One of my very first dates with my (now) husband was a concert by Lucio Dalla and Francesco De Gregori in Taranto, in 1979.
We were to meet in the doorway of the apartment block where I was living. Vito was about half an hour late, having forgotten the time while in the shower. For a young and conspicuously non-Italian female (for which read, fair game to all the town’s many male sleazebags), waiting in a doorway for any length of time on a Saturday(?) night in 1979 Taranto was not a pleasant experience.
I persevered and, when Vito eventually turned up, went to the concert. It was wonderful. But 33 years on, I still take second place to the shower.
Lucio Dalla died yesterday, 1 March 2012, of a heart attack. Like Davy Jones, who died a couple of days ago, he was only in his ’60s. Here he is, singing “Caruso”.
By Marian Dougan