Rainbow

Genres:	Heavy Metal • Music Videos & Concerts • Pop / Rock
Descriptive "tags":	hard rock • classic rock • heavy metal • rock • metal
Decades Active:	1970s • 1980s • 1990s • 2000s

Biography

In May 1975, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore (Richard Hugh Blackmore, 14 April 1945, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, England) left Deep Purple, forming Rainbow the following year. His earlier involvement with American band Elf led to his recruitment of the latter’s Ronnie James Dio (b. Ronald Padavona, 10 July 1940, New Hampshire, USA; vocals), Mickey Lee Soule, (keyboards), Craig Gruber on bass and Gary Driscoll as drummer. Their debut, Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, was released in 1975, and was undeservedly seen by some as a poor imitation of Deep Purple. Dissatisfaction with the debut album led to new personnel being assembled, with the turnover representative of Blackmore’s quest for the ultimate line-up and sound. Soule left, while Jimmy Bain took over from Gruber and Cozy Powell (b. Colin Flooks, 29 December 1947, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England, d. 5 April 1998, Bristol, England) replaced Driscoll. With Tony Carey (b. 16 October 1953, USA, on...

Read the Full Biography of Rainbow