Pooh were born in Bologna in 1966, originally called Jaguars. The name change occurred at the suggestion of an English secretary of the Vedette record company, inspired by the character of Winnie the Pooh.
The four most famous historical members are Roby Facchinetti (vocals and keyboards), Dodi Battaglia (guitar and vocals), Red Canzian (bass and vocals) and Stefano D’Orazio (drums and vocals), a lineup that remained stable for 43 years, from 1973 to 2016. Among the historical members there is also Riccardo Fogli, bassist who joined in 1966 and left in 1973 to pursue a solo career, and Valerio Negrini, founding drummer and then lyricist of the group until his death in 2013. Regarding age, Dodi Battaglia was probably the youngest among the members of the stable lineup, having joined in 1968 at just 19 years old.
Stefano D’Orazio instead passed away in November 2020 due to pathologies aggravated by COVID-19. Dodi Battaglia also experienced the pain of the loss of his wife, who passed away in recent years.
In over 50 years of career Pooh have sold more than 100 million records, winning Sanremo in 1990 with Lonely men and signing hits like Thought, Parsifal, Who will stop the music And My friend’s woman. They were appointed Knights of the Republic by President Cossiga.
When did they break up and then reunite?
The group officially disbanded on 30 December 2016, after a farewell tour with all the historical members reunited, and then returned together in 2023. The return to the scene took place at the Sanremo Festival on 7 February 2023, with a medley of their greatest hits and a performance of Lonely men as a tribute to D’Orazio, accompanied by the announcement of a date at San Siro. A few weeks later, on February 20, they performed at the Teatro Lirico in Milan in memory of Valerio Negrini.
In the following years the group continued to be present on the Italian scene: in September 2025 they were guests at the TIM Music Awards and in the same year they appeared in Pio and Amedeo’s comedy film, Oi vita mia, released in cinemas in November. 2026 promises to be an extraordinary year for the band, which will celebrate 60 years of career with a massive tour.
Pooh’s most famous songs
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In their sixty-year career, Pooh have written and sung an endless number of songs, many of which have forever entered the collective memory of Italians. It’s impossible to rank them: each one has its own story, its own moment, its own place in the hearts of those who have listened to them.
Pensiero is perhaps the most iconic song, sold over a million copies and still recognizable today from the first notes. Few know that it is not about love, but about a prisoner. Tanta di lei was the single that definitively launched them to the top of the charts in 1971, followed closely by Gimme solo un minuti, one of their most loved rock songs. Who Will Stop the Music became almost a generational manifesto in the Eighties, while Little Katy, from 1968, was the song that brought them to the hit parade for the first time.
Pierre and Linda represent the group’s sunniest and most pop period, with immediate and overwhelming melodies. La mia donna is instead one of the most elegant and vocally challenging songs in their repertoire, with the famous guitar solo by Dodi Battaglia. Cercando di te and Domani complete a catalog that spans decades without ever getting old, proving that great music knows no time.
Which Pooh’s wife died?
The missing wife is that of Dodi Battaglia. Paola Toeschi, died on September 6, 2021 due to a long illness (brain tumor). The announcement was made by the guitarist himself on social media, followed by messages of condolence from the other members of Pooh.
Where the Poohs live
Despite having toured the world for decades between concerts and international tours, Pooh remained deeply linked to Italy. Everyone has chosen a corner of the country that reflects their personality, between roots, nature and privacy.
Roby Facchinetti has never abandoned Bergamo, his hometown. After a life of performing on stages all over the world, he has chosen to remain faithful to his origins, living in a small house on his land. However, recent years have also brought difficult moments: in 2023 he and his wife were victims of a violent home robbery, with the criminals keeping them kidnapped for a few hours. A traumatic episode which however did not affect his love for Bergamo.
Red Canzian lives in Veneto, in Sant’Elena di Silea, in the province of Treviso, in a splendid villa overlooking the banks of the Sile river. Immersed in nature, far from the chaos of big cities, he shares this house with his wife, children and their animals. An ideal refuge for a creative spirit like his.
Riccardo Fogli chose Tuscany, in the province of Livorno, where he lives together with his wife Karin Trentini, married in 2010. Their home is a completely white, elegant and bright villa, where they built their family and raised their children.
Dodi Battaglia instead remained in Bologna, the city that saw him born in 1951 and which he never wanted to leave. Always reserved about his private life, the guitarist has always preferred to keep the spotlight away from the personal sphere, focusing on music and family. He has been married three times and is the father of four children.
The arrival in Sanremo
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