Richard Benson (musician)
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(May 2022) |
Richard Benson | |
|---|---|
 Benson in 2014 during a show inCiampino,Italy | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Richard Philip Henry John Benson |
| Born | 10 March 1955 Woking,Surrey,England |
| Died | 10 May 2022(aged 67) Rome,Italy |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1970-2022 |
| Labels |
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| Formerly of | Buon Vecchio Charlie |
| Spouses |
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Richard Philip Henry John Benson(10 March 1955 – 10 May 2022) was a British-Italian guitarist, singer-songwriter, and television personality.
Life
[edit]Benson was born inWoking,England, to a Belgian mother and a British father, both of which had Italian origins. His paternal great grandfather was Samuel Herbert Benson, the founder of thefirst advertising company in the UK.His grandfather, one of Sir Samuel Herbet Benson's sons, married an Italian model. Richard moved to Italy and was an active musician since his early teens.
In 2000, he suffered a serious leg injury when he fell off abridge.He claimed that the accident was the result of an assault, but there are suspicions that Benson actually attemptedsuicide,since he was diagnosed witharthritisshortly before, which is suggested to have greatly impacted his guitar playing and skills. Benson had to undergo prolongedrehabilitationto be able to walk again.[2]
In November 2016 Benson and his wife Ester Esposito appeared in a video onrepubblica.itwhere they revealed financial problems and asked for donations to pay for medical procedures. Benson can be seen stooped and hardly able to walk due to arthritis. It was also revealed that he suffered from heart problems and already had to undergosurgeryat that point.[3]
Benson died in Rome on Tuesday 10 of May 2022, at the age of 67.[4]
Musical career
[edit]In 1971, Benson recorded with the progressive rock bandBuon Vecchio Charliea self-titled LP, which was only released in 1990 when the original record company brought out some of their early productions on CD. The album features Benson on vocals and 12-string guitar.
In 1972, he took part in the festival Villa Pamphili.[5]
In 1983, he released his first single, "Animal Zoo", anItalo discoproduction.[6]In the following year he released his second single, "Renegade", a song (along with the B-side "Flash Back" ) with electro-rock tones.[7]
In 1984, he wrote and recorded music for the cult movieThe Incinerator(Italian:L'inceneritore) in which he also appeared in a small role as a street gang member.
In 1987, he produced the compilation album,Metal Attack(RCA Italy – Talent), where he sings on the trackExotic Escapethat he also co-wrote.[8]
In 1999, he released a solo album calledMadre Tortura,that featured progressive hard-rock tracks. In 2015, he releasedL'inferno dei vivion the label INRI, a rock-opera-style concept album with electronic elements, and the accompanying singleI Nani.[9]
In 2016, Benson releasedDuello madre,a digital compilation of tracks from earlier releases.[10]
In September 2019 Benson published several videos on Youtube in which he performs unpublished blues and pop songs on the classical guitar. The music is his work, while the lyrics are written by Cinzia Colibazzi.[11]
TV and movies
[edit]During the 1970s and 1980s, Benson hosted various programs about contemporary alternative music on TV and radio. In 1992 he played himself as a TV host inCarlo Verdone's successful filmDamned the Day I Met You.[12][13]
In the 1990s and 2000s, Benson often appeared as a guest on RAI, the prime Italian channel, usually judging musicians. His appearances were often over the top and satirical in nature.[citation needed]
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]- 1999:Madre Tortura
- 2015:L'inferno dei vivi– a rock-opera produced byFederico Zampaglione[14]
- 2016:Duello madre(compilation/digital downloading)
- 2024:24 back to 84
Singles
[edit]- 1983: "Animal Zoo"
- 1984: "Renegade"
- 2022: "Processione"
Albums with others
[edit]- 1990:Buon Vecchio Charlieby Buon Vecchio Charlie (recorded in 1971)
Live bootlegs
[edit]- 2003:Bootleg Infernale
- 2004:Il Natale del Male
References
[edit]- ^Vullo, Francesco (7 May 2020)."Richard Benson si racconta".Lanterna(in Italian).Retrieved6 May2024.
- ^"true believers: RICHARD BENSON".Bastonate.com.Retrieved10 June2021.
- ^Roma, Richard Benson è malato: "Sono rimasto senza un soldo, aiutatemi",Repubblica.it
- ^"Morto Richard Benson, il musicista aveva 67 anni".Fanpage.it.10 May 2022.
- ^"Villa pamphili 1972".Stampamusicale.altervista.org.Retrieved10 June2021.
- ^Richard Benson (2) – Animal Zoo,Discogs.com
- ^Richard Benson (2) – Renegade,Discogs.com
- ^(in Italian)Info at maxsmeraldi.comHe also performed four music "intermissions" inserted inbetween the tracks.Archived26 April 2012 at theWayback Machine
- ^"Richard Benson – L'inferno Dei Vivi (2015, CD)".Discogs.com.Retrieved10 June2021.
- ^"Richard Benson – Duello Madre (2016, VBR, File)".Discogs.com.Retrieved10 June2021.
- ^grossi (13 December 2020)."Richard Benson torna e canta:" Sono più vivo che mai "".Adnkronos.Retrieved21 August2021.
- ^Paolo Mereghetti.Il Mereghetti.B.C. Dalai Editore, 2010.ISBN88-6073-626-9.
- ^Roberto Chiti; Enrico Lancia; Roberto Poppi.Dizionario del cinema italiano: I Film.Gremese Editore, 2002.ISBN8884401372.
- ^(in Italian)[1]Richard Benson back in music stores with "L'inferno dei vivi" ].Panorama,18 March 2015.
External links
[edit]
- Richard BensonatIMDb
- Richard Bensondiscography atDiscogs
- Articleonla Repubblica
