Gleemen was founded around 1965 in Genoa, Italy, by guitarist and singer Pier Nicolò „Bambi“ Fossati, bassist Angelo Traverso and drummer and singer Maurizio Cassinelli, and was originally a typical 1960s beat band. Over the years, together with keyboardist Lio Marchi, they developed a more complex, heavier rock sound. Under the leadership of Fossati, the „Italian Hendrix“, and his magnificent guitar work, they created a powerful, psychedelic hard rock style with influences from the 1960s and inventive progressive elements.

After numerous live performances, they finally decided they were ready to record a full-length album. They signed a contract with the established Italian record label Compagnia Generale del Disco (CGD). In 1970, they finally recorded their self-titled album, produced by Ivo Callegari, which was released shortly afterwards with a wonderfully grotesque cover design. Despite this eye-catching presentation, the album sold virtually nothing. Today, this first and only LP by Gleemen is considered a major and expensive rarity. One year later, the same line-up changed their name to Garybaldi.