Artist

OSAGE TRIBE

1971-72:
Marco Zoccheddu (guitar, keyboards, vocals)
Bob Callero (bass, vocals)
Nunzio "Cucciolo" Favia (drums)

1973:
Red Canzian (guitar, vocals)
Giampiero Marchiani (bass)
Nunzio "Cucciolo" Favia (drums)

Osage Tribe were formed in 1971 by Franco Battiato, then working as pop singer, with his loyal drummer Cucciolo, guitarist Marco Zoccheddu who had just left Nuova Idea and bass guitarist Bob Callero. Battiato found a recording deal with the newly born Bla Bla label, but soon left the band, just singing on their first single Un falco nel cielo, before starting his solo career; the single is rather commercial and was also used for a popular TV quiz show at the time.

The remaining trio, based in Genova, a prolific city for many great bands, veered towards a more aggressive sound and released their masterpiece, Arrow head, in 1972, a five tracks album that's still regarded as one of the finest in its genre. Mainly hard rock based, but with strong progressive influences rather than dull solo parts, the album has in the long Soffici bianchi veli and the softer Cerchio di luce with some jazzy influences are the best cuts.

The band had a good live activity but a short life, and Zoccheddu and Callero formed Duello Madre at the end of 1972, leaving Cucciolo with the name Osage Tribe and a new line-up with ex-Capsicum Red singer/guitarist Red Canzian and bassist Giampiero Marchiani coming from Forlì. This line-up lasted for a short time, Cucciolo was called up in the army, replaced by Enzo Vallicelli (from Hellza Poppin and later with Uno), then Canzian was recruited by Pooh, causing the definitive split of Osage Tribe.
The drummer Cucciolo later played with The Trip after their fourth album (but this line up never recorded) and then Dik Dik. 
Bob Callero has had a very active career, with Il Volo and many collaborations as sessionman.

(the trolley icon lets you order the CD from BTF website)

LP
Arrow head	Bla Bla (BBL 10052)	1972	gatefold laminated cover with inner
CD
Arrow head	Vinyl Magic (VM 037)	1994	reissue of 1972 album with 2 bonus tracks from 1971 single
VARIOUS ARTISTS COMPILATION ALBUMS
Tarzan (with Crazy horse, Prehistoric sound and Hajenhanhowa)	Bla Bla (BOP 90001)	1972	single cover Bla Bla label sampler - also includes Well's Fargo, Capsicum Red, Black Sunday Flowers
	Artis (ARCD 043)	1992	CD reissue of the above
	BTF/Vinyl Magic (VMCD120)	2007	new CD reissue of the above with mini-gatefold cover and 6 bonus tracks
La convenzione (with Crazy horse)	D'Autore/Azzurra Music (DA 1008)	2002	CD compilation dedicated to Bla Bla, also includes tracks by Franco Battiato and Juri Camisasca
SINGLES (with picture sleeve)
Un falco nel cielo Prehistoric sound	Bla Bla (BBR 1323)	1971	gatefold cover

Arrow head is a particularly rare album, much requested by foreign collectors of the genre. It's never been reissued on vinyl in Italy and came with a gatefold laminated cover and the usual Bla Bla-styled lyric cutout inner. 
A german vinyl reissue has been released in 2004 by Amber Soundroom (no.AS LP 029) with gatefold cover and heavy vinyl.

The band's only single has the usual Bla Bla gatefold cover. The B side, Prehistoric sound was included in Bla Bla compilation Tarzan, along with two extracts from the Arrow head album, Hajenhanhowa and Crazy horse (the instrumental intro to Soffici bianchi veli on the LP).

The single Prehistoric sound was also issued in Spain (Ekipo 2818), backed with Crazy horse, and also included in a lightweight summer compilation called Especial verano (Unic 5504).

Drummer Cucciolo has his own website at www.cucciologiadikdik.com which contains details on his past and current activity.

Thanks to Antonio Rosetti for some information included in this page