Banda Bassotti was formed in 1988, by a group of politically active musicians who began to sympathize with the Nicaraguan, Salvadorean, Palestinian, and Basque people fights. This group of friends supports the Frente Sandinista de Liberacion Nacional with solidarity initiatives by creating some work brigades. From 1984 to 1987 they took part to a three months brigade with the building cooperative XXV Aprile, to build some students houses and a school. From 1987 to 1989 the group creates a rock-band which begins to stir in the squats and in the demonstrations. The Banda Bassotti together with other comrades establishes the project Gridalo Forte No fascism! No racism! A documentation centre against fascism and racial prejudice.
From 1990 to 1991 they organize an antiracist festival with the same title who took place in Rome on 1991 May 3rd and 4th. European antiracist bands took part into such festival with concerts, videos and meetings. From this documentation centre, after two years the label Gridalo Forte Records is created. From this documentation centre the project Balla e Difendi arises, always in 1991, where the Banda Bassotti, took part to, together with other roman bands, such as: Red House, Filo da Torcere, AK 47. In this record, produced by the Gridalo Forte Records independent label, took part the most active bands of the left roman antagonist scene. "Figli della stessa rabbia" the first Banda Bassotti cd follows the success of such initiative and it is produced by the same label. This cd obtained a great success of both audience and critics and acted as an ingagements band multiplier: from a roman dimension to a national, and then an international one.
Without abandoning their roots, the BB obtained appreciation in Spain and especially in the Basque Country, where they performed in several concerts together with some independist left bands. During the recording of "Bella Ciao" together with the GANG, it raised the idea to play in Salvador for the FMNL. The occasion to realize such idea comes out few months later in march 1994, for the first political elections after 11 years of civil war in Salvador. The Banda Bassotti played with the Negu Gorriak in San Salvador central square at the end of the campaign with an audience of 50.000 people. They performed in 4 concerts in less than a week.
In June 1995 the band moved to Euskadi for 15 days in the IZ studio, on the mountains and with Kaki Arkarazo –sound technician and Negu Gorriak guitarist- they recorded "Avanzo di Cantiere" produced by Gridalo Forte Records label. Fermin Muguruza took part to the traditional song "Carabina 30-30" This cd is sold also in Euskadi and Spain, published by Gora Herriak Records a branch of the International Basque label Esan Ozenki. The record has been presented in several concerts in Italy and all over Spain: Bilbao, Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Santiago De Compostela, Saragoza, Gasteiz, Oiartzun. The Banda Bassotti played with the Negu Gorriak in summer 1995 in Bilbao Gaz Square at the town party with an audience of 10.000 people. After a while the Banda Bassotti took part to a Hitz Egin demonstration for the freedom of expression, a big concert to raising funds for the Negu Gorriak trial against the civil guard General Galindo. The song reported is Ustalkerria. They raised 200.000.000 liras for the defence, about 12.000 people took part to it and 15 bands played, there were all Basque bands and the Banda Bassotti represented the international sympathy.
In the mid 1996 the band decided to stop because of great energies spent and the obvious difficulties to go on both with the band and to work in the yard.
In February 2001 Negu Gorriak -who broke in the same time of of the Banda Bassotti- decided to keep the promise to get back together to play in a concert to celebrate the end of the legal prosecution of Colonel Galindo against their song Ustalkerria when the Negu Gorriak won the trial. The agreement stated that also the Banda Bassotti should have to rejoin nad play with the Basque band. The Banda Bassotti decided to increase the instruments of the band with the brass section: Sandokan to the tombone -singer of the Ramiccia and trombone of the International Fermin Muguruza Dub Manifest and of the Radici nel Cemento- and Stefano Cecchi to the trumpet -trumpet of the bands International Fermin Muguruza Dub Manifest and Radici nel Cemento-. They rearranged their songs and left for Bilbao.
Concerts in February should have been two but they were three, due to the great demand of tickets (30.000). Seizing this opportunity the Banda Bassotti organized two concerts in Rome on 15th and 17th March 2001. The first concert is in support of the people reported for the demonstration against the nazi Haider arrival in Rome, while the second took place in the Social Centre "Villaggio Globale" with an audience of 9.000 people. The great success of these occasional concerts was the input to find new energies and the Banda Bassotti started to reorganize its future as a band. They started again to play and they received great demands from Italy and Spain.
In May 2001 a double live cd has been published by the label Gridalo Forte Records with the title "Un altro giorno d’amore" recorded at the Villaggio Globale and mixed in the Euskadi Garate Studio by Kaki Arkarazo. The video is the live concert of May 17th as well. Fermin Muguruza took part to roman concerts singing "La Linea del Frente" and "Zu Trapartu Arte" the two most famous songs by Fermin Muguruza’s first band: the Kortatu. After a while they shoot the video of "Carabina 30-30" and Maurizio Gregori -Ramiccia’s saxophonist- joined the band.
In summer 2001 the Banda bassotti is on tour again in Italy, Spain and the Basque Country until September when they played at the Independent Day Festival with Manu Chao, Africa Unite, and so on. Without forgetting their attitude, the Banda Bassotti and their label organized a concert in Rome to support the partisan Walter Dall’Olmo and his family. After that they performed in Italy and Spain and in November 2001, during their first seven concerts tour, they had a total audience of about 30.000 people.
In their second tour in December, with four concerts their audience was of around 7.000 people. During this month they released a compilation with the title "Poetry and reality" for the Japanese label Two Children Records.
Singer Angelo "Sigaro" Conti, died at the age of 62 on 11 December 2018.
Avanzo de cantiere
Banda Bassotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
di un cuore che batte per me
mentre sogno che non sono più solo
berretti verde olivo di nuovo sopra le montagne
e l'Armata Rossa che marcia verso le città
combatterà egoismo e falsità
Lascio i sogni sul cuscino
il freddo mi sta ad aspettare
pellerossa d'Italia ogni mattino vanno a fà le città
spezzerà le sue catene Spartaco lo sa
il futuro da solo non cambierà
Anni sessanta il boom economico è per la borghesia
per gli operai camionette alla Scelba e tanta polizia
'94 a Catania il sangue e la rabbia ti uscirà
e chi ci dirà ancora di stare buoni da quale parte sta
Dove ci portano pace e progresso chissà, chissà?
tra i sette grandi avrai come adesso la pancia vuota
Il Cavaliere con i Gladiatori fa la pubblicità
Stato e Mafia, Impresa Italia produce povertà
Servi dei servi e lacchè, ricino e manganelli non ci
fanno paura i vigliacchi che gridano "A Noi!". Ma chi è?
Sono un avanzo di cantiere
rifiuto della società
la gente per bene il giorno va a rubare
e se la prenderanno piangerà
Preti pregano guardie sparano
pere uccidono quelli che si arrendono
certi sperano soldi sognano
poi si svegliano e si disperano
altri partono lavoro cercano
cani li mordono guardie li cacciano
altri resistono barricate nascono
la bellezza e la povertà.
Regalerà i suoi anni migliori alla libertà
Corto Circuito nel braccio e nel cuore fa solidarietà
se il qualunquismo ti abbassa l'umore lui ti sorriderà
se l'egoismo si affaccia al balcone il pugno partirà
Animo forte e rebel non ha rispetto per Santi e Prepotenti
su macchine in divisa non sono i suoi eroi. Ma chi è?
Sono un avanzo di cantiere
rifiuto della società
la gente per bene il giorno va a rubare
e se la prenderanno piangerà
Sono un avanzo di cantiere
rifiuto questa società
che ti ringrazia a calci nel sedere
e toglie il pane a chi non ce l'ha.
Ciao, ciao!
The lyrics of Banda Bassotti's song "Avanzo de cantiere" are a powerful reflection of the struggles and injustices faced by working-class individuals in Italy during various periods of history. The song opens with the lines "Con le mani sento il ritmo / di un cuore che batte per me / mentre sogno che non sono più solo," which convey a sense of hope and determination amidst isolation and hardship. The singer then imagines the resurgence of left-wing movements, symbolized by "berretti verde olivo," and envisions the Armata Rossa (Red Army) marching towards the cities to combat selfishness and deceit.
As the song progresses, the lyrics delve into specific historical events, such as the economic boom of the 1960s benefiting the bourgeoisie rather than workers, and the 1994 massacre in Catania that incited rage and bloodshed. The disillusionment and frustration felt by the working class are palpable as the singer questions where peace and progress will lead and describes the poverty produced by the collusion between the state, Mafia, and the Italian business sector.
Despite these bleak realities, the song also highlights themes of resilience and solidarity. The singer identifies as "un avanzo di cantiere" (leftover from the worksite), a "rifiuto della società" (refuse of society), who rejects the notion of "gente per bene" (well-behaved people) who resort to stealing during the day and cry when caught. Instead, the singer aligns with those who resist oppression, create barricades, and envision a future in which their best years are dedicated to freedom. The chorus repeats the refrain "Sono un avanzo di cantiere" as a proud declaration of the singer's identity as a rebel who rejects societal norms and fights for justice.
Line by Line Meaning
Con le mani sento il ritmo
I feel the rhythm with my hands.
di un cuore che batte per me
My heart beats for me.
mentre sogno che non sono più solo
I dream of not being alone anymore.
berretti verde olivo di nuovo sopra le montagne
Green olive berets back on the mountains.
e l'Armata Rossa che marcia verso le città
The Red Army marches towards the cities.
combatterà egoismo e falsità
Fights against selfishness and falsehood.
Lascio i sogni sul cuscino
I leave my dreams on the pillow.
il freddo mi sta ad aspettare
The cold is waiting for me.
pellerossa d'Italia ogni mattino vanno a fà le città
Red skins of Italy go to make the cities every morning.
spezzerà le sue catene Spartaco lo sa
Spartacus knows he will break his chains.
il futuro da solo non cambierà
The future will not change on its own.
Anni sessanta il boom economico è per la borghesia
In the 1960s, the economic boom is for the bourgeoisie.
per gli operai camionette alla Scelba e tanta polizia
The workers have vans and a lot of police following them (referring to the Scelba Law).
'94 a Catania il sangue e la rabbia ti uscirà
In 1994 in Catania blood and rage will come out.
e chi ci dirà ancora di stare buoni da quale parte sta
And who will tell us to behave, which side are they on?
Dove ci portano pace e progresso chissà, chissà?
Who knows where peace and progress will take us?
tra i sette grandi avrai come adesso la pancia vuota
Among the seven big ones, you will still have an empty stomach, just like now.
Il Cavaliere con i Gladiatori fa la pubblicità
The Knight with the Gladiators does advertising.
Stato e Mafia, Impresa Italia produce povertà
State and Mafia, Entrepreneur Italy produces poverty.
Servi dei servi e lacchè, ricino e manganelli non ci
Servants of servants and lackeys, castor oil and batons do not scare us.
fanno paura i vigliacchi che gridano "A Noi!". Ma chi è?
The cowards who yell "Us!" are scared. But who are they?
Sono un avanzo di cantiere
I am a left over from the construction site.
rifiuto della società
Rejected by society.
la gente per bene il giorno va a rubare
The decent people steal during the day.
e se la prenderanno piangerà
And if they get caught, they will cry.
Preti pregano guardie sparano
Priests pray, guards shoot.
pere uccidono quelli che si arrendono
Pears kill those who surrender.
certi sperano soldi sognano
Some hope and dream of money.
poi si svegliano e si disperano
Then they wake up and despair.
altri partono lavoro cercano
Others leave and search for work.
cani li mordono guardie li cacciano
Dogs bite them, guards chase them.
altri resistono barricate nascono
Others resist, barricades are born.
la bellezza e la povertà.
Beauty and poverty.
Regalerà i suoi anni migliori alla libertà
Will give the best years of his life to freedom.
Corto Circuito nel braccio e nel cuore fa solidarietà
Short circuit in arm and heart shows solidarity.
se il qualunquismo ti abbassa l'umore lui ti sorriderà
If indifference brings you down, he will smile at you.
se l'egoismo si affaccia al balcone il pugno partirà
If selfishness shows up on the balcony, the fist will strike.
Animo forte e rebel non ha rispetto per Santi e Prepotenti
Strong and rebellious spirit has no respect for saints and bullies.
su macchine in divisa non sono i suoi eroi. Ma chi è?
The ones in uniform are not his heroes. But who is he?
Sono un avanzo di cantiere
I am a left over from the construction site.
rifiuto della società
Rejected by society.
la gente per bene il giorno va a rubare
The decent people steal during the day.
e se la prenderanno piangerà
And if they get caught, they will cry.
Sono un avanzo di cantiere
I am a left over from the construction site.
rifiuto questa società
I reject this society.
che ti ringrazia a calci nel sedere
That kicks you in the butt when you do them a favor.
e toglie il pane a chi non ce l'ha.
And takes away bread from those who don't have it.
Ciao, ciao!
Bye, bye!
Contributed by Eli D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.