Murple (band)
| Company type | Ensemble / Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Headquarters | Rome , Italy |
| Products | Psychedelic rock, progressive rock music |
Murple is a psychedelic and progressive rock ensemble hailing from Rome, Italy.
History
Established in 1973, the original lineup of Murple featured Pino Santamaria on guitar, Piercarlo Zanco handling keyboards, Mario Garbarino playing bass, and Duilio Sorrenti on drums. Their first album, Io sono Murple, was produced by Roberto Marsala and released in 1974 through the then-nascent BASF label in Italy. This concept album tells the story of a penguin named Murple who travels from the South Pole only to end up imprisoned in a zoo. Although it later received critical acclaim, the album suffered from poor distribution as musical tastes evolved.
The record is structured into two extended suites, each comprising six sections, illustrating Murple's flight from boredom, his capture by humans ("Nessuna scelta": No Choice), coerced performances within a circus ("Tra i fili" - Between the wires), and his ultimate confinement on a synthetic iceberg in a zoo environment ("Antarplastic").
After changes in personnel saw Roberto Puleo replace Garbarino on bass, Murple took part in the 1974 Pop Festival Villa Pamphili held in Rome. They began work on a follow-up album that was never completed or released. Additionally, they supported Mal Gianfranca Montedoro during live shows and contributed to the 1975 release Donna circo before disbanding.
The band reunited in 2007 with original members Garbarino, Sorrenti, and Zanco returning, culminating in the 2008 release of Quadri di un'esposizione (Pictures at an Exhibition).
Discography
- 1974: Io sono Murple (BASF Fare, 21-23317 X)
- 2008: Quadri di un'esposizione (AMS/BTF)