Caparezza will be awarded the Enzo Del Re Prize 2026, as part of 'Maul Molese Anarchico Uomo Libero', a tribute concert to commemorate Enzo Del Re, one of the last Apulian storytellers, a body-phonist born in Mola di Bari in 1944 who died in 2011. The tribute will be held on 30 July at the Arena Castello in Mola di Bari, where Caparezza will close the concert combining a cover of Enzo Del Re's song 'Il banditore' with some of his own tracks.
"When I heard the song 'Il banditore'," said Caparezza, "I literally went crazy. It enchanted me because I found myself before an artist who, clearly, did whatever he wanted without any outside interference. I dreamed of making my own version of it, but it wasn't easy because his was perfect as it was, and it was perfect for what I wanted to convey: surreal, futurist, dadaist, full of imagination. Even though it isn't electronic, those sounds seemed electronic to me. Covering it is extremely difficult — he is pure minimalism. Every attempt to approach his path came out inferior. So I went in the opposite direction: a Hans Zimmer-style journey. Very enjoyable."
Maul, now in its eighth edition, is an event promoted by the Municipality of Mola with the patronage of the Puglia Region, organised by the association Etra. "Irony, rhythm, music, comics, Puglia — all of this in one song, 'Il banditore' by Enzo Del Re," said artistic director Timisoara Pinto. "A perfect song for Caparezza, who after hearing it decided to include it on his new album. It is the only cover Caparezza has ever recorded in his entire and prolific discography. And thanks to him, our Enzo Del Re, after so many years, has entered the charts for the very first time."
This year, 100 Bassi, Fabularasa and Enzo Del Re's nephew, Franco Del Re (known as Franco Frugis), also a body-phonist like his uncle, will also take to the Maul stage. He has been entrusted with the songs 'Mara Lueis', 'Scitt'rà' and 'T'ador e t'ringrazio'. "Uncle Enzo was in a constant search for 'social justice' in the protest songs he wrote," Franco Del Re emphasised. "I have always seen a great deal of love in them too. He was in love with all human beings, with nature and with the entire planet. He would have wanted us to be different from what, unfortunately, we still are today."
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