Taken is a group composed of eight musicians. After
several years of musical and on the road experience, they have blended different musical
genres to develop their own unique sound.
They made their debut with Taken-to-the-Bottle, in the Autumn of 1987, a period which
dates back to The Wine-Hash Party,, at AREZZO WAVE Contempo Rds 1991 and I'm Up to eyes in
Debt, in PEGOROCK Ritmo & Blu 1990. An informal use of English and other languages in
their lyrics characterise the folk and pogo-songs with their Irish and ska sounds. The
group immediately found success, but unfortunately the suicide of their guitarist sent
them off route.
The period following this sad occurrence led the group to new maturity: undertaking
research into electric and acoustic sounds, studying the folk music of different regions,
the band draws from various ethnic music cultures, reworking rhythms and melodies and
adding lyrics in both Italian and the dialect of Vercelli (Piedmont, Northern Italy).
From ,95 to ,97 Taken played all over Italy and in Switzerland, taking part at important
festivals such as Sfangando, Folkermesse, Arezzo Wave etc...
They then began experimenting once more with new ideas, moving towards a more
latin-dub-mediterranean, sound without the sampling and electronic effects, a rustic,
acoustic and unusual experiment.
Early '98 saw the release of their first CD Vulcano, based on the theme of resistance to
anthropological and socio-cultural models which today are unfortunately quite widespread
and against all racist ideals which make our society blind. The tracks have two musical
souls,: one made up of modern rhythms with mediterranean, latin and afro-reggae-dub
influences; the other is a kind of completion of their past, made up of street-song
rhythms and celtic-type melodies.
TAKEN are:
ZA, Franco Zanello lead vocals and writer of the groups lyrics
MAX Massimo Losito accordion and vocals
FIVER Augusto Favre accordion, sax, vocals author of their music
FE, Massimiliano Ferrari acoustic guitar and vocals
ZAMPO Andrea Zamperetti drums
KATU Alberto Catuogno congas, timbales and percussion
GIO, Giovanni Codugno electric bass
MAX-ERO Massimiliano Graziani trumpet and vocals
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