Born in Rome, Tamburini started writing in 1974. His first comic series, Fuzzy Rat, was published in an independent Rome-based magazine, Combinazioni. From 1975 to 1977 he worked for Stampa Alternativa, designing books and leaflets. He also founded the magazines Cannibale (1977) and Frigidaire (1980). Tamburini is primarily known as co-creator of the character RanXerox, along with Tanino Liberatore. The graphic novel of the same name embodied the spirit of the 1980s. Along with Andrea Pazienza, he is considered one of the best Italian comics authors of his generation. He died in Rome in 1986 of a heroin overdose.