Biography
Linea 77 came together in 1993 in Venaria on the edge of Turin and earned distinction as likely the earliest Italian act to achieve recognition outside Italy prior to domestic success. The group took its name directly from the bus route number that ferried members to their practice space. Early sets consisted mainly of Rage Against the Machine and C.C.C.P. material before original compositions emerged, leading to the demo tapes Ogni Cosa al Suo Posto and Kung Fu, the latter issued through Turin's Dracma Records. Collapse Records in Milan put out the band's first full-length effort, Too Much Happiness Makes Kids Paranoid, in 1998. By that point the definitive roster had solidified around vocalists Emiliano "Emo" Audisio and Nicola "Nitto" Sangermano, guitarist Paolo "Chinaski" Ravanello, bassist Davide "Dade" Ravanello, and drummer Cristian "Tozzo" Montanarella. The album's fusion of hardcore intensity and nu metal textures drew Earache's interest, prompting a 2000 reissue and a subsequent contract. Favorable coverage soon followed in Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, and Melody Maker, paving the way for the 2001 follow-up Ketchup Suicide, helmed by producer Dave Chang and anchored by a charged rendition of the Bangles' "Walk Like an Egyptian."
That summer Linea 77 became the first Italian band invited to perform at the Reading and Leeds festivals. Creative friction preceded the 2003 release of Numb, the so-called difficult third album, which climbed the Italian charts on the strength of "Fantasma," the group's inaugural Italian-language song, and "66 (Diabulus in Musica)," featuring guest appearances by Subsonica. An extensive European tour preceded a move to Los Angeles' Paramount Studios, where Dave Dominguez oversaw sessions for the 2005 album Available for Propaganda, solidifying the band's status among Europe's leading crossover acts. In 2006 bassist Dade issued his debut solo project, Il Tappeto Dava un Tono all'Ambiente, under the name Antianti. Linea 77 resurfaced in 2007 with Venareal 1995, an archival collection of early recordings augmented by two newly written tracks, and returned the following year with Horror Vacui. Produced by Toby Wright and marking the band's first Universal release, the record featured the single "Sogni Risplendono," a polarizing collaboration with Italian teen pop idol Tiziano Ferro. In June 2008 the group supported the sole Italian date of the reunited Rage Against the Machine in Modena.
That summer Linea 77 became the first Italian band invited to perform at the Reading and Leeds festivals. Creative friction preceded the 2003 release of Numb, the so-called difficult third album, which climbed the Italian charts on the strength of "Fantasma," the group's inaugural Italian-language song, and "66 (Diabulus in Musica)," featuring guest appearances by Subsonica. An extensive European tour preceded a move to Los Angeles' Paramount Studios, where Dave Dominguez oversaw sessions for the 2005 album Available for Propaganda, solidifying the band's status among Europe's leading crossover acts. In 2006 bassist Dade issued his debut solo project, Il Tappeto Dava un Tono all'Ambiente, under the name Antianti. Linea 77 resurfaced in 2007 with Venareal 1995, an archival collection of early recordings augmented by two newly written tracks, and returned the following year with Horror Vacui. Produced by Toby Wright and marking the band's first Universal release, the record featured the single "Sogni Risplendono," a polarizing collaboration with Italian teen pop idol Tiziano Ferro. In June 2008 the group supported the sole Italian date of the reunited Rage Against the Machine in Modena.
Albums
Singles
