I Nuovi Angeli

I Nuovi Angeli formed in 1966 from the merging of two bands – Paki & Paki (a pop duo formed in Milan by Pasquale Canzi and Pasquale Andriola) and an instrumental trio from Alessandria consisting in Alberto Pasetti (bass), Renato Sabbioni (guitar) and Franco Verde (drums).[2] The band, initially called Paki & Paki and I Nuovi Angeli, achieved some success when their first single, L'ora più lunga (1966), who was adopted as the opening theme for the RAI TV show "La fiera dei sogni" hosted by Mike Bongiorno.[1]

In 1967 Andriola and Verde left the project due to creative differences, and the band was simply renamed I Nuovi Angeli. Augmented by The New Dada former drummer Riki Rebaioli and lead singer Alfredo Gatti, I Nuovi Angeli recorded two more singles characterized by a beat production. In the late 1960s, following the departure of Gatti, the group replaced Rebaioli with Mauro Paoluzzi and left Durium Records to sign with Polygram. The move coincided with a change of musical direction, with the band turning towards the bubblegum genre.[1]

The classic line-up of I Nuovi Angeli peaked in the early 1970s, thanks to a string of top-ten hits written by Renato Pareti and Roberto Vecchioni,[2][1] including Donna Felicità (1971), Uakadi Uakadù (1971), Singapore (1972) and Anna da dimenticare (1973).[3] In 1971 I Nuovi Angeli embarked on a North-American tour and made their first TV appearance in America on the Ed Sullivan Show.[4] In 1974 I Nuovi Angeli recorded Stasera Clown, a concept album in collaboration with the La Scala Orchestra revolving around the live of a group of circus artists.

With the advent of disco and punk music, I Nuovi Angeli experienced a decline in popularity. In 1978 Paoluzzi left the band to purchase a successful career as producer, songwriter session musician, collaborating with artists like Gianna Nannini and Patty Pravo. Sabbioni and Pasetti left the band a few months later and retired from the music industry. Canzi decided to continue with new musicians.

In 2005 the original members of I Nuovi Angeli met to discuss the possibility of a reunion. The band played a few warm-up gigs and recorded a double live album, "Il nostro concerto" but tragedy struck when Alberto Pasetti suddenly died at the age of 54.[5] Following a legal battle between Sabbioni and Canzi over the property of the name I Nuovi Angeli, Canzi temporarily left the group.[6] Despite numerous lineup changes, the band is still active.

• I Nuovi Angeli at AllMusic
• I Nuovi Angeli discography at Discogs