883

883 were one of the most popular bands in Italy in the 1990s, a symbol of a generation and a style that managed to blend pop, rock and electronic sounds. Founded in 1989 in Pavia by Max Pezzali and Mauro Repetto, 883 offered accessible music and lyrics that captured everyday life, adolescence and the dreams of a rapidly changing Italian province.

Max Pezzali and Mauro Repetto met in high school and shared a passion for music. In 1989 they took part in the TV show "1, 2, 3, Jovanotti!" under the name "I Pop". Although the appearance didn't bring immediate success, the duo decided to carry on with the project, changing their name to 883, inspired by the Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 motorcycle, a symbol of freedom and rebellion.

883's debut album, "Hanno ucciso l'Uomo Ragno" (1992), was a huge success, driven by the title track and songs like "Non me la menare" and "Con un deca". Produced by Claudio Cecchetto, one of the gurus of Italian pop in the previous decade, the record won over young audiences with its immediacy and its lyrics, which told common situations in simple, direct language. The album quickly climbed to the top of the Italian charts and marked the start of a dazzling career.

The second album, "Nord Sud Ovest Est" (1993), confirmed 883's success, thanks to catchy singles like "Sei un mito", "Come mai" and "Nord Sud Ovest Est". The record sold over a million copies and carried the band to victory at Festivalbar, cementing their image as spokesmen for a new generation caught between dreams of escape and everyday problems.

In 1994, however, Mauro Repetto decided to leave 883 to pursue a personal career and study in the United States. From that point on, Max Pezzali became the main face of the project, keeping the 883 name but effectively turning it into a solo-led band, backed by musicians and collaborators such as producer Pier Paolo Peroni and keyboardist Michele Monestiroli.

With the album "La donna, il sogno & il grande incubo" (1995), 883 offered a more mature sound and richer arrangements. Singles like "Gli anni" and "Una canzone d'amore" became new generational anthems.

Between 1997 and 2001, 883 released several successful albums, including "La dura legge del gol" (1997), with songs like "Nessun rimpianto" and "La regola dell'amico", and "Grazie mille" (1999), which includes the title track and "Io ci sarò". In 2001, the album "Uno in più" effectively marked the end of the 883 project, with Max Pezzali announcing his intention to carry on under his own name, debuting as a solo artist with "Il mondo insieme a te", followed in 2005 by the compilation "TuttoMax", featuring the singles from the previous record alongside 883's greatest hits. Among the albums of new material, "Time Out" (2007) and "Terraferma" (2011), he also released the live album "Max Live" (2008). Then, 2015 saw the release of his fourth album of new material, "Astronave Max", followed five years later by the fifth, "Qualcosa di nuovo".

Max Pezzali and Mauro Repetto: two paths that diverge, run parallel, and occasionally cross again. They will always be 883. And their name returned to the spotlight in 2024 when director Sydney Sibilia dedicated a hit TV series to their story, "Hanno ucciso l'Uomo Ragno – La leggendaria storia degli 883".