12 Famous Italian Rock Bands To Start Listening To

Let’s face it: rock bands aren't exactly what Italy is famous for. 

Italian music is often more about songwriting, pop and melodic music. Some of the most famous Italian rock stars in the country are solo artists (Vasco Rossi, Gianna Nannini, Luciano Ligabue, for example). 

But the country has produced some Italian rock bands that have no one to envy when it comes to making great music.

Here are 12 Italian rock bands I like.

If you’re Italian, apologies in advance if I haven’t included your favourite ones! 

Let’s rock!

1. Måneskin (2016 – Present)

Måneskin has become one of Italy’s biggest musical exports, so you’ve probably already heard about this band. And if you haven’t…where have you been hiding? 🧐

Måneskin means “moonlight” in Danish. Bass player Victoria De Angelis is half Danish, so the band started exploring her foreign language. When Victroria pronounced “moonlight” in Danish, they got hooked! And that’s how Måneskin was born.

They started out as street performers in Rome. They were just four teenagers playing covers for whoever stopped to listen. 

Fast forward a few years and they won X Factor Italia in 2017 (well, they came in second, but it was enough to launch them into orbit).

Then they won the Sanremo Festival in 2021, which granted them a place in Eurovision 2021. If you want to know more about this famous Italian festival, take a look at my post about Italian traditions.

They smashed the European music contest with Zitti e buoni (Shut Up and Behave), and brought Italy its first Eurovision victory since 1990 (Toto Cutugno was the last one to win). 

They climbed to the top of Europe wearing leather, eyeliner, and a whole lot of attitude. 

Their music is a mix of classic rock, glam rock, funk rock, and a bit of punk energy. Some of my favorite songs by Måneskin include Torna a casa (Come Back Home), I Wanna Be Your Slave, and MAMMAMIA (yes, that’s the title).

Fun fact:
At Eurovision, a silly rumour spread that they were doing drugs live on TV. They weren’t. In fact, Damiano, the vocalist, barely drinks beer!

During the press conference, he said, “I don’t use drugs. Please, guys. Don’t say that really, no cocaine.” He then voluntarily took a drug test and came out clean. 

After the false accusation, the band wrote on their Instagram profile:

“We really are AGAINST drugs and we never used cocaine. We are ready to get tested, cause we have nothing to hide.”

Måneskin

Respect.

2. The Kolors (2009 – Present)

The Kolors are the ones who bring the dance floor to life. Some of their songs (like What Happened Last Night or Crazy) might make you think they’re not Italian. But they are. They’re originally from Campania. 

The band formed in 2009, when they began their career by playing live gigs at Le Scimmie, a legendary club in Milan (now closed). They built their fanbase the old-school way: one sweaty, high-energy gig at a time.

Their big break came in 2015, when they won Amici di Maria De Filippi, one of Italy’s most popular talent shows.  

After that everybody was singing Everytime, their super catchy hit that summer. The song was entirely in English. Actually, most of their early stuff is. Now they sing in Italian and…boy do they make you jump.

Their music is a mix of pop-rock, funk, and electro-pop. (Stash, the vocalist, has Michael Jackson tattooed on his forearm.) 

Italian songs by The Kolors you can’t miss: Italodisco (2023) (hit play on the video above for a listen) and Pensare male (2019).

Get ready to listen to some great, colourful music!

3. Premiata Forneria Marconi (1970 – Present)

Or just Pfm (pronounced in Italian as if you were to spell the word: pi – effe – emme).

The band is originally from Milan, and it’s named after a Brescian bakery that was located near the recording studios where the four musicians, Franco Mussida, Flavio Premoli, Franz Di Cioccio, and Giorgio Piazza, used to rehearse.

(In English, Premiata Forneria Marconi translates to “Award-winning Marconi Bakery.”)

Pfm is the Italian progressive rock band. If you’re into bands like Genesis, King Crimson, or Yes, you’ll probably love this band too. They were the first Italian rock band to really make it big outside of Italy.!

In 1972, they released Storia di un minuto, an album that went straight to number one in Italy in just one week. That had never happened before. The same year, they released Per un Amico, considered a prog-rock masterpiece by many fans and prog nerds. ​

In June 2015, Rolling Stone ranked the album at number 19 on its list of the 50 greatest progressive albums of all time!

But it was Photos of Ghosts in 1973 that made them famous abroad. The lyrics were even rewritten in English by Pete Sinfield, the lyricist of King Crimson.

Pfm is still active. These guys have been making music for over 50 years! They’ve gone through lineup changes, but they keep touring and releasing albums. 

4. Pinguini Tattici Nucleari (2010 – Present)

If the name makes you smile, good. That’s exactly the point. Pinguini Tattici Nucleari (which translates to “Tactical Nuclear Penguins”) is probably the quirkiest name on this list.

It’s inspired by Tactical Nuclear Penguin, one of the world’s strongest beers made by Scottish brewery BrewDog. No penguins were harmed in the making of this band (and beer too, I hope).

Pinguini (that’s how their fans call them) formed in 2010 near Bergamo. But it wasn’t until 2020 that they really blew up. They took part in the Sanremo Music Festival with the song Ringo Starr (see video above). The song earned them third place and made them famous all over Italy.

You’ll find humor, irony, and lots of catchy melodies in their music (some of my Italian friends consider Pinguini Tattici Nucleari the “Italian Imagine Dragons.”) You’ll also find some deeper moments, like in Pastello bianco, which became one of their biggest hits.

Also, their live shows are a blast. Lots of jumping, sing-alongs, and a crowd that knows every single word. 

If you get the chance to see them live, go!

5. Pooh (1966 – 2016 … And Back Again In 2023!)

More of a pop band than a rock one, really. But I had to include them in this list! They’re one of the longest-running bands in music history as well as the Italian band with the most records sold.

If you ask your Italian friends who their parents or grandparents listened to, chances are they’ll say Pooh.

And no, we’re not talking about Winnie-the-Pooh. Though the band did name themselves after the Disney bear in 1966!

In over half a century, Pooh released more than 30 albums, sold over 100 million records, and played to millions of fans. 

Their music, as you might expect, evolved a lot over the decades. In the 70s, they were all about progressive rock with long, complex songs and concept albums (Parsifal from 1973 is a classic).

But from the 80s onwards, they shifted to pop rock and became the soundtrack to generations of Italian families.

Songs like Chi fermerà la musica (Who will stop the music) and Uomini soli (Lonely men) became anthems of a few generations. These are songs you still hear on Italian radio, at weddings, and even in the background at your local Italian supermarket while you're stocking up on ingredients to make traditional Italian dishes.

Their farewell tour in 2016 was supposed to be the end. Addio, ciao, finito. But in 2023, they announced a reunion to celebrate the band’s legacy. Fans lost their minds. Stadium concerts, TV specials–they were back, and everyone was singing along like it was 1985 again.

Their drummer, Stefano D’Orazio, also sang and wrote lyrics. Sadly, he passed away in 2020, but his songs and energy are still very much part of the band’s legacy.

6. Dari (2004 – Present)

Not as famous as the other bands on this list, no, but if you were a teenager in Italy around 2008, there’s a good chance you were singing Wale (Tanto Wale) at the top of your lungs—or rolling your eyes at it. 🙄 

Either way, Dari made an impression with their music, big hair, neon colours, and tight trousers. They were the face of the Italian emo-pop and electro-pop wave.

Dari was formed in Aosta in 2004 by Dario Pirovano. Their breakout hit Wale (Tanto Wale) came out in 2008. Cartoon graphics, neon lights, and the band jumping around like human glow sticks— the video was pure 2000s energy. Love it or hate it, that song was everywhere. 

They’re not in the mainstream spotlight anymore.

Start with Wale (Tanto Wale) (just click on the video above), and be prepared to have it stuck in your head all day. 

You’ve been warned! 😂

7. Le Vibrazioni (1999 – Present)

Le Vibrazioni (which translates to “the vibrations”) formed in Milan in 1999. They started out playing in small clubs and bars, doing what a lot of Italian bands do. Then they released Dedicato a te (Dedicated to you) a song that became a hit. 

Their style blends pop rock and melodic rock, with a touch of classic Italian songwriting. They’re one of those bands your rock-loving friend and your pop-obsessed cousin might both agree on.

In 2020, after over two decades since their creation, they performed Dov'è at the Sanremo Music Festival and came in fourth position. Not too bad at all! 

Oh, Vieni da me (Come to me) is another one of their hits—and a great start to getting to know the band! Hit play on the video above to have a listen!

8. Lacuna Coil (1994 – Present)

Lacuna Coil is here to bring the heavy stuff: gothic metal, dark atmospheres, and headbanging riffs. Definitely nothing to do with the Sanremo Music Festival! 😂

Lacuna Coil formed in Milan in 1994. Cristina Scabbia, the vocalist, has a beautiful, melodic voice, while Andrea Ferro adds the growls and grit. Cristina Scabbia is also one of the most iconic female figures in metal.

In this video, she says (in Italian) that she was the first woman to sing at the Ozzfest, a metal music festival founded by Ozzy Osbourne. She’s been a judge on The Voice of Italy and has collaborated with other rock and metal artists.  

Do you like bands like Evanescence or Within Temptation? Chances are you’ll like these guys too.

Start with Heaven’s a Lie (the video above) and Swamped, two songs that introduced the band to a worldwide audience.

Sorry, did I say they don’t sing in Italian but in English? 😅

9. Litfiba (1980 – 2022)

They’re one of the biggest, loudest, and most popular rock bands Italy has ever produced. Their name comes from the telex address of their rehearsal space in Via dei Bardi, Florence.

“LITFIBA,” is indeed short for Località ITalia FIrenze via dei BArdi. 

Pretty geeky, right?

The band was founded in 1980 by two guys: Piero Pelù, a wild and charismatic frontman with a unique, versatile voice, and Ghigo Renzulli, the guitarist.

They mix hard rock with Latin rhythms and even a bit of funk, and their lyrics are sometimes political, sometimes poetic, but often rebellious. 

Albums like 17 Re (1986), Litfiba 3 (1988), and El Diablo (1990) are my favourite. 

If you want to hear Piero Pelù in full beast mode, listen to El Diablo. I've included the video above for your listening pleasure. It’s a punch in the face (in a good way, of course).

In the mid-90s, Piero Pelù left the band to go solo. But in 2010, he reunited with Ghigo for a comeback tour that sold out stadiums all over Italy. In 2022, Litfiba hit the road again for their farewell tour after more than 40 years of music.

They went out with a bang—just the way they started.

Check out Spirito. It’s one of my favourite Italian songs.

10. Negrita (1991 – Present)

Negrita is one of the pillars of Italian rock from the ‘90s and early 2000s. And they’re still going strong today.

The band was formed in 1991 in Arezzo, Tuscany. Their name comes from Hey Negrita, a song by The Rolling Stones. (Ehi Negrita! is also the name of one of their songs.)

They mix rock with funk, reggae, and even Latin. Their breakthrough came with Reset (1999), an album that sold over 100,000 copies.

What are some of my favourite songs by Negrita? Mama Maè (hit play on the video above to listen to it), Cambio (Change), Ho imparato a sognare (I’ve learned to dream). 

Rotolando verso sud  (Rolling South) is also a great one. It’s that song that makes you want to pack a bag and hit the road, windows down, wind in your hair.

Negrita were nominated three times at the MTV Europe Music Awards as Best Italian Act. And in 2019, they returned to Sanremo after 16 years with I ragazzi stanno bene (The Guys Are Well).

11. Le Orme (1966 – Present)

Le Orme, along with Pfm, are probably the most influential of the Italian progressive rock bands out there. They’re also one of the very few Italian rock bands to have success outside the bel paese.

Le Orme (which means “the footprints”) formed in Maghera (near Venice) in 1966. Their classic lineup—Tony Pagliuca on keyboards, Aldo Tagliapietra on vocals and bass, and Michi Dei Rossi on drums—crafted some of the best Italian prog albums. 

I’m talking about Collage (1971), Uomo di Pezza (1972), and Felona e Sorona (1973). 

They play progressive, pop, and psychedelic rock and they were pioneers in using the Moog synthesizer in Italy. 

Le Orme are still active! Different lineup, of course (these guys started in the 60s after all), but they’re still touring and making music. 

If you press play on the video above, you can see one of their live performances from 2025. 

12. Elio E Le Storie Tese (1980 – Present)

You know how some bands take themselves really seriously? Yeah, Elio e le Storie Tese is not one of those bands.

They’re Italy’s kings of musical parody, satire, and pure genius. They’re not just funny. They’re talented musicians who can play anything. And they often do—within the same song.

The band formed in Milan in 1980, when they started off playing in small clubs. It didn’t take long before people realised they weren’t just a comedy act. They were a musical powerhouse, not least because they’re conservatory-trained musicians. 

What do they sound like? Everything. Literally. One minute they’re doing hard rock, the next it’s disco, then opera, then samba. Sometimes all of that happens in the same track!

If you’re learning Italian, then you should definitely look at their lyrics. They’re witty, ironic, and often full with Italian cultural references. You’ll laugh, but if you listen closely, you’ll realize they’re making some pretty sharp points.

They got their big break with La terra dei cachi (1996) (The Land of Persimmons), their satirical take on Italian clichés. They performed it at Sanremo and finished second. You can watch that in the video above.

The band announced their farewell tour in 2018. But they came back in 2023! 

Yes! I’m happy!

Italian Rock Bands FAQ

Final Thoughts On Italian Rock Bands

Did you enjoy this list of famous Italian rock bands? I hope so.

These bands are a great way to immerse yourself in Italian culture, language, and the energy that Italians bring to music. If you’d like to discover more, have a look at this Wikipedia page about Italian rock bands.

Listening to songs is a great way to improve your Italian. But if you want to improve your skills in a more structured way, check out my Italian Uncovered courses. 

You’ll learn through stories, not rules!

If you're ready to try a fresh approach to learning Italian, get your free 7-day trial of my courses.

Whatever you decide to do, have fun learning Italian, listening to songs, and playing music (if you’re a musician)!

Alla prossima!

Olly Richards

Creator of the StoryLearning® Method

Olly Richards is a renowned polyglot and language learning expert with over 15 years of experience teaching millions through his innovative StoryLearning® method. He is the creator of StoryLearning, one of the world's largest language learning blogs with 500,000+ monthly readers.

Olly has authored 30+ language learning books and courses, including the bestselling "Short Stories" series published by Teach Yourself.

When not developing new teaching methods, Richards practices what he preaches—he speaks 8 languages fluently and continues learning new ones through his own methodology.