte Compatri, Palestrina, Rome, San Ce ...

, at the age of 66. On 3 October 2015, the band guitarist Rodolfo Maltese died too after a long battle with cancer. In September 2016 some Italian newspapers claimed that the band has taken on Tony D'Alessio, best known from the Italian edition of ''

X-Factor ''The X Factor'' is a television music competition franchise created by British producer Simon Cowell and his company Syco Entertainment. It originated in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for '' Pop Idol'' (2001–200 ...

'', as the new lead singer. On 13 January 2019, a press release announced that a new album, ''Transiberiana'', would be released in April. It was their first new release after ''Nudo'', which was published on 1997. On July 20, 2022 the band's official Facebook page announces the release of the single "Cadere o Volare" for July 22, which anticipates the release of the album ''Orlando: Le Forme dell'Amore'', a concept album on the chivalrous poem ''

Orlando Furioso ''Orlando furioso'' (; ''The Frenzy of Orlando'') is an Italian epic poem by Ludovico Ariosto which has exerted a wide influence on later culture. The earliest version appeared in 1516, although the poem was not published in its complete form ...

'' by

Ludovico Ariosto Ludovico Ariosto (, ; ; 8 September 1474 – 6 July 1533) was an Italian poet. He is best known as the author of the romance epic '' Orlando Furioso'' (1516). The poem, a continuation of Matteo Maria Boiardo's ''Orlando Innamorato'', describ ...

, for 23 September. On September 6 "La Pianura Rossa" is released, the second single that anticipates the release of the album. Today, the band continues to play live.

Members

Current members

* Vittorio Nocenzi – keyboards, vocals (1968-present) *

Filippo Marcheggiani Banco del Mutuo Soccorso (English: ''Bank of Mutual Relief'') is an Italian rock band. A popular progressive rock band in the 1970s, they continued making music in the 1980s and 1990s. They were still active, playing live in 2001 and 2008 at N ...

– guitar (1994-present) * Nicola Di Già – guitar (2013-present) * Tony D'Alessio – vocals (2016-present) * Marco Capozi – bass (2016-present) * Dario Esposito – drums (2023-present)

Former members

* Mario Achilli – drums (1968-1969) * Claudio Falco – guitar (1969-1971) * Fabrizio Falco – bass (1968-1971) * Franco Pontecorvi – drums (1969-1971) * Marcello Todaro – guitar (1971-1973) * Renato D'Angelo – bass (1971-1978) * Karl Potter – percussions (1979-1980) * Gianni Colajacomo – bass (1978-1984) * Gianni Nocenzi – keyboards (1968-1984) * Gabriel Amato – bass, keyboards (1985) *

Paolo Carta Paolo Romano Carta (born 18 April 1964) is an Italian musician, singer, guitarist, musical director and record producer. Biography Carta was born in Rome in 1964, he married Rebecca Galli, with whom he had three children, Jader (1995), Jacopo (199 ...

– guitar (1986-1987) * Pierluigi Calderoni – drums (1971-1992) *

– vocals (1971-2014) * Maurizio Masi – drums (1992-2015) *

Alessandro Papotto Banco del Mutuo Soccorso (English: ''Bank of Mutual Relief'') is an Italian rock band. A popular progressive rock band in the 1970s, they continued making music in the 1980s and 1990s. They were still active, playing live in 2001 and 2008 at N ...

– flute (1999-2015) * Rodolfo Maltese – guitar, flute (1973-2015) * Arnaldo Vacca – percussions (2014-2015) * John De Leo – vocals (2015-2016) *

Tiziano Ricci Banco del Mutuo Soccorso (English: ''Bank of Mutual Relief'') is an Italian rock band. A popular progressive rock band in the 1970s, they continued making music in the 1980s and 1990s. They were still active, playing live in 2001 and 2008 at N ...

– bass (1987-2016) * Vito Sardo – drums (2015-2016) * Maurizio Solieri – guitar (2015-2016) * Augusto Zanonzini – drums (2016-2017) * Fabio Moresco – drums (2017-2023)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Other releases

Singles

*1973 - Non mi rompete/La città sottile (Dischi Ricordi, SRL 10713) *1979 - Canto di primavera/Circobanda (Dischi Ricordi, SRL 10896) *1979 - Niente/Sono la bestia (Dischi Ricordi, SRL 10908) *1980 - Il ragno/Capolinea (Dischi Ricordi, SRL 10915) *1980 - Paolo Pà / Ma che idea *1980 - Dove sarà / Ma che idea *1980 - Il ragno / Rip *1981 - Baciami Alfredo / Buone notizie *1981 - Tommy/Mississippi (pubblicato come La banda di Tom) *1983 - Moby Dick / Velocità *1983 - Lontano da *1985 - Grande Joe / Allons enfant *1989 - Padre Francesco/Vedo il telefono/La mia libertà (Contempo, PT 42926 EP) *1994 - Brivido *1997 - Nudo *1997 - Ragno *2019 - I ruderi del gulag *2022 - Cadere o volare *2022 - La pinura rossa

Videos

* ''Ciò che si vede è'' (1992,

DVD The DVD (common abbreviation for digital video disc or digital versatile disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any ki ...

release in 2004) * ''Live 1980'' (2007)

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso Italian progressive rock groups Italian rock music groups Musical groups established in 1969 Italian symphonic rock groups Musical groups from Rome Clan Celentano artists