Mad Dog make it to the X Factor 2026 Live Shows. The Sassari band makes it through the Last Call in the Thursday, October 15 episode and joins Paola Iezzi’s team, after performing “Somebody Told Me” by The Killers.

For Renato Marchisio, Davide Dore, Luca Pintus and Jacopo Sale, this marks the decisive step: having made it through every round of selection, the four musicians will take centre stage in the live shows, which begin on Thursday, October 22.

They secured their place amid judges’ comments, temporary seats and a wait that lasted until the very last switch.

“Somebody Told Me” wins Paola over, but she has a note about the tempo

After Arctic Monkeys and Franz Ferdinand, Mad Dog choose another defining song of 2000s rock. At the Last Call, they perform “Somebody Told Me”, taking on the challenge of turning the acclaim from their first performances into a place on the official team.

The judges’ verdict is not without reservations. Francesco Gabbani and Jake La Furia, while making a few comments about the performance, support giving the band a seat.

Paola Iezzi focuses above all on the speed of the performance, noting that the tempo is too fast. That criticism, however, does not shake her confidence in the band: the judge gives the four musicians from Sassari a seat, asking Angelo DT1 to give up his.

The seat survives the final switches

By the time Mad Dog take the stage, Paola’s selection has already reached the switch stage.

The first three seats had gone to Lorena Luca, Angelo DT1 and D!ps. Then Chiara Ludovica Giorgi, known professionally as Clode, replaced Lorena, while Manuel Gargano, known professionally as Manù, took D!ps’ place after performing Olly’s “Devastante”.

Mad Dog’s arrival in Angelo’s place leaves the selection still open. Timothée later wins Clode’s seat, but has to give it up in the final switch to Camilla Guerini, who performs Raye’s “Where Is My Husband!”.

There are no more changes for the band from Sassari: the place they have won becomes theirs for good. At the Live Shows, Paola Iezzi’s team will consist of Mad Dog, Manù and Camilla Guerini.

From Sassari to the live shows

The result completes a journey that began with four yeses at the Auditions to the sound of “Brianstorm” and continued with making it through Bootcamp thanks to “Take Me Out”.

For the band, which grew up playing in rehearsal rooms and on local stages, and whose story we covered in our feature on who Mad Dog are, the work now begins with their judge as they prepare for their next performances.

The first show is on Thursday, October 22, when the Live Shows begin at the Teatro Repower in Assago, on Sky Uno and streaming on NOW.