Modena City Ramblers: Italian Folk Rock Band

Modena City Ramblers, also known as M.C.R., is an Italian folk rock band founded in 1991. The group's music draws heavily on Celtic themes and is comparable to folk rock. The band has sold over 500,000 albums, and its lyrics often speak out against the Mafia and fascism.

The Modena City Ramblers were formed in 1991 by a group of friends who wanted to play traditional Irish music. On Saint Patrick's Day in 1991, during a concert in a pub in Modena, they chose the name Modena City Ramblers, a homage to the Irish band Dublin City Ramblers. In 1992, bassist Massimo Ghiacci joined.

Their repertoire has expanded to include traditional Italian songs such as "Bella ciao", "Fischia il vento", and "Contessa". The band's lineup has changed many times since its formation: singer Alberto Morselli left after the first album, Francesco Moneti replaced Marco Michelini in 1996, Giovanni Rubbiani and Alberto Cottica left in 2001, and singer Stefano "Cisco" Bellotti left in 2005 after fourteen years.