Italian pop and rock band Baustelle was formed in 1996 in Montepulciano, Tuscany. Comprising Francesco Bianconi (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Claudio Brasini (guitar) and Rachele Brasteghi (vocals, keyboards, percussion), it has been operating as a trio since the successive departures of Mirko Cappelli and Michele Angiolini in 2002, followed by Fabrizio Massara in 2005 and Claudio Chiari in 2007. Influenced by alternative rock, the band combines various influences, emphasizing both electronic instrumentation and literary references. After releasing their first independent album, Sussidiario illustrato della giovinezza, in the summer of 2000, the critically acclaimed band followed this up with La moda del lento (2003), which broadened their musical palette and audience thanks to video airplay on MTV. The most prominent of the independent groups signed with Warner Music Italy and recorded La malavita (2005), which reached No. 33 and gave the musicians their first gold disc. This was only the beginning of their success, which intensified with the albums Amen (No. 4 in 2008), I mistici dell'Occidente (No. 5 in 2010), Fantasma (No. 2 in 2013) and the diptych formed by L'amore e la violenza (No. 2 in 2017) and L'amore e la violenza, Vol. 2 (No. 4 in 2018). The group, which released Elvis en 2023 (no. 4), has received several awards, including the Targa Tenco (2008), the Best Original Song Award for "Piangi Roma" in 2009 and the Lunezia Award for the album Fantasma in 2013. He was nominated for the David di Donatello Award in 2009 for the soundtrack to the film Giulia non esce la sera. April 2024 saw the release of the tenth album El Galactico, featuring a brass and string section.
