Il Teatro Degli Orrori (The Theatre of Horrors) may well be the best Italian band of the last 30 years. Their debut album, Dell’Impero delle Tenebre, is simply stunning—packed with hooks, unbridled energy bursting from the vinyl grooves, and an overall astounding vitality. At the heart of it all is lead singer Pierpaolo Capovilla, who delivers his profound and poetic lyrics with a style that falls somewhere between John Lydon and the Beastie Boys. Even now, the album still shakes me to the core, and it’s absolutely worth discovering.
Three more albums followed, each with its own magic and charm. Despite lineup changes, the band’s future seemed bright—until 2016, when personal issues were cited as the reason for a break in touring. Then, surprisingly, there was silence. Nothing more was heard from the band. That is, until late 2024, when—to my delight—it was announced that a tour, the Never Say Never tour, had been scheduled for early 2025. Nine dates across Italy, with tonight’s gig at Alcatraz in Milan marking the final show. Even better, it seemed that Capovilla would be joined by original members Gionata Mirai (guitar), Giulio Ragno Favero (bass), and Francesco Valente (drums).
Since that announcement, however, two of the nine shows—one of them the gig immediately preceding tonight’s—were canceled, though apparently not due to issues within the band itself. This uncertainty has added an edge to the proceedings, with fingers crossed that the show actually happens, because tonight is all that matters. The music, the band—it all has to stand up and be counted.
I have no idea what their game plan is—no mention tonight of future commitments or projects—but what I do know is that tonight was blissful. I’ve been to this venue many times, but I’ve never heard such a clear, pristine sound, especially for the bass and drums. The guitar was flawless, and Capovilla was magnificent. I last saw them 12 years ago, and somehow, everything tonight felt fresher. The dynamics were executed better, seamlessly shifting from intimate moments to walls of noise, depending on how Capovilla wanted to deliver his vocals and express his words. His voice was, if anything, louder in the mix than usual, as if the message in his lyrics was the most important takeaway from the night.
They open with the first three songs from their debut album, and from the first note, the place exploded. The venue was packed—not just with hardcore fans, but also with a younger crowd, eager to understand why this band means so much to so many. Together, they created a frenzied, electrified dance floor.
There were no new songs, just carefully chosen album tracks from their four LPs. Yes, Il Teatro Degli Orrori is a political band—like The Clash. Perhaps it’s more accurate to say that Capovilla is a figurehead, much like Joe Strummer was. Either way, it’s rare—especially today—for a band to express social concerns and political insights through music. To confront the world we live in, to hold up a mirror to humanity and ask what we are doing (or failing to do). It might not appeal to everyone, fair enough. It’s painless to shrug shoulders and say I don’t care or want to hear anything like that. But Capovilla’s poetic diatribes are captivating; it’s easy to listen, be drawn in and be moved.It’s refreshing to be at a gig where your brain, not just your body, is fully engaged.
For the encore, Capovilla returned,cigarette in hand and said that he had woken up at 7:30 that morning and whilst having his first coffee and cigarette of the day, he heard the news of more deaths in Gaza during what was supposed to be a ceasefire. As chants of “Free Palestine” erupted from the crowd, the band launched into Padre Nostro (Our Father), a song that essentially asks: If there is a God, then come save us. But if there isn’t, then it’s up to us.
With today’s youth culture, so lacking in guidance, with social media dictating the very poor narrative, the idea of finding enlightenment through music—like the social movements of the ‘60s and ‘80s—may seem outdated. But ….it’s still the most powerful way to do it.
Long live Il Teatro Degli Orrori.
This was the best or let’s say most important concert I’ve been to in years.I sincerely hope they find a way to continue. The support is there; the lighting and sound crew were brilliant, and if tonight’s 3000-strong crowd in Milan is any indication, there’s still an eager audience open to listening.
Setlist:Vita mia
Dio mio
Elei venne!
Disinteressati e indifferent Due
È colpa mia
Lavorare stanca
La canzone di Tom
Direzioni diverse
Il Terzo Mondo
Vivere e morire a Treviso
Majakovskij
Io cerco te
Il lungo sonno (Lettera aperta al Partito
Democratico)
Non vedo l'ora
Compagna Teresa
Encore:Padre Nostro
A sangue freddo
Mai dire mai
Lezione di musica
Encore 2
Maria Maddalena
