Rusties Band Bio

Since 1998 Rusties have been an Italian rock band of experienced musicians dedicated to the music of the legendary Canadian folk rocker Neil Young. Lead by rock critic, journalist, and writer MARCO GROMPI (lead vocalist, guitarist and main songwriter; he also authored several rock books, amongst them what is considered to be the world’s most exhaustive Neil Young’s commented disco/biography to date, Neil Young 1963-2003: 40 anni di rock imbizzarrito), Rusties rocked some of the hippest clubs and festivals throughout Italy and Europe from their first concert in 1998 up to these days. OSVALDO ARDENGHI (guitar & vocals), MASSIMO PICCINELLI (keyboards), DARIO FILIPPI (bass & vocals) and PAOLO GUERINI (drums) complete the line up.

They all began to play with strangely assorted local club bands in Northern Italy way back in the mist of times (actually some of them first jumped on a stage in the early 80’s), but it was only in 1998 when they began performing together as a ferocious hippie rock quartet who basically loved to rock, enjoying wild and extended jam sessions and committing themselves to spread their “rusty” guitar improvisations over classic Neil & Crazy Horse repertoire. They recorded a first rough demo, Rusties Never Sleep, in 2002, and it raised so good reviews that in November 2005 they released the CD Younger Than Neil, a self-produced new collection of Neil Young songs recorded live in studio to celebrate Ol’ Neil’s 60th birthday. Supported by a relentless concert activity in clubs, theatres and international festivals both albums sold out fast and are currently out of print.

After more than 500 concerts throughout Italy (they shared stages, microphones and stories with Willard Grant Conspiracy, Gov’t Mule, Elliott Murphy, Dirk Hamilton, Steve Wynn, The Walkabouts, Fairport Convention, Lee Fardon, David Bromberg, Sarah Pierce, Andy White, Cristina Donà, Eileen Rose, Mary Coughlan and many others), in 2006 Rusties were the first Italian band invited to perform at the renown americana/folk rock festival Orange Blossom Special in Beverungen (Germany). Their highly acclaimed CD Live In Germany is a perfectly framed sonic snapshot of that riveting performance, and their loose, psychedelic version of Ohio (a strongly political song penned by Young in 1970 for CSNY) was included in the Rockpalast double DVD Orange Blossom Special 10: It’s Your Universe (available worldwide through Glitterhouse Records).

In year 2008 Rusties celebrated their 10th anniversary with a slot of concerts and releasing their fourth acclaimed album Last Rust… The Best & The Rest, a limited edition collection of unreleased and rare live performances of Neil Young’s songs recorded over the past decade. They also spent some time in the studio recording their “new debut album” featuring original songs.

Released in Summer 2009, Move Along (Tube Jam Records/I.R.D.) is the Rusties first studio CD debuting ten self-penned and self-produced tracks. Immensely talented Italian singer/songwriter Cristina Donà guests on the mournful, melancholic title track, and experienced bluesman Robi Zonca adds his inspired guitar playing and backing vocals on a couple of other tracks. With its musical diversity, its wide range stylistic palette, its accurate production and the emotional depth of its song, the album didn’t fail to impress every good music lover. Since its release, the Move Along CD is constantly raising amazing reviews all over the music press, being acclaimed as “the most fascinating americana album produced by an Italian band ever” (www.ibs.it). They constantly tour in Italy and they toured in Germany four times, playing at important festivals and clubs, and even appearing on national German TV NDR. They’re currently working at a new studio album of orignals that will be released in Spring of 2011.