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)
Harlequin
Premiata Forneria Marconi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
bowing to the ghosts of freedom square
stretching a silver rope
jester of frozen minds
And everyone of us
junkees and ghosts of freedom square
spoke through his waving hands
whispered through painted lips
rusty phrases forgotten lines
Thinking of arrows lost
shooting them past the pain
And everyone of us
losers and lost sad underdogs
just scraps of our younger minds
we danced all around the square
jumped to his see-through horn
screaming shouting forgotten lines
Shooting our rage again
like arrows far past the pain
And when the dogs fast arrived
baying across the town
we were there
all of us
a million harlequins
And the town
bloomed alive
like a beautiful night fair
and we were there
all of us
to be the rite of may....
The lyrics of Harlequin by Premiata Forneria Marconi describe a surreal scene of a night where a Harlequin arrives at Freedom Square, which is full of ghosts and lost souls. His appearance is immediately captivating as he stretches a silver rope and starts to perform, becoming a jester of frozen minds. Through his movements and gestures, the people around him start to communicate and express their innermost feelings, despite being junkies, broken-hearted or lost underdogs. Even though their phrases and lines might be rusty, they are speaking from the heart, addressing the pain that arrows caused them when they missed the target.
As they dance around the square, they are united in their shared grief and struggle, feeling like million harlequins in their colorful costumes that symbolize satire and mockery. Suddenly, a pack of dogs arrives, baying across the town, but they do not scatter nor feel afraid. Instead, they stand their ground and celebrate life, blooming like a beautiful night fair. They become a rite of May, an ancient tradition that marks the beginning of spring and symbolizes rebirth and renewal.
Line by Line Meaning
Harlequin came at night
The character of Harlequin arrived during the night.
bowing to the ghosts of freedom square
Harlequin showed respect to those who fought for freedom in the past.
stretching a silver rope
Harlequin used a rope made of silver material.
jester of frozen minds
Harlequin was like a clown who made people laugh to distract them from their problems.
And everyone of us
All of us, without exception,
junkees and ghosts of freedom square
the drug addicts and the memory of those who fought for freedom
spoke through his waving hands
communicated through the gestures he made with his hands
wept on his brother face
cried on each other's faces, like brothers
whispered through painted lips
said things in a quiet voice, with lips covered in paint
rusty phrases forgotten lines
phrases and sentences that had not been used for a long time and were now forgotten
Thinking of arrows lost
Remembering about the arrows that had been lost
shooting them past the pain
Throwing the arrows past the painful memories
losers and lost sad underdogs
Individuals who have lost hope and feel that they have no power
just scraps of our younger minds
Only memories of our younger selves are left
we danced all around the square
We danced and moved around in the town square
jumped to his see-through horn
We jumped to the sound of his flute that could be seen through
screaming shouting forgotten lines
Yelling and screaming phrases that have not been used in a long time
Shooting our rage again
Expressing our anger once more
like arrows far past the pain
Shooting the arrows of our emotions far away from our painful memories
And when the dogs fast arrived
When the dogs arrived quickly
baying across the town
Making loud and mournful howling sounds that could be heard across the town
we were there
We were present in that moment,
all of us
every one of us
a million harlequins
a large amount of people who were like Harlequin
And the town
The community as a whole,
bloomed alive
Came to life and was full of activity
like a beautiful night fair
Similar to a visually stunning carnival-like event held at night
and we were there
We were all a part of it,
all of us
every one of us,
to be the rite of may....
to take part in celebrating a traditional springtime festival called May Day
Contributed by Blake D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Universo Zero
THIS IS NOT ONLY PROGRESSIVE ROCK, THIS IS THE PROGRESSIVE LIFE!🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷
Paulo Ronca
Que coisa mais maravilhosa !!!!!... PFM for ever !!!!.... Bravo !!!... Bravíssimo !!!... Brasil...2021
Charlie Tynan
Absolutely superb, just long to see them live again.
David Riley
❤
The pianist
Ho avuto il grande privilegio di ascoltarli dal vivo : grandi!!
Universo Zero
MAN I LOVE THIS BAND!
Steven Conrad
Outstanding performance. Have loved these guys for 40 yrs. Thanks for posting this gem.
Charlie Tynan
You and me bud.
doc rox
Yes
David Thomas
This great gem is posted several times on the web....Always must comment. Delightful and precise. Love this version!