Classic Metal Rainbow

[Magic]

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Current Members:

• Ritchie Blackmore
• Ronnie Romero
• Bob Nouveau
• David Keith
• Jens Johansson

Albums:

• Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow (1975)
• Rising (1976)
• Long Live Rock 'n' Roll (1978)
• Down to Earth (1979)
• Difficult to Cure (1981)
• Straight Between the Eyes (1982)
• Bent Out of Shape (1983)
• Stranger in Us All (1995)

Rainbow began as a side project of Blackmore. He was unhappy with Deep Purple over a couple songs he wanted to record and the band rejected them. He hooked up with Dio and called the new project, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, and used the band members of Elf to record the first album.

Blackmore cut loose the Elf band members and hired Cozy Powell, Jimmy Bain, and Tony Carey with Dio remaining as vocalist. They recorded the second album as Rainbow. This second album, Rising, redefined heavy metal from the opening track to the opus recording, "Stargazer" then finishing off with the heavy hitter A Light in the Black. Stargazer is a masterpiece!

I feel this album defined the direction Dio took his career and inspired many bands after them.

Stargazer

The first album contains one of the most recognizable riffs and songs.....

Man On The Silver Mountain

 

[Magic]

April 2018 is the 40th birthday of Long Live Rock n' Roll

Gates of Babylon (live)

 

[Magic]

Stone Cold

Rock Fever

 

[Lynch]

Great band from inception through the mid 80's. Love RJD on vocals, Graham Bonnet's short lived time on the mike and of course Joe Lynn Turner. All three were great during their time in the band.

 

[Magic]

Yep. When I think of Rainbow, I think RJD, but honestly, I like Joe Lynn with Rainbow. Dio was an entity of his own. IMO, Dio in Rainbow was just him testing the waters, so to speak. I feel RJD blossomed with Black Sabbath then realized it was HIM who was capturing the audience and took that talent solo. Such an awesome career!

 

[Lynch]

I agree about RJD. I also own the three albums he did with Elf before joining Rainbow. It is cool to listen to him in retrospect from start to finish in his hard rock career. (the Ronnie and the Rednotes stuff is hilarious because it's NOT the Dio we all know and love). But yeah, he's the first thing that I think of when I think about Rainbow.

 

[Speed King]

I love the synth work by Tony Carey in the beginning of "Tarot Woman". I've been trying to get that exact sound out my Moog. There are least two tracks in that intro, and pretty sure one or both are a MiniMoog. I have a Moog Subsequent 37, which makes it hard to replicate, each model of synthesizer has a particular signature voice, I can get close, but to nail it completely, I need a MiniMoog.

Tony Carey left Rainbow after "Rising", I think he brought a lot to the table for Rainbow. My favorite Rainbow album just happens to be the only one he's on.

 

[Magic]

Down To Earth turns 40 years old July 2019.

All Night Long

Danger Zone

 

[Magic]

Straight Between the Eyes celebrated its 40th birthday April 2022.

Death Alley Driver