Zetazeroalfa


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Fronted by CasaPound Italia (House of [Ezra] Pound Italy, CPI) leader Gianluca Iannone, Zetazeroalfa (ZZA) is a rock 'n roll band deeply rooted in neo-fascist political culture. Founded before CPI itself in the late 1990s, the band serves as an integral component of CPI's cultural network. After its foundation, ZZA quickly became an important part of Rome's extreme right-wing subculture, and is closely linked to the Cutty Sark bar in the city's Monti neighborhood. It is an essential channel in the promotion of CPI's ideals in Italy and abroad. To this end, ZZA plays an important role in the recruitment and socialization of CPI members.

The band "represent a synthesis of the mind-set of CPI activists, translating into song not only their ideas, but also their passions, fears, choices and beliefs," according to Caterina Froio and her co-authors (Froio et al. 2020: 89). This is evident in ZZA's celebration of violence in lyrics including "nel dubbio, mena" (if in doubt, beat up) or "amo questo mio popolo fiero che non conosce pace" (I love my proud people who don't know peace). One of the band's best-known songs is "Cinghiamattanza" ("Belt Massacre"), which includes the lyrics "solo la casta guerriera practica cinghiamattanza" (only the warrior caste practices the belt massacre). When performed live, the song is often accompanied by a violent ritual whereby participating fans remove their belts and whip one another, sometimes to the point of bleeding.

Music is part of CPI's broader cultural programme, which includes the magazine The National Primacy, the Internet radio station Black Flag Radio, and online TV channel Turtle TV. Many of its activities target young people as part of its recruitment strategy.

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