The end of Rainbow

[miracle]

I just thought of this but this is also the end of Rainbow

[H&H]

Rainbow has been dead for a long time. I assume you mean that Ronnie was that carried on the great Mk I Rainbow, and that with his passing, we will no longer hear it as it was originally intended.

Over the Rainbow is out there making music as "Rainbow," however I feel they are not much more than a glorified tribute band. I know that is harsh, however Ritchie is/was Rainbow. It was his band.

Has anyone seen OTR live? Are they decent? I like all incarnations of Rainbow, however it was the MK I line-up that was the best.

[sarsippius67]

Agreed it was Richie's band, after it all WAS Blackmore's Rainbow.... but I would have preferred Richie to have been playing with Ian Gillan when I saw him a couple years ago, then I would have felt better about him calling it Deep Purple!

[Sabbathfan78]

Rainbow's been dead since Dio left them in 1979. Where have you been?

[celt]

Well, of course the only person qualified to sing Dio-era Rainbow songs is no longer with us, so with that said, the Dio-era Rainbow songs, as they should be heard, that is, sung by RJD, have been silenced, at least live, but the band itself, yeah, that was done 30+ years ago. It would have been cool if Ronnie and Ritchie could have collaborated again, but it wasn't to be.

[sidsel_roine]

I always held out a faint glimmer that there would one day be a Rainbow reunion with Ritchie and Ronnie. My head knew it wasn't going to happen, as Ritchie has said he's tired of Rock N Roll and seems happy to do his Blackmore's Night thing.

It's been over, but Ronnie's passing just drives the point home.

[DiosSword]

The only way there could be a true Rainbow reformation now would be with one of the Turner lineups, or with Doogie White.

Cozy Powell and Gary Driscoll are both dead, so none of the RJD lineups could reform, even before Ronnie died. Nor could the Graham Bonnet Down To Earth lineup reform, since Cozy played on that album.

I would have much preferred one of the RJD/Bonnet lineups, of course, but I wouldn't mind the Difficult To Cure lineup getting together as a one-off:

Ritchie Blackmore - guitar
Joe Lynn Turner - vocals
Roger Glover - bass
Don Airey - keyboards
Bobby Rondinelli - drums

[miracle]

Yeah i was more think about any sort of reunion between ritchie and Ronnie either studio or live

[devilmaycare]

If Ritchie wanted to "reform" Rainbow it would be him & anyone he pleased, & you know what?

IT WOULD STILL BE RAINBOW.

Rainbow became more successful after RJD "left"... in my opinion they released their best albums (Down To Earth & possibly Bent Out Of Shape) after RJD...

Turner & White both sang Dio songs pretty well, though Bonnet lacked the necessary subtlties...

It's Blackmore's band... everyone else was on wages.


As for OTR... Turner still has the pipes... JR Blackmore is workmanlike at best...

---------- Post added at 06:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:15 AM ----------

I like all incarnations of Rainbow, however it was the MK I line-up that was the best.

Really? Did they even play live? Most people would go for the Blackmore/ Dio/ Powell/ Bain/ Carey line-up... though to be honest I loved every Rainbow line-up that I ever saw...

[-E5150 StarWanderer-]

I've never really gotten into Rainbow after Dios departure, with the exceptions of few songs such as Eyes of the World. IMO it is generally poppy, hollow and overly simplistic music without any true feelings, just catchy choruses. The band lost it's core dentity and soul, which were at times achieved in the form of few songs there and there. Bonnet is a great vocalist, White mediocre at best and JLT... well, I don't like my Rainbow with female vocalists

And about Over the Rainbow, I think one thing speaks for itself. A review I once read concerning their gig had one, massive con in it: JLT + Stargazer. Nuff said.

And of the topic: I think that Rainbow, like many of you have already stated, has been dead for a long time. Ritchie could assemble any kind of line-up and It would be Rainbow, but It won't happen.

[devilmaycare]

JLT + Stargazer. Nuff said.

JLT actually manged it better than Bonnet... The vocalist isn't the problem... It's the guitarist!

[kamikazetom]

JLT actually manged it better than Bonnet... The vocalist isn't the problem... It's the guitarist!

Actually JLT didn't do a bad job singing the other eras of Rainbow when I saw the Straight Between the eyes tour in San Antonio - he sang Long Live Rock N Roll pretty good & did a great job on All Night Long

I always thought the one chance for the Dio/Blackmore Rainbow to reform was in the early 90's when Blackmore had just left Deep Purple & Dio left Sabbath after the Dehumanizer tour - this is what I was hoping for when I heard a rumor that Ritchie was putting together
a new Rainbow lineup - instead we got Doogie White & one pretty good CD in Stranger in us all - really hoped they would tour & record more with this lineup but instead we got Blackmore's night which I actually like a lot - Blackmore's night has played a few covers of old Rainbow/Deep Purple numbers & I do like the way Candace sings on them - I know it's not for eveyone but here are some links

16th century Greensleeves - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgTC5LzpzKY

Child in Time - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thqnI...eature=related

Street of Dreams - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpaa1EN65Rk

[H&H]

Really? Did they even play live? Most people would go for the Blackmore/ Dio/ Powell/ Bain/ Carey line-up... though to be honest I loved every Rainbow line-up that I ever saw...

OK, I big time messed that up. The line up you listed above is the one I was thinking of as MK I, however I mis-spoke, as the original line-up was essentially "Elf" sand Feinstein, and Blackmore on guitar.. So, I should have said to say Mk II.

[RavenLord]

I was happy to find the Rainbow Live In Munich DVD at FYE today. I never bought it (only had the CD version before), so I'll watch it when I feel the time is right. I felt Richie spent too much time on solos on the CD, but now I have a different motivation to watch the DVD.

I prefer Rainbow with Dio, but I like Joe Lynn Turner and Doogie White as well. As others have stated, Rainbow simply became more radio-friendly after Dio's tenure, which isn't a bad thing in itself. I just prfer the Dio material. I tried listening to Blackmore's Night, before but couldn't get into it at the time, though I may try again someday. The older I get, the more open I become.

[Charger]

To me Rainbow didn't exist anymore after the departure of Ronnie...the songs became more pop songs than hard rock songs...all about love and shit like that...

Never liked Joe Lynn Turners vocals either...I've tried to listen to some of the Over The Rainbow stuff but JLT just does absolutely nothing for me..

[The Uninvited Guest]

Personally I had always douted whether Ronnie and Ritchie would work together again. If there ever is a Rainbow reunion, my money would be on Joe Lynn Turner doing vocals. Would Roger Glover do bass duties? Drums and keyboards would probably be covered by new staff - don't want to draw too much attention from Mr Blackmore, do we????

[7th Star 86/]

I had the good fortune of seeing Over The Rainbow live in Osaka last year and they were great. I have never seen any version of Rainbow so for me this was the next best thing. It is sad that the world will never see any version of Rainbow as Ritchie is doing his own thing.

[Dio lives on]

I have th at DVD as well I watch it all the time before I go to school

[fondula]

I was kind of thinking / hoping that we might one day see Dio appear on a Blackmore's Night album on a duet with Candace (JLT did it), and that would be the closest we might get to a Rainbow reunion. The Blackmore's Night material is not that far off from the material on the first Rainbow album (if you exclude the honky-tonk piano numbers) so I imagined it working well, plus a "cameo appearance" would have had no commitment attached to it such as touring or even appearing live, and it would provide opportunity for RJD to stretch out into some "gentle" material for 3 to 5 minutes.... I think it would have been cool. Oh well.

[Joe Siegler]

Over the Rainbow is out there making music as "Rainbow," however I feel they are not much more than a glorified tribute band. I know that is harsh, however Ritchie is/was Rainbow. It was his band.

Has anyone seen OTR live? Are they decent? I like all incarnations of Rainbow, however it was the MK I line-up that was the best.

A friend of mine saw them live, said it was so bad, he almost walked out. But I've not witnessed it personally.

Actually Rainbow never really died - it just morphed into "Blackmore's Night", sadly.

[Metal Priest]

If we ever get a Rainbow reunion it has to be Doogie White at the vocals IMO. The last Rainbow line-up's were great live and I really love Stranger in Us All.

[Pope On Rope]

A Rainbow reunion with Ronnie died with Cozy according to Ronnie himself. I saw an interview of Ronnie years ago (before The Dio Years was put together) where he stated just that.

Found the text:

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/bla...wsitemID=56928

[Sabbathman]

I've never seen any Rainbow lineups on stage, not even the new Over The Rainbow lineup. But in addition to Dio, I've seen GB & JLT performing a double show with a proficient Finnish group for two times, GB did his show first, then JLT, finally they both were on stage together. Back in 2007 both guys sang & performed fantastically in a packed & sweaty club in Tampere, a good selection of their staple songs and a couple of surprises as well. GB did Stargazer, JLT jammed through a snareless version of King Of Dreams (the snare was broken just before this song), I liked this improvised version a lot, JLT didn't miss a beat. When they performed the song Long Live Rock 'n' Roll together, GB had to use a lyric sheet! But it was a real fun all night long. Back in 2008 they re-performed this song together at the Sauna Open Air Festival in Tampere and dedicated the performance to Dio who had performed in Lahti the night before. I've also witnessed a powerful performance from DW, he delivered some great tunes with a group of Finnish youngsters who really nailed the songs great I must say. DW of course soared high & loud, an astounding singer indeed.

[devilmaycare]

I've said it before. But of ALL the former Rainbow & Purple vocalists, JLT has the voice that's held up the best. Seriously he still kicks ass on most of this stuff. He's 58 as well... so he's no spring chicken!

[fishtowner]

I only discovered Rainbow because of Ronnie being in black sabbath. So after i heard he was in rainbow i checked out the only Rainbow album I could find and that was On Stage the live album. Then a new album was relased in 82 Straight Between the Eyes with Joe Lynn Turner. So I bought it and seen them in tour with the scorpians which just released the blackout album which was their breakout album in the USA. I love Ronnie but i actually prefer the Joe Lynn Turner era of rainbow.

[blackmoon]

Saw Over The Rainbow At Crocidile Rock in Allentown. Thought they were way to loud for whatis basically a bar. JLT vocals were distorted. I felt the same way when I saw Big Noize there.

[Charger]

Actually Rainbow never really died - it just morphed into "Blackmore's Night", sadly.

Indeed it did...And I have to say I was very surprised with this, since the reason Ritche fired Ronnie back in the day was that he wanted Rainbow to get more radio friendly and more a band for the masses really...and then he did this total 180 and started playing music that only appeals to a very small group of people...

But I will say this, I prefer Blackmore's Night over any non Ronnie era of Rainbow. Candice is a hell of a singer and a multitalented musican and a great lyricist too.

[Cozy Powell Fan]

In my opinion any chance of a Rainbow reunion, the way I'd like to see them, died with Cozy Powell. My ideal Rainbow line up is Blackmore, Dio, Powell, Stone, and Daisley. But this is only my opinion.

[devilmaycare]

My ideal Rainbow line up is Blackmore, Dio, Powell, Stone, and Daisley. But this is only my opinion.

You mean the one you've seen on DVD... I suggest you go listen to a few live recordings of other era's... including the ones without your golden boy... Ritchie never hired hacks.

[Cozy Powell Fan]

You mean the one you've seen on DVD... I suggest you go listen to a few live recordings of other era's... including the ones without your golden boy... Ritchie never hired hacks.

Yes, the one I've seen on DVD. I like the Munich DVD and that lineup. I also have the 6 disc Deutschland Tournee box set and I have to say I like that lineup too. I have the Final Vynal album, so I have heard some stuff with out my so-called 'golden boy' and I don't like much of the stuff on it. Yes, I like Cozy Powell, but I wouldn't go so far as to call him my 'golden boy'.

I understand that Ritchie never hired hacks, but I know what I like from Rainbow. And I can honestly say that their music suffered after Cozy left. But that's just my opinion.

[devilmaycare]

I understand that Ritchie never hired hacks, but I know what I like from Rainbow. And I can honestly say that their music suffered after Cozy left. But that's just my opinion.

oh, come on. You give yourself that screen-name & avatar... OF COURSE you're gonna think that Rainbow suffered musically without Cozy. But as a long time Rainbow fan, and one who saw them live in each of their touring incarnations I can say quite honestly that although the direction shifted, both Chuck Burgi & Bobby Rondinelli more than held there own behind the kit.

Finyl Vinyl is a crock though. I suggest you cast your net wider.

[Cozy Powell Fan]

oh, come on. You give yourself that screen-name & avatar... OF COURSE you're gonna think that Rainbow suffered musically without Cozy. But as a long time Rainbow fan, and one who saw them live in each of their touring incarnations I can say quite honestly that although the direction shifted, both Chuck Burgi & Bobby Rondinelli more than held there own behind the kit.

Finyl Vinyl is a crock though. I suggest you cast your net wider.

For your information, Cozy leaving is not the only reason I think their music sufffered. I have heard tracks off Rainbow's other studio albums after Cozy left and it's not the drummers that I dislike, it's the singers. So don't hand me that bull about my thinking Cozy leaving was the only reason I think Rainbow suffered. Just because I have Cozy Powell Fan as a user name and use a picture of him as an avatar, does not mean he's the only drummer I like. If you can suggest some live Rainbow material without Cozy behind the drums that YOU think is better, please tell me about it. But if you can't then you have no reason to accuse me of not liking any other eras of Rainbow based on 'not liking' the drummer.

[miracle]

I like at least 70% of the songs on ALL rainbow albums for me its all about the songs i personally like when people start working with other musicians (including drummer) more variation

[Cozy Powell Fan]

As I've been saying, almost from the start, I have heard other songs by Rainbow and it really has nothing to do with the drummer at all. It's the singers I don't like. There is something about their voices I don't like. I can't quite pinpoint what exactly I don't like, but there is a quality to there voices that can't really compare with Dio and Bonnet. Sorry to say it.

And sorry if I come across as a defensive Cozy 'fan girl', but when someone attacks me based on what they 'think' I am, I don't like it.

[devilmaycare]

For your information, Cozy leaving is not the only reason I think their music sufffered. I have heard tracks off Rainbow's other studio albums after Cozy left and it's not the drummers that I dislike, it's the singers. So don't hand me that bull about my thinking Cozy leaving was the only reason I think Rainbow suffered. Just because I have Cozy Powell Fan as a user name and use a picture of him as an avatar, does not mean he's the only drummer I like. If you can suggest some live Rainbow material without Cozy behind the drums that YOU think is better, please tell me about it. But if you can't then you have no reason to accuse me of not liking any other eras of Rainbow based on 'not liking' the drummer.

Well, you're kinda confusing me by saying you didn't like the singers, but then say again that I have to name examples you'd like "without Cozy behind the drums" so...

The Doogie White version of the band was incredible live... by far the best setists of any Rainbow tour, White struggled with Bonnet's stuff but nailed the other vocalists stuff including Gillan & Coverdale... The first tour with Turner was excellent, especially for fans of the older Rainbow material... If you have listen to & disliked the 5 Rainbow studio records without Cozy I won't waste my time listing tours where the setlist didn't feature those songs that Cozy recorded with the band.

[Cozy Powell Fan]

I haven't heard the 5 albums after Cozy left in there entirety, only the songs that have been included in the compilation albums I have. I'd also like to know what the big fuss is over Joe Lynn Turner and Doogie White. As I've said before they can't compare with Dio and Bonnet. And I never said that you had to name examples of Rainbow that I'd like with out Cozy, I said if you could tell me what you think is better to let me know.

I honestly can't see why people think Doogie White and Joe Lynn Turner are better than Dio and Bonnet.

[miracle]

Its all a matter of taste

[devilmaycare]

I haven't heard the 5 albums after Cozy left in there entirety, only the songs that have been included in the compilation albums I have. I'd also like to know what the big fuss is over Joe Lynn Turner and Doogie White. As I've said before they can't compare with Dio and Bonnet. And I never said that you had to name examples of Rainbow that I'd like with out Cozy, I said if you could tell me what you think is better to let me know.

I honestly can't see why people think Doogie White and Joe Lynn Turner are better than Dio and Bonnet.

There were 4 studio albums after Cozy left. One before he joined.

As good as Down to Earth is (and it's my favorite Rainbow record) Bonnet struggled live with the Dio stuff. Turner & White managed to sing the songs well... If you've ever heard Bonnet's take on Catch the Rainbow (and i have a feeling you probably haven't) then you'd understand. It's fucking appalling.

With all respect, it seems you're coming into this argument without much actual knowledge. You haven't heard all the stuff you're dismissing, you're certainly not giving examples of concerts you've heard (attended??) to back up your points.

The Boston show from the DTC tour features Turner delivering excellent versions of Catch The Rainbow & Love's No Friend... The Kyoto & Hammersmith recordings from the SIUA tour has White delivering beautiful versions of Temple Of The Kings... These guys could sing the catalog beautifully, powerfully... Bonnet shouted it... Shit, he even struggled on some of the DTE stuff!

As I said. I'm a Rainbow fan... It seems you're not... more a Powell/Dio/Bonnet fan. There's a thread elsewhere on these boards where we were asked to list our fave Rainbow records... I think mine were listed like this...

1) Down To Earth (Bonnet)
2) Long Live Rock ' n' Roll (Dio)
3) Bent Out Of Shape (Turner)
4) Rising (Dio)
5) Straight Between The Eyes (Turner)

So hey, Cozy, RJD & Bonnet feature in the top two, but I'd put BOOS waaaaaay above Rising. As I said though, when it comes to LIVE STUFF, you have to consider Turner & White... They are after all the only ones to take on the whole catalog & do it well.

[miracle]

Would have been fun to hear Ronnie do I surrender or All night long

[Cozy Powell Fan]

There were 4 studio albums after Cozy left. One before he joined.

As good as Down to Earth is (and it's my favorite Rainbow record) Bonnet struggled live with the Dio stuff. Turner & White managed to sing the songs well... If you've ever heard Bonnet's take on Catch the Rainbow (and i have a feeling you probably haven't) then you'd understand. It's fucking appalling.

With all respect, it seems you're coming into this argument without much actual knowledge. You haven't heard all the stuff you're dismissing, you're certainly not giving examples of concerts you've heard (attended??) to back up your points.

The Boston show from the DTC tour features Turner delivering excellent versions of Catch The Rainbow & Love's No Friend... The Kyoto & Hammersmith recordings from the SIUA tour has White delivering beautiful versions of Temple Of The Kings... These guys could sing the catalog beautifully, powerfully... Bonnet shouted it... Shit, he even struggled on some of the DTE stuff!

As I said. I'm a Rainbow fan... It seems you're not... more a Powell/Dio/Bonnet fan. There's a thread elsewhere on these boards where we were asked to list our fave Rainbow records... I think mine were listed like this...

1) Down To Earth (Bonnet)
2) Long Live Rock ' n' Roll (Dio)
3) Bent Out Of Shape (Turner)
4) Rising (Dio)
5) Straight Between The Eyes (Turner)

So hey, Cozy, RJD & Bonnet feature in the top two, but I'd put BOOS waaaaaay above Rising. As I said though, when it comes to LIVE STUFF, you have to consider Turner & White... They are after all the only ones to take on the whole catalog & do it well.

Actually I am a Rainbow fan. And it seemed to me that you were implying that there were 5 albums after Cozy left, I knew there was 1 before he joined and that's the ONLY Rainbow album without him I actually like. I've heard the On Stage album, the Detuchland Tournee box set, and Live in Munich. I've never been to a Rainbow concert because by the time I actually got into them they were no more. The last concert Rainbow played with Dio and Powell was the year before I was born, and the last they did with Powell was two months before I was born. And like I said, they were no more by the time I got into them in 2005.

Actually I have heard Bonnet's take on Catch The Rainbow, I have downloaded a concert with him, and his version is not as bad as you make it out to be. And I rank Rising as my top Rainbow album. Way before Blackmore's Rainbow, Long Live Rock, and Down To Earth.

And please, by all means, correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't Dio, Powell, Blackmore, Stone, and Daisley planning to get back together for an album and tour before Powell died?

If that was the case, then apparently the other lineups weren't as good as you seem to make them out to be.

And one more question, did you ever see Rainbow live with Powell and Dio or Powell and Bonnet, and if so what did you really thinkl?