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After being enrolled in a singing school during Rossi's time in school, he fell in love with music and later founded his first band age 14. After graduating high school, Rossi opened the music club, Punto Club, and worked as a DJ, forming one of the first private radio stations in Italy, Punto Radio. After showcasing some of his music on his radio show, Rossi released his first single “Jenny”/“Silvia”, ahead of his debut album “…Ma Cosa Vuoi Che Sia una Canzone” in 1978. Combining ’60’s Italian pop and an undeniable sense of rock & roll, Rossi’s extensive album releases over the late ‘70s and early ‘80s showed a maturing of his style and sense of humour, from 1979’s “Albachiara”, 1980’s “Colpa d’Alfredo”, 1981’s “Siamo Solo Noi”, to the chart topping “Bollicine” in 1983.
In true rock & roll style Rossi was arrested and detained for three weeks for cocaine possession, however it did nothing to arrest his success, and his two subsequent albums “Cosa Succede in Città” in 1985 and “C’é Chi Dice No” in 1986 were hugely popular and led to the singer to sign with EMI. His first album on EMI “Liberi” marked a split with producer Guido Elmi and his backing band, however showed Rossi to be the Italian equivalent of the Rolling Stones or U2.
In 1993 the album “Gil Spari Sopra” arrived with the help of drummer Vinnie Colaiuta and the Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart, and was succeeded by the all-out rock album “Nessun Peroclo…Per Te” in 1996 and “Canzoni per Me” in 1998. Following the release Rossi played to 120,000 people at Imola’s Heineken Jammin’ Festival, which he recorded and released as a live album “Rewind” in 1999. Following the death of close friend and former backing band member Massimo Riva, Rossi wrote many of the songs and lyrics that appeared on his 2001 album “Stupid Hotel”.
Rossi went on to release the album “Buoni o Cattivi” in 2004 which he supported by putting on a free concert in Catanzaro, attended by over 400,000 people. Subsequently the singer has issued the albums “Vivere o niente” in 2011, “L’altra metà del cielo” in 2012, and “Sono Innocente” in 2014.
Singer-songwriter Vasco Rossi is an idol for many Italians. Throughout his career, he could fill one of Italy’s many large football stadiums with over 60000 adoring fans at a canter. Among other things, he is perhaps arguably the best example of Italian singers who would turn heads every time he walked down the street in his homeland but who would hardly be recognised if he walked down Oxford Street (unless he happened to come across some of the many Italian expats found there these days). He puts his huge success in Italy but limited recognition this side of France down to what could be seen as conspiracies involving the British and American governments, but it’s perhaps also because of how full of content his lyrics are which are mostly memorised word for word by Italian fans but rarely understood by those who don’t speak Italian (i.e. The vast majority of Brits or Americans). He retired from touring in 2011, only to return in the summer of 2014 to play gigs including at Milan’s massive San Siro – the whole of AC Milan and Internazionale. Just as he did then, expect him to close sets with the immortal ‘Albachiara’ and ‘Vita Spericolata’. Expect impressively long sets of well over 20 tracks, all belted out with as much heart and energy as in his 80s heyday. And expect the people around you to know every lyric and cheer exuberantly when he’d start each song. He recently announced more concert dates in 2015 and that he’s to release a 27th album. That – and the fact that Sony brought out a SingStar video game entirely of his music – gives you an idea of just how much appeal he’s had for decades. Admittedly very much Italian phenomenon, he’s long-known how to write rousing songs, and certainly still knows how to a play a crowd and attract one.
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