Renato Zero portrayed on the cover of his LP La coscienza di Zero (a joking reference to Italo Svevo's novel La coscienza di Zeno).

Renato Zero is the stage name of Renato Fiacchini (born September 30, 1950), an Italian singer-songwriter and showman. Image File history File links Coscienza_di_zero. ... Aron Ettore Schmitz (December 19, 1861 – September 13, 1928), better known by the pseudonym Italo Svevo, was an Italian Jewish businessman and author of novels, plays, and short stories, who converted to Roman Catholicism after marrying Livia Veneziani. ... La Coscienza di Zeno (Confessions of Zeno, Conscience of Zeno, or Zenos Conscience) is an Italian novel by Italo Svevo. ... September 30 is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... The term singer-songwriter refers to performers who both write and sing their own material. ...

Biography

Early years

Renato Fiacchini was born in Rome in the Via di Ripetta, next to the Via del Corso. Nickname: The Eternal City Location within Province of Rome in the Region of Latium Coordinates: Region Latium Province Province of Rome Mayor of Rome Walter Veltroni Area    - City 1,285 km²  (496. ... The northern end of the Via del Corso between the twin churches of Santa Maria in Montesanto (left)and Santa Maria dei Miracoli (right), seen from Piazza del Popolo. ...

He quit his studies early to devote himself to his true passion, playing music and singing - though initially with little success. He replied to the criticisms (including the recurring insult Sei uno zero! - "You're a zero!") by assuming the alter-ego of Renato Zero. After several different jobs, including an appearance in an advertisement for ice-cream, he recorded his first singles in 1965: "Tu, sì", "Il deserto", "La solitudine", which were never issued. His first published single, "Non basta sai/In mezzo ai guai" (1967), sold a total of 20 copies. 0 (zero) is both a number — or, more precisely, a numeral representing a number — and a numerical digit. ...

In the late 1960s Zero's career was favoured by the glam-rock fashion, which he had somehow presaged with his sexual ambiguity and androgynous appearance. At the same time, this led him to be accused of cloning characters like David Bowie. In 1973 he issued his first LP, No! Mamma, no! (live), but with little success. The follow-up Invenzioni met the same fate. Glam is also the name of the lead singer of Wig Wam. ... Androgyny is a term derived from the Greek words andras (άνδρας) (meaning man) and gyne (γυνή) (meaning woman) that can refer to two concepts regarding the mixing of both male and female genders or having a lack of gender identification. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Birth of the "Zerophilia"

It was not until 1976 that he scored his first hit with the single "Madame", a collaboration with songwriter Franco Evangelisti and composer Pietro Pintucci, with whom Zero continued working in the years that followed. "Madame" and the album including it, Trapezio, established a regular and loyal audience for Zero. This was to increase exponentially in the following years, until he could boast a huge following of die-hard fans that he dubbed "Sorcini" ("Little Mice").

The late 1970s were indeed years of great success for Zero's character, with the LPs Zerofobia ("Zerofear", 1977), Zerolandia (1978) and Erozero (1979) topping the Italian charts. At this time Renato Zero was amongst the two or three most popular singers in Italy and his song "Il carrozzone" was already regarded, also by critics, as one of the best Italian songs ever. The name Zerolandia referred also to the moving theatre (with a capacity of 5,000) in which he gave shows throughout Italy. On numerous occasions fans would participate in the gigs, made-up like Zero and dressed in his typical bird-like and strass-decorated costumes.

In 1979 Zero played himself in the movie Ciao Nì (his usual greeting to his fans, which can be roughly translated as "Hi pal!"). In Italy this film was to be more successful than the blockbuster Superman. Christopher Reeve as the Man of Steel, Superman Superman, also known as Superman: The Movie, is a 1978 Warner Bros. ...

Zero's taste for disguises can be seen on the cover of his 1981 double album Artide Antartide.

Image File history File linksMetadata Artidezero. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Artidezero. ...

The 1980s

In the 1980s he began to abandon make-up and greasepaint, but this did not rid Zero of his mania for grandeur: in the 1980 tour, for example, he entered the scene riding a white horse. In 1982 he began a collaboration with the opera director Renato Serio, who was to write the string arrangements for almost all of Zero's following LPs. In late 1983 he took part in RAI's Fantastico 3, then the most popular Italian TV show. RAI (RAdiotelevisione Italiana and previously known as Radio Audizioni Italiane) is the Italian public service broadcaster. ...

His career continued to be successful until 1984, with top-charts songs like "Amico" ("Friend") and "Spiagge" ("Beaches"). That year, however, his album Leoni si nasce and the tour of the same name, in which he appeared disguised as a lion and escorted by four aborigines, were commercial failures. The album Zero of 1987 marked the low point of his career: instead of playing in arenas and stadiums, Zero had to sing almost for free in the piazzas and discos of Italy's minor cities. ...

1990s and 2000s: the recover

In 1991 Renato Zero participated to the Sanremo Music Festival with "Spalle al muro", and from that moment on his career began to rise again. In 1993 he was nr.1 in the Italian charts with the LP Quando non sei più nessuno. The following year Imperfetto repeated this success. During his tour concerts would regularly sell out, and he returned to his famous dress changes during the spectacles, although in a less kitsch and more balanced style. Sanremo Music Festival (Festival della canzone italiana), running since 1951, is an Italian popular song contest held annually (first part of March) in Sanremo. ...

In 2004 his tour "Cattura il sogno/Il sogno continua" (Catch the dream/The dream continues) was awarded from Pollstar magazine as the most successful of the year in Italy and as well as one of the most successful worldwide (#30). The recording af the Roman concerts, held at Olimpico Stadium in June, was the best selled musical DVD of 2004. In 2005 he took part to the Italian stage of Live 8, in the Circo Massimo. In November his new album Il dono ("The Gift") topped the charts and maintained #1 until the end of the year. In December 2005 he performed in the Vatican with a song dedicated to Pope John Paul II. Renato Zero's most recent tour started in February 2006 and is entitled Zero movimento. During some concerts held at the time of the campaign for the April 2006 elections he declared himself against former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY On 2 July, 2005, a Live 8 concert was held at the Circus Maximus, Rome, Italy. ... The Circus Maximus is a park today. ... Coat of Arms of Pope John Paul II. The Letter M is for Mary, the mother of Jesus, to whom he held strong devotion Pope John Paul II the Great (Latin: ), (Italian: Giovanni Paolo II), born   (May 18, 1920 – April 2, 2005) reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from... A general election for the renewal of the two Chambers of the Parliament of Italy was held on April 9 and April 10, 2006. ... (born 29 September 1936) is an Italian politician, entrepreneur, and media proprietor. ...

Trivia

Renato Zero dubbed the character of Jack Skelllington for the Italian version of Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas. He had also minor parts in several movies, including Federico Fellini's Satyricon. Timothy William Burton (born August 25, 1958) is an American film director, writer and designer known for his off-beat and quirky style. ... Film poster for The Nightmare Before Christmas The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) is a Tim Burton stop-action animated musical film about the inhabitants of Halloween Town who take over Christmas one year. ... Federico Fellini Federico Fellini (January 20, 1920 – October 31, 1993) was one of the most influential and widely revered Italian film-makers of the 20th century and is considered to be one of the finest film directors of all time. ... This article is about the film. ...

Discography

• No! Mamma, No! (1973)
• Invenzioni (1974)
• Trapezio (1976)
• Zerofobia (1977)
• Zerolandia (1978)
• EroZero (1979)
• Tregua (1980)
• Icaro (1981)
• Artide Antartide (1981)
• Via Tagliamento 1965/1970 (1982)
• Calore (1983)
• Leoni si nasce (1984)
• Identikit (1984)
• Soggetti smarriti (1986)
• Zero (1987)
• Voyeur (1989)
• Prometeo (1991)
• La coscienza di Zero (1991)
• Passaporto per Fonopoli (1993)
• Quando non sei più nessuno (1993)
• L'imperfetto (1994)
• Sulle tracce dell'imperfetto (1995)
• Amore dopo Amore (1998)
• Amore dopo Amore, Tour dopo Tour (1999)
• Tutti gli Zeri del mondo (2000)
• La curva dell'angelo (2001)
• Cattura (2003)
• Figli del Sogno Live 2004 (2004)
• Il Dono (2005)

1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... This page refers to the year 1979. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Official Website
• ZenZero - Official fan club
• Zeromania, fan site