The Trip - s/t 1970 / "Caronte" 1971 / "Atlantide" 1972 / "Time of Change" 1973

British-Italian progressive rock band of the early 70's. While their career was less successful than Italian bands of the progressive rock movement, such as Primiata Forneria Marconi, or Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso, they were very popular for a few years, and were very much appreciated by critics, especially because of their talented leader, keyboard player Joe Vescovi, who is often reffered to as the Italian counterpart to Keith Emerson. The band is also notable as British guitar player Ritchie Blackmore was in the lineup before joining Deep Purple.

The band was established in London in 1966 when Riki Maiocci of I Camaleonte fame decided to create a new band to explore the new oppertunities brought about by the advent of psychedelic rock. In London, Maiocci had met with Ian Broad, who joined Maiocci's project; they also recruited Ritchie Blackmore (guitar), Arvid "Wegg" Andersen (bass/vocals), and William Grey (also on guitar). The band debuted in Italy as "Maiocci and the Trip." Blackmore left in December 1966 and returned to London where he continued as a session musician until 1968 when he joined Deep Purple. He was replaced by Luciano Galdolfi. When Galdolfi, Maiocci, and Broad left, new and fundamental additions were made to the personnel. Namely Joe Vescovi (keyboards), and Pino Sinnone (drums).

In 1970, the band (who had been renamed "The Trip") signed with RCA Italiana, releasing their first eponymous LP. At the time, progressive rock was not yet clearly identified as a genre: The Trip is in fact, a rather traditional rock and blues album. Also in 1970, the band was featured in a surrealistic Italian movie entitled: Terzo Canale: Avventura Monte Carlo.

The Trip's second release, Caronte, (1971) was a major shift towards progressive rock. It was a concept album which blended mythological themes, structured compositions, and virtuoso keyboard plating by Viscovi. It payed tribute to rock giants Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin.

After Caronte, Grey andSinnone left; a new drummer was hired, Furio Chirico. This lineup released Atlantide (1972). At the time, The Trip had become a trio (keyboard, bass, and drums) and their overall sound came as close as ever to that of Emerson, Lake, & Palmer.

In 1973, that same lineup released the last official album of the band: Time of Change, this time, with the label Trident. This too was a mythology-themed concept album, with a sound that blended progressive rock with some jazz elements.




After Time of Change the group disbanded, with Chirico leaving to establish his own band Arti e Mestieri, that also had some success on the Italian progressive rock scene. Viscovi joined the band Aqua Fragile, and then Dik Dik, one of the most popular Italian pop-rock bands of the time.