Punk and Ska band from Italy. Their songs are generally rational in nature,… Read Full Bio ↴Punk and Ska band from Italy. Their songs are generally rational in nature, focusing on socialism, internationalism and atheism issues. its music can to remind The Clash, Angelic Upstarts, Red London, Hard Skin, The Selecter or Madness.

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.

Cuore malato
Banda Bassotti Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Non Si Nasce
Non Si Vive
Senza Nome
Nessuno Sa Chi Sei
Un Ponte Come Casa
Topi Nelle Tue Notti
Domani E' Un'altro Giorno Ti Aspettano
Fuoco Nemico E Ronde Padane

Senza Casco
Dodici Ore
Per Due Soldi
Forse Lavorerai
Un Futuro Cosi'
Non Lo Avevi Sognato
Questa Italia Ti Accogliera'
Frontiere Aperte Razzismo Di Stato

Senza Acqua
Senza Pane
Coi Pidocchi
Come Eravamo Noi
Ti Ricordi Forbidden
Ai Cani E Agli Italiani
Quanto E' Lungo Un Giorno Senza Pane
Cos'e' Il Razzismo Lo Hai Dimenticato
Unione Europea
Questo Cuore Malato

L'egoismo E' La Tua Religione
Parli Di Razza Come In Passato

Overall Meaning

These lyrics from Banda Bassotti's song "Cuore malato" address several social and political issues, conveying a deep message about identity, poverty, discrimination, and the impact of politics on individuals.

The first paragraph highlights the idea that we are not born or able to live without a name, emphasizing the importance of individual identity. It also sheds light on the idea of feeling lost and unknown in society. The line "Un Ponte Come Casa" can be interpreted as a metaphorical bridge representing a place where the singer can find some solace or recognition. However, the mention of "Topi nelle tue notti" suggests that even in this supposedly safe place, there is still unrest and danger. The mention of "fuoco nemico e ronde padane" alludes to the hostility faced by the singer, possibly from opposing political forces or discriminatory groups.

The second paragraph delves into the theme of labor exploitation and poverty. "Senza casco" can be interpreted as an indication of working without protection and safety measures. The line "Dodici ore per due soldi" conveys the idea of long working hours for minimal pay. The lyrics suggest that even with such sacrifices, the prospect of a better future seems distant and unattainable. The mention of "Frontiere aperte razzismo di stato" highlights the discriminatory practices that exist in society, with open borders being contrasted with the existence of institutionalized racism.

Moving on to the third paragraph, the lyrics express the challenges of living without basic necessities. The mention of "senza acqua" and "senza pane" refers to the lack of clean water and food, reflecting a state of poverty and deprivation. The line "coi pidocchi come eravamo noi" suggests a comparison between the singer's current situation and a time from the past when conditions were similar. The mention of "Forbidden ai cani e agli italiani" alludes to the discrimination faced by both immigrants and native Italians. The lyrics prompt reflection on the consequences of a day without bread and how easily people forget the meaning and impact of racism.

The final paragraph brings attention to the persistence of racism and discrimination even in contemporary times. The mention of the "Unione Europea" signifies a broader context in which these issues exist. The lyrics criticize the prevailing egoism and selfishness, suggesting that they have become the new "religion" of society. The line "Parli di razza come in passato" points out that despite progress, the conversation around race and discrimination has not fundamentally changed. The song's title, "Cuore malato" (sick heart), symbolizes the sick state of society as a result of these ongoing problems.

Overall, Banda Bassotti's lyrics in "Cuore malato" provide a poignant commentary on oppression, poverty, and discrimination, urging listeners to reflect on these issues and work towards a more inclusive and just society.

Line by Line Meaning

Non Si Nasce
You are not born

Non Si Vive
You do not live

Senza Nome
Without a name

Nessuno Sa Chi Sei
No one knows who you are

Un Ponte Come Casa
A bridge as your home

Topi Nelle Tue Notti
Mice in your nights

Domani E' Un'altro Giorno Ti Aspettano
Tomorrow is another day waiting for you

Fuoco Nemico E Ronde Padane
Enemy fire and Padanian rounds

Senza Casco
Without a helmet

Dodici Ore
Twelve hours

Per Due Soldi
For two cents