Welcome to the Funzalo / Mike Lembo newsletter #11 folks!
As you know from our prior newsletters, ex-pat music industry veteran Mike Lembo has moved to his ancestral home of Italy, settling in Sezze, not too far from the Amalfi Coast and Rome, believe it or not. It was something in the works for the travelling nomad Mike. From his start in New York, to his move to Tucson, then Los Angeles and during his wandering traveler phase in his mobile home, Mike has always had itchy feet as they say. So while not entirely out of the blue, moving to Italy was always something in the back of his mind. And almost four years after that move, Mike now has his Italian passport and citizenship. Check it out here….
|
Who knew that this move to the European Union would produce an even more creative and fertile project for Funzalo in 2025? About that project….read on. |
Mike as worked diligently on Spaghetti Punk: Grande, an ever-expanding release of tracks covered and sung in Italian of classic punk songs. New tracks added to the project are a track Dean Martin made famous, “Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu,” two Motown classics including the Four Tops, “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” and The Supremes, “You Can’t Hurry Love. You can preorder from Amazon or Apple |
All tracks are pre-approved with the publishers making for easy clearance!
The idea for Spaghetti Punk came to Mike after arriving in Italy when he took a trip to Rome to see Marky Ramones of The Ramones play live. The compilation also features some of punk rock’s most enduring anthems, such as Talking Heads “Psycho Killer,” Patti Smith’s “Dancing Barefoot,”(“A Piedi Nudi”), MC5’s “Kick Out The Jams,” (“Balla Con Me”) and The Runaways’ “Cherry Bomb” – all sung in Italian with their original arrangements recognizable.
Additionally, a more recent cover of “Palisades Park,” done in the Ramones punk sound (a la their iconic cover version), is the latest track, which was written by none-other-than Chuck Barris’ of The Gong Show! Take a listen to that track here: |
And if that’s not enough, there will be a live show and live recording by the Spaghetti Punk band in Sezze on August 21 at the Jack Torrance Pub.
|
WATCH FOR THEIR SUMMER LIVE SHOWS IN SEZZE, ITALY! MORE DETAILS COMING SOON! |
As if an Italian covers project wasn’t enough, it must be the cool sea air in Mike’s new home in Sezze that had an effect on him because, he’s picked up an option on an Italian film production, Delta 56. Yes, that’s right, Mike has decided to become a film producer. He read a treatment, loved it, picked up the option, he’s co-producing with another Italian Hermann Di Toppa and he’s ready to go! The writers of this film? Cristian De Angelis & Giuseppe Dicapua.
All we can tell you about Delta 56 is this: “Inspired and fictionalized from a true story, Cicada 3301 is one of the most enigmatic mysteries of the digital age, a viral phenomenon that captured the attention of millions worldwide.”
If you want to read the treatment or want to learn more about the project, email Mike directly, click here: mike@mikesmanagement.com. Cinecittà, watch out!
|
Mike spent his special day with old and new friends in Sezze, making his 72nd birthday!!!🇮🇪 Cristian and his family celebrated all things Lembo at Bite & Chill! (How about that for a name of a restaurant!) Turns out it’s a great Sezze burger place. With so many great new friends, Mike made out like a bandit with lots a booty/gifts. If only people put cards on them so he could thanks individually but thanks to them all!
Of course, Mike was a little upset no-one ponied up for the $400 million dollars plane from Qatar! That was disappointing ✈️ Life couldn’t be any better!!!!!!! |
More news from friends visiting
and moving to Sezze!
|
Last month we mentioned that a music biz friend, Rich Masio, a longtime business associate of Mike’s from the Funzalo Records days with IODA distribution was in town. So he came to visit, loved it, found a house and has moved to Sezze. Mike helped find him a great house on Via Certosa on the same street where he lives. Seems like more and more Italian-Americans are coming to Italy?!
Some photos of Rich, Greg Vegas & Deb Caponera. and of course Hermann Ditoppa on a trip they all took to Bassiano in Italy with the best gelato in the world. At the Belvedere Gelato. Look it up.
|
Wait a minute, more friends visiting Italy? Yes indeed. Here’s Mike with another music biz- old friend, Jeremy Hammond (ex-Capitol/EMI). All through the trip, they traveling back in time talking about old times while Mike showed him around Sezze. Very mid evil, according to Mike. They had Pranza at a cafe in Piazza del Leone. It was a great visit!
|
Well, not quite. But close! It seems NCIS: Origins (Season 1 Episode 16 —Title BUGS), the hit television show with more spin-off’s than a Steph Curry jump shot, recently licensed the 1991 track “Hard Time Killing Floor Blues” from blues acoustic, slide guitarist and solo performer, Terry Garland off his debut album Trouble In Mind.
Take a listen to more music from Terry’s album here, music supervisors, and find out what you are missing.
|
“Cheap Sh*t from China” is here.
Or is it?
|
About 8 years ago, Mike released this song from the musical collective Tarrant called “Cheap Shit from China” which became a minor YouTube sensation. So it only seems appropriate that we reshare it in 2025. Once again, fully licensable! Let us know if you need a link to download!
|
Gianni & Cuba Las Vegas are here
|
Aside from Spaghetti Punk:Grande, Mike isn’t finished signing more Italian clients. A new release from Gianni Centanni entitled, Un Mare a Quadretti is out now. You can listen here on Apple Music or Amazon. Gianni is an Italian old school singer-songwriting with accordion melodies meets Americana arrangements & sounds. Music supervisors, click album art to download! |
If you are a music supervisor and wanted to hear some new music that’s easily licensable for both sides, here’s a sampling of both Gianni and the LA band Cuba Las Vegas. Click here:
|
But of course, Italian Bluegrass
|
Oh the things you learn living in Italy. Recently, Mike’s good friend Mike Bone, another music industry veteran, had an Italian Bluegrass band on his radio show. They are called Lovesick Duo & they are on tour this Summer. Check it out here! |
More photos of the naturalized and native Italian dogs Mike loves so much!
|
And that brings this newsletter to a close. We’ll be back with a new newsletter soon from all the goings on with Mike and Funzalo. Don’t forget to reach out directly to Mike if anything is of interest to you for licensing or sync opportunities. He’d love to hear from you!
Best,
Mike Lembo & Funzalo Music |
|
|
|
