Matia Bazar

Matia Bazar was formed in Genoa in 1975 by Carlo Marrale, Piero Cassano, and Aldo Stellita (former members of the band Jet), together with Giancarlo Golzi (ex Museo Rosenbach) and solo singer Antonella Ruggiero. The group immediately found success with their debut single “Stasera che sarà” (1975).

Following a series of international hits such as “Tu semplicità,” “Solo tu,” and “Per un’ora d’amore,” they won the Sanremo Festival in 1978 with the song “…e dirsi ciao.” After the success of “C’è tutto un mondo intorno” and their world tour, Piero Cassano left the group and was replaced by Mauro Sabbione on keyboards.

A major stylistic shift occurred with a techno-influenced sound in tracks like “Fantasia,” “Vacanze Romane,” “Aristocratica,” and “Souvenir,” the latter even attracting attention in Japan. The song was composed by Sergio Cossu, who replaced Sabbione. In 1985, “Ti sento” became a multi-million seller, furthering their international fame.

The group embarked on a major tour through Russia, France, Germany, Scandinavia, Japan, and Latin America, continuing to release hits like “Noi,” “La prima stella della sera,” and “Stringimi.”

In 1989, Antonella Ruggiero left and was replaced by Laura Valente. Sanremo brought two more hits: “Piccoli Giganti” and “Dedicato a te.” In 1995, now a quartet after Carlo Marrale’s departure, they released the album RadioMatia to mark their 20th anniversary.

In 1997, they released the pop-rock album Benvenuti a Sausalito, showcasing the group’s versatility. In 1998, longtime bassist and founding member Aldo Stellita passed away.

Following a brief hiatus, Giancarlo Golzi relaunched the group with Piero Cassano and new vocalist Silvia Mezzanotte. Cassano composed the music, Golzi wrote the lyrics, and Fabio Perversi joined as a multi-instrumentalist and arranger. The album Brivido Caldo became a hit, especially the title track and “Non abbassare gli occhi.”

In 2001, they placed third at Sanremo with “Questa nostra grande storia d’amore.” The live album Messaggi dal vivo followed in 2002, featuring reworked classics and two new songs, including “Messaggio d’amore,” which won Sanremo that year.

To celebrate their 30th anniversary, they returned to Sanremo in 2005 with “Grido d’amore” and new vocalist Roberta Faccani. In 2007, they released the tribute albums One1 Two2 Three3 Four4, covering iconic Italian songs.

In 2010, Silvia Mezzanotte rejoined the group, followed by the album Conseguenza Logica. They competed again at Sanremo in 2012 with “Sei tu,” and in 2015, released their first live DVD to mark their 40th anniversary.

On August 12, 2015, Giancarlo Golzi passed away unexpectedly. Silvia Mezzanotte subsequently left the group. In 2017, Fabio Perversi took over artistic direction following Piero Cassano’s departure.

In 2022, a new lineup was introduced with Fabio Perversi, vocalist Luna Dragonieri, and other musicians. They released The Best Of album and the new single “Non finisce così,” and began a major tour across Italy and abroad, appearing frequently on Italian television.

In 2023, Matia Bazar continued their extensive touring with over 50 concerts in Italy and internationally, and are currently working on new music.