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.
Fischia il vento
Banda Bassotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
scarpe rotte e pur bisogna andar
a conquistare la rossa primavera
dove sorge il sol dell'avvenir
...a conquistare la rossa primavera
dove sorge il sol dell'avvenir
Ogni contrada è patria del ribelle
ogni donna a lui dona un sospir
nella notte lo guidano le stelle
forte il cuor e il braccio nel colpir
...nella notte lo guidano le stelle
forte il cuor e il braccio nel colpir
E se ci coglie la crudele morte
dura vendetta verrà dal partigian
ormai sicura è già la dura sorte
del fascista vile traditor
...ormai sicura è già la dura sorte
del fascista vile traditor
Cessa il vento, calma è la bufera
torna a casa il fiero partigian
sventolando la rossa sua bandiera
vittoriosi, e alfin liberi siam!
...sventolando la rossa sua bandiera
vittoriosi, e alfin liberi siam!
The lyrics to Banda Bassotti's song Fischia il vento describe the struggle and triumph of a rebel fighting for the "rosa primavera" or red spring, a metaphor for the hope and freedom that the rebel is striving for. Despite the hardships of the stormy weather and the rebel's worn-out shoes, they are determined to continue on their path towards this brighter future. The rebel is not alone in their fight, as every district is a homeland for them and every woman gives them a sigh of support. The rebel is guided by the stars in the night, and their heart and arm are strong in their hits. The lyrics also contain a warning to those who betray the rebel's cause, as the fascist traitor's harsh fate is already sealed.
The lyrics are a tribute to the Italian resistance movement during World War II, where rebels fought against the fascist government and its German allies. The song specifically references the partisan movement, where rebels operated in guerrilla warfare against the occupying forces. The red spring symbolizes the hope for a new and better Italy after the war. The song's title, "Fischia il vento," translates to "the wind whistles," and is a reference to the partisan anthem of the same name.
Line by Line Meaning
Fischia il vento urla la bufera
The wind whistles and the storm rages
scarpe rotte e pur bisogna andar
Despite worn-out shoes, we must go
a conquistare la rossa primavera
To conquer the red spring
dove sorge il sol dell'avvenir
Where the sun of the future rises
...a conquistare la rossa primavera
...to conquer the red spring
dove sorge il sol dell'avvenir
Where the sun of the future rises
Ogni contrada è patria del ribelle
Every district is a rebel's homeland
ogni donna a lui dona un sospir
Every woman gives him a sigh
nella notte lo guidano le stelle
In the night, the stars guide him
forte il cuor e il braccio nel colpir
Strong in heart and arm when striking
...nella notte lo guidano le stelle
...in the night, the stars guide him
forte il cuor e il braccio nel colpir
Strong in heart and arm when striking
E se ci coglie la crudele morte
And if cruel death seizes us
dura vendetta verrà dal partigian
Harsh revenge will come from the partisan
ormai sicura è già la dura sorte
The fascist traitor's harsh fate is now certain
del fascista vile traditor
Of the vile fascist traitor
...ormai sicura è già la dura sorte
...the fascist traitor's harsh fate is now certain
del fascista vile traditor
Of the vile fascist traitor
Cessa il vento, calma è la bufera
The wind ceases, the storm is calm
torna a casa il fiero partigian
The proud partisan returns home
sventolando la rossa sua bandiera
Waving his red flag
vittoriosi, e alfin liberi siam!
We are victorious and finally free!
Contributed by Sophia K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
BHC1312
Quanti concerti,mbriachi,birre in mano e bordello coi compagni.... Top! Versione pazzesca 😍😍😍
Terra comune
Che bella versione, potenza pura!
Roz Boz
Lunga vita all'esercito degli operai e dei contadini
RossaStellaGaming
Greetings Comrades from Greece. Our people fought the fascists with bravery and tenacity! One day we ll make this world Red as we need. Our common flag and struggles is what unites us! Honour and Pride to our communist brothers around the world. The struggle will be continuous in honour of our forefathers. Farewell comrades! Peace and love
speedavid
Greetings to you brother! Italians and Greeks... Same blood
Blurry Face yt
Non sono comunista ma..... QUANTO CAZZO È BELLA QUESTA CANZONE
BeastAnd71
Bellissima cover!
Gianpiero Diavoletto
VERAMENTE BELLA. SEMPRE GRANDI MODENA !!
moliseide
+Gianpiero Diavoletto Questa è la versione della banda bassotti
Bear Tales
Attenti fasci, perché il vento fischia ancora