Peppi Marchello, Founder of L.I. Rock Band, Dies at 68

Once called the "the world's most famous unknown band," by Rolling Stone magazine, Long Island Hall of Fame band The Good Rats lost founder, Anthony "Peppi" Marchello.

In a blog post, Clifford Meth, Marchello's publicist and family friend posted a message announcing the news.

“Peppi’s life was about his family and his music,” said Meth. “His love for songwriting and performing never diminished and he continued playing as many as 100 times each year until the very end. He was adored by his legion of fans who regarded Peppi himself as an event they wanted to be part of. He will be dearly missed.”

“The phone doesn’t stop ringing—fans and musicians from all over the world calling to say that my dad was their biggest influence and inspiration,” Marchello's daughter Kristin is quoted in the post.

A 2010 article in Glen Cove Patch covering an upcoming show listed Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, Alec Baldwin and Rosie O'Donnell among the more well known fans of The Good Rats, along with thousands of followers right here on Long Island.

The band has opened for the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Aerosmith, The Ramones, Ozzy Osbourne, Kiss and Journey, just to name a few, according to the story.

According to an obituary in Newsday, the Nissequogue resident was recovering from heart surgery he had last month but was feeling ill before he died. He was 68-years-old.

Marchello is survived by his mother Yolanda (88), his wife Cathy, his children Gene, Stefan, Kristin and Spencer, and eight grandchildren, as well as his sister Vivian and brother and The Good Rats co-founder Mickey.

“My father was a blue collar rocker,” said Marchello's son Stefan. “His funeral will be open to his fans—that’s exactly what he would have wanted.”

Visitation will be Saturday and Sunday from 2 - 4 p.m. and 7 - 9 p.m. at St. James Funeral Home South Chapel at 829 Middle Country Road in St. James. Funeral mass will be at Sts Philip and James R. C. Church in St. James on Monday at 11 a.m.