MÅNESKIN: Music’s Newest Dirty Good Time
A young, dark-haired man, in various states of undress, stumbles around on stage in a pair of shiny, sky-high boots. He shakes a bottle of champagne, spraying his three cohorts in celebration before throwing himself into a chair, raising his naked leg to the sky. His bandmates cheer his antics while attempting to answer the questions being barked at them by a room full of reporters.
The origin story of Måneskin is a veritable straight line compared to most bands. In the handful of years since their conception, the group has remained unplagued by lineup changes and management problems, issues that seem to haunt so many other groups. The Italian pop glam quartet; consisting of Victoria De Angelis on bass, Thomas Raggi on guitar, Damiano David on vocals, and Ethan Torchio on drums, formed in 2015, while still teenagers. Forsaking social lives and extracurricular activities, the group practiced tirelessly for the next two years. Performing wherever they could make a stage, often busking on the street corners of Rome, the group never passed up an opportunity for exposure.
In 2017 that drive would lead them to join the cast of The X Factor Italy. Although they were armed with an arsenal of original and cover songs, the band was warned they wouldn’t get far, as rock acts were unpopular. They would defy the odds by ultimately placing second in the competition. This seems to be the overarching theme of Måneskin’s early career. Being told they were offering something no one wanted while simultaneously gaining in popularity. Thus becoming the band everyone and no one saw coming. Indeed, the group was told entering the Sanremo Music Festival was pointless, but again they would prove the naysayers wrong by winning the contest and the opportunity to represent Italy in Eurovision 2021. Måneskin’s rock act was considered a long shot to win the famous competition that so often championed lighthearted, vaguely patriotic pop songs. But, on May 22nd of this year, they would do just that with their song, Zitti e Buoni, poising themselves for world domination a mere six years after their conception.
Måneskin’s sound and aesthetic span several genres of rock music, with members listing influences from Guns n’ Roses and The Doors to Iggy Pop and the Rolling Stones. Often adorning matching catsuits, leather and lace ensembles, or wide-collared Gucci suits, the band conjures a unique mixture of Led Zeppelin-esque arena and decedent glam rock with a touch of gritty, Detroit punk. The singles “I Wanna Be Your Slave” and “Mammamia” drive forward the band’s sexy, down and dirty image, while their popular sleeper hit, a cover of the 1967 classic “Beggin”, originally released by The Four Seasons, continues to climb the charts.
Making good on the promise set forth by disappointing industry darlings like Greta Van Fleet, Måneskin delivers the spirit of rowdy, unwashed ‘70s rock n’ roll without being an outdated carbon copy. The group's youthful authenticity and half-naked antics, layered over driving bass lines and skillful drum fills have endeared them to an international audience in a way that hasn’t been seen by the music industry in quite some time. Although, their harem of faithful groupies live on social media. The band’s young age has ensured their skillful use of platforms such as TikTok without detracting from their musicianship. In fact, the foursome’s seemingly effortless execution is what leaves room for their ever-popular shenanigans. Describing themselves as a “dirty good time” their live performances often consist of stage diving and stripping.
The group has been dubbed a savior of rock music in comment sections the world over, but unlike many of the acts they draw inspiration from, Måneskin has made activism a priority. With two members, Victoria De Angelis and Ethan Torchio, identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ community, the foursome has been vocal about their support of queer rights in their home country as well as around the world. With male band members often kissing on stage as a form of protest.
Recently, Måneskin made their U.S. television debut on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, followed by sold-out shows at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City and The Roxy in Los Angeles. As well as a coveted gig opening for The Rolling Stones at their recent Las Vegas tour date, and several award show performances. As for critics dubbing the group another flash in the pan, with 5 million Instagram followers and 3.5 billion artist streams across several platforms, the band’s growing popularity shows no sign of slowing down any time soon.
