Draft:Ghigo Renzulli

Ghigo Renzulli
Born	Federico Renzulli (1953-12-15) 15 December 1953 Manocalzati, Campania (southern Italy), Italy
Genres	Alternative rock, New wave, Post-punk, New Italian music sung in Italian, Instrumental music
Occupation	Guitarist
Years active	1970s–present
Website	www.ghigorenzullinovox.com

Career

Early years (1979–1980)

Born in Manocalzati, in the Province of Avellino, Campania (Southern Italy), he developed a passion for rock music during his teenage years after seeing Vanilla Fudge perform "Some Velvet Morning" on TV at the Venice International Song Festival; he subsequently became involved in "freak" music circles, where he discovered the hard rock sounds of Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Deep Purple. He abandoned his biology studies—with only a few exams left before graduation—to dedicate himself entirely to music. When punk began to spread in Italy, he spent time in London, where he immersed himself in the era's new wave atmosphere.

In 1979, he moved to Florence, Tuscany (Central Italy), and a few months later, Cafè Caracas was formed—a trio consisting of himself on guitar, Renzo Franchi on drums, and Raffaele Riefoli (who would later become famous as Raf) on bass and vocals. However, the group was short-lived.

Formation and early phase of Litfiba (1980–1989)

See also: Litfiba

Thanks to an advertisement in a local magazine, Renzulli recruited Gianni Maroccolo (bass), Francesco Calamai (drums), and Antonio Aiazzi (keyboards), followed later by Piero Pelù on vocals.

The group adopted the name Litfiba—an idea conceived by Renzulli—shortly before their very first concert, held on December 6, 1980, at the Rokkoteca Brighton (though their debut outside Tuscany was a 1981 show at the Slego in Viserba). He created the name by constructing a hypothetical telex address that pointed to the basement studio he had rented.

I knew the machine and the Iricon system for composing the address well: among the many jobs I've had in my life, I also worked as a telex operator." L = fixed call sign for the Iricon system; IT = Italy; FI = Florence; BA = Bardi (Via dei Bardi, home to the legendary Litfiba rehearsal space at Via dei Bardi 32).

— Ghigo Renzulli

Litfiba's early albums were collaborative efforts, with every member contributing to the overall sound. Ghigo demonstrated a knack for composing and arranging songs, as well as an awareness of the latest rock trends thanks to the two years he spent in England. Together with Maroccolo and Aiazzi, he formed the project's songwriting core, while Piero Pelù wrote lyrics and melodies, and Gianni Maroccolo handled the ensemble's technical coordination.

The 1990s (1989–1999)

Following the departure of Aiazzi and Maroccolo (though the former remained involved as a collaborator for several years), songwriting duties fell entirely to Pelù and Renzulli. Through 1999, Litfiba's albums explored various facets of rock, ranging from the Latin rock of the early 90s to the electronic rock and pop of the decade's latter half.

After Pelù left the group, Renzulli relaunched the band with a new lead singer, Gianluigi Cavallo (known as "Cabo"), and other musicians. The decision to continue using the name "Litfiba"—despite the absence of the long-time frontman and all the veteran backing musicians (Bagni, Caforio, and Terzani would go on to join Piero Pelù's solo career)—sparked considerable controversy. Since 1983, "Litfiba" had been Renzulli's sole SIAE pseudonym; from... In 1999, the name "Litfiba" remained Renzulli's property, while the "heart with horns" logo went to Pelù.

Two new singers (1999–2009)

Ghigo decided to immediately continue the band's journey with singer Gianluigi Cavallo. Over the next five years, they released three albums of original material, a live album, a compilation, and the soundtrack for the Italian version of the video game *Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness*, featuring the single "Larasong." However, he was forced to contend with an audience that, for the most part, could not accept the revamped Litfiba, accusing Cabo of being a copy of Piero Pelù.

In the year 2000, the Litfiba lineup consisted of Ghigo and Cabo, aided in the studio by two members of the band Malfunk: bassist Gianluca Venier and drummer Ugo Nativi. The following year, Venier left Malfunk for good to join Litfiba, whereas Nativi did not follow suit; his spot in Litfiba (now a four-piece band) was taken by Gianmarco Colzi (formerly of Rockgalileo). 2001 saw the release of *Insidia*, an album that marked an evolution in the band's songwriting style.

In 2002, Litfiba were commissioned to write the aforementioned "Larasong," a project involving Antonio Aiazzi, who would later officially rejoin the band. 2005 saw the release of *Essere o sembrare*, the post-Pelù Litfiba album that met with the least acclaim from both the public and critics. In 2006, Ghigo decided to disband the group, and Cabo announced via an open letter to fans that his journey with Litfiba had come to an end.

Two years later, Ghigo started over from scratch. He recruited Roberto Terzani—who had been with the band throughout the 1990s—and introduced Filippo Margheri, a young singer from the Tuscan underground scene, as the new vocalist. Litfiba released the album *Five on Line* via free streaming; it was an EP consisting of five tracks recorded live in the studio. They also performed live in September 2009, playing two shows: one in Aosta and one in Modena. While working on the new album, Ghigo was contacted by Rudy Zerbi (Sony), Friends & Partners, and Pelù to see if it might be possible to reunite the 1990s lineup of the band.

Reunion with Piero Pelù (2009–2022)

In December 2009, Pelù's return as lead vocalist and a concert tour were announced; tickets sold out within a few days. The three albums released following the reunion achieved great critical and commercial success, earning one platinum and two gold records.

On January 25, 2014, together with two collaborators, he launched the official blog "Ghigo Renzulli Fan Collaborative" (GRFC), quoting Marcel Proust in the announcement post on Facebook: "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.". The blog closed in 2018, and the YouTube channel was renamed "Ghigo Renzulli History." Between 2018 and 2019, Ghigo Renzulli and Piero Pelù officially announced that Litfiba was going on an indefinite hiatus.

In late 2021, he and Piero Pelù announced Litfiba's final tour, "L'Ultimo Girone." The tour began in the spring of 2022, continued throughout the summer, and concluded on December 22, 2022, at the Mediolanum Forum in Assago.

No_Vox (2018)

No_Vox is an instrumental project launched by Ghigo Renzulli in 2018. The project explores various musical genres—including rock, folk, metal, progressive, and blues—free from the constraints imposed by vocals. No_Vox's debut album, titled *Cinematic*, was composed and recorded during the 2020 pandemic. The project's first concert took place in July 2021 at the ancient Roman Theatre in Fiesole. Recordings from this live performance gave rise to *Alcazaba*, released in October of the same year. Subsequently, in 2024, the second studio album, *Dizzy*, was released, further deepening this intense and immersive musical journey.

Renzulli describes No_Vox as a "constantly evolving cultural project" that allows for artistic freedom unbound by age or borders. No_Vox concerts are distinguished by entirely live performances—without the use of backing tracks—a rarity in the contemporary music scene. The album *Dizzy* also includes the track "Engelcord Suite," which fuses Rammstein's "Engel" with the theme from Nino Rota's *Amarcord*, demonstrating the project's experimental and eclectic approach.

No_Vox (2018)

No_Vox is an instrumental project launched by Ghigo Renzulli in 2018. The project explores various musical genres—including rock, folk, metal, progressive, and blues—free from the constraints imposed by vocals. No_Vox's debut album, titled *Cinematic*, was composed and recorded during the 2020 pandemic. The project's first concert took place in July 2021 at the ancient Roman Theatre in Fiesole. Recordings from this live performance gave rise to *Alcazaba*, released in October of the same year. Subsequently, in 2024, the second studio album, *Dizzy*, was released, further deepening this intense and immersive musical journey.

Renzulli describes No_Vox as a "constantly evolving cultural project" that allows for artistic freedom unbound by age or borders. No_Vox concerts are distinguished by entirely live performances—without the use of backing tracks—a rarity in the contemporary music scene. The album *Dizzy* also includes the track "Engelcord Suite," which fuses Rammstein's "Engel" with the theme from Nino Rota's *Amarcord*, demonstrating the project's experimental and eclectic approach.

Instrumental style

Renzulli has always been distinguished by a style that is seemingly simple yet highly expressive and original. From the very beginning, he has used few effects: in the 1980s, he employed delay and chorus alongside his signature wah-wah pedal—the only effect he has continued to use consistently and one that has become a hallmark of his playing. He makes extensive use of string bending and possesses a highly expressive vibrato. During the 1980s, he also frequently used a tremolo arm on his guitar to execute more vigorous vibrato effects.

Gear

Guitars

Throughout his career, Renzulli has used various guitars:

1980s

• Fender Stratocaster 25th Anniversary (a model released in 1979): grey with a black pickguard and a 1970s-style headstock.
• Fender "Strat" ​​(a model produced from 1980 to 1983): yellow with a white pickguard. This series is identifiable by its bridge and control knobs, which differ from standard Fender parts.
• Charvel San Dimas: sunburst finish.
• Fender Japan Telecaster Contemporary: white, no pickguard, tremolo bridge, and dual humbuckers (coil-splittable to single-coil).
• Charvel San Dimas Strat: red, no pickguard, tremolo bridge, and a single humbucker.
• Fender Stratocaster: red with a black pickguard, tremolo bridge, one humbucker (bridge position), and two single-coil pickups (neck and middle positions). This appears to be a guitar customized by Ghigo; it likely predates the white Telecaster and the San Dimas. It is known as the "17 Re." Recently used to record the song "La mia valigia." * Guild S-100
• Guild S-300
• Schon Reverse Custom
• PRS
• Black Yamaha SG1000

1990s

• Schon Reverse Custom
• PRS
• Custom guitar built to Ghigo's specifications: known as the "Debbie sound"
• Gibson "The Paul" (natural finish)
• Gibson Les Paul (sunburst finish)
• Gibson Flying V
• Fender Telecaster (sunburst finish)
• White Kramer with black pickguard
• Fender Stratocaster

2000s

• Fender Stratocaster
  • '62 reissue (Fiesta Red, 3 single-coil pickups)
  • Sunburst finish, white pickguard
  • Fiesta Red finish, black pickguard, Seymour Duncan pickups
• Gibson "The Paul" (natural finish)

2010s

• Gibson:
  • "The Paul" (natural finish)
  • Les Paul (sunburst)
  • SG
• Fender Stratocaster
  • '62 reissue (Fiesta Red, 2 humbuckers)
  • Cream finish, white pickguard, JB pickup at the bridge
  • Sunburst finish, white pickguard, JB pickup at the bridge
• PRS
• Black Jackson Soloist 2H with Floyd Rose
• Suhr Pro Modern Satin (natural finish) with Floyd Rose

Effects

Roland rack-mount multi-effects unit (used up to and including the *17 Re* tour). From the *Litfiba 3* tour onwards (1988), he used only the amplifier's two channels and a wah-wah pedal—the classic Dunlop Cry Baby. Additionally, a Korg rack-mount tuner.

Amplifiers

Up to 1994 (including the *Spirito* tour), he used two Marshall JCM 800 heads. From the *Mondi sommersi* album (1997) onwards, he used Marshall JCM 900 heads. Everything was paired with Marshall cabinets, except during the *Mondi sommersi* and *Infinito* tours, when he used Mesa Boogie cabinets. He has occasionally used a Soldano head and a Fender Tone Master amp (head and cabinet).

Other

• Jim Dunlop and Fender picks
• Plexiglass slide (used during the *Mondi Sommersi Tour*)
• Tremolo arm/Floyd Rose (on all guitars from 1984 to 1993; in recent years, only on the red-and-black Stratocaster, the Jackson, and the Suhr)

Discography

with Litfiba

• Guerra [E.P.] – 1982
• Luna / La preda [45 rpm] – 1983
• Eneide di Krypton [soundtrack for a theatrical production] – 1983
• Yassassin (Litfiba E.P.) Yassassin - 1984
• Live in Berlin 1984 [half-official bootleg] – 1985
• Desaparecido – 1985
• Transea [E.P.] – 1986
• 17 re – 1986
• Transea [E.P.] – 1986
• Aprite i vostri occhi [live album] – 1987
• Litfiba 3 – 1988
• Pirata (live) – 1989
• El diablo – 1990
• Sogno ribelle [anthology] - 1992
• Terremoto – 1993
• Colpo di coda [live album] – 1994
• Spirito – 1994
• Lacio drom (buon viaggio) [live album] – 1995
• Mondi sommersi – 1997
• Croce e delizia [live album] – 1998
• Infinito – 1999
• Elettromacumba – 2000
• Live on Line [live album] - 2001
• Insidia – 2001
• The Platinum Collection [anthology] - 2003
• Essere o sembrare – 2005
• '99 Live [live album] - 2005
• Five on Line [E.P.] - 2009
• [[Stato libero di Litfiba [live album] 2010
• Grande nazione – 2012
• Trilogia 1983-1989 live 2013 [live album] – 2012
• Eutòpia – 2016
• 17 RE live 1986 - 2026 [live album] – 2016

with No_Vox

• Cinematic – 2020
• Alcazaba – 2021
• Dizzy – 2024

Collaborations

• Denovo – Guitar on the track "Quinta Finestra," from the album *Kamikaze Bohemien* (released posthumously in 2013) - 1984
• Carantonis – Guitar on the tracks "Twice Told Tales" and "Good News," from the album *Twice Told Tales* - 1988
• Nicoletta Magalotti – Guitar on the track "Albachiara" (Vasco Rossi cover), from the compilation *Union* - 1990
• Nicoletta Magalotti – Guitar on the track "Terra Elettrica," from the album *Nico* - 1992
• Roberto Vecchioni – Guitar on the track "Gli amici miei," from the album *Blumùn* - 1993
• Paolo Belli – Electric guitar on the tracks "Mi Hanno Lasciato Solo" and "Adesso Basta" (Club Version), from the album *Solo* - 1994
• Italia Loves Emilia – Guitar on the track "A muso duro" - 2012
• Gianni Maroccolo & Claudio Rocchi – Lead guitar on the track "La Melodie de Terrence," from the album *Vdb23/Nulla è andato perso* - 2013
• Foja – Guitar on the track "Aria 'e mare," from the album *O Treno Che Va* - 2016
• Big Tale – Guitar, backing vocals, composition, and arrangement for the track "Passa il tempo passa" - 2018
• Filippo Margheri – Guitar, composition, and arrangement for the tracks "Sepolto vivo" and "La rabbia in testa," from the album *Indipendenza* - 2018

Bibliography

• Ronzani, S. (1990) *Proibito. La biografia ufficiale dei Litfiba*, Rome, Arcana Editore. An updated version was published in 1993.
• Ronzani, S. (1993) *Terremoto. I brani dei Litfiba e la loro storia*, Rome, Edizioni Arcana.
• Various Authors (1997) *I miti musica: Litfiba*, Milan, Mondadori.
• Guglielmi, F. (2000) *A denti stretti. La vera storia dei Litfiba*, Florence, Giunti Editore, ISBN 9788809017290.
• Battigelli, P. (2003) *Guitar heroes. Ritratti di cento chitarristi leggendari*, Editori Riuniti.
• Casini, B. (2009) *In viaggio con i Litfiba*, Edizioni Zona.
• Renzulli, G. and Gasperetti, A. (2020) *40 anni da Litfiba*, Arcana Edizioni.

External links

• The Official Website of Ghigo Renzulli
• The Official Website of Litfiba
• First Youtube channel of Ghigo Renzulli
• Second Youtube channel of Ghigo Renzulli

Category:1953 births Category:Living people Category:Italian rock guitarists Category:Hard rock guitarists