Rainbow are an English-American hard rock band originally from Hertford, Hertfordshire. Formed in January 1975 by then-Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, the original lineup of the group also included former Elf members Ronnie James Dio (lead 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. The most recent line-up consisted of Blackmore (the sole continuous member), backing vocalist Candice Night (since 1994), singer Ronnie Romero, bassist Bob Nouveau, drummer David Keith and keyboardist Jens Johansson (all since 2015).

History After the release of the band’s debut album, Blackmore replaced Gruber, Driscoll and Soule in September 1975, with Jimmy Bain, Cozy Powell and Tony Carey, respectively. This lineup would release the studio album Rising and the live album On Stage, before Bain and Carey were sacked by Blackmore, on 3 January 1977. Long Live Rock 'n' Roll, released in 1978, featured bassist Bob Daisley and keyboardist David Stone, in addition to Powell.

After the release of Long Live Rock 'n' Roll, Dio left due to disagreements with Blackmore. Graham Bonnet replaced Dio for 1979's Down to Earth, which also saw the addition of bassist Roger Glover and keyboardist Don Airey. 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 played on Difficult to Cure. Keyboardist David Rosenthal replaced Airey for 1982's Straight Between the Eyes, while 1983's Bent Out of Shape, featured drummer Chuck Burgi replacing Rondinelli. Rainbow disbanded for the first time in 1984.

After Blackmore left Deep Purple for the second time in 1993, 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. The band's return was short-lived, however, as they broke up again in 1997, when Blackmore shifted focus to Blackmore's Night. 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. This lineup remained active until 2019, releasing three new live albums and a number of singles, before Romero confirmed his departure from the group in October 2023.

Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsRitchie Blackmoreall Rainbow releasesBob Nouveau2015–presentDavid KeithdrumsJens Johanssonkeyboards

Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsRonnie James Dio1975–1979 lead and backing vocalsCraig GruberbassRitchie Blackmore's Rainbow (1975)Micky Lee Soule1975keyboardsGary Driscoll1975 drumsCozy Powell1975–1980 Jimmy Bain1975–1977 Tony Carey1975–1977keyboardsDavid Stone1977–1978Mark Clarke1977noneBob Daisley1977–1978Jack Green1978 Roger Glover1979–1984Don Airey1979–1981Graham Bonnet1979–1980lead vocalsJoe Lynn Turner1980–1984Bobby Rondinelli1980–1983drumsDavid Rosenthal1981–1984Chuck BurgidrumsPaul Morris1993–1997keyboardsGreg SmithDoogie Whitelead vocalsJohn O'Reilly1993–1995drumsStranger in Us All (1995)John Miceli1997noneRonnie Romero2015–2023lead vocals

Touring ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsDetailsLin Robinson1981–1984backing vocalsRobinson and Beale toured with Rainbow from the Difficult to Cure tour until the group disbanded in 1984.Dee BealeCandice NightNight joined the band on tour in 1994, and also returned in 2015.Lady Lynn2015–presentSkleros, a member of Blackmore and Night's other group Blackmore's Night, joined Rainbow on tour in 2015.

Timeline

Recording Timeline RoleAlbum Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow Rising Long Live Rock 'n' Roll Down to Earth Difficult to Cure Straight Between the Eyes Bent Out of Shape Stranger in Us All Lead vocalsRonnie James DioGraham BonnetJoe Lynn TurnerDoogie White GuitarRitchie Blackmore Bass guitarCraig GruberJimmy BainRoger GloverGreg Smith KeyboardsMicky Lee SouleTony CareyDon AireyDavid RosenthalPaul Morris DrumsGary DriscollCozy PowellBobby RondinelliChuck BurgiJohn O'Reilly Backing vocalsRonnie James Dio colspan="2" Joe Lynn Turner colspan="2" Candice Night

Lineups PeriodMembersReleasesFebruary – July 1975Ronnie James Dio – vocals Ritchie Blackmore – guitars Craig Gruber – bass Micky Lee Soule – keyboards Gary Driscoll – drumsRitchie Blackmore's Rainbow (1975)August 1975 – January 1977Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals Ritchie Blackmore – guitars Jimmy Bain – bass, backing vocals Tony Carey – keyboards Cozy Powell – drumsRising (1976) On Stage (1977)January – February 1977Ronnie James Dio – vocals Ritchie Blackmore – guitars Craig Gruber – bass Tony Carey – keyboards Cozy Powell – drums rowspan="3" February – May 1977Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals Ritchie Blackmore – guitars Mark Clarke – bass, backing vocals Tony Carey – keyboards Cozy Powell – drumsMay – September 1977Ronnie James Dio – vocals Ritchie Blackmore – guitars, bass Tony Carey – keyboards Cozy Powell – drumsSeptember 1977 –September 1978Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals Ritchie Blackmore – guitars Bob Daisley – bass, backing vocals David Stone – keyboards Cozy Powell – drumsLong Live Rock 'n' Roll (1978) Live in Munich 1977 (2006)October 1978 - January 1979Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals Ritchie Blackmore – guitars Jack Green – bass, backing vocals David Stone – keyboards Cozy Powell – drumsMarch 1979 – August 1980Graham Bonnet – lead vocals Ritchie Blackmore – guitars Roger Glover – bass, backing vocals Don Airey – keyboards, backing vocals Cozy Powell – drumsDown 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 1981Joe Lynn Turner – lead vocals Ritchie Blackmore – guitars Roger Glover – bass, backing vocals Don Airey – keyboards, backing vocals Bobby Rondinelli – drumsDifficult to Cure (1981) Jealous Lover (1981) Boston 1981 (2016)October 1981 – June 1983Joe Lynn Turner – lead vocals Ritchie Blackmore – guitars Roger Glover – bass, backing vocals David Rosenthal – keyboards Bobby Rondinelli – drumsStraight Between the Eyes (1982)August 1983 – March 1984Joe Lynn Turner – lead vocals Ritchie Blackmore – guitars Roger Glover – bass, backing vocals David Rosenthal – keyboards Chuck Burgi – drumsBent Out of Shape (1983) Live in Japan (2015)Band inactive March 1984 – August 1994August 1994 – September 1995Doogie White – lead vocals Ritchie Blackmore – guitars Greg Smith – bass, backing vocals Paul Morris – keyboards John O'Reilly – drums Candice Night – backing vocalsStranger in Us All (1995)September 1995 – December 1996Doogie White – lead vocals Ritchie Blackmore – guitars Greg Smith – bass, backing vocals Paul Morris – keyboards Chuck Burgi – drums Candice Night – backing vocalsBlack Masquerade (2013)January – May 1997Doogie White – lead vocals Ritchie Blackmore – guitars Greg Smith – bass, backing vocals Paul Morris – keyboards John Miceli – drums Candice Night – backing vocalsBand inactive May 1997 – November 2015November 2015 – October 2023Ronnie Romero – lead vocals Ritchie Blackmore – guitars Bob Nouveau – bass, backing vocals Jens Johansson – keyboards David Keith – drums Candice Night – backing vocalsMemories 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)October 2023 – presentRitchie Blackmore – guitars Bob Nouveau – bass, backing vocals Jens Johansson – keyboards David Keith – drums Candice Night – backing vocals

References

External links Ritchie Blackmore official website