Lo Stato Sociale

Lo Stato Sociale (Italian for "The Welfare State") were an Italian band, formed in 2009 and consisting of Alberto Cazzola, Lodovico "Lodo" Guenzi, Enrico Roberto, Francesco Draicchio and Alberto Guidetti.

The group released four studio albums, two compilation albums, and eight EPs, along with a series of singles. They participated in the Sanremo Music Festival twice: in 2018 with "Una vita in vacanza" and in 2021 with "Combat Pop". "Una vita in vacanza" is also the band's biggest hit, having reached second place at Sanremo, first place on the FIMI's singles chart, and being certified double platinum.

In 2024, following the death of their manager and mentor Matteo Romagnoli, the group announced their disbandment.

History

They made their debut in 2010 with the extended play, Welfare Pop, then releasing Amore ai tempi dell'Ikea in 2011. Their debut full-length studio album, Turisti della democrazia, was released by independent record label Garrincha Dischi in 2012. Its follow-up, L'Italia peggiore, became their first charting album, peaking at number 11 on the Italian FIMI Albums Chart in 2014. In 2015, they performed for the first time at the Concerto del Primo Maggio, a televised concert promoted by Italian trade unions to celebrate the International Workers' Day. They performed at the show again in 2017 and 2018.

Their 2017 album, Amore, lavoro e altri miti da sfatare, reached number 6 in Italy. They reached mainstream success in 2018, after placing second in the 68th Sanremo Music Festival with the song "Una vita in vacanza". The performance featured 83-year-old Dancer Paddy Jones, appearing on stage with her partner Nico. The song topped the Italian Singles Chart and was featured on the band's first compilation album, Primati.