The Years of Lead - An introduction to (unknown) Italian 80's Oi!

This one is gonna be a bit different than what you use to read here. I actually wrote and thought it to be an article in a paper fanzine at the very beginning, but money and time are missing, so let's not let that one rot somewhere in my computer. The format might be a bit different than what I usually post here, but nevermind. Hope you will enjoy it and learn (at least) some stuffs, discover new bands and moreover, get a new perception of the underrated scene that Italy's 80's Oi! is. Note that every band and release quoted in the article are findable/downloadable on the interwebz. 

How many times have I heard that Italy was a ”third-world country” while talking about Oi! music ? A lot of fucking times, I can assure you that. And it always pisses me of, because I love Italian Oi!, as a matter of fact, I use to say that when it comes down to 80's Oi!, Italy is the third best scene (after, of course, the UK and France). It's seems that not so much people know about what was going down down there, apart from classics like Nabat, Plastic Surgery or Klasse Kriminale. So I'll give you some clues, by talking about 5 not-so-well-known Italian bands from the 80's. Before we start, be conscious that most of the time the production of the songs is kind of bad. But if you dare to endure the poorly-recorded (but yet good) songs, give it a listen, you won't be disappointed ! Plus you can't ignore a country that is boot-shape, that's 100% absolute fucking Oi!

First thing first, there are a few things one needs to know about the transalpine scene. Italian Oi! has always talked about social matters. Sure, you'll have some songs about beer, football and street-fighting. But one important topic, that often comes back in songs, is what they call “la strada” (the street), which refers to the situation of the Italian youth back in the 80's : no jobs, no hope and no future (all that is expressed into one word, “il disagio”). So a lot of songs are actually extremely political (not in the sense that they take a stand for a side, or a political ideal, but more because they take about society and its reality). Not a big surprise when you know that under the 80's “gli Anni di Piombo” (the years of lead) where still there, with extreme politics being strong in the country (and even political terrorism, being “red” or “black”). What is funny is that pretty much every band have a song about keeping politics out of punk (“no politica” is an expression that you'll often here into songs), but they're still all pretty political, even if, once again, the band that we'll talk about predate the politicization of the scene (no R.A.C. or red music yet back in these days). So, let's cut the crap and talk about the music !

Rip Off

These are perhaps better known that the rest of the band that I'll be talking about, mainly because they released a split-tape with the mighty Nabat in 1982 (on Nabat's own label C.A.S. Records). They're one of my favorite band (when it comes down to the 80's in Italy), and from what I now they were promised to a bright future until they fucked up, by doing roman salutes and swearing to hang the “meridionali” (which means southern Italians) during the infamous Raduno Oi! Of 1983 in Certaldo, pretty putting an end to the golden age of the non politically extreme Italian scene. Apart from the split tape with Nabat, they (self) released another tape called Tricolore in 1983, with an even worse sound. They're most famous song is probably “Droga” (a song against the use of illegal drugs), covered by many bands later . “Anti Army”, “Io Non Voglio Polizia” or “Rivolta Oi!” are other good songs by Rip Off.

Gangland

Hailing from Genoa, Gangland existed from 1983 to 1984. Pretty short-lived band, and not much material from them, only 2 songs as a matter of fact, but two classics ! “Diritto al Lavoro” (that should have been included on the marvelous Quelli che Urlano Ancora comp LP, but was excluded because of poor sound quality), claiming for work for the Italian youth, and “Sangue in Gradinata” (which only exists in the form of a rehearsal recording), a football anthem about violence on the terraces. Both songs where remastered and released on a 7” by Lanterna Records in 1996. I particularly like the bass on both songs.

Guerriglia Urbana

Formed in the early 80's around Treviso (north of Venice), they only released a tape in 1982, with a surprisingly good sound (way better quality than Rip Off and Gangland). On the ashes of the band was formed the more famous Hope & Glory in 1983. Their best song is “Guerriglia Urbana”, an hymn to revolt, but don't miss “Treviso Città Lager” (about their hometown being boring and bourgeois) which is slower, more melodic and has a nice bass line, or “Nessun Amico” which is a pretty pessimistic and nihilistic song (in the vein of Nabat's first 7”s). That last song was included, with two other songs from the '82 tape, on a bootleg 7” released in 2010 by 99 records (under the name Hope & Glory, even if the songs are from Guerriglia Urbana).

Rough

Ok, I lied when I said Rip Off would be the best-known band, these guys are probably the most famous band you'll find in the article. These one are my all-time favorite with Plastic Surgery. The band was formed in the city of Turin. They actually released the very first italian Oi! 7”, in mid 1982, called Torino è la Mia Città. Wonderful title track about the likewise wonderful city of Turin, with an ok sound on the A side, and a not-so-ok sound on the B side (with 2 more hardcore punk songs, in english, surprising enough to be said). The band changed its sound to a more reggae/dub style in the mid 80's (and eventually became less interesting) official best of the band, containing the 7” plus songs on various compilations, live material and unreleased songs (with a different singer and a pretty good sound), was released on CD in 2003 (and on vinyl in 2012) by Oi! Strike. Don't pass on the songs “No Politica” (an advocacy to keep the scene politic-free), “Borghesi” (about kicking the rich man's ass) and “Italia Skin”.

Bahnhof

These guys are pretty much unknown, and that's a fucking disgrace. Bahnhof existed in Milan (or around Milan, I'm not totally sure on this one, but whatever) between 1982 and 1985 and released only a 4-tracks tape called February '82 (pretty good sound) and later on a song on a comp tape (in 1984, I think). Bahnhof sounds perhaps more '77 punk (they're closer to playing a style that I would compare with Bologna's The Stab, perhaps you'll know them ?), but they called themselves an Oi! band, so let's respect that. Extremely melodic music, good musicianship (if compared to the other bands of the same era) all songs are in english (with a pretty good accent, quite uncommon for an Italian band). As I said, pretty unknown band, and it's a shame, because they're brilliant !

And that's it, here you go with your introduction to the underestimated scene that is Italy. If you liked it, and want to go deeper, I can only recommend you to listen to Quelli che Urlano Ancora and Skins e Punk = T.N.T., two great comps that will give you access to more band of the era. You should also listen to both LPs by the band The 80's (with members of Colonna Infame Skinhead and Plakkaggio HC), which consist only in covers of 80's/90's Italian Oi! Songs, done in a Oi!core-ish style.