Bob LoblawROME—Allow me to introduce you to Loredana Bertè if you don’t already know her. By 1980, she had already established herself in Italy. That year, she left for New York, where, amidst the city’s frenetic downtown scene, she cavorted with the likes of Elio Fiorucci and Andy Warhol.
There, between studio sessions and nightclub nights, Bertè began work on Made in Italy, her 1981 album recorded at Electric Lady Studios. The sessions included Italian collaborators like Mario Lavezzi and Alberto Radius, along with members of the American funk outfit Platinum Hook. For the first time, she contributed directly to the lyrics—a shift that matched the independence of her surroundings.
During this period, she became something of a fixture—moving between Fiorucci’s design parties, nights at Studio 54, and hours spent with the Factory’s lingering remnants. Warhol reportedly dubbed her “Pasta Queen,” a nod to her fondness for making pasta.
Now 74, Bertè continues to tour, mostly in Italy. In summer 2025, she is scheduled to perform in Rome on June 23, Cosenza on June 26, Piacenza on July 4, Villafranca di Verona on July 13, San Tammaro on July 18, Pratolino on July 21, Alghero on July 26, and Taormina on August 4.
Valeria Krel
Richard Aubern
Pina Lomb
Editors