Interview: Rhapsody of Fire

Bei über langen Zeiträumen aktiven und erfolgreichen, vielleicht auch genreprägenden Bands, ist ein Break oder Split-Up unter den Mitgliedern oftmals eine wahre Zerreißprobe für die Fans! Einerseits bangt man um den zukünftigen Erfolg und die damit verbundene Existenz der Band, andererseits hat man dann vielleicht eine weitere Lieblingsband, in der ehemalige Bandmitglieder nun aktiv sind. Im Falle von Rhapsody of Fire gibt es nun sogar zwei verschiedene Rhapsody-Bands! Klingt komisch? Ist aber so! Die eine, also die Originalband, unter der Leitung von Alex Staropoli und die Zweite unter den Fittichen von Luca Turilli. Welche Auswirkungen diese Doppel-Existenz für die Fans und den Musikmarkt haben wird, wie konkurrierend das Verhältnis zwischen den beiden Gruppen in Wirklichkeit ist und wohin es in Zukunft mit RoF gehen soll, all das erfahrt ihr in diesem Mail-Interview mit Sänger Fabio Lione! Auch berichtet uns Fabio von seiner Vorliebe für Videospiele, einige ganz besondere Tourspecials, welche in diesem Jahr auf die Fans zukommen werden, sowie über seinen hochgelobten Einsatz als Ersatz für Roy Khan bei der letztjährigen Pandemonium World Tour von Kamelot! Dabei wurde ihm nicht nur die Anpassungsfähigkeit an Khans Gesang, sondern auch das gleichzeitige Einfügen seiner eigenen persönlichen Note von Kamelot-Hörern hoch angerechnet, welche die Songs auf dieser Tour zu etwas ganz Besonderem machte, ohne sie zu verfälschen. Viel Spaß beim Lesen!

The interview:

Fabio: Thanks to you!!! Well, at the moment we are planning a new European tour and I'm sure everything will be great!!! Our fans will see and hear something really great and as always we just want to give them the best we can. Fabio: Mmm ... I have to say that they are both great guys and they fit very well into the band ... Oliver is a great bass player and I think everyone knows him because of Blind Guardian, Sieges Even, Tarja etc. He's really happy 'cause he loves the band and of course it will be great for him to play with his brother like back in the "Sieges Even" times. About Tom, well ... I know him for many years. He is a great guitar player and more than this a real friend for us! I'm so happy to have him with us. Same thing regarding Roberto. He is a good friend of Alex and Luca (Turilli). I think they played together in the past ... something like 15/16 years ago. And he's a great guy! Fresh air!?! Well ... I'm sure they will give positive feelings and a nice attitude to the band. Everyone will see this on our next tour!!! Fabio: Easy, first we (me and Alex) want nice people, good players and more important someone that can give and bring good things to the band, ideas, feelings etc. ... you can only have this with people who love music and have experience. All the 3 new guys are our friends and good musicians, that's the most important thing. Fabio: Well, to be honest I think I was the last one that knew about this split-up. And I can't really say a lot about it. They prefered and decided this and I'm not the one to say it was a good or wrong decision. They just prefered this way and it's fine to me. I don't think Alex will ever think about dissolving Rhapsody or something like that. He loves music, this band and I'm sure he'll always do his best for it. Carry on!?! Well, we sold more than 1.200.000 records so far. After many years of good work, we love what we do, we love our fans and that's why we have to carry on.
You are right anyway, this was an huge split-up and I think people can get confused or have different opinions regarding that. My opinion is that now we have 2 great bands that can offer good, talented music to the market and to the people. And who cares about who plays with whom? Music is the key to open hearts and souls. And this is what I and Alex and Luca always wanted to do. And I'm sure we will always do!!! Fabio: Good question! I think with the new guys we can search new "places" and directions. Of course we'll never change the sound of Rhapsody of Fire completely, but we can have more and more directions to take. I'm sure people will be surprised!!! Fabio: Of course they will bring good ideas and their specific style to Rhapsody of Fire, but I can say that me and Alex will do most of the things, probably. If someone in the band has a great song ... well, everyone is happy. So the goal is to have great new songs and music. Fabio: To be honest I think the hardest thing for a Rhapsody fan is to see Luca in one band and probably the singer in another one. I mean, after many years is not so easy to understand that. I like to think that both bands can write and play great music without disturbing each other. We still are good friends anyway and I don't see such a great rivalry between us. I think our fans probably will love both sides. Luca is a very good composer, a great musician and of course a great guy. He'll do great!!! I like to think that we can have a new challenge this time, reach new goals and make people happy. Fabio: Of course! We want to be back in Europe because we love Europe!!! He, he.. I have to say that this one is a very important tour for us. Of course after the split-up we can see and feel the reaction of the people about the new Rhapsody of Fire and I'm sure we'll do great. We love all places in Europe. Italy is a great country for Rhapsody of Fire. France and Germany, too! Belgium, Spain etc. ... we want to give a great live performance everywhere! Fabio: Sorry, I want to make it indefinite! He,he ... people like this!!! I can say that we want to share moments, time and smiles with our fans and make some of them very happy! They can see a great show and have great time with the band and this is something that will remain in their minds and make them and the band happy. Anyway, in the next days we'll tell them more about that! Fabio: Well, I don't really think the show will change so much. All the guys in the two bands are great musicians, so no problem! I can say that we'll play new songs in this tour and with some good ideas we can offer a great live show!!! But I would not talk about a "dramatic" line-up change regarding live performances. The band at the moment is even stronger than before and everyone will know that soon. In my opinion, what will be really interesting is to hear the new materials of both sides, when we'll release new things! And of course Luca's new singer. But regarding our show on stage, I don't see any problem for us ... Fabio: Of course every show is unique and every night you have to feel the people and give them a great experience and performance. What I love in all this matter is to feel this "magic" feeling in the air between the fans and the band, and not to think about it. Give yourself to people and take back their feelings and energy! Fabio: Great!!! Kamelot is a great band and this new experiences make me stronger. We did many shows in all the world (Europe, South America and North America) and every night was fantastic!!! Every show was something that we'll never forget. Use!?! Not really. What I like between this two bands is that you have a different attitude, a different approach with the stage, the people, the music. And this makes me really happy. I can sing, be and act in a different way. This tour was one of the best experiences in my life!!! And these guys deserve the best. I'm happy to see that people liked me a lot replacing such a great singer as Roy!!! Honestly I don't do that much of a great preparation for the stage. And everything that I do is something natural to me. What makes me bored listening other singers sometimes is that they sound similar most of the time. It's not easy to find someone versatile with the voice, someone that gives emotions and everything with a nice, personal, elegant style. I think that after many years I just know my way and myself better and this makes me more confident, versatile and even havin' fun sometime singin' completely different things. Fabio: Just have some rest, some days free and without thinkin' too much about the tour. You have to take it easy to make it easy!!! He,he ... Singin' and being with the band on a tour is like "food" to me! And usually I feel more tired when I'm not doin' something at home. I will never consider something as being an "exhausting" tour, I love to do that and every night I feel more motivated and ready. Fabio: Yes, I like them!!! I don't think a lot of people know my favorite ... he, he... Anyway, I really like Ninja Gaiden black, Ninja Gaiden 2, Shenmue and many others! At the moment I don't play games he,he ... I just like to play a little bit, sometimes. But I don't have so much time and I prefer to do other things. Fabio: First of all we have to do this new tour. That will not be only in Europe but we'll have more shows to come! Then, of course we'll think about and write new materials. Just play and write good music!!! This is the plan. I wish a great new year to everybody and hope to see and meet all our fans soon in the next tour!
Ciaooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!
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