RAINBOW

The group was formed in 1974 in the UK.

Ritchie Blackmore - guitar;
Ronnie James Dio - vocals;
Mickey Lee Soule - keyboards;
Craig Kraber - bass guitar;
Gary Driscoll - drums.

In 1974, after withdrawal from the Deep Purple, Ritchie Blackmore in touch with the American group Elf, which opened for Deep Purple in the United States, and Elf with Blackmore replaced citizenship and received a new name - Rainbow. Regarding the debut album 'Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow', . which was released in 1975, . Critics were divided: some appreciated the new group as a pitiful semblance of Deep Purple, . others felt, . Rainbow that looks much more attractive team, . which of the former Deep Purple were only a name and two musicians,
. Whatever it, . Rainbow tried to move a different course, . than the previous group Blackmore, . and at first they succeeded: the virtuoso guitar band leader, . powerful attacker Dio vocals and aggressive rhythm section was isolated Rainbow among many other groups, . worked in the melodic hard rock,
.

Constant change of the composition, on the one hand, testified Blackmore quest for perfection, on the other - seriously weakened the group, as almost every year, Rainbow were forced to start from scratch. Despite the success of their first album, . Blackmore did not stay happy-plate and completely changed the music, . leaving behind only a Dio: a new bass player was Jimmy Bain, . shock took place at Powell, . and the role of the keyboardist was invited by Tony Carey,
. This part was written a very strong album, Rainbow Rising, after which the Bane and Currie replaced Deyzli Bob and David Stone.

After the Rainbow relocated to the United States, between Blackmore and Dio had serious differences, which resulted in the 1978 Dio left the band. He was replaced by vocalist Graham Bonnet, . with the participation of which was recorded one album - 'Down To Earth' - at the time of the Rainbow became the bass guitarist Roger Glover, . which in 1973 had survived Blackmore of Deep Purple, . very strong keyboardist Dan Airey,
. The general opinion of experts, . Care Dio not only weakened the Rainbow, . but also influenced the change of style, . although it is in 'Down To Earth' was part first of four in the history of Rainbow hit singles 'Since You've Been Gone' (57-th place in the U.S., . 6 th place in the UK, by Race Ballard),
.

That part, who recorded 'Down To Earth', was commer-ski's most successful, therefore, the triumph Rainbow opened the way groups of melodic hard-end-heavy. However, victims of the new reorganization fell Bonnet and Powell - took their place Fandango group's vocalist Joe Lynn Turner and drummer Bob Rondinelli. In this part of the album was recorded 'Difficult To Cure', a composition with which the - 'I Surrender' - became a hit single in the UK (3rd place).

Was a success and the 1982 album 'Straight Between The Eyes', but despite the fact that the plate was included in chartsy U.S., objectively, the disc was much weaker than the previous. When conducted in the same year U.S. tour took place Rondinelli new drummer Chuck Burgi, with the participation of which in 1983 passed Rainbow tour in the UK. Upon completion of this tour, Blackmore lost interest in the Rainbow and initiated the reunification of Deep Purple.

Despite the controversial assessment of creativity Rainbow, this group successfully took place Deep Purple, and nearly ten years as a full replacement for the fans of this legendary band. In any case, solo work Gillan apply for this role could not.

In 1995, Ritchie Blackmore has collected a whole new team, which assumed the former name (apart from his group were: Doug White - vocals, John 0'Reyli - blow in kind, Greg Smith - bass Paul Morris - keyboards). New Rainbow recorded only one album 'Stranger In Us All', after which Blackmore again left in the shade. And only the summer of 1997 guitarist returned to the music - this time with a project entitled 'Blackmore's Night'. 'Night'-in-all this is not 'night', and the name of the girl, which was carried away in his old age Blackmore, and today, this girl still sings in his band. In general, . but plate-wai Blackmore disappoint his loyal aficionados: all 15 tracks album made in the form of ancient madrigals, . Blackmore very rarely uses electric, . prompting almost all the solo parts in the lute and the mandolin (he also recorded the bass and drums),
. Sings on the disc, Candice Night, and keyboards played by Pat Rigen (in song 'PLay, Minstrel, Play' solo flute performed by Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull).

. Group members:

. VOCALS: (vocals)

. RONNIE JAMES DIO: vocals-ex-ELF, 1977 -1978 RAINBOW, in BLACK SABBATH, formed DIO
. GRAHAM BONNET: vocals-ex-MARBLES, ex-Solo, 1979 RAINBOW
. JOE LYNN TURNER: vocals-ex-FANDANGO, 1980 - 1983 RAINBOW
. DOOGIE WHITE: vocals 1995 RAINBOW

. GUITARS: (guitar)

. RITCHIE BLACKMORE: guitars, bass in 1975 -1983 RAINBOW, 1984-1994 DEEP PURPLE, RAINBOW 1995

. BASS: (bass)

. CRAIG GRUBER: bass-ex-ELF, RAINBOW 1975
. JIMMY BAIN: bass 1976 - 1977 RAINBOW, WILD HORSES
. MARK CLARKE: bass-ex-COLOSSEUM
. ex-URIAH HEEP, 1978 RAINBOW (don't lp)
. BOB DAISLEY: bass-ex-CHICKEN SHACK, ex-WIDOWMAKER, 1978 RAINBOW
. ROGER GLOVER: bass-ex-DEEP PURPLE, of Solo, 1979 - 1983 RAINBOW, in DEEP PURPLE
. GREG SMITH: bass 1995 RAINBOW

. KEYBOARDS: (keyboards)

. MICKY LEE SOULE: keyboards-ex-ELF, RAINBOW 1975
. TONY CAREY: keyboards 1976-1977 RAINBOW, went solo
. DAVID STONE: keyboards-ex-SYMPHONIC SLAM, 1978 RAINBOW
. DON AILEY: keyboards-ex-COLOSSEUM II, 1979 - 1981 RAINBOW, to OZZY OSBOURNE
. DAVID ROSENTHAL: keyboards in 1982 -1983 RAINBOW
. PAUL MORRIS: keyboards 1995 RAINBOW

. DRUMS: (drums)

. GARY DRISCOLL: drums-ex-ELF, RAINBOW 1975
. COZY POWELL: drums in 1976 -1979 RAINBOW
. BOBBY RONDINELLI: drums 1980 - 1982 RAINBOW
. CHUCK BERGI: drums-ex-BRAND X, 1983 RAINBOW
. JOHN O. REILLY: drums 1995 RAINBOW