Ubi Maior

UBI MAIOR were formed in 1998, when Lorenzo Marotta (vocals) and Stefano Mancarella (guitar) joined forces together with keyboard player Gabriele Manzini. Bass player Walter Gorreri came in a few weeks later, and at the same time Gabriele brought in his friend and old bandmate Alessandro Di Caprio to play drums. After some months spent rehearsing compositions by UN BIGLIETTO PER L'INFERNO, Le ORME, PFM, BALLETTO DI BRONZO and BANCO DEL MUTUO SOCCORSO, some new original tracks were written. “Messia”, “Vendetta” and “Terra Madre” are a perfect combination of symphonic prog and hard rock, and they remain a cornerstone in the evolution of the band.

In 2001 they recorded their first demo, Frontiere. In the same year Gabriele Manzini joined GENESIS-inspired band The WATCH as keyboard player, and played and recorded with them until the end of 2004. In 2002 Lorenzo Marotta left the band to study bel canto. His place was taken by Mario Moi. During 2004 UBI MAIOR played at numerous festivals organised by UN BIGLIETTO PER L'INFERNO in order to promote their 30th years boxed-set. The performances were very strong and UBI MAIOR received the praise of both public and press. In the same year they recorded a cover of “Prince Rupert Awakes” for the KING CRIMSON tribute album The Letters, released by Mellow Records. After some spring gigs, just before summer they recorded a new demo called Atto Primo – Atto Secondo, featuring new versions of old tracks, and a new, longer composition which paved the way for their debut CD.

In January 2005, at the Prog Day Festival in Lecco, northern Italy, UBI MAIOR played a tribute to UN BIGLIETTO PER L'INFERNO, sharing the stage with famous Italian artists as Rodolfo Maltese (BANCO), Patrizio Fariselli (AREA), Tony Pagliuca (Le ORME) and Mauro Gnecchi (UN BIGLIETTO PER L'INFERNO). By the beginning of 2005 the track “Veteran Cosmic Rocker” was recorded for the new Mellow Records tribute album “Higher and Higher – A Tribute to The Moody Blues”, released in 2006. Finally the debut CD Nostos was released in October 2005. It also features a cover of BALLETTO DI BRONZO’s “La tua casa comoda”, which has received the appreciation of BALLETTO leader Gianni Leone.