A staple of the Italian rock scene and leftist musical circles, the Modena City Ramblers released their debut album, Riportando Tutto a Casa, in 1994, after garnering attention for a demo tape featuring punk/Irish folk songs and Italian resistance ballads. Riportando Tutto a Casa was eventually distributed by Mercury, and went on to sell an impressive 185,000 copies. Their sophomore effort, La Grande Famiglia, experienced similar success, followed by Terra e Liberta, which ushered in an era of international attention for MCR and their progressive politics. After releasing Radio Rebelde in 2002, MCR were invited to perform in locations near and far, and the band's 2004 album, Viva la Vida, Viva la Muerte!, found its way to the Italian Top Ten charts. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez