Rhapsody Profile

Formed:  in Italy

Rhapsody is a metal outfit composed of Fabio Lione (vocals), Luca Turilli (guitar), Alex Staropoli (keyboards), Alessandro Lotta (bass), and Alex Holzwarth (drums). The group was formed in Italy in the late '90s by Turilli and Staropoli. They recruited Daniele Carbonera to serve as their drummer. The band was already working on a debut, 1997's Legendary Tales, before they connected with Lione (known as Joe Terry during his time in the band Labyrinth), phoning him from the studio to arrange for him to join them. The band followed up that album with an EP, entitled Emerald Sword, and the album Symphony of Enchanted Lands the following year. Shortly after the release of Symphony, Carbonera departed. His replacement was found in the personage of Holzwarth. They would not release anymore material until 2000 in the form of an EP (Holy Thunderforce) and an album (Dawn of Victory). In 2001, the group released Rain of a Thousand Flames and then in 2002, Power of the Dragon Flame. Symphony of Enchanted Lands, Vol. 2: The Dark Secret appeared in fall 2004; the following year the band was forced to change its name, choosing Rhapsody of Fire, due to copyright issues. ~ Gary Hill, Rovi