The New Life of Rane'n'Roll, the Historic Album by Joe Perrino & The Mellowtones
Last December 19th, at the end of a crowdfunding campaign, the limited edition vinyl was releasedPer restare aggiornato entra nel nostro canale Whatsapp
A seven-month journey to give a second life to a historic album, Rane'n'Roll , the 1988 album by Joe Perrino & The Mellowtones, released by the IRA Records label, the same as Litfiba.
In fact, last December 19th, at the end of a crowdfunding campaign, the limited edition vinyl, also in CD and digital version, of Rane'n'Roll Reloaded 2025 was released.
The Cagliari-based psychedelic rock band from the independent scene of the early 1980s has a wonderful story behind it, a mix of courage and recklessness, especially at a time when punk seemed to be in decline. They set out on a journey off the island forty years ago and found two labels—High Rise and IRA—with which to record several LPs and 45s. Building on that positive momentum, they participated in Sanremo Rock and other festivals, appeared on national channels such as Rai Stereo Notte and Videomusic, and earned numerous reviews in music magazines.
In December 1987, he met Gianni Maroccolo, then bassist for Litfiba: it was the first work in an established career as a producer, as well as a musician, with collaborations with CCCP Fedeli alla Linea, CSI, and Marlene Kuntz. Recording began for Rane'n'Roll , his first album, which was quietly released a year later.
Thus, over a month ago Rane'n'Roll Reloaded was released, a collective reinterpretation of the album, expanded with collaborations from different artists but close to its singer, Cagliari-born Joe Perrino, "in attitude, solidarity and artistic brotherhood".
The band's members include Paolo Fresu, Iosonouncane (aka Jacopo Incani), Pierpaolo Capovilla, Gianni Maroccolo, Antonio Aiazzi, Andrea Chimenti, the Sikitikis, Tre Allegri Ragazzi Morti, Dorian Gray, and Davide Catinari. The Mellowtones themselves appeared with Pierpaolo Capovilla on "Alpha Centauri."
As a bonus track, the reissue of the single “Mi sento felice” – performed at Sanremo Rock in 1987 – featuring Helter Bomb Shelter, a collective that brought together Filippo Siddi, Arnaldo Pontis, Massimo Gentile, Marco Mancini, Gianfranco Liori, Flavio Piga, Valentino Murru and Giuseppe Pionca.
The campaign, hosted on the Produzioni dal Basso platform, attracted more than 250 backers. It covered production, mastering, and distribution costs, with backers receiving freebies such as merchandise and limited-edition vinyl records or test copies.
"Reloaded," explain the promoters, who also announce other initiatives and a video in February, "goes beyond celebration: it aims to restore the album's complete history and introduce it to new generations, filling in some gaps in the original edition by recovering the lyrics, an unpublished liner note by Federico Guglielmi, and film photos by Cesare Dagliana."
To support the initiative by purchasing music media (CDs and vinyl) or learn about new showcases, there is the Facebook page of the Joe Perrino & The Mellowtones - RnReloaded collective.
Decades have passed. The hearts of so many young people from the mid-80s have not stopped beating, and it is the passion and indomitable rage of Joe Perrino, who also suffered a serious accident in 2023, that brings everyone together again around a record.
