Danilo Carnevale formed Ultracorpi in the early ’90s in his native Italy. After meeting his soon-to-be wife, Clara, she introduced him to several friends and family members who shared his passion for music. It was instant karma, and a band was born. Carnevale, the principal guitarist/vocalist and songwriter, embraced a lo-fi/DIY aesthetic. This led to the new group’s nonchalant approach to blending pop, post-punk, and new wave into their own definitive sound. Ultracorpi coupled their contagious male/female vocal prowess with infectious melodies and musical hooks.

The band was soon stealing gigs from cover bands, winning fans at bars, pubs, wineries, hotels, and municipal shows with their energetic live set. By 1993, they were ready to hit the studio. The original lineup included Carnevale, joined by Bruno Bonetti on guitar, Riccardo Ghibelli on bass, Paola Olini and Clara Rizzinelli on vocals, and Fabio Rizzinelli on drums. The raw energy and witty attitude of their live set were well captured in their freshman effort. In 1995, after a couple of additional years of gigs and lineup changes, Ultracorpi was ready to lay down new recordings. This time, Carnevale, Bonetti, and Ghibelli were joined by Mauro Poli on drums and Rosa Tirrò providing the female vocals. The band lugged a Roland 8-track recorder, headed to Brescia in northern Italy, cleared out a barn, and hit record.

Fate eventually took its toll on the band. Military service, pregnancy, and the pressures of university studies created tension in the band. Tragically, in 1996, bassist Riccardo Ghibelli died in a motorcycle accident, and the group disbanded. Thirty years later, Ultracorpi’s music lives on with recordings that stick in your head in the best way. Fervor Records is proud to have these ’90s Italian rockers on the roster!