Italian Techno Artist Rino Cerrone Passes Away at 52

Rino Cerrone was a key architect of Neopolitan techno, a style defined by its minimal and funky influences.

The techno world mourns the passing of Rino Cerrone, a key personality in Neopolitan techno who died of unspecified causes this morning.

Cerrone’s fellow Neopolitan DJ Joseph Capriati first shared the news on social media. “My friend, I can’t believe you are gone,” Capriati wrote. “You taught me everything, supported me in difficult times and we shared days making music and talking about life. As long as I live, I will carry your memory high everywhere I go.”

Later in the day, a message was posted from Cerrone’s Facebook page. “With immense sorrow and a broken heart we bid farewell to our brother Rino Cerrone who passed away this morning,” it reads. “We lived for years with the hope of your return to the scene, unfortunately our dream did not come true, but your groove will always remain in our hearts.”

Rino Cerrone first made a name for himself as one member of Q-Men alonsgside Lino Monaco and Nicola Buono in the late ’90s. Shortly thereafter, he started a techno label called Ri’li:s alongside Mario Mangenelli, and he went on to deliver solo releases on labels like Genetic Recordings, Speaker Attack, and Music Man Recordings.

Cerrone is one of the artists most closely associated with Neopolitan techno, a variant differentiated by its minimal and funk influences. He is also widely credited as having played a significant role in the growth of Naples’ dance music scene.

Capriati told Resident Advisor that Cerrone has decided to stop DJing back in 2012. “When he stopped playing, the Naples scene felt finished,” Capriati said.

We here at EDM Identity express our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Rino Cerrone during what can only be a difficult time.