Banana Botel Mellicci

The Mellicci family come from La Valle dei Mellicci (The Mellicci Valley in Sicily), which was named after Sunelius Giuseppe Mellicci, who, in 1303, wandered into the valley from an unknown place. Legend has it that he had come from a mystery land called La Terra del Cane Bianco (The Land of the White Dog) and brought with him extraordinary and at the time unknown music instruments which he used to play during long summer nights, sending beautiful sounds throughout the valley and beyond... This, for some unknown reason made all the water rats come out of the Aquaratto river, gather around, sit in peace and listen to Sunelius Giuseppe mix all his sounds. Later, people from surrounding villages started coming to the valley, making themselves comfortable for the weekend... This is where all summer festivals originally originated..... In 1752 there was a flood.... In 1968, the greatgreatgreatgreatgreatgreatgreatgreatgreatson of Sunelius Giuseppe, Peppe Mellicci went to Woodstock festival where he met a lovely bohemian lady called Banana. They fell in love, got married and went back to La Valle dei Mellicci to start a family.... They had 9 (nine!?) children.... Sunelius Mellicci became of the greatest sound men to sound the planet and to this day makes good bands sound great... His younger brothers Bluey, Darinius, Mitten and Spider Mellicci have been traveling around the world playing Mellicci music. Sister Rosa and youngest brothers Eduardo, Frodo and Simonides have been playing Mellicci and other peoples music, mainly at the Water Rats Theatre in London's King's Cross, but also in Klub Mir UH, Reading festival, Loaded mag 10th anniversary, a carwash and Manna vegetarian restaurant.... 2001-- Simonides goes to Bohemia to visit grandma, meets Emmanuela, a circus artist who hates being with the circus. They fall in love and get married. Emmanuela finally leaves the circus.... 2003-- Spider Mellicci becomes famous for being able to drum whilst holding a glass of wine without spilling a drop.... 2004-- Spider spills red wine on his favourite trousers, gives up drinking and takes up smoking....... .... "The Melliccis are responsible for all of the fun we're all having of the fun.." - Ben