Finley

Italian pop-punk outfit Finley came together in Milan during 2002, its four members—all born in 1985—originating from the area surrounding Legnano. Guitarist Carmine "Ka" Ruggiero, drummer Danilo "Dani" Calvio, and singer Marco "Pedro" Pedretti had already known one another at school; the vocalist then brought bassist Stefano "Ste" Mantegazza, his former grunge-band partner, into the circle. Naming themselves after NBA player Michael Finley, the group cut the 2004 demo Make Up Your Own Mind, which caught the ear of producer Claudio Cecchetto and secured them a recording contract. The following year they issued their debut single, the Italian-language “Tutto è Possibile,” and in 2006 released the full-length album of the same title. Its bright, mock-aggressive songs, among them “Diventerai una Star,” quickly endeared the quartet to teenage fans of both sexes and earned the record first gold, then double-platinum certification in Italy; the band also collected the 2006 MTV Music Award for Best Italian Act.

Once the lengthy tour supporting that album concluded, Finley headed back into the studio for the June 2007 follow-up Adrenalina, which reinforced their standing as teen idols. At the 2008 Sanremo Music Festival the group placed sixth with “Ricordi,” a track later added to the expanded reissue Adrenalina 2. That edition also featured a DVD and several new cuts, including a cover of the Goo Goo Dolls hit “Iris,” and by year’s end it had reached Italian platinum status. Reuniting with longtime producer Daniele Persoglio, Finley next delivered the 2009 EP Band at Work, whose standout track “Gruppo Randa” became a fan anthem and paved the way for the March 2010 full-length Fuori!, another Top Ten Italian chart entry.

Bass-player Mantegazza departed in 2010 and was succeeded by Ivan Moro, whose first recording with the band was the 2012 album Fuoco e Fiamme. That release introduced both a tougher sonic approach and the group’s own imprint, Gruppo Randa Records. Later the same year they marked their tenth anniversary with Sempre Solo Noi. In 2013 Finley supplied three songs to the animated Lego series Lego Legends of Chima, exposing their music to listeners worldwide. Four years passed before the sleek sixth album Armstrong surfaced in late 2017.