Rhapsody of Fire becomes 2 bands

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=162040

This is one of the strangest things I've ever read. Rhapsody of Fire will continue without founding member Luca Turilli. He will leave to start the band Rhapsody with new musicians. Alex Holzwarth (drums) will play in both bands.

I'm not sure how Luca will get away with using the band name Rhapsody, and I don't think RoF should continue after ending their epic saga. I also assume both bands will be playing old stuff live in concert, so I would go to see RoF to hear Fabio sing the songs.

I guess I'll just start collecting their back catalogue until this is a bit more resolved :/

So they split in two, like an amoeba? Weird. But then, this band has always been weird.

This will be confusing for the fans.

From a marketing perspective this is guaranteed to fail. You never want to confuse the consumer base. And to somehow arrive at this conclusion?

Well, this is idiotic.

I thought the reason they changed the band name to "...Of Fire" was because someone else (perhaps the online music service?) had copyrighted the "Rhapsody" name. So what gives Turilli the right to use the old name again?

This is gonna be like the Oliver/Dawson Saxon vs. Saxon show, or the Phil Lewis L.A. Guns vs. the Tracii Guns L.A. Guns, all over again.

Just to clarify the naming situation, here's a post from the singer/keyboardist of Alestorm about what happened:

Quote :

There was no copyright claim. It is all marketing [...] They used to be part of Magic Circle Music, as owned by Joey DeMaio. As part of that deal they were only allowed to play gigs if it was a support slot to Manowar, and also Joey told them to rename the band as he is a psychopath. Exactly the same thing happened with Majesty (whose name was changed to Metalforce for the duration of their deal with MCM, which has since terminated and they reverted back to Majesty).

Spiner202 wrote:

Just to clarify the naming situation, here's a post from the singer/keyboardist of Alestorm about what happened:

Quote :

There was no copyright claim. It is all marketing [...] They used to be part of Magic Circle Music, as owned by Joey DeMaio. As part of that deal they were only allowed to play gigs if it was a support slot to Manowar, and also Joey told them to rename the band as he is a psychopath. Exactly the same thing happened with Majesty (whose name was changed to Metalforce for the duration of their deal with MCM, which has since terminated and they reverted back to Majesty).

Joey DeMaio is a grade A douchebag.

Ha! Interesting.

Fat Freddy wrote:

I thought the reason they changed the band name to "...Of Fire" was because someone else (perhaps the online music service?) had copyrighted the "Rhapsody" name. So what gives Turilli the right to use the old name again?

This is gonna be like the Oliver/Dawson Saxon vs. Saxon show, or the Phil Lewis L.A. Guns vs. the Tracii Guns L.A. Guns, all over again.

and they will do 'reunion' show at some point down the line.

I like old Rhapsody but I am not sure about this. Luca should just his solo stuff - the first two albums were great.

Spiner202 wrote:

Just to clarify the naming situation, here's a post from the singer/keyboardist of Alestorm about what happened:

Quote :

There was no copyright claim. It is all marketing [...] They used to be part of Magic Circle Music, as owned by Joey DeMaio. As part of that deal they were only allowed to play gigs if it was a support slot to Manowar, and also Joey told them to rename the band as he is a psychopath. Exactly the same thing happened with Majesty (whose name was changed to Metalforce for the duration of their deal with MCM, which has since terminated and they reverted back to Majesty).

So in other words... Joey DeMaio wasn't content with merely ruining his own band (see: GODS OF WAR), he has to ruin every band he comes into contact with?

I haven't listened to these guys since the name change.

Maybe this is a way for them to earn twice as much money? If it works, good for them.

chewie wrote:

I haven't listened to these guys since the name change.

You should. Frozen Tears of Angels was pretty good, but their new album was even better. Especially the 20 minute epic "Heroes of the Waterfalls' Kingdom"

Man, so much drama in the metal world.

exact33 wrote:

Fat Freddy wrote:

I thought the reason they changed the band name to "...Of Fire" was because someone else (perhaps the online music service?) had copyrighted the "Rhapsody" name. So what gives Turilli the right to use the old name again?

This is gonna be like the Oliver/Dawson Saxon vs. Saxon show, or the Phil Lewis L.A. Guns vs. the Tracii Guns L.A. Guns, all over again.

and they will do 'reunion' show at some point down the line.

I like old Rhapsody but I am not sure about this. Luca should just his solo stuff - the first two albums were great.

Definitely. Prophet of the Last Eclipse is so damn good! And the EPs between those first two albums are very good, too.

I enjoyed Lost Horizons and the Virus EP, but they weren't nearly as good. Way too different. Maybe that was the point, though.

Fat Freddy wrote:

Spiner202 wrote:

Just to clarify the naming situation, here's a post from the singer/keyboardist of Alestorm about what happened:

Quote :

There was no copyright claim. It is all marketing [...] They used to be part of Magic Circle Music, as owned by Joey DeMaio. As part of that deal they were only allowed to play gigs if it was a support slot to Manowar, and also Joey told them to rename the band as he is a psychopath. Exactly the same thing happened with Majesty (whose name was changed to Metalforce for the duration of their deal with MCM, which has since terminated and they reverted back to Majesty).

So in other words... Joey DeMaio wasn't content with merely ruining his own band (see: GODS OF WAR), he has to ruin every band he comes into contact with?

Thats funny. So I wonder though, if Luca uses the Rhapsody name is that still associated with Magic Circle?

Psychopathic or not, the band signed those contracts.

Eyesore wrote:

Psychopathic or not, the band signed those contracts.

Yeah. They needed MANOWAR's name/association to boost their profile.

Spiner202 wrote:

Just to clarify the naming situation, here's a post from the singer/keyboardist of Alestorm about what happened:

Quote :

There was no copyright claim. It is all marketing [...] They used to be part of Magic Circle Music, as owned by Joey DeMaio. As part of that deal they were only allowed to play gigs if it was a support slot to Manowar, and also Joey told them to rename the band as he is a psychopath. Exactly the same thing happened with Majesty (whose name was changed to Metalforce for the duration of their deal with MCM, which has since terminated and they reverted back to Majesty).

"First of all, I want to tell all fans, partners and friends that MAJESTY no longer exists. There was no basis anymore for me and the previous members of MAJESTY to continue our creative work.

I had a feeling for quite a while now that the time has come to restart with a new band to point out that heavy metal can never be stopped and that a new force will bring the whole world that mighty message. In a dream I recently had, only one name for that power came to my mind: METALFORCE. This new band will exactly do what also was the essence of MAJESTY, but even bigger and more powerful. The first gig on the Magic Circle Festival 2008 already filled me up with pride as I looked into the eyes of ten thousands of fans who encouraged us in our decision."

- Tarek "MS" Maghary of Majesty/Metal Force

Hmmm... Joey DeMaio appeared to the Majesty singer in a dream and commanded him to change the band name? Sounds suspicious. Not sure I buy it.

Eyesore wrote:

exact33 wrote:

Fat Freddy wrote:

I thought the reason they changed the band name to "...Of Fire" was because someone else (perhaps the online music service?) had copyrighted the "Rhapsody" name. So what gives Turilli the right to use the old name again?

This is gonna be like the Oliver/Dawson Saxon vs. Saxon show, or the Phil Lewis L.A. Guns vs. the Tracii Guns L.A. Guns, all over again.

and they will do 'reunion' show at some point down the line.

I like old Rhapsody but I am not sure about this. Luca should just his solo stuff - the first two albums were great.

Definitely. Prophet of the Last Eclipse is so damn good! And the EPs between those first two albums are very good, too.

I enjoyed Lost Horizons and the Virus EP, but they weren't nearly as good. Way too different. Maybe that was the point, though.

it was back when Luca still had metal to play plus I think Olaf Hayer is one heck of a power metal vocalist!

First a name change, now this! I'm sick of updating my iTunes library to their medieval whims!

holydiver97595 wrote:

First a name change, now this! I'm sick of updating my iTunes library to their medieval whims!

Yeah, because that takes three seconds you might otherwise spending farting or something.

Eyesore wrote:

holydiver97595 wrote:

First a name change, now this! I'm sick of updating my iTunes library to their medieval whims!

Yeah, because that takes three seconds you might otherwise spending farting or something.

Exactly!! See, you know where I'm coming from

I never change things like that. I have a Rhapsody folder and a Rhapsody of Fire folder.