Italian progressive rock band Biglietto per L’Inferno (ticket to hell) was formed in 1972 in Lecco, in northern Italy. Even though the group released only one self-titled album in the 1970s, it is highly acclaimed and became a collector’s item.
The lineup included Claudio Canali on vocals, flute, flügelhorn; Marco Mainetti on guitar; Giuseppe “Baffo” Banfi on organ, Moog synthesizer; Giuseppe Cossa on piano, organ; Fausto Branchini on bass; and Mauro Gnecchi on drums.
The band was known for its dual keyboards, flute, powerful guitar and a harder rock edge than other bands. A second album, “Il tempo della semina,” was recorded in 1975, but it wasn’t released until years later, in 1992.
Keyboardist Baffo Banfi had a significant solo career playing cosmic electronic music. He released three solo albums: Galaxy my dear (Red Record, 1978), Ma, dolce vita (Innovative Communication, 1979) and
Hearth (Innovative Communication, 1981).
Ironically, the “ticket to hell” vocalist Claudio Canali became a hermit monk, although he came back to participate in an unexpected recording titled “Tra l’assurdo e la ragione,” released in 2010, that contains new recordings of earlier tracks in a folk-rock music format, a crossover between folk music and progrock.
Vocalist Claudio Canali died in 2018.
Discography:
Biglietto per l’Inferno (Trident, 1974)
Il tempo della semina (Mellow, recorded in 1975, 1992)
Un Biglietto per l’Inferno (BTF, 2004), boxed set
Tra l’assurdo e la ragione (AMS/BTF, 2010)
Live 1974 (BTF, 2012)
Vivi.Lotta.Pensa (AMS/BTF, 2015)