PFM introduced new sounds, such as the synthesizer, to the Italian musical world. They were also among the first to combine symphonic classical and traditional Italian musical influences in a rock music context. Such innovations and their longevity have made them among the most important bands in the international Progressive rock genre.
The original core members of PFM (Franco Mussida, Franz Di Cioccio, Flavio Premoli, and Giorgio Piazza) came together in the mid 1960's while playing together as backup musicians for many different Italian pop, rock and folk singers such as Lucio Battisti, Mina, Adriano Celentano and Fabrizio De André. They appeared on many recordings for other artists during this period and quickly established themselves as top players on the Italian rock and pop scene. Mussida, Premoli, Piazza and Di Cioccio then formed the group "I quelli" (English translation "Them", or "Those Guys") in 1968. I quelli released one album and some successful Italian singles.
Premiata Forneria Marconi was officially formed in Milan, Italy in 1970 when the members of I quelli met Mauro Pagani from the group Dalton. Pagani helped the group expand their sound to include violin and flute. By this time they were already highly experienced musicians and easily able to play the kind of complex progressive heavy rock played by the leading English and American groups. Their early live performances included covers by groups such as King Crimson and Jethro Tull. Other early influences included Chicago, Ekseption, and The Flock.
They had a long name, as Italian progressive bands tended to have back then, and so were usually referred to as "La Premiata", and later "PFM". After rejecting Isotta-Fraschini (an Italian car maker) the group finally settled on Pagani's suggestion, "Forneria Marconi" (meaning "Marconi Bakery"), borrowed from the sign of a shop in the small town of Chiari, near Brescia. However, record producer and friend Alessandro Colombini suggested the name was not strong enough, so the title "Premiata" (award-winning) was added. Some objected that "Premiata Forneria Marconi" was too long a name, but the group's philosophy stated that the more difficult to remember a band's name, the more difficult to forget it.
The most recent line-up of PFM follows:
- Franco Mussida: acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 12 string guitar, mandolin, vocals (1970–present)
- Franz Di Cioccio: drums, percussion, lead and backing vocals (1970–present)
- Patrick Djivas: bass, programming (1974–present)
- Lucio Fabbri: violin, keyboards (1979–1987, 2000–present )
- Gianluca Tagliavini: piano, Hammond, Minimoog, other keyboards (2005–present)
- Piero Monterisi: additional drums (2006–present)
Former members of PFM follows:
- Flavio Premoli: piano, keyboards, Mellotron, Moog synthesizer, lead vocals (1970–1980, 1997–2005)
- Giorgio Piazza: bass (1970–1974)
- Mauro Pagani: flute, piccolo, violin, vocals (1970–1976)
- Bernardo Lanzetti: lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1975–1977)
- Gregory Bloch: violin (1976–1977)
- Walter Calloni: additional drums (1982–1987)
- Roberto Gualdi: additional drums (1997–2005)
Breakin' In
Premiata Forneria Marconi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Building up another plan
To knock you down
My monkey's up on your back
Throwin' you off the track
Understand
I am knuckles by the hand
That pounds you down
Till you become aware of you
I control what you do
Stuck in my maze
Blind alleys always in the way
Give you hard times
My job is breakin in your mind
I feed your fear
But face me and I will disappear
Find out my name
Then you are the master of your game
My boot camp tricks
Help you polish up your licks
And flex your mind
As soon as I am through with you
You leave me behind
Stuck in your line
Crossed me right out of your design
I had my time
My job is breakin in your mind
I feed your fear
You've seen me and now I've disappeared
You know my name
Now you are the master of your game
The lyrics of Premiata Forneria Marconi's song "Breakin' In" convey a message of control and manipulation. The singer of the song is portrayed as someone who enjoys having power over others, and seeks to break them down mentally in order to assert this control. The first verse talks about the singer's plan to knock someone down and how they are in control of their victim's actions. The second verse speaks of the singer's tactics and how they use "boot camp tricks" to manipulate their victim's mind.
The chorus emphasizes the power dynamic between the two characters. The victim is "stuck in [the singer's] maze" and can't escape the "blind alleys" of the situation. The singer feeds on the victim's fear and is there to "break in [their] mind." But, if the victim can figure out the singer's name, they can take back control of the situation and become the "master of [their] game."
The third verse shifts the power dynamic, as the victim starts to take control. The singer's tricks have helped the victim "polish up [their] licks" and they now have the ability to leave the singer behind. The victim is now in control of their own line, design, and their own mind. The singer is no longer able to manipulate them as they have learned their tricks.
Overall, "Breakin' In" is a song that explores themes of control and manipulation, and how someone can empower themselves by figuring out their manipulator's tactics.
Line by Line Meaning
Here I am
I am present and ready to take action
Building up another plan
Creating a new scheme or strategy
To knock you down
To overpower or defeat you
My monkey's up on your back
My influence is weighing heavily on you
Throwin' you off the track
Leading you away from what you want or need
Understand
Realize the truth of my intentions
I am knuckles by the hand
I am a forceful agent of control
That pounds you down
That oppresses or subdues you
Till you become aware of you
Until you realize your own strength and power
I control what you do
I have the power to influence and direct your actions
Stuck in my maze
Trapped in my confusing and manipulative tactics
Blind alleys always in the way
Dead ends and unproductive paths are constantly present
Give you hard times
To make things difficult or challenging for you
My job is breakin in your mind
My goal is to manipulate and control your thoughts
I feed your fear
I use your insecurities to my advantage
But face me and I will disappear
When confronted, I lose my power over you
Find out my name
Discovering who I am and what I represent
Then you are the master of your game
Taking control of your own life and decisions
My boot camp tricks
My methods of conditioning and training
Help you polish up your licks
Assist you in refining your skills and abilities
And flex your mind
Strengthening your mental capabilities
As soon as I am through with you
Once I have achieved my goal of control
You leave me behind
You are free from my influence
Stuck in your line
Trapped in your own patterns of thought
Crossed me right out of your design
Removed me from your plans and strategies
I had my time
I once had power over you
My job is breakin in your mind
My objective remains the same, to control your thoughts
I feed your fear
I use your insecurities to control you
You've seen me and now I've disappeared
You recognize me for what I am and have overcome my control
You know my name
You are aware of my tactics and strategies
Now you are the master of your game
You are in charge of your own life and decisions
Contributed by Nathan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.