Rainbow were a hard rock and heavy metal band formed by former Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore in 1975. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Hard rock (also referred to as heavy rock) is a variation of Rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage and Psychedelic rock In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music Polydor Records is a Record label currently headquartered in the UK, and is a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertfordshire in 1968 Elf was a Blues-rock band founded in 1967 by singer and bassist Ronnie James Dio, keyboardist Doug Thaler drummer Gary Driscoll, and guitarists Nick Pantas Graham Bonnet (born 23 December 1947, Skegness, Lincolnshire, England) sang for many different Rock bands including Rainbow was a Hard rock and heavy metal band formed by former Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore in 1975. Hard rock (also referred to as heavy rock) is a variation of Rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage and Psychedelic rock Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertfordshire in 1968 For the rugby league footballer of the same name see Richie Blackmore (rugby league Richard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore (born Events January 2 - New York City US District Court Judge Richard Owen rules that former Beatle John Lennon and his lawyers In addition to Blackmore, the band originally consisted of former Elf members; lead singer Ronnie James Dio, keyboardist Mickey Lee Soule, bassist Craig Gruber, and drummer Gary Driscoll. Elf was a Blues-rock band founded in 1967 by singer and bassist Ronnie James Dio, keyboardist Doug Thaler drummer Gary Driscoll, and guitarists Nick Pantas Ronnie James Dio (born Ronald James Padavona on July 10, 1942 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA is an American heavy Mickey Lee Soule was the keyboard player for New York state hard rock band Elf and a founding member of Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. Gary Driscoll (1946 to June 1987 was an American R&B style rock drummer who performed in a number of successful bands from the 1960s until his violent death in June Over the years Rainbow went through many lineup changes.

History

The Dio Years

In 1974 Blackmore became infuriated at the funk/soul elements being introduced to Deep Purple by David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes as well as with the rejection from his bandmates of his suggestion to record a cover for inclusion in Stormbringer, and originally intended to record Steve Hammond's "Black Sheep of the Family", a song recorded by the band Quatermass, as a solo single to express that his ideas were being suppressed in Deep Purple. David Coverdale (born September 22 1951 in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire) is an English rock vocalist most famous for Glenn Hughes (born in Cannock, Staffordshire, England on August 21, 1951) is a Bassist and Vocalist Stormbringer is the ninth studio album by Deep Purple, released in November 1974 Quatermass were a British Progressive rock band formed in London, England in September 1969 During recent US tours Deep Purple's support band had been Elf, and Ritchie had been impressed by Elf's singer, Ronnie James Dio. Ronnie James Dio (born Ronald James Padavona on July 10, 1942 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA is an American heavy Blackmore and Dio found they had such a creative rapport that a full album's worth of music was soon composed and they recorded it with Elf as a session band. Emboldened by the experience, Blackmore decided to leave Deep Purple and form his own band around Elf, effectively taking it over minus their guitarist and renaming it Rainbow. The name of the band was inspired by the Rainbow Bar and Grill in Hollywood that catered to rock stars, groupies and rock enthusiasts. The Rainbow Bar and Grill is a bar and Restaurant on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood California, adjacent to the border of Beverly Hills

Rainbow performing in Munich in 1977. The electric rainbow that spanned the stage frequently interfered with the guitars and amplifiers. ^[1]

Rainbow's debut album, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, was released in 1975 and featured the minor hit "Man on the Silver Mountain". Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow (1975 is the first album released by Rainbow and was actually a solo album by Ritchie Blackmore whilst still a member of Deep Events January 2 - New York City US District Court Judge Richard Owen rules that former Beatle John Lennon and his lawyers

Rainbow's music was different from Deep Purple's. The music was more directly inspired by classical music and Dio wrote lyrics about medieval themes. Dio possessed a versatile vocal range capable of singing both hard rock and lighter ballads. Although Dio never played a musical instrument on any Rainbow album, he is credited with writing and arranging the music with Blackmore in addition to writing all the lyrics himself.

Blackmore fired everybody except Dio shortly after the album was recorded and recruited drummer Cozy Powell (formerly of the Jeff Beck Group), bassist Jimmy Bain and American keyboard player Tony Carey. Colin Flooks ( December 29, 1947 - April 5, 1998) better known as Cozy Powell, was an English rock drummer The Jeff Beck Group were an English Rock band formed in London in February 1967 by ex- Yardbirds guitarist Jeff Beck. Jimmy Bain (born 19 December 1947) is a Scottish Bassist most famous for playing in the bands Rainbow and Dio with Antony Laurence Carey (born October 16, 1953, Turlock California) is a rock and Heavy metal keyboardist and Hammond organ player This lineup went on to record the next album Rising. Rising is a hard rock album by Rainbow, released in 1976 (see 1976 in music) This line-up also commenced the first world tour for the band, with the first US dates in late 1975. By the time of the European dates in the summer of 1976, Rainbow's reputation as a blistering live act was already established.

Blackmore subsequently decided that Bain was substandard and fired him in January 1977, and the same fate befell Carey shortly after. However, Blackmore had difficulty finding replacements he liked. On keyboards he finally went for Canadian David Stone, from the little-known band Symphonic Slam. Dave Stone is a professional keyboardist/synthesizer virtuoso from Toronto Canada born 1952 Stone was a member of Richie Blackmore's Rainbow and played on the 1978 Rainbow For a bass player, Blackmore originally chose Mark Clarke from the band Tempest, but once in the studio for the next album, Long Live Rock 'n' Roll, Blackmore disliked his playing so much that he fired Clarke on the spot and played bass himself on all but three songs on this album ("Gates of Babylon", "Kill the King", and "Sensitive To Light"). Mark Clarke (born July 25, 1950, in Liverpool, England) is a former member of Colosseum and Uriah Heep. Long Live Rock 'n' Roll is the third studio album released by Rainbow, released in 1978 For these tracks he finally settled on Australian Bob Daisley. Robert "Bob" Daisley (born February 13, 1950 In Sydney Australia is a Hard rock Bass guitar player and Lyricist who After the release and extensive world tour in 1977–78, Blackmore decided that he wanted to take the band in a new commercial direction away from the "sword and sorcery" theme. Dio did not agree with this change and left Rainbow. He would go to replace Ozzy Osbourne as the lead singer in Black Sabbath (coincidentally, Daisley, Powell and future Rainbow drummer Bobby Rondinelli also played with Black Sabbath at various times). John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne (born December 3 1948) is a British singer Black Sabbath are an Bobby Rondinelli (born July 27, 1955, Brooklyn New York) is a rock Drummer best known for his work with the bands Blue Öyster Cult Dio would later form his own self-titled band. Dio is an American heavy metal band led by Vocalist Ronnie James Dio, who formed it in 1982 after leaving Black Sabbath.

Commercial Success

Blackmore attempted to replace Dio with Ian Gillan, but Gillan turned him down, so after a series of auditions ex-Marbles vocalist Graham Bonnet was recruited instead. Ian Gillan (born 19 August, 1945 in Hounslow, London) is an English Rock music Vocalist and Songwriter Graham Bonnet (born 23 December 1947, Skegness, Lincolnshire, England) sang for many different Rock bands including Gillan would replace Dio later in his career, in Black Sabbath. Powell stayed but Daisley and Stone were both fired, replaced by keyboardist Don Airey and former Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover. Don Airey (born 21 June 1948 in Sunderland, England) has been the Keyboardist in the Rock band Deep Purple Roger David Glover (born November 30, 1945 in Brecon, Wales) is a Welsh / English Bassist, Keyboardist The latter appointment was somewhat surprising as Blackmore had instigated the sacking of Glover from Deep Purple in 1973. The first album from the new lineup, Down to Earth, featured the band's first singles chart successes, "All Night Long" and the Russ Ballard penned "Since You Been Gone". Down To Earth is the fourth studio album released by Rainbow, released in 1979 (see 1979 in music) Russ Ballard (born 31 October 1945 Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, England) is an English Singer-songwriter and Musician For the Kelly Clarkson single see Since U Been Gone. " Since You Been Gone " is a 1970s rock song written and recorded by former Argent guitarist On stage Bonnet possessed a powerful voice, but struggled with the band's quieter numbers and lacked Dio's range. In 1980, the band headlined the inaugural 'Monsters of Rock' festival at Castle Donington in England. Castle Donington is a large Village almost considered a town with a population of around 7000 in the North West of Leicestershire, close to Derby However, this was Powell's last Rainbow gig as he had already given his notice to quit, disliking Blackmore's increasingly pop metal direction. Glam metal (also known as pop metal) is a sub-genre of Heavy metal music that arose in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the United States. He would go on to play for Michael Schenker, Whitesnake (founded by Blackmore's former Deep Purple bandmate David Coverdale) and Black Sabbath. Michael Schenker (born January 10, 1955) is a German Hard rock and heavy metal Guitarist and former member of Whitesnake are an English Hard rock band founded in 1977 by David Coverdale (formerly of Deep Purple) Black Sabbath are an Bonnet subsequently became disgruntled at the domination of Blackmore and Glover and also left to go solo.

For the next album Bonnet and Powell were replaced by Americans Joe Lynn Turner, and Bobby Rondinelli respectively. Joe Lynn Turner ( JLT) born Joseph Linquito August 2, 1951 in Hackensack New Jersey, is a melodic hard rock singer best known for his work Bobby Rondinelli (born July 27, 1955, Brooklyn New York) is a rock Drummer best known for his work with the bands Blue Öyster Cult The title track from the album, Difficult to Cure, was a version of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Difficult to Cure is the fifth album released by Rainbow, in 1981 and marked a further commercialisation of the band's sound The Symphony No 9 in D minor Op 125 "Choral" is the last complete Symphony composed by Ludwig van Beethoven. The album also contained the guitar piece, "Maybe Next Time". After the supporting tour Don Airey then quit over musical direction and was replaced on keyboards by David Rosenthal. David Rosenthal is an American Keyboardist, Music producer, and Songwriter mostly known for working with Billy Joel.

The band attained significant airplay on Album-oriented rock radio stations in the US with the track "Jealous Lover", reaching #13 on Billboard Magazine's Rock Tracks chart, which tracked AOR airplay. Album-oriented rock (sometimes referred to as Adult-oriented rock or as West Coast Rock) abbreviated AOR and originally called album-oriented radio Jealous Lover is a four track twelve inch EP released by the Hard rock band Rainbow in 1981 See Billboard (Turkish magazine Billboard is a weekly American Magazine devoted to the Music industry Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks (originally called Mainstream Rock Tracks) is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on Mainstream rock Album-oriented rock (sometimes referred to as Adult-oriented rock or as West Coast Rock) abbreviated AOR and originally called album-oriented radio Originally issued as the B-side to "Can't Happen Here", "Jealous Lover" subsequently became the title track to an EP issued in the US that featured very similar cover art to "Difficult to Cure".

Rainbow's next full length studio album was Straight Between the Eyes. Straight Between the Eyes is the sixth LP released by Rainbow, released in 1982 The album was more cohesive than Difficult to Cure and had more success in the United States. The band, however, was alienating some of its earlier fans with its more AOR sound. Album-oriented rock (sometimes referred to as Adult-oriented rock or as West Coast Rock) abbreviated AOR and originally called album-oriented radio The single, "Stone Cold", was a ballad that had some chart success (#1 on Billboard Magazine's Rock Tracks chart) and the video of which received heavy airplay on MTV. See Billboard (Turkish magazine Billboard is a weekly American Magazine devoted to the Music industry Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks (originally called Mainstream Rock Tracks) is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on Mainstream rock MTV ( Music Television) is an American Cable television network based in New York City. The successful supporting tour skipped the UK completely and focused on the American market. A date in San Antonio, Texas on this tour was filmed and the resulting "Live Between the Eyes" also received repeated showings on MTV.

Bent Out of Shape saw drummer Rondinelli fired in favour of Chuck Burgi. Chuck Burgi is an American drummer who was born in Montclair New Jersey on August 15 1952. The album featured the single "Street Of Dreams". The song's video was banned by MTV for its supposedly controversial hypnotic video clip^[2]. MTV ( Music Television) is an American Cable television network based in New York City. The resulting tour saw Rainbow return to the UK and also to Japan in March 1984 where the band performed 'Difficult to Cure' with a full orchestra. (The concert was also filmed. )But on the album Bent Out of Shape there are many good songs like "Desperate heart", "Stranded" and "Snowman".

Hiatus and regroup

By April 1984, Blackmore and Glover had joined the reformed Deep Purple "Mark II" line-up, and Rainbow was disbanded. A final Rainbow album, Finyl Vinyl, was pieced together from live tracks and B-sides of singles. The album contained the instrumental Weiss Heim, widely available for the first time.

Blackmore left Deep Purple in 1993 and formed a new Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow with all new members. This is a summary of significant events in music in 1993. Events January The band released Stranger in Us All in 1995 and embarked on a lengthy world tour. Stranger In Us All is a 1995 album by the reformed Rainbow. When Ritchie Blackmore left Deep Purple for the final time he put together a new version See also 1995 in music (UK Musical groups established in 1995 Record

The tour proved very successful and a show in Germany was professionally filmed by 'Rockpalast'. It has never officially been released, but has been heavily bootlegged (and considered by many collectors to be the best Rainbow bootleg of the era). The live shows featured frequent changes in set lists and musical improvisations that proved popular with bootleggers and many shows are still traded over a decade later.

However, fed up with stadium rock, Blackmore turned his attention to Renaissance and medieval music, a lifelong interest of his. Rainbow was put on hold once again, after playing its final concert in Esbjerg, Denmark in 1997. Events January January 9 - David Bowie performs his 50th Birthday Bash concert Blackmore, together with his partner Candice Night as vocalist, then formed the Renaissance-influenced Blackmore's Night who, as of 2008, are still recording albums, and performing small intimate tours completely in contrast to Rainbow's mammoth stadium shows. Candice Night (born May 8 1971 in Hauppauge, Long Island, New York) is an American vocalist/lyricist and the partner of former Deep Blackmore's Night is a Renaissance -inspired Folk rock band led by Ritchie Blackmore ( Electric guitar and acoustic guitar) and

In late 1997, Cozy Powell approached Ritchie Blackmore to see if he would be interested in reforming the Rising line-up of Rainbow. Colin Flooks ( December 29, 1947 - April 5, 1998) better known as Cozy Powell, was an English rock drummer Due to everyone's prior commitments, this proposed reunion was intended to last for just one tour, and by the time of Cozy's tragic death in April 1998, both Dio and Blackmore had almost given the project the green light. However, Cozy's death also brought about the demise of the long-anticipated reunion. In the decade since, many other rumours have been announced, from various web sources, of a future Dio/Blackmore Rainbow project, but both men have always been quick in dispelling these rumours as having no basis in fact.

Member history

Discography

Main article: Discography Rainbow

Other reading

• Roy Davies, Rainbow Rising -The Story of Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow (Helter Skelter, 2002)
• Martin Popoff, Rainbow- English Castle Magic (Metal Blade 2005)
• Jerry Bloom, Black Knight- Ritchie Blackmore (Omnibus Press 2006)

References