Elio e le Storie Tese
Encyclopedia
Elio e le Storie Tese often abbreviated EelST, is an Italian band from Milan
, formed in 1980, whose music is clearly (and declaredly) inspired to the style of Frank Zappa
, both in music and lyrics. Its leader is Stefano Belisari, better known as Elio
.
Elio e le Storie Tese's musical work is characterized by eclecticism and competence, in the melodic, harmonic and orchestration (arrangement) aspects, augmented by the member's technical proficiency. They are widely considered as some of the best musicians in Italy. They are usually joined by an "unofficial" member, Mangoni (a former schoolmate of Elio), whose role is to dance and make choreographies during live shows on stage; he also sings some of the songs, despite (or because of) his almost screeching, often out of tune high-pitched voice.
In their official discography, and in their gigs, EelST have covered many of the genres typified in popular music: Rock
, Latin
, Progressive rock
, Disco
, Soul
to name a few. A very strong attitude to affectionately mock and modify to their needs the clichès of Italian pop music
has always been part of their musical career, and nonetheless many Italian pop artists have been proud guests in their recordings, acknowledging their value.
Their songs are typically interspersed by a rude, coarse humour which lies in stark contrast to their extreme varied and competent musical talent; once the band was considered part of the 'demential' rock underground spawned after the demise of punk
and cross-fertilized by situationist dadaism, but they have soared well past above that scene. One of their favourite themes is adolescent life around circa 12 to 17, seen as a golden period of fun, friendship, music and sexual discoveries.
The band has also been the first one, in 2004, to sell instant CDs of their live performances immediately after their end (which they dubbed CD brulé, as they were 'burned' on the spot, like wine in Mulled Wine, in italian Vin Brulè).
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, formed in 1980, whose music is clearly (and declaredly) inspired to the style of Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
, both in music and lyrics. Its leader is Stefano Belisari, better known as Elio
Elio
Stefano Belisari , best known as Elio, is an Italian singer and musician, the founder of the Italian rock band Elio e le Storie Tese. He performs as the lead vocalist and plays the transverse flute , and sometimes the electric guitar and the electric bass...
.
Elio e le Storie Tese's musical work is characterized by eclecticism and competence, in the melodic, harmonic and orchestration (arrangement) aspects, augmented by the member's technical proficiency. They are widely considered as some of the best musicians in Italy. They are usually joined by an "unofficial" member, Mangoni (a former schoolmate of Elio), whose role is to dance and make choreographies during live shows on stage; he also sings some of the songs, despite (or because of) his almost screeching, often out of tune high-pitched voice.
In their official discography, and in their gigs, EelST have covered many of the genres typified in popular music: Rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, Progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
, Disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
, Soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
to name a few. A very strong attitude to affectionately mock and modify to their needs the clichès of Italian pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
has always been part of their musical career, and nonetheless many Italian pop artists have been proud guests in their recordings, acknowledging their value.
Their songs are typically interspersed by a rude, coarse humour which lies in stark contrast to their extreme varied and competent musical talent; once the band was considered part of the 'demential' rock underground spawned after the demise of punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and cross-fertilized by situationist dadaism, but they have soared well past above that scene. One of their favourite themes is adolescent life around circa 12 to 17, seen as a golden period of fun, friendship, music and sexual discoveries.
The band has also been the first one, in 2004, to sell instant CDs of their live performances immediately after their end (which they dubbed CD brulé, as they were 'burned' on the spot, like wine in Mulled Wine, in italian Vin Brulè).
Current members
- Stefano Belisari a.k.a. Elio - lead vocals, transverse fluteTransverse fluteA transverse flute or side-blown flute is a flute which is held horizontally when played. The player blows "across" the embouchure hole, in a direction perpendicular to the flute's body length....
, electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, electric bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, - Sergio Conforti a.k.a. Rocco Tanica - vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, electronic drumElectronic drumAn electronic drum is an electronic synthesizer which mimics an acoustic drum kit.The electronic drum usually consists of a set of pads mounted on a stand in a disposition similar to an acoustic drum kit. The pads are discs with a rubber or cloth-like coating. Each pad has a sensor which generates...
s, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Nicola Fasani a.k.a. Faso - electric bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Davide Civaschi a.k.a. Cesareo - electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Christian Meyer - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionsPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - Antonello Aguzzi a.k.a. Jantoman - keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
(member since 1999)
"Unofficial" members
- Luca Mangoni - choreographyChoreographyChoreography is the art of designing sequences of movements in which motion, form, or both are specified. Choreography may also refer to the design itself, which is sometimes expressed by means of dance notation. The word choreography literally means "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" ...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Paola Folli - vocals
Past members
- Paolo Panigada a.k.a. Feiez (deceased) (1962–1998)- backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
, saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, electric bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
Studio albums
- Elio samaga hukapan kariyana turuElio samaga hukapan kariyana turuElio samaga hukapan kariyana turu is the first album by Italian rock band Elio e le storie tese. It showcases their attitude as disciples of Frank Zappa, as well as their high technical proficiency.-Track listing:# Adolescenti a colloquio...
(1989) - The Los Sri Lanka Parakramabahu Brothers Featuring Elio e le Storie TeseThe Los Sri Lanka Parakramabahu Brothers Featuring Elio e le Storie TeseThe Los Sri Lanka Parakramabahu Brothers Featuring Elio e le Storie Tese is the second album by Italian rock band Elio e le storie tese.-Track listing:# Introducing the Real Pulun Vage Sudu Raula Digay - 1:00# Pulun Vage Sudu Raula Digay - 1:08...
(1990) - Italyan, rum casusu çiktiItalyan, rum casusu çiktiItalyan, rum casusu çikti is the third album by Italian rock band Elio e le storie tese.-Track listing:# Rum Casusu - 0:21# Servi della gleba? - 0:17 # Servi della gleba 4:38...
(1992) - Esco dal mio corpo e ho molta paura: Gli inediti 1979-1986Esco dal mio corpo e ho molta paura: Gli inediti 1979-1986Esco dal mio corpo e ho molta paura: Gli inediti 1979-1986 is the fourth album by Italian rock band Elio e le Storie Tese.-Track listing:# Ùnanimi - 1:21...
(1993) - Eat the phikisEat the phikisEat the phikis is the breakthrough album by Italian rock band Elio e le storie tese. They became famous after their second place finish at the Sanremo Music Festival with the song La terra dei cachi, a humorous take on Italian lifestyle. This record shows the band at their creative peak.-Track...
(1996) - PeerlaPeerlaPeerla is the a studio album by Italian rock band Elio e le storie tese composed mainly of previously unreleased tracks, like the various opening themes for Italian television program Mai dire Gol, and studio outtakes...
(1998) - Craccracriccrecr (1999)
- CicciputCicciput-Track listing:# "Cicciput" - 0:47# "Budy Giampi" - 4:58# "Gimmi I." - 4:21# "Fossi figo" - 5:24# "Cani e padroni di cani" - 4:35# "La follia della donna " - 3:21# "Shpalman®" - 5:08# "La chanson" - 5:25# "Pagàno" - 5:30# "Abate cruento" - 5:54...
(2003) - StudentessiStudentessiStudentessi is a 2008 studio album by Italian rock band Elio e le Storie Tese.-Track listing:#"Studentessi" - 0:46#"Plafone" - 5:00#"Ignudi fra i nudisti" - 4:34#"Tristezza" - 4:32...
(2008)
Live albums
- Made in Japan (Live at Parco Capello)Made in Japan (Live at Parco Capello)Made in Japan is the first live album by Italian rock group Elio e le storie tese. It shows a reference to the famous Deep Purple live album Made in Japan both in its title and graphics....
(2001) - Il meglio di "Ho fatto due etti e mezzo, lascio?" (2004)
- Il meglio di "Grazie della splendida serata" (2005)
Compilations
- Del meglio del nostro meglio Vol. 1Del meglio del nostro meglio Vol. 1Del meglio del nostro meglio Vol. 1 is the first Best of compilation by Italian rock band Elio e le Storie Tese.-Track listing:# Born to be Abramo? - 0:14# Born to be Abramo - 4:57# L'astronauta pasticcione - 4:51...
(1997, greatest hits) - Perle ai porci (1998, box)
- Gattini (2009, rerecorded versions with orchestra of some of their favourite tracks + 1 new song)