Murple, an Italian psychedelic rock/progressive rock band, originated in Rome. The group was formed in 1973 with Pino Santamaria on guitar, Piercarlo Zanco on keyboards, Mario Garbarino on bass, and Duilio Sorrenti on drums. Their debut album Io sono Murple was released in 1974 under the label BASF Fare. The concept album, consisting of two long suites divided into six movements each, tells the story of a penguin named Murple who escapes his everyday life but is eventually captured and ends up in a zoo. The band participated in the Pop Festival Villa Pamphili in Rome in 1974 and supported Gianfranca Montedoro's tour for her album Donna circo. The band disbanded in 1975 but reformed in 2007 with Garbarino, Sorrenti, and Zanco, releasing their second album Quadri di un'esposizione in 2008.
