CElectrified curly apelli, handlebar mustache, Livio Macchia was the soul and face of the chameleons, one of the most loved beat bands of Italian music. A few days ago he had returned to play to celebrate 60 years of the chameleons. The concert, entitled “Livio Macchia & Friends”, In Salento, it was his last embrace to the public. After a long disease Livio Macchia died at 83 years old.
Goodbye Livio Macchia, founder and leader of chameleons
Originally from Acquaviva delle Fonti, in the province of Bari, Macchia had left his Puglia for Milan. And here he gave birth to the chameleons, in 1963, together with Riki Maiocchi and Paolo De Ceglie. Today all the leading figures of the group are gone.
From the hour of love to me for her: the most famous songs
The band conquered the general public thanks to a mix of harmonious vocality and melodic refinement. As he used then, they performed covers in Italian language of famous songs. Claudio villa and soft music played, the smooth for the older ones, the rock for the youngest. Also facing different genres. From there the name: chameleons.
The chameleons, in the province of Milan in 1972: from the left Livio Macchia (guitar, bass), Antonio Cripezzi, Tonino (voice), Paolo De Ceglie (drums), Gerardo Manzoli (Photo by Rino Petrosino/Mondadori via Getty Images)
In 1966 they released the first album, The Best Records in the World, with Italian versions of songs by foreign artists from Bob Dylan to the Beatles, from Herman’s Hermits to Rolling Stones. To reach the summit of the rankings with The hour of love (Homburg of the Procol Harum) in 1968. The bis was I for her (Cover of To give by Frankie Valli), followed applause. At the Sanremo Festival 1970 they achieved another success, eternity in pairs with Ornella Vanoni. With why I love you, a record for the summer won three years later.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc0qlw7qre4
As he told in an interview with CourierLivio Macchia imagined to deserve paradise: «I was too good, they all want me well, we lived a great, beautiful adventure. I still love being on stage, 60 years of activity are a record, I miss the square, the lights, the tests. Even people’s selfies even if they are a breakage of boxes ».