..Francesco was born into a working class family in Bolzano, Italy. He is largely self-taught by means of watching others play and listening to recordings, radio and television. His early influences ran from the family record collection(Battisti, Gaetano, Mina, Berte') to records by Art Blakey, John Zorn, James Brown, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and Pearl Jam.
In the summer of 1994, Francesco received a hand-made practice drum kit from his Dad. He set up the kit and began playing along with everything from Nirvana to Ellington to Zepplin. Later the next year one of his brother's friends, gave Francesco a chance to play a song live in front of 1000 students, for an easy start. Later the same year one of his friends, Andrea Polato, introduced Francesco to the idea of being in a band and improve his drum skills.
In high school, Francesco met Eric Casanova and formed his first band, which played a diverse array of standard rock songs. During this time Francesco familiarized himself with learning songs and structures. After high school in 1996, Francesco began expanding his musical Knowledge; studying basic stick technique in evening classes. Besides being a member of the Morfea Band for three years until 1999, he also has performed with artist Lucas Zanotti as a duo, playing and composing a sort of experimental jazz with drum kit, percussion and saxophone.
After two years of evening courses, Francesco met up with jazz drummer Valerio Abeni. His new teachers helped him learn to read charts and move around the kit with more ease.
A significant turning point in Francesco's career as a musical artist came in 2003. Francesco had the idea to move to London and study at Drum-tech(TVU) where he started straight the next year. He started to study all aspects of modern drumming plus Latin and Brazilian, with teachers like Tom Meadows, Erik Stams, Paul Elliot, Haydn Callow, Justin Scott Mick Morena and Bosco De Oliveira. Francesco fell in with musicians of London City and began playing with a few bands on a regular basis. He played with songwriter Ed Laurie, worked with flamenco singer Ulises Diaz, and played samba with Street band 'Ritmo da cidade'. He also collaborated for 4 years with the managed band "The Toy Guns", touring in Japan and performing in many different venues around town.
Since graduating in December 2004, Francesco has been working as a freelance Drummer, Percussionist and Teacher all around London. Now playing and performing as a Caixa player with the 'Verde Vai' samba bateria (street percussion band). Playing with a cover band the Escorts, more than 80 songs from 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's and modern...Drumming recording and producing organic experiments with the Dead Celebrities
Also courrently teaching Samba percussions and ensamble performing for Wandsworth Music Service and Hackney Music Service in London.
Gear: Drumsound, Evans, UFIP Bionic, Tama hardware, LP, Contemporanea, Vater 8A.
