Franco Battiato passes away at 76, fans pay tribute to the legendary Italian musician

Franco Battiato at 'Due Volte Delta' Photocall - The 9th Rome Film Festival (Image via Getty)

Legendary Italian singer-songwriter Franco Battiato has died at the age of 76 after losing his battle with Alzheimer’s.

The musician's family revealed that he passed away on May 18, 2021, in his castle home situated in the Sicilian town of Milo.

The composer’s works were immensely popular during the late 70s and early 80s, making him one of the biggest pop icons in Europe.

Franco’s contributions to the music industry have spanned across several genres, including pop, electronic music, rock and new wave. The multifaceted artist has also produced substantial works as a filmmaker and a painter under the pseudonym Suphan Barzani.

The iconic artist first made a mark on Italy's music scene with songs like “Bandiera Bianca”, “Centro di Gravità Permanente” and “Voglio Vederti Danzare.” He also composed “Per Elisa” for singer and long-time friend Alice. The song was the winning entry at the 1981 Sanremo Music Festival.

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Twitter reacts to Franco Battiato's demise

Emotional fans have flooded social media with tributes to Franco Battiato and his everlasting songs. Some shared the artist's lyrics as quotes to bid him farewell.

Readers can check out some of the tweet reactions below.

Franco Battiato was in the spotlight for attacking common perceptions in society by using philosophical and religious lyrics as well as sarcastic and provocative references.

It’s said that his two most notable works were 1972’s “Pollution” and 1973’s “Sulle Corde Di Aries.”

Franco Battiato gained stardom across the globe for his experimental music forms.

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