Federico Giampieri

Federico with Gerry and Dewey after the Barcelona concert on September 24, 1996.

Meet Federico Giampieri from Senigallia, Italy.

I live in the city of Senigallia that's in Marche. I think I'm the biggest fan of America in Italy! I'm 26 years old and I've been listening to America since I was 12. The first songs I heard were that of "America's Greatest Hits" of 1975. Now I have all their albums: right now I'm listening to "Hourglass". In Italy it's not so famous but I can tell that it's one of Gerry and Dewey's best Works: it added a new way to create music with their old way of music (that's fantastic!). However I think they lost something when Dan Peek left them. In fact the uniqueness of America is that everyone could tell who was making a song between Dewey and Gerry and, in the past, Dan too. This was so much so that it seems they had two, and three in the past, ways to make a song. I'm very happy that in "Hourglass" they have made a lot of songs together and more than in the past (I remember "High in the city" in 1976, and few others!).

I work as an employer in an insurance agency and I'm studying software enginering. I think I can speak a lot about America because, after 14 years of listening to them, I have a lot of experience of their way of music. The song I love is "Horse with no name" but all of their songs are marvelous. In "Hourglass" I find "Call of the Wild" and "Greenhouse" and "Garden of peace" as the pieces that make you remember the old America; in particular "Call of the wild" for the way they play the Guitars; in "Greenhouse" for the Dewey's magic touch of Rythm; and in "Garden of peace", that is the best on the CD, you can find the unique Music of Dewey and the great and quiet way of Gerry's music.

But I feel blue thinking I'll never see them in a live concert in Italy: On 17-22 June they'll be in France, which is about a one day trip from Italy.

I have created a "primitive" work made under the inspiration of years and years of listening to Gerry's sweet songs. It's not a beautiful song but it's all I can do with my limited knowledge of music. It's titled "Inspiration" (49K MIDI file) and you can listen to it if you'd like. I created another song while thinking of Willie Leacox. It's not as primitive as the first but I did my best ... I can't find a title so I titled it "Simply Willie" (28K MIDI file). Additionally, I did an arrangement of "Sergeant Darkness" (22K MIDI file) which you can listen to.

Update: 26 September 1996

Here is my experience with America in Barcelona, September 23-25, 1996 (I have also included some photos):

It was wonderful! i was going away from the gallery of Luz de Gas at Barcelona 'cause it was a lot of time i was waiting for America.... I was just going when Gerry and Dewey appeard at the other side of the road; i couldn't believe what was happening: my dream was making by a coincidence. At first i couldn't say any word from my mouth, i was stopped, like a ice's statue ...Then i woke up and realized they were there, close to me! The first thing i thought was that i had to assure them i was not an insane fans and that i was there only watching them: every moment i spent on listening them was passing in front of my eyes, they were shining in front of me.

They greeted me and i said them i was driven for 1300 km only to see and listen to them and they seemed glad to hear that! Then i asked to a man, that was with them , where Mr.Palmer and Mr. Woods were, he answered they were at the hotel, then i asked for Willie, Willie Leacox and, instantly, a man appeard: Willie, he was!! -You're marvelous - i said to him and he smiled. all this happend in 3 minutes then they went into the disco "luz de Gas"for the meeting with journalists. I was waiting they came out asking to the man at the door to let me to go in butit was impossible till the owner of the local told me i could go in if i 'd been in silence. I went into Luz and watched them until they finished their meeting. You can immagine what happened then: photos, a little talk with Gerry and Dewey and Willie and all kept to be wonderful and marvelous!!!!! Gerry, Dewey and Willie too were Very kindly with me: maybe i was irritating them but.....but this is the result of their art: make me to drive for 1300km and ask them a lot of questions....:) . While i was going around them a man of the band come close to me, i asked -Hi who are you?-He said: -Scott!, i'm the tour manager-; i think he could be Scott Harder, he was very kindly with me all the time; he asked to me - will you be there tonight?- he meaant the first night ofthe concert; I answered not 'cause the first and the second nights at "Luz de Gas" were only for the membersof that club and only by invitation but i assured him that if i'd were i were came!. At that point the other owner of the local came near me and asked me if I wanted to be there at first and second night, i said -OF COURSE- and he let me to be there. I couldn't believe, i couldn't believe anything of what was happening to me......but it was happening and i was there!!! Then they went away and when they were out i asked to Gerry about "Van Go Gan" and he said to me it was only for Japan!!! Then i greet them. I spent the first and The second night to wait for them out of the local and then i listened the concert into local, the distance beetween me and them was around 2 meters!!!! Everytime i met them they greeted me kindly and smiling! In particular the second night i followed Beckley and i went under the scenes: i saw him walking some minutes before the concert till i was made to go out by the Security of "Luz de Gas": infact i was falling to stay there but.....i didn't understand so much of what i was doing, as you can understand! That night i could take their autographes, Brad's and Michael's and Willie's one too. The third night i met Dewey at the entrance of Luz and i greeted him, he said to me: -How are you? it's the third night here for you...!- Obviousely the third night was the badest for me :it was the last at Barcelona for them and i 'll never see them so close to them !!!....:'(.

At the end of concert Dewey went away and Gerry remained at ""Luz de Gas" with the rest of all the Band. I went close to him, asking if my girlfriend could kiss him, and he said -yes-. Then i remind him about their last concert in Italy and prayed him to came in Italy next year. Then i went THANKING HIM for America's art, for all band's kindness and.......for all the rest.

The concert was open by Riverside: it was marvelous with the Willie's Drums so that it was in! greenMonkey. i thought the same when they played "you can do magic": Dewey and Gerry can do magic!!! Then when they sung "only in your heart" i thought they are the "only in MY heart"!!!. Brad sung in don't cross the river, lonely people, remind us how great Dan Peek was. I need you and muskrat love were so sweet with Gerry's live voice and Daisy jane was played By Gerry at piano as in Mirror to mirror, Sergeant Darkness, The last unicorn and Another try. America's release of California dreamin' and everyone i meet is from california, with the Dewey's warm voice made me to dance while then i sung his Ventura Highway. The best were Syster golden hair and Horse with no name, with the strong energy of Michael's guitar and that energy come into me and returned out of me by my loud out voice while i was singing those songs. The gift for all fans was "All my life" that Gerry' sung with only his guitar.

Gerry, Dewey, Willie, Michael Brad and Scott,if you're reading this page, i want to Thank YoU All again for making my dream be real, sure, this is the first dream of mine that became real, i love you all and i never stop to be you're Best Fan in Italy as i told you: my sons will know this story that happened to me and my children will grow up with me and with your music, and they will know that a dream can be real if you do want it. You don't know all my reasons 'cause i love you: you're are a part of my spirit: you were here when i needed to find myself, my destiny, my life....... Thanx Guys, Thanx and sure you'll find me again at your next concert in Europe.

Update: 5 December 1997

Here is another experience I had in March of 1997 during my holiday:

I was at Canazei, a tourist city for skiing situated on Alpi's mountain. It was March 1997 and I was there with my cousin and two friends. We often go there for three or four days every year and at night we always go to Gatto nero, a pub which has live music played by two guys. When we all go there, every year, the owner always says "ooohhh noooooo" because we usually take the hand of all the people who are there chatting and, following the music, we invite them to dance all together (the pub is very, very small!!!! and the waiters can't work well if we dance).

One evening when we were very tired (because we have much sky during the morning and noon) we decided to go to the pub without doing anything. That night I sat down close to the guitarist and the whole time he was playing I kept saying to him "You can't play Horse With No Name, it's too difficult for you. If you try to sing and play it, you could ruin it ....." ..... and I kept saying this the entire time! After a while, when everyone was sitting and talking they started to play and sing Horse. I'm telling the truth ..... everyone stood up from their tables and started to sing, shout, and dance. They all started clapping their hands to the rhythm and dancing on the tables!!!! I couldn't believe my eyes. All that was happening because they were playing Horse!

That night was a strange night, I couldn't remember anything else that happened in that pub!!!! My friends said "If those guys could liven everyone up so much, imagine what the real America could do?" I answered them, "You can't imagine, you really can't!!"

Update: 30 August 1998

Here is a link to some photos from the Sheboygan, Wisconsin concert that I went to on August 22, 1998. I'll write about it later.

Feel free to send your comments or questions to Federico.