MILAN, ITALY – For Valerio Ziglioli, known as TAO in the world of rock 'n’ roll, and members of his touring rock band, the TAO Love Bus is more than just an old set of wheels. The restored 1974 Volkswagen T2 minibus has set the mood – and the stage – for the band’s ongoing tour of Italy.
The TAO Love Bus Experience is Italy’s first and only rock n’ roll tour where a musical band travels all over the country performing live concerts from a minibus-turned-stage. And it is possibly Italy’s most unique Volkswagen minibus ever – featuring psychedelic graphics inspired by both the beat generation and the Taoistic concept of Yin and Yang.
To bring this creative masterpiece to life, Ziglioli first selected the graphics, artwork produced by musician Marco Fiori of Fimao Design. The graphics were printed and applied to the Volkswagen by Vittorio Chinigò, owner of 2C Centro Stampe in Milan, an established graphics shop with both a reputation for excellence and a Roland VersaCAMM SP-540V 54” printer/cutter.
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| The Wolkswagen T2 minibus before its "metamorphosis" |
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| Roland SP-540V at work |
According to Chinigò, production was easy thanks to the versatility and performance of the VersaCAMM. “We chose the media, tested for color and printed enough graphics to cover the entire minibus,” he said. “The results were perfect. After twenty-four hours, we laminated to make the colors even glossier and brighter. Lamination also protected the graphics from weathering and extended their life.
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| The TAO band in its unique retro stage |
The installation took two days and the results were excellent. The minibus has since wowed the crowds in many Italian squares. People are simply astonished when they see the bus pull up.”
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The minibus is now the stage, the drawing room, the radio, and above all, the on-the-road voice of TAO. TAO Love Bus has been travelling since the summer of 2007, introducing Italy to a totally new form of live music.
The minibus and TAO have been featured in the Italian press, took part in the Motorshow in Bologna, and have participated in many national television shows. The Love Bus has been a huge creative – and marketing – success for TAO and his rock band.
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| TAO Love Bus poster |
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