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RainbowBritish-American rock band
Date of Birth: 01.01.1975
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Ritchie Blackmore: A Guitarist's Journey
- Birth of Rainbow
- Evolution and Success
- Departure of Dio and Commercial Success
- Decline and Rebirth
- Post-Rainbow Career
Ritchie Blackmore: A Guitarist's Journey
Early Life and Deep PurpleBorn in Weston, England on April 14, 1945, Ritchie Blackmore rose to fame as the guitarist for the legendary rock band Deep Purple. In May 1975, seeking a new direction, he left Deep Purple and formed Rainbow.
Birth of Rainbow
Blackmore recruited fellow musicians Ronnie James Dio (vocals), Mickie Lee Soule (keyboards), Craig Gruber (bass), and Gary Driscoll (drums) from the band Elf. Their debut album, "Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow," released in 1975, showcased a continuation of Blackmore's distinctive Deep Purple sound.
Evolution and Success
Dissatisfied with the early albums, Blackmore began reshaping the band's lineup. Soule, Gruber, and Driscoll were replaced by Tony Carey (keyboards), Jimmy Bain (bass), and Cozy Powell (drums). The resulting album, "Rainbow Rising," marked a significant improvement and solidified the band's identity.
Departure of Dio and Commercial Success
In 1978, tensions between Blackmore and Dio led to the latter's departure. Graham Bonnet took over as vocalist, but the band's subsequent album, "Down To Earth," failed to live up to their previous standards. Despite a hit single with "Since You've Been Gone," Bonnet and Powell were replaced by Joe Lynn Turner and Bobby Rondinelli. The album "Difficult To Cure" became the band's commercial breakthrough, with hits like "I Surrender."
Decline and Rebirth
Rainbow's popularity waned in the early 1980s. Chuck Burgi replaced Rondinelli on drums for "Bent Out Of Shape," but the band ultimately disbanded in 1984 to allow for the reformation of Deep Purple in its classic lineup.
Post-Rainbow Career
Since Rainbow's initial dissolution, the band has been revived several times with varying lineups. In 1995, they released "Stranger In Us All" with vocalist Doogie White. Blackmore eventually shifted his focus to his new project, Blackmore's Night, in 1997.
