Richard Benson (musician)

Richard Philip Henry John Benson, known as Richard Benson (10 March 1955 – 10 May 2022) was an English–Italian guitarist.

Career
Benson probably moved to Rome in 1965. In 1971 he joined the progressive rock band Buon Vecchio Charlie. In 1972, he took part in the festival "Villa Pamphili". Infos at stampamusicale.altervista.org

From 1978 to 2013 he hosted TV shows relating to new musical releases of the time. The music was mostly hard rock and heavy metal, but also jazz, funk, blues, fusion and Italian rock.

In 1983, Benson released his first LP, Animal Zoo. In 1984, he released the LP Renegade. In 1987 he was included on the compilation album, Metal Attack (RCA Italy – Talent).

In 1992, Benson played himself in Carlo Verdone's movie Maledetto il giorno che t'ho incontrato. In the second half of the 1990s he gave concerts in Rome. In 1999, he released his first CD, Madre Tortura.

Benson has then appeared in Italian national broadcast television as a music critic (Rai 2), together with Max Giusti. His work in the show was comical instead of serious. He played a sort of parody of his own character. In June 2013, he created an online television channel, "RichardBensonTV". He hosts a show there about heavy metal music. RichardBensonTv closed after just over a year.

In 2015 he released his second CD, L'inferno dei vivi. Richard Benson torna nei negozi con "L'inferno dei vivi, Panorama, 18 March 2015.

In November 2016, it was announced that Benson had heart disease.Roma, Richard Benson è malato: "Sono rimasto senza un soldo, aiutatemi", Repubblica.it He  died in Rome on 10 May 2022, at the age of 67.

Discography
 1990: Buon Vecchio Charlie (recorded in 1971)
 1983: Animal Zoo (single)
 1984: Renegade (single)
 1999: Madre Tortura
 2015: L'inferno dei vivi

References

Other websites

 Article on la Repubblica


Category:1955 births
Category:2022 deaths
Category:English rock guitarists
Category:English rock singers
Category:English singer-songwriters
Category:Musicians from Rome
Category:Musicians from Surrey
Category:People from Woking