Skiantos
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1975 in Bologna, Italy |
| Headquarters | Bologna , Italy |
| Products | Studio albums, live recordings, compilations |
Skiantos is a comedy punk group from Italy, established in Bologna in 1975. Their discography includes ten studio albums, two live recordings, and five compilations. The band took part in the Gods of Demential festival on 12 January 2007.
Background
Originating in the mid-1970s, Skiantos initially focused on performing cover tracks. Their identity became clearer in 1977 with the release of Inascoltable, an experimental live album issued exclusively on cassette. This recording captured "a night of improvisation for ten music lovers," as described by Freak Antoni.
Their early shows were notable for provocative acts influenced by Futurism and Dadaism, such as tossing vegetables into the crowd.
In 1978, Skiantos made their official album debut with MONOtono, regarded as their manifesto. It showcased raw instrumentation, unconventional music styles, deliberately off-key singing, and lyrics filled with absurdity, contradictions, and wordplay.
During the Bologna Rock festival on April 2, 1979, their unorthodox act—preparing and eating spaghetti on stage instead of playing instruments—garnered considerable attention and stirred controversy. That same year saw the release of Kinotto, which included the popular track Mi piaccion le sbarbine. Shortly thereafter, frontman Freak Antoni departed to explore solo ventures in both music and literature under the pseudonyms Beppe Starnazza and Astro Vitelli. The original members regrouped in 1984 to produce Ti spalmo la crema.
Roberto "Freak" Antoni (born April 16, 1954) passed away in Bologna on February 12, 2014, at the age of 59. Guitarist and vocalist Fabio "Dandy Bestia" Testoni (born July 2, 1952) died on March 16, 2025, aged 72.
Personnel
Current members
- Roberto "Granito" Morsiani – drums, vocals (1989–2007, 2016–present)
- Luca "Tornado" Testoni – guitars, vocals (1992, 1993, 1996–2012, 2016–present)
- Massimo "Max Magnus" Magnani – vocals, bass (2003–2012, 2016–present)
- Gianluca "Giangi La Molla" Schiavon – drums, vocals (2007–2012, 2016–present)
Former members
- Roberto "Freak" Antoni – vocals (1975–1980, 1984, 1987–2012; deceased 2014)
- Fabio "Dandy Bestia" Testoni – guitars, vocals (1977–1979, 1984, 1987–2012, 2016–2025; deceased 2025)
- Andrea "Jimmy Bellafronte" Setti – vocals (1975–1980, 1991, 1999)
- Stefano "Sbarbo" Cavedoni – vocals (1977–1980, 1984, 1999, 2003)
- Bubba Loris – vocals (1975–1978)
- Mario "Come-Lini" Comellini – vocals (1975–1977)
- Linda Linetti – vocals (1980)
- Sandro "Belluomo" Dall'Omo – keyboards (1989–1992)
- Andrea "Andy Bellombrosa" Dalla Valle – guitars (1977–1980, 1999)
- Gianni "Lo Grezzo" Bolelli – guitars (1977, 1979–1980)
- Carlo "Charlie Molinella" Atti – tenor saxophone (1987–1991, 2009)
- Franco "Frankie Grossolani" Villani – bass (1977–1980)
- Stefano "Ringo" Sarti – bass (1977)
- Lucio Bellagamba – bass (1987–1989)
- Marco "Marmo" Nanni – bass (1989–2003)
- Leonardo "Tormento Pestoduro" Ghezzi – drums (1977–1980, 1999)
- J. Tornado – drums (1987–1988)
- Fabio "Tormento Pestolesto" Grandi – drums (1988–1989)
- Sergio Piccinini – drums (1987)
Touring musician
- Nevruz – drums, vocals (2019–present)
Discography
- Inascoltable (1977)
- MONOtono (1978)
- Kinotto (1979)
- Pesissimo! (1980)
- Ti spalmo la crema (1984)
- Non c'è gusto in Italia ad essere intelligenti (1987)
- Troppo rischio per un uomo solo (1989)
- Signore dei dischi (1992)
- Saluti da Cortina (1993)
- Doppia dose (1999)
- Sogno improbabile (2005)
- Sesso pazzo (2006)
- Dio ci deve delle spiegazioni (2009)
Singles & EP
- 1978 – "Karabigniere Blues / Io sono un autonomo"
- 1980 – "Fagioli / Mi piaccion le sbarbine"
- 1999 – "Gratis"
- 2002 – "Virus"
- 2006 – "Sesso pazzo"
- 2009 – "Phogna - The Dark Side of the Skiantos" (EP)