Matt Piucci reflects on the deluxe reissue of 'Crashing Dream,' the value of long-term creative partnerships, and how Rain Parade's influence shaped a generation of musicians from My Bloody Valentine to the Stone Roses.

------------------

The Spotlight shines On Matt Piucci, founding member and principal guitarist of Rain Parade.

Rain Parade helped define LA's Paisley Underground scene in the early '80s, creating music with psychedelic textures with punk energy. Their 1983 debut Emergency Third Rail Power Trip remains a touchstone album of the era, cited as an influence by everyone from My Bloody Valentine to the Stone Roses.

Now Matt and the band are revisiting their catalog with deluxe reissues, including the newly expanded Crashing Dream, their so-called "lost double album" from 1985. It's part of an ongoing project that's given Matt a fresh perspective on work that continues to find new audiences decades later.

(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Rain Parade’s album Crashing Dream)

------------------

[00:01:21] Revisiting 'Crashing Dream' and the reissue process
[00:02:13] Working with Bill Hein and Label 51 Records
[00:04:43] The freedom to revise past work without being precious
[00:05:17] Rain Parade's formation and early lineup changes
[00:08:39] Signing to Island Records and youthful decisions
[00:09:05] The appeal of English labels and UK attention
[00:12:30] Contrasting approaches: mission vs. organic development
[00:15:34] The punk ethos and contrarian spirit
[00:17:06] The eighties music landscape and guitar sounds
[00:19:36] Paisley Underground as scene versus genre
[00:23:45] Jim Hill's role as producer and long-term collaborator
[00:27:12] The George Martin comparison and sonic treatments
[00:30:02] British pop traditions and weird sounds
[00:32:07] Balancing comfort with creative freshness
[00:34:05] Multi-decade relationships and their value
[00:36:02] Current fanbase and business models
[00:39:54] Economic realities for artists then and now
[00:40:52] Celebrating weirdos and artistic freedom
[00:41:51] Hearing Rain Parade's influence in other bands
[00:43:55] Playing music after having a career
[00:45:48] The joy of collaborative creation

------------------

Visit Rain Parade at https://rainparadeofficial.com/)
and follow them on Bluesky → https://bsky.app/profile/rainparadeofficial.bsky.social
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/RainParadeOfficial
and Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/therainparadeofficial/

Purchase Rain Parade's 'Crashing Dream' Deluxe Edition from Label 51 Recordings → https://label51recordings.shop/products/rain-parade-crashing-dream-deluxe?variant=46367351734487
Bandcamp → https://rainparadelabel51.bandcamp.com/album/crashing-dream-deluxe
or Qobuz → https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/crashing-dream-deluxe-rain-parade/ir7qdqerzah7b
and listen on your streaming platform of choice → https://album.link/i/1817490596

For extensive show notes, links, and podcast information, go to https://www.spotlightonpodcast.com

Be sure to check out The Tonearm, our new magazine site featuring fascinating perspectives and conversations with creative people → https://www.thetonearm.com

The Tonearm on Mastodon → https://social.lol/@thetonearm
The Tonearm on Bluesky → https://bsky.app/profile/thetonearm.com
The Tonearm on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-tonearm

------------------

• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.
• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter.

#Podcast #RainParade #PaisleyUnderground #MattPiucci #CrashingDream #VinylReissue #MusicInterview #MusicHistory #LosAngelesMusic #80sMusic #CollegeRadio #IndieMusic #SpotlightOn #TheTonearm