List of Rainbow band members

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The original lineup of Rainbow featured guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and vocalist Ronnie James Dio, as well as bassist Craig Gruber, drummer Gary Driscoll and keyboardist Micky Lee Soule (not pictured).

Rainbow are an English-American hard rock band originally from Hertford, Hertfordshire. Formed in February 1975 by then-Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, the original lineup of the group also included former Elf members Ronnie James Dio (vocals), Craig Gruber (bass), Gary Driscoll (drums) and Micky Lee Soule (keyboards), who recorded and released the self-titled album Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow that year.[1] After leaving Deep Purple, Blackmore replaced Gruber, Driscoll and Soule in September with Jimmy Bain, Cozy Powell and Tony Carey, respectively.[2] Rising and live album On Stage were recorded with this second lineup, before Bain and Carey were sacked by Blackmore in January 1977.[3] Long Live Rock 'n' Roll, released in 1978, featured bassist Bob Daisley and keyboardist David Stone, in addition to Powell.[4]

After the release of Long Live Rock 'n' Roll, Dio left due to disagreements with Blackmore.[5] Graham Bonnet replaced Dio for 1979's Down to Earth, which also saw the addition of bassist Roger Glover and keyboardist Don Airey.[6] Bonnet left after the album's release and was replaced by Joe Lynn Turner, while Powell also left the group to be replaced by Bobby Rondinelli; both new members performed on Difficult to Cure.[7] Keyboardist David Rosenthal replaced Airey for 1982's Straight Between the Eyes and 1983's Bent Out of Shape, the latter of which featured drummer Chuck Burgi who replaced Rondinelli.[7] Rainbow broke up for the first time in 1984.[7]

After Blackmore left Deep Purple for the second time in 1993,[8] Rainbow reformed with vocalist Doogie White, bassist Greg Smith, drummer John O'Reilly and keyboardist Paul Morris, releasing the album Stranger in Us All in 1995.[9] The band's return was short-lived, however, as they broke up again in 1997 when Blackmore shifted focus to Blackmore's Night.[10] In November 2015, it was revealed that Blackmore would be returning to the Rainbow moniker for a number of shows in 2016 with vocalist Ronnie Romero, bassist Bob Nouveau (Bob Curiano), drummer David Keith and keyboardist Jens Johansson.[11] The group has since released three new live albums and a number of singles.

Members[]

Current[]

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Ritchie Blackmore in 2016 (cropped).jpg
Ritchie Blackmore
  • 1975–1984
  • 1993–1997
  • 2015–present
  • guitar
  • bass (studio, 1977)
all Rainbow releases
Candice Night 2009 cropped.jpg
Candice Night
  • 1994–1997
  • 2015–present
backing vocals
  • Stranger in Us All (1994)
  • Memories in Rock: Live in Germany (2016)
  • "Land of Hope and Glory" (2017)
  • "I Surrender" (2017)
  • Live in Birmingham 2016 (2017)
  • Memories in Rock II Live (2018)
  • "Black Sheep of the Family" (2019)
  • "The Storm" (2019)
Ronnie Romero (cropped).jpg
Ronnie Romero 2015–present lead vocals
  • Memories in Rock: Live in Germany (2016)
  • "Land of Hope and Glory" (2017)
  • "I Surrender" (2017)
  • Live in Birmingham 2016 (2017)
  • Memories in Rock II Live (2018)
  • "Black Sheep of the Family" (2019)
  • "The Storm" (2019)
Bob Nouveau
(Bob Curiano)
  • bass
  • backing vocals
David.Keith.drummer (cropped).jpg
David Keith drums
Jens Johansson - Ilosaarirock 2009.jpg
Jens Johansson keyboards

Former[]

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Ronnie-James-Dio Heaven-N-Hell 2009-06-11 Chicago Photoby Adam-Bielawski (cropped).jpg
Ronnie James Dio
(Ronald Padavona)
1975–1979
(died 2010)
lead vocals
Craig Gruber 1975 (died 2015) bass Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow (1975)
Gary Driscoll 1975 (died 1987) drums
Micky Lee Soule 1975 keyboards
Cozy Powell (1974).png
Cozy Powell
(Colin Flooks)
1975–1980
(died 1998)
drums
  • all Rainbow releases from Rising (1976) to Down to Earth (1979)
  • Live in Germany 1976 (1990)
  • Deutschland Tournee 1976 (2006)
  • Live in Munich 1977 (2006)
  • Denver 1979: Down to Earth Tour (2015)
  • Long Island 1979: Down to Earth Tour (2015)
  • Down to Earth Tour 1979 (Box set) (2015)
  • Monsters of Rock - Live at Donington 1980 (2016)
  • Final Vinyl (1986)
Jimmy Bain.jpg
Jimmy Bain 1975–1977
(died 2016)
  • bass
  • backing vocals
  • Rising (1976)
  • On Stage (1977)
  • Live in Germany 1976 (1990)
  • Deutschland Tournee 1976 (2006)
Zöller & Konsorten - Flucht nach vorn Tour 2016 at Logo Hamburg 22.jpg
Tony Carey 1975–1977 keyboards
David Stone
(Michael Stoyanoff)
1977–1979
  • Long Live Rock 'n' Roll (1978)
  • Live in Munich 1977 (2006)
  • Final Vinyl (1986)
Mark Clarke.jpg
Mark Clarke 1977
  • bass
  • backing vocals
none
Bob Daisley 1977–1979
  • Long Live Rock 'n' Roll (1978)
  • Live in Munich 1977 (2006)
  • Final Vinyl (1986)
Deep Purple - inFinite - The Long Goodbye Tour - Barclaycard Arena Hamburg 2017 36.jpg
Roger Glover 1979–1984
  • bass
  • backing vocals
  • percussion (studio, 1983)
all Rainbow releases from Down to Earth (1979) to Bent Out of Shape (1983), and from Denver 1979: Down to Earth Tour (2015) to Boston 1981 (2016)
Don Airey 2005.jpg
Don Airey 1979–1981
  • keyboards
  • backing vocals
  • Down to Earth (1979)
  • Difficult to Cure (1981)
  • Denver 1979: Down to Earth Tour (2015)
  • Long Island 1979: Down to Earth Tour (2015)
  • Monsters of Rock: Live at Donington 1980 (2016)
  • Boston 1981 (2016)
  • Final Vinyl (1986)
  • Down to Earth Tour 1979 (Box set) (2015)
Graham Bonnet.JPG
Graham Bonnet 1979–1980 lead vocals
  • Down to Earth (1979)
  • Denver 1979: Down to Earth Tour (2015)
  • Long Island 1979: Down to Earth Tour (2015)
  • Monsters of Rock: Live at Donington 1980 (2016)
  • Down to Earth Tour 1979 (Box set) (2015)
  • Final Vinyl (1986)
JLTurner.jpg
Joe Lynn Turner
(Joseph Linquito)
1980–1984
  • Difficult to Cure (1981)
  • Straight Between the Eyes (1982)
  • Bent Out of Shape (1983)
  • Live in Japan (2015)
  • Boston 1981 (2016)
  • Final Vinyl (1986)
  • Live Between the Eyes (1982)
OTR smiles.jpg
Bobby Rondinelli 1980–1983 drums
  • Difficult to Cure (1981)
  • Straight Between the Eyes (1982)
  • Boston 1981 (2016)
  • Final Vinyl (1986)
  • Live Between the Eyes (1982)
David Rosenthal.jpg
David Rosenthal 1981–1984
  • keyboards
  • backing vocals
  • Straight Between the Eyes (1982)
  • Bent Out of Shape (1983)
  • Live in Japan (2015)
  • Live Between the Eyes (1982)
  • Final Vinyl (1986)
Chuck Burgi.jpg
Chuck Burgi
  • 1983–1984
  • 1995–1996
drums
  • Bent Out of Shape (1983)
  • Black Masquerade (2013)
  • Live in Japan (2015)
  • Final Vinyl (1986)
Moogy taking care of business.png
Paul Morris 1993–1997 keyboards
Greg_Smith_(with_Ted_Nugent).jpg
Greg Smith
  • bass
  • backing vocals
Doogiewhite.jpeg
Doogie White
(Douglas White)
lead vocals
John O'Reilly 1993–1995 drums Stranger in Us All (1995)
John Miceli 1997 none

Touring[]

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions Details
Lin Robinson 1981–1984 backing vocals
  • Live Between the Eyes (1982)
  • Japan Tour 1984 / Live in Japan(1984 / 2015)
  • Final Vinyl (1986)
  • Boston 1981 (2016)
Robinson and Beale toured with Rainbow from the Difficult to Cure tour until the group disbanded in 1984.[12]
Dee Beale
Lady Lynn
(Christina Lynn Skleros)
2015–present
  • Memories in Rock - Live in Germany (2016)
  • Live in Birmingham 2016 (2017)
  • Memories in Rock II (2018)
Skleros, a member of Blackmore and Night's other group Blackmore's Night, joined Rainbow on tour in 2015.[12]

Timeline[]

Recording Timeline[]

Role Album
Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
(1975)
Rising
(1976)
Long Live Rock 'n' Roll
(1978)
Down to Earth
(1979)
Difficult to Cure
(1981)
Straight Between the Eyes
(1982)
Bent Out of Shape
(1983)
Stranger in Us All
(1995)
Lead vocals Ronnie James Dio Graham Bonnet Joe Lynn Turner Doogie White
Guitar Ritchie Blackmore
Bass Craig Gruber Jimmy Bain Ritchie Blackmore
Bob Daisley
Roger Glover Greg Smith
Keyboards Micky Lee Soule Tony Carey Tony Carey
David Stone
Don Airey David Rosenthal Paul Morris
Drums Gary Driscoll Cozy Powell Bobby Rondinelli Chuck Burgi John O'Reilly
Backing vocals Shoshana N/A Joe Lynn Turner N/A Candice Night

Lineups[]

Period Members Releases
February – July 1975
September 1975 – January 1977
February – May 1977
  • Ritchie Blackmore – guitars
  • Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals
  • Mark Clarke – bass, backing vocals
  • Cozy Powell – drums
  • Tony Carey – keyboards
none
August 1977 – February 1979
  • Ritchie Blackmore – guitars
  • Ronnie James Dio – vocals
  • Bob Daisley – bass
  • Cozy Powell – drums
  • David Stone – keyboards
March 1979 – August 1980
  • Down to Earth (1979)
  • Denver 1979: Down to Earth Tour (2015)
  • Long Island 1979: Down to Earth Tour (2015)
  • Down to Earth Tour 1979 (Box set) (2015)
October 1980 – September 1981
  • Ritchie Blackmore – guitars
  • Joe Lynn Turner – lead vocals
  • Roger Glover – bass, backing vocals
  • Bobby Rondinelli – drums
  • Don Airey – keyboards, backing vocals
October 1981 – June 1983
  • Ritchie Blackmore – guitars
  • Joe Lynn Turner – lead vocals
  • Roger Glover – bass, backing vocals
  • Bobby Rondinelli – drums
  • David Rosenthal – keyboards
August 1983 – March 1984
  • Ritchie Blackmore – guitars
  • Joe Lynn Turner – lead vocals
  • Roger Glover – bass, backing vocals
  • Chuck Burgi – drums
  • David Rosenthal – keyboards
Band inactive March 1984 – August 1994
August 1994 – September 1995
September 1995 – December 1996
  • Ritchie Blackmore – guitars
  • Doogie White – lead vocals
  • Greg Smith – bass, backing vocals
  • Chuck Burgi – drums
  • Paul Morris – keyboards
  • Candice Night – backing vocals
  • Black Masquerade (2013)
January – May 1997
  • Ritchie Blackmore – guitars
  • Doogie White – lead vocals
  • Greg Smith – bass, backing vocals
  • John Miceli – drums
  • Paul Morris – keyboards
  • Candice Night – backing vocals
none
Band inactive May 1997 – November 2015
November 2015 – present
  • Memories in Rock: Live in Germany (2016)
  • "Land of Hope and Glory" (2017)
  • "I Surrender" (2017)
  • Live in Birmingham 2016 (2017)
  • Memories in Rock II Live (2018)
  • "Black Sheep of the Family" (2019)
  • "The Storm" (2019)

References[]

  1. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo (4 August 2015). "The Story Of Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow And Their Debut Album". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  2. ^ Makowski, Peter (14 April 2014). "Rainbow Rising: how Ritchie Blackmore aimed for the stars". Classic Rock. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  3. ^ Makowski, Peter (April 14, 2014). "Ritchie Blackmore on Rainbow's Classic Album 'Rising'". TeamRock. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  4. ^ Ginsberg, Geoff. "Long Live Rock 'n' Roll - Rainbow: Songs, Credits, Reviews". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  5. ^ Sweeting, Adam (May 17, 2010). "Ronnie James Dio obituary". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  6. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Down to Earth - Rainbow: Songs, Credits, Reviews". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  7. ^ a b c Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Rainbow: Biography & History". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  8. ^ DeRiso, Nick (July 5, 2015). "Ritchie Blackmore Is Considering a Return to Rock". Ultimate Classic Rock. Diffuser Network. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  9. ^ Adams, Bret. "Stranger in Us All - Rainbow: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  10. ^ Kielty, Martin (July 6, 2015). "Blackmore Plans Return to Rock". TeamRock. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  11. ^ DiVita, Joe (November 7, 2015). "Ritchie Blackmore Unveils Lineup for Rock Shows". Loudwire. Townsquare Media. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  12. ^ a b "Rainbow Members: Now And Then". The Rainbow Fanclan Legacy. Retrieved 18 May 2019.

External links[]

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