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)
River Of Life
Premiata Forneria Marconi Lyrics
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Gathered deep
Beneath the earth.
Search and seep,
Hollow stone
Issue and flow
Virgin stream
Meander free
Caves and canyons
Stark prison walls
Swirl and hurl you
>From white cascading falls.
Across the plain
Sweep your course
River roll
Follow your star.
There's a city
There's a bridge.
Ships and barges
Dark rusty hearts
Feed cranes along your banks.
Waste and poison
Cloy where once men drank.
Forget the pain
>From rain to rain
Journey's end
Is surely not far ...
The opening lines "Rain was your birth, gathered deep beneath the earth", set the tone for the song "River of Life" by Premiata Forneria Marconi. The lyrics describe the formation of a river, its journey through caves, canyons, and eventually through into the city. The river symbolizes life itself, and its journey through different landscapes, and how it changes over time, are all metaphors for the journey of life. The river starts as rain that gathers and seeps deep beneath the earth. It then flows through the soil and stones before emerging as a free-flowing virgin stream that wanders towards the sea. The lyrics here reflect on the beginnings of life and the journey that each of us has from our own inception to our end.
As the river passes through caves and canyons, it encounters "stark prison walls" that try to contain it but to no avail. The strength of the river symbolizes the human spirit's drive to overcome adversity and obstacles in our lives. The river continues to grow, gathering momentum as it rushes towards the sea. It encounters a city, a bridge, and ships as it passes through the urban landscape, and we see how the surroundings for the river change as it journeys towards its end. The song describes how over time, the river changes, and the once clear water becomes polluted with waste and poison, reflecting on the negative impact humans have on the natural world. The final line, "Journey's end is surely not far," is a reminder that life is fleeting and that we should take a moment to appreciate the journey we are on and the beauty that surrounds us.
Line by Line Meaning
Rain was your birth
You were born from rain.
Gathered deep
You were gathered deep beneath the earth.
Beneath the earth.
You were beneath the earth.
Search and seep,
You searched and seeped.
Hollow stone
You flowed through hollow stones.
Issue and flow
You issued and flowed.
Virgin stream
You were a pure stream.
Meander free
You meandered freely.
It's a long way to the sea.
Your journey to the sea is long.
Caves and canyons
You flowed through caves and canyons.
Stark prison walls
The canyon walls were like prisons.
Swirl and hurl you
You swirled and were hurled by white cascading falls.
From white cascading falls.
You were hurled from white cascading falls.
Across the plain
You flowed across the plain.
Sweep your course
You swept your course.
River roll
You rolled like a river.
Follow your star.
You followed your destiny.
There's a city
You flowed through a city.
There's a bridge.
You crossed over a bridge.
Ships and barges
Ships and barges traveled on you.
Dark rusty hearts
The ships and barges were old and rusty.
Feed cranes along your banks.
The ships and barges fed cranes on your banks.
Waste and poison
Waste and poison polluted you.
Cloy where once men drank.
The pollution ruined the water where men used to drink.
Forget the pain
Forget the journey's hardships.
From rain to rain
From one rain cycle to the next.
Journey's end
Your journey's end.
Is surely not far ...
Is just around the corner.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FLAVIO FRANCO PREMOLI, FRANCO MUSSIDA, MAURO PAGANI, PETER JOHN SINFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind