Raw Power
Raw Power was formed in 1981 by Mauro (vocals) and Giuseppe! Codeluppi (guitar),and since their inception have never maintained a stable line-up, with the brothers being, as well as the bands founders, it’s longest serving members…
The vinyl debut “You Are My Victim” was released in 1983 through a small independent Italian label, and later that year, the band signed a deal with American indie-punk label Toxic Shock (Skin Yard, House Of Large Sizes…). “Screams From The Gutter” (Toxic Shock 1985) is widely regarded as being their best album so far, mixing seminal punk rock and sharp hard core. That year the band flew over to the States for their first US tour (and have since returned to tour the USA a total of six times). The reaction to the “Italian punk rockers” was incredible in the US, and the album sold more than 40.000 copies strictly through independent distribution and shops.
“Wop Hour” (Toxic Shock – 1986), “After Your Brian” (Toxic Shock -1986) and “Mine To Kill” (Southern – 1989) helped to develop a heavier, more riff oriented sound. Raw Power, with only a small cult following in Italy, were in the US, considered to be one of the leading exponents of the “Crossover” sound, the music that evolved from both punk and thrash metal and drew a world wide audience thanks to bands like S.O.D., C.O.C., D.R.I., and Attitude Adjustment.
During their long tours in the States Raw Power shared the stage with bands like the Circle Jerks, Adolescents, D.O.A., Minor Threat, Bad Brains, Agnostic Front, Dead Kennedys, Suicidal Tendencies, and in a small club in Seattle in 1986 a then unknown band called Guns’n'Roses opened for the cult Italian band.
The band never enjoyed anything more than cult status in Europe. Even though they continued their explosive live performances all over Europe, they never managed to establish a foothold. This was due to the fact that Raw Power suffered from a lack of professional management and structure, especially in their home country, where they never had the support they both deserved and needed. Raw Power never had the chance to record a studio album that captured the raw, explosive energy and power that they brought to stages all over the world. Their first record for Godhead, “Fight” (1995) (MTV even picked the video for the title track rotation), came close to capturing the bands live energy (which has been compared to standing at ground zero when twenty five megaton nuclear warhead goes off). Came close, but not close enough…
The detonation was captured on 1st of March, 1996 at the Maffia, a club in Reggio Emilia, Italy. The raw, live sound was captured in the only way possible, live, for their last release, “Live From The Gutter” on Godhead records. Twenty-seven songs, recorded with no overdubbing, perfectly reproduced, the barely controlled aggression and raw attitude that recalled “Screams From the Gutter”, the feeling that has been ever-present at Raw Power gigs.
In 1998 the band had several new songs ready for release and began shopping for a label in the U.S. to release them. The end result was “Reptile House”, their greatest album yet, released on their original label Toxic Shock, now known as Toxic Ranch Records. Three American tours in support of the album followed.
Then in the year 2000 they released “Trust Me” through a new, and short lived American label called Hello Records. The record was given fantastic reviews, and at the bands 20 year mark, they were stronger than ever. In the summer of 2001, the band flew to Atlanta, Georgia USA and started the most successful American tour to date. The band was wildly welcomed in most major American cities. No matter how many member changes, label changes, etc., the two brothers that started Raw Power remained the core of the band, and as far as the world knew, would never stop!
In 2002, Raw Power went back into the studio to record yet another full length release. The new material was a celebration of the bands longevity, and the band decided to call it “Still Screaming After 20 Years”, which was released on Six Weeks Records. Shortly after the record was finished, on October 6, founding member Giuseppe! Codeluppi suffered a fatal heart attack while playing soccer. Most people thought the band, without Giuseppe!, wouldn’t recover, but in 2003 they became more active than ever. Guiseppe! wasn;t replaced, nor could he be replaced, instead the members of raw Power have one mission, to ensure that Guiseppe’s music and words are still heard around the world and that they stay true to their mantra…..”Raw Power Will Never Die!!”"
Since then, the band haven’t stopped, playing all over Europe and the US (even playing a Save CBGB’s show in NYC), they released a Greatest Hits collection on Sudden Death Records, and followed it the only way they know how – by playing every and anywhere. Members may come and members may go, but one thing is certain…’Raw Power Will Never Die!”
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