Born on the ashes of the Italian punk band C.F.S. (1979-1981), the Tuscan band DIAFRAMMA changed many times line-up and music style during the 80's.
In 1982-1983 the band consisted of Federico Fiumani (guitar, ex-C.F.S.), Gianni Cicchi (drums, ex-C.F.S.), Nicola Vannini (vocals, later with Soul Hunters) and Leandro Cicchi (bass, brother of Gianni Cicchi). With this line-up DIAFRAMMA released two 7 Pioggia/Illusione Ottica and Circuito Chiuso (split with PANKOW, another post-punk band from Florence) and one 12 EP Altrove. They were acclaimed by the music press as the Italian Joy Division and as one of the best Italian post-punk bands of the period.
In 1984 the singer Miro Sassolini was chosen as a more suitable singer for the new music direction taken by the band.
In December 1984 the acclaimed debut album Siberia was released by the second line-up. DIAFRAMMA became in 1985 one of the best-selling Italian new wave band.
In 1985 the second line-up released another new wave masterpiece: the 12 EP Amsterdam including a re-recorded version of the title-song together with LITFIBA (the most important Tuscan band ever), another dark-wave piece called Ultimo Boulevard and a third song Elena, which introduced the new sound of the following albums.
After some disagreement about the new music direction, Cicchi brothers left and bassist Leandro Braccini joined.
Together with different drummers (among them Renzo Franchi from LITFIBA), the trio released two LPs: the acclaimed Tre Volte Lacrime (1986 - IRA Records) and the high-quality self-produced album Boxe (1988 - Diaframma Records). The sound of the band in the period 1986-1988 is directed towards a more rock sound.
After some disagreement among Sassolini and Braccini (on one side) and Fiumani (on the other side), the band split into two pieces towards the end of 1988.
Since January 1989 DIAFRAMMA is the artist name of FEDERICO FIUMANI, who sings, plays guitars and writes all the songs.
Sassolini and Braccini founded the experimental band VAN DER BOSCH which lasted at least a decade.
Gennaio EP (1989 - Diaframma Records), In Perfetta Solitudine (1990 - Ricordi), Da Siberia Al Prossimo Weekend (1991 - Ricordi) and Live and Unreleased (1991 - Abraxas/Spittle) still maintain some contacts with the sound of the previous two albums, while Anni Luce (1992 - Abraxas) switched towards an alternative rock sound.
Il Ritorno dei Desideri was released in 1994 on the famous Italian indipendent label Contempo Records and produced by members of CSI (Consorzio Suonatori Indipendenti) Gianni Maroccolo (bass), Francesco Magnelli (keyboards) and Pino Gulli (drums). This album is a comeback to the Italian new wave sound.
The following albums are more into Italian mainstream rock, but still pretty good: Non è Tardi (1995 - Abraxas), Sesso e Violenza (1996 - Flying Records), Scenari Immaginari (1998 - Diaframma Records).