883 is one of the most beloved pop-rock acts to come out of Italy, formed in 1988 in the northern city of Pavia by two schoolmates, Max Pezzali and Mauro Repetto. The name comes from the engine size of a Harley-Davidson Sportster motorbike, a nod to the duo's shared passion for riding. With producer Claudio Cecchetto's backing, they broke through in 1991 and quickly became known for catchy, conversational songs about being young, hanging out with friends, and growing up in Italy during the 80s and 90s.
By the mid-90s Max Pezzali had become the group's main voice and songwriter, and it's his warm, nostalgic style that carries "Gli Anni," released in 1995. The song became one of the defining anthems of Italian pop music, a wistful singalong about time slipping away that still fills karaoke nights and radio airwaves decades later. Across its career, 883 and Pezzali's later solo work under his own name have sold more than ten million albums in Italy.