Rainbow - The Most Fascinating Facts Anywhere

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1. Rainbow began as a new project for Ritchie Blackmore

Rainbow emerged in 1975 after Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore began working with American singer Ronnie James Dio and his band Elf. Blackmore had been looking for a different musical direction, and the collaboration developed into a separate group rather than a one-off recording project. Rainbow's debut album, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, appeared in 1975 and established the foundations of the band's distinctive blend of hard rock and fantasy-inspired lyrics.

2. The name came from a famous Los Angeles rock venue

The band's name was inspired by the Rainbow Bar & Grill on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, a venue associated with rock musicians and nightlife. Blackmore's original group name included his own name, but the band soon became known simply as Rainbow. The name suited the imagery of the debut album, whose cover depicted a sword-wielding figure emerging from a rainbow in a fantasy landscape.

3. Ronnie James Dio had already worked with Blackmore before Rainbow

Dio was the singer and bassist in Elf, the American band that supported Deep Purple on tour. Blackmore became interested in the group and recorded with its members before recruiting Dio as Rainbow's vocalist. The partnership gave Blackmore a singer whose dramatic voice could handle both heavy riffs and elaborate fantasy lyrics, a combination that became especially important on Rising.

4. The debut album featured musicians from Elf

Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow included several musicians from Elf, including keyboard player Mickey Lee Soule, bassist Craig Gruber and drummer Gary Driscoll. Guitarist Blackmore was the main instrumental force behind the new band, while Dio supplied the vocals and lyrics. The album established the group's early sound with songs such as “Man on the Silver Mountain” and “Catch the Rainbow”.

5. “Man on the Silver Mountain” became a signature song

The track opened Rainbow's debut album and introduced listeners to the combination of Blackmore's memorable riffing and Dio's powerful vocal delivery. It became a recurring feature of the band's live sets and remained closely associated with the early lineup. The song's relatively direct structure also helped make it an accessible introduction to Rainbow's heavier and more elaborate material.

6. The original lineup changed dramatically after the debut

Blackmore replaced most of the original lineup before the next album, retaining Dio as the vocalist. Drummer Cozy Powell, bassist Jimmy Bain and keyboardist Tony Carey joined for the period that produced Rising. This lineup change was significant: the second album had a more focused, forceful sound and is frequently cited as one of Rainbow's defining works.

7. Cozy Powell had already established a reputation as a powerful drummer

Before joining Rainbow, Powell had played with the Jeff Beck Group and released the solo single “Dance with the Devil”, which became a UK hit in 1973. His muscular, precise drumming became an important part of Rainbow's sound, especially on the extended tracks on Rising. Powell later worked with artists including Whitesnake, Black Sabbath and Brian May, building a career across several major rock groups.

8. Rising was recorded in Munich

Released in 1976, Rising was recorded at Musicland Studios in Munich with producer Martin Birch. The studio also became known for recordings by Deep Purple and other major rock acts. The album's concise running time concealed a large musical scale, with long compositions, dramatic keyboard parts and guitar solos that helped establish Rainbow as a major force in hard rock.

9. “Stargazer” features the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra

One of the centrepieces of Rising, “Stargazer” includes orchestral parts performed by members of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra. Its lyrics tell a fantasy story about a wizard who forces people to build a tower in the hope of flying. The track's combination of orchestra, heavy guitar and Dio's narrative vocal is one of the clearest examples of Rainbow's early epic style.

10. “Tarot Woman” opens Rising with keyboards

Rather than beginning with a guitar riff, “Tarot Woman” opens with Tony Carey's synthesizer figure before the full band enters. That choice immediately establishes a dramatic atmosphere and gives the album a distinctive introduction. Carey's keyboard work was an important part of the classic Rainbow sound, complementing Blackmore's guitar without simply doubling its melodies.

11. Long Live Rock 'n' Roll was the last studio album with Dio

Released in 1978, Long Live Rock 'n' Roll marked the end of Rainbow's original creative partnership between Blackmore and Dio. The album combined fantasy-oriented tracks such as “Gates of Babylon” with the more direct title song. Dio left Rainbow in 1979 and went on to join Black Sabbath, beginning another celebrated chapter in his career.

12. “Gates of Babylon” draws on Middle Eastern musical colours

“Gates of Babylon”, from Long Live Rock 'n' Roll, uses an exotic-sounding introduction and a dramatic arrangement to evoke an imagined ancient world. Blackmore's interest in different musical scales and modes helped give the song its distinctive character. The track is also notable for its elaborate structure, with a keyboard-led opening and a long instrumental passage before the final vocal section.

13. Graham Bonnet brought a very different vocal style

After Dio's departure, Rainbow recruited Graham Bonnet, previously known for his work with the Marbles. Bonnet had a more straightforward rock-and-soul vocal approach than Dio's theatrical delivery. His only studio album with Rainbow, Down to Earth (1979), featured a more concise, radio-friendly style and included “Since You Been Gone” and “All Night Long”.

14. “Since You Been Gone” was written by Russ Ballard

Rainbow's hit “Since You Been Gone” was written by singer-songwriter Russ Ballard, who had previously been a member of Argent. Rainbow's recording became one of the band's best-known songs, with a bright chorus and a streamlined arrangement. The track showed how the group could turn material from outside its own songwriting circle into a major hard-rock single.

15. Don Airey played keyboards on Down to Earth

Keyboardist Don Airey joined Rainbow for the Down to Earth period, contributing to the band's move towards a more commercial sound. His career later included work with Ozzy Osbourne, Gary Moore and Deep Purple, where he eventually became the keyboardist. His Rainbow years were one stage in a long career as a versatile player across hard rock and heavy metal.

16. Joe Lynn Turner fronted Rainbow during its American-oriented phase

American singer Joe Lynn Turner joined Rainbow in 1980 and appeared on Difficult to Cure, Straight Between the Eyes and Bent Out of Shape. His melodic style suited the band's increasingly polished hard-rock sound. The lineup's music retained Blackmore's guitar work but placed greater emphasis on compact songs and choruses aimed at a broader audience.

17. “I Surrender” was another Russ Ballard composition

“I Surrender”, released on Difficult to Cure in 1981, was written by Russ Ballard and became one of Rainbow's most successful singles. Its big chorus and melodic arrangement reflected the group's shift towards radio-friendly hard rock. The track also illustrates how Blackmore could retain a distinctive guitar sound while working with songs built around concise pop-rock structures.

18. Difficult to Cure borrowed from Beethoven

The title track of Difficult to Cure incorporates a rock arrangement of the final movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, commonly known as the “Ode to Joy”. The piece begins with a recognisable classical melody before developing into a guitar-led instrumental. The album's cover also features a medical theme, playing on the idea of a difficult diagnosis while reflecting Rainbow's increasingly playful visual presentation.

19. Rainbow's name was retired when Blackmore returned to Deep Purple

Rainbow's original run ended in 1984, when Blackmore and Glover rejoined Deep Purple and released Perfect Strangers. The move brought Blackmore back to the band with which he had first achieved international fame. Rainbow's lineup had changed repeatedly by this point, but its albums from the Dio era and the later melodic hard-rock period continued to influence musicians across heavy metal and arena rock.

20. Blackmore revived Rainbow for live shows decades later

Blackmore brought Rainbow back for a small number of live performances in 2016, with a new lineup that included singer Ronnie Romero. The revival was separate from Blackmore's long-running Renaissance-inspired project Blackmore's Night. The concerts revisited songs from different phases of Rainbow's history, demonstrating the continuing appeal of its catalogue despite the band's long periods of inactivity.