Rainbow is a famous Anglo-American band that has become a classic. It was created in 1975 by Ritchie Blackmore, her mastermind.
The musician, dissatisfied with the funk addictions of his colleagues, wanted something new. The team is also famous for multiple changes in its composition, which, fortunately, did not affect the content and quality of the compositions.
Rainbow frontman
Richard Hugh Blackmore is one of the most talented guitarists of the 1945th century. He was born in XNUMX in England. This British guitarist and songwriter has, in fact, created three cool and successful projects at different times, which testifies to his taste and organizational skills.
However, you can’t call him a good boy - many musicians of the group noted that it was difficult to get along with him, he could be fired at any moment. He did not hesitate to ask even his best friends to leave if the success of the project required it.
Interesting facts about the childhood of Richard Hugh Blackmore
The talented boy loved music. At the age of 11, he received his first guitar from his parents. For a whole year I patiently learned to play the classics correctly. He liked a beautiful instrument that evoked positive emotions in the boy.
At one time, Richie wanted to be like Tommy Steele, imitated him in the manner of the game. He went in for sports, threw a spear. He hated school, dreamed of finishing it as soon as possible, then he could not stand it and left the educational institution to become a mechanic.
From mechanics to musicians
Not forgetting music, Richie performed in several bands, tried his hand at different styles and formats. Played at concerts and recorded songs in the studio. He performed with such famous stars as Screaming Lord Sutch and Neil Christian, as well as with singer Heinz.
This gave him rich musical experience and an understanding of how he sees the perfect composition. He created his own group only after a very long activity in the Deep Purple group. At first, Richie wanted to record his own album, as a result, everything resulted in the Rainbow group.
Creation of the team and the first successes of the Rainbow team
So, Ritchie Blackmore - an icon of music, a living legend, founded a group, calling it "Rainbow" (Rainbow). He filled it with musicians from the Elf band created by Ronnie Dio.
Their first debut brainchild Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow was released already in the first year of existence, although initially no one made far-reaching plans, everyone counted on a one-time success.
The album hit the US Top 30 and reached number 11 in the UK. However, then there was the popular Rising (1976) and the next album, On Stage (1977).
The individual style of the group was emphasized by elements of baroque and medieval music, as well as original cello playing. The first live performance of the musicians was accompanied by a rainbow of 3 light bulbs.
Further fruitful work of the Rainbow group
Dio then had creative differences with Blackmore. The fact is that the frontman did not like the direction of Dio's songs. Thus, he maintained a unified style and his own vision of Rainbow's musical compositions.
Further commercially successful album Down to Earth was created with the help of vocalist Graham Bonnet. Then the group's activities were associated with the work of Joe Lynn Turner. An instrumental original improvisation on Beethoven's Ninth Symphony was successful.
Then the frontman created compositions that were supposed to "promote" the group on the radio, commercially develop the project, which did not please all the "fans" and led to a decrease in popularity. However, before the collapse, in 1983, the group was even nominated for a prestigious award.
Star line-up of Rainbow
At various times, the Rainbow band has hospitably received such talented musicians as: Cozy Powell (drums), Don Airey (keyboards), Joe Lynn Turner (vocals), Graham Bonnet (vocals), Doogie White (vocals), Roger Glover (bass -guitar). All of them brought something unique, their own, special to the performance.
Influence and style
The work of the Rainbow band is an important stage in the development of such areas as heavy metal and hard rock. Rockers who have been playing power metal for 15 years have sold a significant amount of album copies.
In the mid-1980s, the group had 8 records. Paradoxically, each of them was created by a new composition of participants.
The group worked, the compositions evolved and were even better, but it's a shame that many perceived them as a replacement for "magenta". The frontman either disbanded the group, then moved to the Deep Purple group, then again remembered the Rainbow group. Despite the constant line-up changes, the musicians also created world hits like I Surrender.
Immortal Rainbow Group
It seems that Rainbow will never disappear. This group changed its composition many times, revived and ceased to exist. Formed in 1975, she finished performing in 1997.
Ritchie Blackmore became engaged in a family folk project Blackmore's Night, jointly with his wife. It would seem that everything is in the past. But in 2015, the founder "resurrected" the Rainbow group for a series of concerts, not having the goal of creating new compositions, but simply performing live the classic songs of the repertoire and evoking warm nostalgia in the hearts of fans. He still performed on stage as if he were 18 years old.
