Rainbow

[AnnoMundi]

You wouldn't meet a muscican that was more respectful and thankful to his fans than Ronnie, but in terms of working for or with... that's a whole another story.

Was he worse than Ian Gillan when Gillan disbanded his group to join Black Sabbath?

Basically, they were coming in the front door of the management office to ask about back payments and Gillan was stepping out the back door after having dissolved the band and basically legally screwing them on back pay. That's why John McCoy has been so energetic with releasing old Gillan band material, so that the band can at least collect on royalties.

That’s pretty messed up.

[Zzzptm]

Yeah, it was hard for me to read when I first saw that because I'm such a fan of the band Gillan as well as the singer Gillan.

Looks like I'm a fan of the music, not the shady business deals...

[Charger]

Yeah the way Gillan band ended was most certainly a dark chapter in Ian's life...but in his defence he did get pretty drunk with Tony and Geezer.

[Zzzptm]

Back to Rainbow, I'm now wondering how having that group affected Blackmore's ego and willingness to tolerate "quirks" in other musicians...

[Charger]

Back to Rainbow, I'm now wondering how having that group affected Blackmore's ego and willingness to tolerate "quirks" in other musicians...

I'd say he had pretty much zero tolerance for that. Rainbow was his band and he was calling all the shots. I think Ritchie's ego was pretty massive already in Purple but I think it got quite a bit bigger with Rainbow...the live shows were pretty much the proof of that. Everything was pretty much depended on Ritchie's mood....and if he was in a bad mood it affected the whole show.

[AnnoMundi]

Back to Rainbow, I'm now wondering how having that group affected Blackmore's ego and willingness to tolerate "quirks" in other musicians...

I'd say he had pretty much zero tolerance for that. Rainbow was his band and he was calling all the shots. I think Ritchie's ego was pretty massive already in Purple but I think it got quite a bit bigger with Rainbow...the live shows were pretty much the proof of that. Everything was pretty much depended on Ritchie's mood....and if he was in a bad mood it affected the whole show.

It was Ritchie’s band after Ronnie left cause it sucked after that.

[Charger]

It was Ritchie’s band after Ronnie left cause it sucked after that.

Nah, it was always Ritchie's band...it was called Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow after all now wasn't it?

And the reason Ronnie left was because Ritchie wanted to go to a commercial poppier rock sound, which Ronnie did not. Which also proves it was Ritchie's band.

[Vyn]

To me, Stargazer was the pinnacle of Rainbow's output. The opening drums, Dio's emotionally charged vocals, and man, Ritchie playing like he's from another planet. Stargazer would definitely be on my "desert isle" disk, and is my favorite performance that RJD ever did - for Rainbow, Sabbath, or Solo.

[AnnoMundi]

It was Ritchie’s band after Ronnie left cause it sucked after that.

Nah, it was always Ritchie's band...it was called Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow after all now wasn't it?

And the reason Ronnie left was because Ritchie wanted to go to a commercial poppier rock sound, which Ronnie did not. Which also proves it was Ritchie's band.

I know in the literal sense it was Ritchie’s band, without Ronnie they sucked, so in the that sense to me Ronnie owned that band, the shit that came out after he left was cheese and bad cheese at that.

[AnnoMundi]

To me, Stargazer was the pinnacle of Rainbow's output. The opening drums, Dio's emotionally charged vocals, and man, Ritchie playing like he's from another planet. Stargazer would definitely be on my "desert isle" disk, and is my favorite performance that RJD ever did - for Rainbow, Sabbath, or Solo.

I agree Vyn, better than anything he did with Sabbath.

[Charger]

To me, Stargazer was the pinnacle of Rainbow's output. The opening drums, Dio's emotionally charged vocals, and man, Ritchie playing like he's from another planet. Stargazer would definitely be on my "desert isle" disk, and is my favorite performance that RJD ever did - for Rainbow, Sabbath, or Solo.

I have often said that Stargazer is without a doubt one of THE best songs ever made. It is pretty much pure perfection from start to finish. And vocally it is incredible.

I know in the literal sense it was Ritchie’s band, without Ronnie they sucked, so in the that sense to me Ronnie owned that band, the shit that came out after he left was cheese and bad cheese at that.

I don't disagree with that. Ronnie's lyrics and melodies were just as big of a part of what made Rainbow sound so great as was Ritchie's playing.

[Jack the Stripper]

As much as I love Stargazer it has never quite hit the spot with me as it has other fans. It's not even my favourite song on Rising. That would be A Light In The Black. Stargazer just feels a little plodding to me and I've always felt Ronnie over sang on. Cozy's drumming is what always stood out on the song for me as well as the mid section with Ritchie's solo.

Heaven and Hell will always be Ronnie's crowning glory as far as I'm concerned.

[Charger]

A Light In The Black was a strange one for me as it really took a long time to grow on me.

Although a big reason for that obviously was that it came straight after Stargazer which blew my mind right away...Also as much as I love Rising I do think that the track order could have been better if they had split Stargazer on side a and A Light In The Black on side b. Because those two monsters back to back is bit much...and A Light In The Black was the one who suffered from it.

But honestly I do now love that track too...Probably my 4th favourite Rainbow track now after Stargazer, 16th Century Greensleeves and Gates Of Babylon.

[Zzzptm]

Rising's first side is standard, accessible hard rock. Four tunes, some D&D, some raunch, standard stuff, really.

Side two is where the metal meets the prog rock. That's why it takes some getting used to, but has a great payoff for those that can get into it.

[Charger]

Hmmm... I've never really considered side 2 as prog rock though....yes both songs are long and rather monsterous compositions but I still think they lack the usual wankerness of prog...i.e. they are pretty straight forward hard rock/metal songs.