Rainbow (UK)
Biography
Rainbow emerged from the ashes of Deep Purple in 1975 when guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, frustrated with his band's increasingly funky direction, decided to forge a new path that would marry heavy metal with fantasy-themed lyrics and neo-classical flourishes. What began as a collaboration with members of the relatively unknown American band Elf would evolve into one of the most influential and enduring acts in hard rock history, leaving an indelible mark on the genre through constant reinvention and an ever-rotating cast of exceptional musicians.
The band's genesis came when Blackmore recruited Elf's entire lineup, including the diminutive but powerfully voiced Ronnie James Dio, to record what would become their debut album. "Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow," released in 1975, established the template for everything that would follow. The opening track "Man on the Silver Mountain" immediately announced this as something different from Deep Purple's blues-based approach, with Dio's soaring vocals painting mystical imagery over Blackmore's intricate guitar work. The album's centerpiece, the epic "Catch the Rainbow," showcased the band's ability to craft atmospheric, progressive compositions that built from gentle acoustic passages to thunderous climaxes. This debut wasn't just a collection of songs; it was a manifesto that declared heavy metal could be both brutally powerful and artistically sophisticated. The album's success in Europe, particularly in Germany and the UK, proved that audiences were hungry for this new hybrid of classical influences and metal aggression.
By 1976's "Rising," Rainbow had evolved into something truly special. Widely regarded as their masterpiece, this album found the perfect balance between Blackmore's neo-classical ambitions and Dio's storytelling prowess. The Tony Carey-Mickey Lee Soule keyboard partnership added symphonic depth, while the rhythm section of Jimmy Bain and Cozy Powell provided thunderous foundation. "Stargazer" stands as perhaps the greatest achievement in the Rainbow catalog – an eight-minute epic that tells the tale of a wizard building a tower to reach the stars, complete with orchestral arrangements and one of Dio's most commanding vocal performances. The album's other standout, "A Light in the Black," demonstrated the band's ability to craft more straightforward rockers without sacrificing their mystical atmosphere. "Rising" influenced countless metal bands and established many of the lyrical and musical conventions that would define fantasy metal for decades to come.
The band's commercial breakthrough came with 1979's "Down to Earth," which marked a significant shift in both lineup and approach. Gone were Dio and the fantasy themes, replaced by new vocalist Graham Bonnet and a more radio-friendly hard rock sound. While purists mourned the loss of the mystical elements, the album produced Rainbow's biggest hit in "Since You Been Gone," a perfectly crafted piece of arena rock that showcased Blackmore's ability to write memorable hooks alongside his classical flourishes. The album's success, particularly in the United States, proved that Rainbow could adapt and thrive in the changing musical landscape of the late 1970s. "All Night Long" became another radio staple, and the album's more accessible approach opened doors to larger venues and broader audiences.
Throughout the 1980s, Rainbow continued to evolve, with Blackmore maintaining his role as the band's sole constant member while cycling through vocalists including Joe Lynn Turner, who brought a more melodic, AOR-influenced style to classics like "Street of Dreams" and "Stone Cold." The band's influence during this period extended beyond metal into the emerging hard rock and AOR scenes, with their emphasis on strong melodies and virtuosic musicianship becoming a template for countless acts.
Rainbow's legacy extends far beyond their recorded output. The band served as a launching pad for numerous musicians who would go on to significant careers, including Dio, who would find even greater success with Black Sabbath and his solo career, and drummers like Cozy Powell and Bobby Rondinelli, who became highly sought-after session musicians. Blackmore's integration of classical music elements into heavy metal opened new avenues for the genre, influencing everyone from Yngwie Malmsteen to symphonic metal pioneers like Nightwish.
When Blackmore disbanded Rainbow in 1997 to pursue his medieval music project Blackmore's Night, he left behind a catalog that had helped define multiple subgenres of metal and hard rock. Brief reunions, including a notable 2016 performance at Download Festival, have reminded audiences of the band's enduring power. Rainbow's influence on metal remains immeasurable, having proven that heavy
