Skiantos

The Profile

Italian punk/demenziale band formed in Bologna in 1977 around Roberto “Freak” Antoni and guitarist Fabio “Dandy Bestia” Testoni. Known for irreverent satire, raw energy and the infamous 1979 Bologna Rock ‘pasta’ performance.

Formed in Bologna in 1977; pioneers of ‘rock demenziale’ in Italy; early albums include Inascoltabile (1977), MONOtono (1978) and Kinotto (1979) on Cramps Records; famous for shouting "Largo all’avanguardia, siete un pubblico di merda" while cooking pasta on stage in 1979; frontman Roberto “Freak” Antoni died on 12 February 2014.

Reviews portray Skiantos as Bologna’s irreverent pioneers of Italian punk/demenziale. Core praise clusters around the early run: Inascoltabile (1977), MONOtono (1978) and Kinotto (1979), with their mix of raw punk, bluesy rock’n’roll and new wave bite. The infamous 1979 “Largo all’avanguardia” pasta-on-stage stunt is a recurring landmark. Later, Signore dei dischi (1993) shows a glossier, still provocative band. Overall tone: celebratory, humorous, and sharp.