La Villa Strangiato is a project born from the vision of Gabriele Ferrari and Carlo Fattorini, two well-established musicians with extensive international experience gained with the band “Yessongs Italy.” Their mission is to recreate the complete production of Rush during the 70s and early 80s—the era of the band’s peak popularity.
Formed in 2010, the band debuted their first show (entirely dedicated to the album Exit… Stage Left) in Rome in March 2011, thanks to the collaboration of several fellow musicians. Since then, they have had the honor of performing at some of Europe’s premier venues, such as Spirit Of 66 in Belgium and Boerderij in the Netherlands, leading up to their successful UK debut in 2014.
Following the acclaim of their UK tour, they were selected to perform at “Rush Eucon” (www.rusheucon.co.uk), the premier European convention for Rush fans. As their popularity grew, they launched the “Rush 40” production for the 2014/2015 season—a special concert celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Canadian trio. This show toured five different countries (UK, Italy, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands), appearing in major clubs, festivals, and outdoor events.
In 2016, while touring with “Signals Under Pressure,” the band was chosen to play at Rushfest Scotland alongside original Rush producer Terry Brown. In 2017, they returned to “Rush Eucon” with a show dedicated to the legendary album 2112, once again joined by Terry Brown. This was followed by the 2018 production “Stranger Spheres” (celebrating the 40th anniversary of Hemispheres) and the 2019 performance of the entire live album A Show of Hands.
Their most significant challenge came in 2020 with the show “Permanent Changes.” Despite the global pandemic, the band used the period to evolve and solidify their position in the international market with a new lineup. Joining founding member Gabriele Ferrari are drummer Luca Urbinati and, hailing directly from the UK, guitarist Neil Smith, a well-known figure within the Rush fan community.
Since then, the band has embarked on the most successful tours of their career: “Different Men on Stage,” “Crush Under Pressure,” and “Better People, Better Food and Better Beer.” This journey leads them to their brand-new 2026 production, a special tour celebrating 15 years of activity.
Band Members
Gabriele Bibbi Ferrari
Vocals Bass and Synthesizer
"Bibbi" was born in Rome in 1977 and already as a child he became curious and passionate about Rock and Progressive music, listening to old family albums.
At the age of 11 he discovers a Hagstrom bass under his parents’ bed bought by his father many years earlier, a bass he still owns, now unrecognizable, massacred by numerous youthful alterations, and he falls madly in love with that instrument, starting to study as an autodidact.
At the age of 15, at the Castle of Rome for the Emergenza Rock event, he performed his first real live show. A versatile bassist, he expresses himself in various musical genres, collaborating with many bands and musicians to whom he owes a lot for his professional growth and for his breakthrough as a multi-instrumentalist.
In 2004 he realizes the dream of a lifetime by paying homage to his heart band, RUSH, first as a bass player in the Roman band "Snowdogs" and subsequently - from 2010, the year in which he founded LA VILLA STRANGIATO - in the multi-instrumental "role" of Geddy Lee .
Although Rush is his favorite band, his bass idol is the late Chris Squire of Yes; since 2009, in fact, he has had the privilege of emulating its unique sound and charisma as part of the band "Yessongs Italy", the first band with which he has trod international soil.
He loves to eat and drink a lot and he doesn’t hide it, he speaks English with a "Roman" accent, something very dear to his friends in the United Kingdom, and he is obsessed with hair loss
Luca Urbinati
Drums and percussions
Luca Urbinati is an Italian drummer based in Aprilia, near Rome. Self-taught and behind the kit since 1993, he developed his style through years of practice, live work, and a deep love for progressive rock. Endurance, dynamics, and odd-meter control are at the core of his playing—but always with one priority: serving the music.
Raised on the unmistakable drumming of Neil Peart, Luca also drew major inspiration from early Dream Theater and Mike Portnoy, alongside rock and melodic classics like Triumph, Supertramp, Eagles, Journey, and Loudness. Over the years he has played in several Italian projects, including progressive metal bands ZEN (later known as Karnya) and Neverdream, building experience across demanding arrangements and live settings.
Today Luca is also the drummer for the Italian gothic hard-rock band BLAX, and he brings that same energy and attention to detail to La Villa Strangiato, a Rush cover band dedicated to recreating the Rush experience as faithfully as possible. From tight grooves to shifting time signatures, his mission is to keep the band locked, the dynamics alive, and the songs hitting with the power and precision they deserve.
Neil M Smith
Guitars
Neil M Smith was born in Yorkshire, England and still terrorises a small village near the city of Doncaster. He started playing guitar around the age of 11 but doesn’t remember why. His musical influences range from progressive to classic rock and jazz. Over the course of his long life (assumed to be around 1000 years old) he has listened to and absorbed every form of music since his teens - in the early 70s - drawing inspiration from T. Rex, Roxy Music, David Bowie, Procol Harum and Yes.
He can often be seen knitting spaghetti and hand gliding with oak tables.
Always smiling and with his typical humour, he sums up his life thus:
1. No chocolate biscuits are safe.
2. Aliens abducted him and returned him straight away as they didn’t feel safe.
3. The guard wire on his fence at home is to keep him in.
4. he Has two arms and two legs.
5. he Doesn’t understand Italian.
6. lui Was forced to play in LVS as Gabrielle B. Ferrari obtained blackmail photos of Neil at garden
parties wearing white summer trousers and playing croquet.
7. he Only recently realized that he had to tune guitars after they left the shop.
8. he Never wanted to play guitar for a living, always wanted to be a lumberjack, leaping from tree to
tree…
9. Never put cheese next to onions in the fridge, that‘s nothing to do with Neil, it’s just to make up
the ten items about Neil…
10. Neil simply can’t count.
11. There is no 11 as only 10 things were required.