Rockin'1000
Over a thousand musicians playing rock simultaneously.
The Rockin'1000 began as a project in Cesena, Italy, when over a thousand musicians came together in July 2015 to perform rock songs from various decades. Their original goal was to persuade the Foo Fighters to play in their town. Organized through crowdfunding by Fabio Zaffagnini, the group has since reunited for multiple events and earned the nickname "the biggest band in the world." Their first performance was led by Marco Sabiu.
Each new concert includes returning musicians from previous shows along with open spots for newcomers. On 7 July 2019, in Frankfurt’s Commerzbank Arena, 1,002 musicians played 18 songs for 15,000 spectators, setting a world record for the largest performing rock band. The lineup featured hundreds of guitarists, bassists, drummers, keyboardists, and singers, plus wind and string sections, covering classics by Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, Oasis, Depeche Mode, and others.
In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the group was asked to perform John Lennon’s "Give Peace a Chance" for the opening of the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 final in Turin. The performance was pre-recorded in Piazza San Carlo and later continued by the live audience at the PalaOlimpico, joined by co-presenters Alessandro Cattelan and Mika.
On 1 October 2022, Rockin'1000 played their first South American concert at Allianz Parque in São Paulo, performing for over 30,000 spectators. The lineup included musicians from past shows and new members from Brazil, with invited artists Supla and Sérgio Dias hosting the event.
- field
- Music
- nationality
- Italian
- known_for
- Largest performing rock band (world record)
Lore & Background
The Rockin'1000 was first assembled in July 2015 in Cesena, Italy, through a crowdfunding effort by Fabio Zaffagnini. Their initial performance was directed by Marco Sabiu. The project was created as a way to ask the Foo Fighters to visit Cesena. Since then, the group has been reassembled for subsequent performances, always including musicians from previous concerts and opening spots for new members in each city. On 7 July 2019, the Rockin'1000 played 18 songs at the Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt, Germany, with 1,002 musicians performing before an audience of 15,000 spectators, achieving the world record for the largest performing rock band. The performance featured hundreds of guitarists, bass players, drummers, keyboardists, singers, wind sections, and string sections, playing rock classics by Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, Oasis, Depeche Mode, and others. In reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the group was enlisted to perform John Lennon's 'Give Peace a Chance' for the opening of the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin. The performance was pre-recorded in Piazza San Carlo and later continued by the live audience at the PalaOlimpico singing along, supported by co-presenters Alessandro Cattelan and Mika. On 1 October 2022, the Rockin'1000 performed at Allianz Parque in São Paulo, Brazil, in front of more than 30,000 spectators, marking their first concert in South America. Among the performers were musicians from previous concerts and new members from Brazil, with invited artists Supla and Sérgio Dias participating and hosting the concert.
Reader's Guide
The Rockin'1000 is significant as a large-scale musical project that brought together over a thousand musicians to perform rock music simultaneously, achieving a world record for the largest performing rock band. Originating in Cesena, Italy, in July 2015, the group was initially a creative crowdfunding effort to invite the Foo Fighters to the town. Their subsequent appearances, including a record-setting concert in Frankfurt in 2019 and a performance at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, demonstrate the project's ability to mobilize musicians across borders. The group's legacy lies in its demonstration of collective musical performance on an unprecedented scale, involving hundreds of guitarists, bass players, drummers, keyboardists, singers, and instrumental sections. Their first South American concert in São Paulo in 2022 further expanded their reach. The Rockin'1000 remains a unique phenomenon in popular music, known for its inclusive model that blends veteran participants with new members in each city.
Did You Know?
- The Rockin'1000 was originally assembled in July 2015 to ask the Foo Fighters to visit Cesena, Italy.
- On 7 July 2019, the group achieved the world record for the largest performing rock band with 1,002 musicians in Frankfurt, Germany.
- In 2022, the group performed John Lennon's 'Give Peace a Chance' for the opening of the Eurovision Song Contest final in Turin, in reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
- Their first concert in South America took place on 1 October 2022 at Allianz Parque in São Paulo, Brazil, with over 30,000 spectators.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rockin'1000?
Rockin'1000 is an Italian rock supergroup that gathers more than a thousand musicians to perform classic rock tracks spanning multiple decades in a single live set. The project holds the distinction of being the largest performing rock band in the world.
How did Rockin'1000 get started?
In July 2015, Fabio Zaffagnini launched a crowdfunding campaign in Cesena, Italy, with the lighthearted aim of convincing the Foo Fighters to book a show in their hometown. That one-off Cesena concert, conducted by Marco Sabiu, became the blueprint for what would grow into a recurring international event.
What world record does Rockin'1000 hold?
The group is recognized as the largest performing rock band on the planet, with over a thousand musicians playing simultaneously on stage. Their 7 July 2019 show at Frankfurt's Commerzbank Arena featured 1,002 performers in a single set.
Who are the key people behind Rockin'1000?
Fabio Zaffagnini conceived and crowdfunded the original 2015 Cesena concert, while Marco Sabiu served as the musical director for that first performance. The project has since expanded into a recurring series of large-scale rock events across Europe.
How does Rockin'1000 pick its musicians for each new concert?
Every edition opens spots to fresh participants while also welcoming back players who took part in earlier shows. This rolling membership model keeps the lineup evolving from one event to the next.
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