"A poet has left us today": Francesco Guccini as told by his colleagues and others

This morning, Francesco Guccini’s music could once again be heard blaring out in Via Paolo Fabbri in Bologna, the street where the singer-songwriter lived until 2012. Outside Guccini’s historic home at number 43, people have left bouquets of flowers and cards in memory of the great artist.

A reserved figure, nicknamed ‘il Maestrone’ not only for his imposing physical stature but also for his cultural stature (as revealed by the frequent literary references in his discography, from Cyrano to Madame Bovary, who also lends her name to the 1987 album), the singer-songwriter had retired from the music scene in 2012, apart from a very brief comeback in 2022, stating that “One must retire when one has reached the peak of one’s abilities”.

Francesco Guccini died today at the age of 86. He was remembered not only by numerous colleagues from the world of music but also by politicians from across the political spectrum, demonstrating just how art can become a unifying force even for those who hold ideals that are in stark contrast.

Among the first public messages was one from the members of Premiata Forneria Marconi – better known by the acronym PFM – the legendary progressive rock band from Milan, who wrote on their social media: “Hello Francesco, a big hug to your family and bon voyage to you. You’ll always be here, even if in another dimension. Keep writing.”

Then there is the tribute from Gianni Morandi, a contemporary and fellow Emilian of Guccini’s: “Whenever we met, he always had extraordinary stories to tell – stories of the mountains, of our Emilia, stories of music and of life. A true poet has left us. Farewell, Francesco,” reads a social media post. “‘Francesco Guccini has left this wretched world,’ wrote the unmistakable Antonello Venditti, thanking his colleague for his work. ‘He leaves us with a number of masterpieces as an eternal testament to a 20th century that refuses to die in our hearts. You will be missed by the future and by all of us.’ Fiorella Mannoia, meanwhile, wrote just a few simple yet powerful words: ‘Today we are a little lonelier. Farewell, Cirano.’

Vasco Rossi’s post comes from a musical generation that followed Guccini’s: “Hello Francesco. You’ve led a life full of music and art; you were never ‘in vogue’ but always relevant and true to your songs. Though from different generations, you were the great Master, and I was the novice pupil. We breathed the same air – between the Via Emilia and the Roxy Bar. You will remain in our hearts forever.”

Luciano Ligabue also remembers the singer-songwriter with great affection: “I have admired you and continue to admire you boundlessly, but even more than that, I have loved you and truly do love you.” The two artists collaborated not in music, but on the big screen: in the 1998 film "Radiofreccia", Ligabue’s directorial debut, Guccini played the role of Adolfo, the gruff owner of the bar "Laika".

The Maestrone’s artistic and personal legacy was also honoured by the Italian Society of Authors and Publishers (SIAE), which wrote on its social media: “Today we have lost an immense voice in Italian singer-songwriting”, adding that “His songs will remain with us: in the stories he has left us, in the verses we know by heart, in the moments when we will continue to rediscover him. Thank you for everything, Maestro.”

Among the politicians who paid tribute to the singer-songwriter, the secretary of the Democratic Party, Elly Schlein, was one of the first: “He never stopped standing up for the underprivileged and speaking the truth, even when it was uncomfortable. In an age of slogans and noise, he reminded us of the value of thought, memory and beauty,” said Schlein, offering her condolences and those of the party to the family.

The President of the Lazio Region, Francesco Rocca, chose the lyrics from the song ‘Canzone per un’amica’ to pay tribute to Guccini: “I’d like to remind you of how you were and that, just like back then, you’re smiling”. Rocca described the artist as “one of our country’s greatest storytellers, a true chronicler of stories capable of transcending time and portraying with depth the love, friendship, civic commitment, anxieties and hopes of entire generations”. The leader of Italia Viva, Matteo Renzi, on the other hand, quoted a more niche song, ‘Shome’r ma mi-llailah?’, and wrote on social media: “Francesco Guccini has left us, but his songs remain. Because they are part of our lives and always will be. The search for meaning and civic engagement, love and politics: everything in Guccini takes on depth and beauty”.

Luca Zaia also paid tribute to the singer-songwriter: “Italy has lost a great songwriter; we have all lost a piece of our youth,” said the President of the Veneto Regional Council. Zaia went on to add: “He made us think, even with his strong and unconventional stances; he fostered a sense of belonging without imposing it, and knew how to speak to our conscience whilst always preserving the freedom of the poet. Even in a powerful and unforgettable title such as "Dio è morto", there was no denial of faith, but rather a condemnation of false certainties and the hope – never lost – of a rebirth.”