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Second Memories in Rock preview
The record company posted another preview track for Rainbow Memories in Rock. And despite the consensus among fans being that playing Purple numbers was not, ahem, the band’s strongest point, the powers to be, in their infinite wisdom, chose Perfect Strangers:
The album is due out on November 18.
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
the singer is good,the rhythm section is really lacking the energy,the drummer is a big no no,something is amiss.
October 25th, 2016 at 19:20Man talk about phoning in a performance. Drum and bass man have no fire in the belly. A tribute band it seems.
October 25th, 2016 at 19:24Another damn good reason for NOT buying that album. ?
This is soo pathetik
October 25th, 2016 at 19:40It makes sense to promote the DVD with the Purple Tunes.
We (Blackmore and Rainbow Fans) are buying the DVD for Catch The Rainbow, Stargazer, Man on the Silver Mountain, 16th Century Greensleeves, and Mistreated. These Purple Tunes give us a sense of the Audio/Video, so we have an idea of what we can expect for the above mentioned songs we are actually willing to pay for. We’ve heard the Purple tunes a million times over the past 22 years with Morse & Airey, so hopefully they replace them with Rainbow songs for the 2017 Shows.
October 25th, 2016 at 21:26Holy Christ that organ intro was underwhelming. Then the whole band kicks in and everything just sounds weak as hell. This hurts my soul.
October 25th, 2016 at 22:09#3 You are Damn Right !!
October 25th, 2016 at 23:48Agree. Vocalist is fantastic but rest of the band week. And whey would you promote a RITCHIE BLACKMORE album/show with a keyboard driven song. Stupid
October 26th, 2016 at 00:23You can never please your critics…. If you don’t like it, then don’t buy it!. Whinging & whining about it like a bunch of spoiled children isn’t going to improve it at all. If you want to fulfil that for which you are craving, then go & see some other band… like the Purps, or a great, younger cover band…. such as Demon’s Eye, featuring the sensational guitarist Mark Zyk.
October 26th, 2016 at 05:38Uwe, your replies in previous posts are intelligent & well thought out, however, you & many others are missing the point entirely. Mr B. made his intentions clear from day one. These concerts weren’t meant to be serious revved up affairs, like in the old days. They were just for fun, for nostalgia’s sake. He never had any intention of doing things the way he used to & so of course, there were bound to be lots of ‘imperfections’… to many fans way of thinking.
By now, after all these decades, you must surely have realized that TMIB just does whatever he wants to do?. It’s his party & if you don’t like it, then that’s your problem. Shop elsewhere. You know, I still think the noise that Mr B. makes with his guitar sounds heaps better than big Ian’s worn out voice box!. (Sorry IG, forgive me, I still buy your albums!.)
Consider this people… as these players age, they are going to deteriorate at different speeds & in different ways. Not just visibly. In some, their brain functions may have … ‘slight’ difficulties. Internal organs may require them to ‘take it easy’. We just don’t know when they will… ‘go on ahead’.
My parents are dead. I am glad I told them that I loved them while they were still in the land of the living. They did their best for me. It was enough.
In other words… suck it up bitches!. Now, with a song in my heart & a smile on my dial… Be happy!
@ 4 – Markus Davidios:
… when 2017 any show event will come …
I hope so … I am still awaiting for some gigs in the northern germany aera, but in fact I don´t think so.
And I hope, Ritchie will play not so lame like the two gigs in Germany.
LLRnR
LLRitchie
kraatzy
October 26th, 2016 at 06:27Can’t wait. Wish the knockers would back off. Ritchie not playing purple songs would have been a disappointment too. His catalogue is so rich with brilliance it is hard to decide what would be the best setlist. Sure it was named Rainbow but really it was all about him and everyone knew that. I for one was not disappointed and it was great to see him again.
October 26th, 2016 at 06:58Oh God… this is awful. So sad. 🙁
October 26th, 2016 at 07:49Seems that people still are not accepting Blackmores choices. This is what he wants and is doing…sooooo
October 26th, 2016 at 10:06I for myself was at that concert personally –
and btw it was not only great it was really brillant imo – too see Ritchie playing legendary guitarsolos which he didn’t play for long(for example ‘Highway Star’ not played for 23 Years) was absolutely stunning – saw Ritchie often with BN and he played here in exactly the same mood as he did with them – I mean really concentrated on the right guitar playing which he did perfect and had a finger injury not long ago – the version of ”16th Century Greensleeves’ and ‘Stargazer’were the tunes that blow me away most – and the crowd was very thankfully – Bob Couriano is a great melodic bassplayer – the only joke was his trousers – and a right time drummer did’nt need a 100piece drumkit – keys was a bit thin there – but sounds better here in the Video – Ronnie is a wonderful singer on the silver mountain – I remember driving home totally satisfied to be on one of the greatest concerts I ever saw in my life – the first was hungarian ‘Omega’ 1975 – the last ‘Hawkwind’ 2016 on the Loreley Prog Rock
so for you hypercritics outside here – take the chance to listen the whole thing .- its fuckin goood
October 26th, 2016 at 14:11The band seem to drag the singer and the guitarist down to their level.
Also you need a Marshall or anything with a distorted channel.
It is too clean.
Also there is no point quoting JC Superstar unless you have IG on vocals
The good thing was it pointed me to a video of All Night Long from Monsters fo Rock. Now there was a singer who could cut it – even if he did not look right. But the combination of keyboards and bass provided such a good platform – whatever happened to them 🙂
October 26th, 2016 at 14:17Seriously, Ritchie needs to change his guitar to the distorted channel and have it louder !
Ritchie is my big time hero, but seriously this is a bit painful to watch. The organ intro was just weird and the rhythm section was weak, especially the drummer.
But overall I still appreciate that somebody at 72 years old is willing to put a band together and play in front o 30000 people.
I will still buy the DVD anyway…..
October 26th, 2016 at 15:37Am I the only one that hears that Ronnie is very often flat? I love his tone and personality but it’s not the first time he seems to be singing under the the melody.
October 26th, 2016 at 17:06I won’t be buying this, as I already have a bunch of live stuff. But if Blackmore, either with Rainbow or Blackmore’s Night, came to my neck of the woods, I’d be first in line. If he came out with new Rainbow material, I’d be into that too.
October 26th, 2016 at 17:24I attended Birmingham and was very disappointed.It cost a lot of money to watch a poor tribute band support TMIB,however I have since convinced myself it was not that bad.This very weak version brought the bad memories flooding back.Compared to Purple this is embarrassing.
October 26th, 2016 at 17:56Sad version for sad participants.
October 26th, 2016 at 18:10Blackmore shows detachment and disinterest,no feeling. Sometimes it seems that he wants to go to bed..
October 26th, 2016 at 18:13As expected, way more negative than positive comments. @5 One should not be doing this without even a semblance of the fire they once did it with. Part of that is his choice of friends/musicians. It’s like Ritchie can’t be bothered to his limits by doing this. I don’t give a care inn hell how old someone is, but dignity certainly also used to be a thing.
@13 You sound fit for this type of thing, but don’t forget his professional past runs back to 1963. There is so much more than Purple and Rainbow to cover but it wouldn’t be as cost effective. It also wouldn’t suit those who are glued to those two boxes of his. It really does make me wonder how many times you’ve seen the man live to be saying that. I know you’ll probably say a lot, but it doesn’t exactly look that way. And I have listened to your CONTRABAND, same result, unmoved.
October 26th, 2016 at 20:06Romero does his best but the band is a joke and Ritchie is thinking of his next BN gigs.
October 26th, 2016 at 21:08When the almighty $$$$ gets in the way of common sense. How on earth could Blackmore release such trash.
October 26th, 2016 at 22:25I’ve heard better a my local on a friday night. Seriously.
Blackwood Richmore @ 8,
Very well stated. I couldn’t agree more.
To all you negative critics, yes you are entitled to your opinions but it is not necessary to bash the players so forcefully and unjustly. Please consider well the words of Mr. Richmore.
Blackmore did this for fun. Maybe this little adventure didn’t reach the stellar heights of his 70’s days, but I think that was bound to be quite obvious to most observers right from the outset. The intent was to play these songs one last time for the fans, sort of a last goodbye. Nothing more. Take it for what it is and was, and quit slamming the band!
Now if, and I say if, Blackmore chooses to reconvene proceedings at some future point, perhaps expectations might be a little bit higher. Ultimately however, that will be Blackmore’s choice.
Just enjoy it for what it is now and do not compare to the past.
October 26th, 2016 at 23:58This is dire…. I usually buy everything “Rock” that RB does, but it does not improve much upon the Youtube footage. Sure its cleaned up, but the energy is lacking BIG TIME. Will wait to see some reviews before I consider going near this.
October 27th, 2016 at 04:10I was at the Birmingham show and enjoyed it enormously as I suspect did most there. It was a bit of nostalgia and there’s nothing wrong with that. Was it Blackmore in all his pomp. No. I saw him in the 80s with Raibow and they were quite simply the best concerts I’ve ever seen. The energy was incredible. He couldn’t possibly reproduce that 35 years later. It’s ridiculous to even compare. Quite soon now it’ll all be over. Perhaps some here could reflect on that.
October 27th, 2016 at 09:32Check out a fan video from recent Jon Lord Memorial – i think we had more energy on that club gig…
October 27th, 2016 at 10:08https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QrM4FXA1ss
Rainbow died many years ago with DIO and Powell in their graveyard……
October 27th, 2016 at 13:56what RB now has, is just the solo band with a new junior singer of Ronnie Dio clone
OMG?
October 27th, 2016 at 15:21PS has become a Sunday afternoon, easy listening song?! Strangely pleasant though…. I must be getting old.
October 27th, 2016 at 16:51Btw @ 27 that’s really good!!!
October 27th, 2016 at 16:52Some songs that sound good in studio don’t sound as good in concert, unless they’re tweaked. That’s why Blackmore sped up “Man on the Silver Mountain” in the live versions with Dio in the 1970s. The beat for “Perfect Strangers” is very slow and plodding, unless everyone is really playing the fills. The organ player needs to be more active than he is on this song. Jon Lord he’s not.
October 27th, 2016 at 17:47So Ritchie did it for the fun?But he doesn’t seem have so much fun…he looks bored and not comfortable at all with the songs.A lot of guitar players in tribute bands can play his parts better than him today ..what a shame.
October 27th, 2016 at 17:54As a matter of fact,I’ve just watched his solo spot on a recent BN gig..stunning!
I’m not a fan of BN but every time RB plays acoustic guitar it”s absolutely terrific.His playing is so much better with BN…
Can’t stand these people saying WE’RE NOT GOING TO BUY THE ALBUM why WE?Is there a anti Blackmore fan club out there?
October 27th, 2016 at 18:28@ Lukas – damn straight – the bar band is much better! Are you in the band?
As far as the “Rainbow” reunion and DVD go…..zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I do have to laugh a bit at the setlist. It is not like the best RB guitar songs – more like hits he and management thought the crowd would like and are easy to play!! Perfect example is this song – I think of the lyrics and the keys – not the banjo!!
And for all the RB apologists or surrogates – No one MADE him play – You sound like Trump supporters – The PIVOT rages on!! LOL!
October 27th, 2016 at 18:49The current Rainbow lineup has drawn more attention than Purple has in years. Ticket sales of the 2016 shows sold like hotcakes and have drawn more praise than criticism. Last time I saw Purple, a few years back, there were many empty seats. Not that they are not worthy of seeing any longer, but their popularity has cooled over time, and your typical casual rock fan no longer beat down the doors for tickets. Rainbow did, however. The Birmingham show sold out in 5 minutes. People were hungry to see Ritchie play such iconic music.
October 27th, 2016 at 18:52This is as dreadful as Van Halen’s attempt at releasing a live album last year with a singer who can’t.
October 27th, 2016 at 19:22Here at least RR can sing , as those who were in Birmingham will attest to his vocal range was astonishing and there were some great moments Stargazer being one,but the band , well its Blackmore’s Knight in effect
so you get an end product which is unbalanced in the extreme ,one man trying to recreate Dio era, and the rest
who forgot they were in Rainbow.
But as has been said so many times we are dealing with 70 year olds now so lets keep perspective,I’m sure there will be a few more one off’s next year, he RB hasn’t had that adulation that he had in Birmingham for over 20 years and with time running out he will be back at least once more,and the tickets will fly out again and we will get the same again,and if its as decent as last year i will be happy.
As for the cd/dvd he made a huge error not filming the Birmingham show, or maybe he did …
I’m with Philip @26. I too was at Birmingham. I am a realist. I am 39 years old. Am I as physically able as I was 20 years ago? No! Not a million miles off it, but I notice it, the odd creak in the knee up the stairs etc etc. Richie is 35 years older than me. Was I expecting him how he was when I first saw him 25 years ago? Of course not. Was I expecting some great songs, with a decent band playing them? Yes. And that is what I got. The guy looked happy, the crowd looked happy, the band looked happy. Was it a real hard rocking gig like I used to go to when I was young? No, but it was still one of the best gigs I have been to. It may have been like an old folks home, but damn, it was the sort of old folks home I want to end up in. It rocked!! Albeit gently… If there is another time, I shall go again. Cherish what we have, however different it may be to our pasts, for one day it shall come to an end. Permanently. And I for one am dreading that day.
October 27th, 2016 at 20:25Like already said in the overhead, why in the world select those so overplayed DP songs to advertise this? Especially, as they are not showing best of Ritchie’s playing? I have listened few time bootleg from 2. gig. The biggest problem is the drummer, and bass player is neither right person. Ritchie should have thought more and take musicians more suitable for hardrock, and not just do it most simple way, and take those familiar guys from his main band. Jens does not neither shine, but fills the role ok, singing is also Ok, and Ritchie still has his own sound, which is in any case the main thing. So, I’ll buy the album, in any case, but this could have been something more…
October 27th, 2016 at 21:54I do not think for one minute thing RB did this for fun. It was financially motivated, hence hiring cheap, unknown musicians. Personally I don’t mind a cash grab but it’s gotta be good…and it seems to me that this isn’t. The criticism seems justified. I know RB is getting older but quality, passion and drive should be present.
October 28th, 2016 at 08:50I did not expect Ritchie and his band to sound like in the 70ies, I’ve followed the man’s career; his style, while always idiosyncratic, changes and I probably liked his playing least in the late 80ies when he had a tendency to be a cluttered noise merchant live. His playing recovered once Joelene joined.
90ies Rainbow sounded nothing like the Rainbow formations of yore, but it was still a good band, different but good.
So if Ritchie had played at Loreley with radical new arrangements of Rainbow songs or even a lot of it unplugged – I would have loved it! I’m the guy who goes to Bob Dylan concerts and relishes it if he plays really obscure stuff or old chestnuts in barely (immediately) recognizable versions. I was at a Dylan gig where he threw out the rehearsed set list 10 minutes before the gig and had the band on their toes through a lengthy alternative set where they would be giving each other cues because they had no collective memory of the stuff they played that night. Yes, there were bum notes galore, but it was daring and it was just a few years ago, Dylan being no young spring chicken either.
Ritchie doesn’t need to restage “old Rainbow” for me, I was at the original concerts. But the recent Rainbow gigs weren’t like Dylan gigs: The song renditions were very safe, plodding and tame, too often even shaky, nothing added that would have brought a smile to my face like Anyone’s Daughter did on the last Blackmore-led DP tour in 1993.
I went to those concerts expecting inspiration, taste, wit, experience and – yes – well-oiled professionalism, he’s been doing it long enough. I got none of that and neither age, nostalgia, finger surgery or a long time off the boards in a rock band setting can really explain or excuse how lacklustre it was. “Lacklustre” is probably the greatest insult you can make about a Ritchie gig.
But as the harshest critic of his own work, he has probably realized that himself and I’m hoping that the 2016 debacle will spawn him into making up for it in 2017! Perhaps he should rent some musicians from Billy Joel’s band where two Rainbow alumni (I only saw them a few weeks ago) – David Rosenthal and Chuck Bürgi – are still doing good work.
October 28th, 2016 at 11:42What did you expect from a cover band members who are controlled by an original member in black.
October 28th, 2016 at 16:43Wise up guys and spend you money on true honest hard working musicians who write with passion and heart and soul. Bring on the new Glenn Hughes album.
Drummer should change his job…… Bass idem, keys schoolman, vocals good, MIB is his grandpa……
October 28th, 2016 at 17:32I don’t like it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 29th, 2016 at 10:41Worse than the first clip. If you saw this down your local you’d laugh at it. Nostalgia only works if it’s done with commitment and as much energy as possible. This looks like a guy who’s completely disinterested and a second rate band doing their best! IE second rate.
We should all do RB a favour and ignore it in case he’s tempted to do it again..
PS- Have seen RB many many times since 1970 and don’t want to remember him like this!
October 29th, 2016 at 11:37An interview with Mr.B on the special features would have been nice.
October 29th, 2016 at 18:29Oh my, just heard the vid (even though I was there at Bietigheim-Bissingen of course) for the first time, it was blocked in Germany until recently. It’s incredibly lame, limp, lightweight, lacklustre (even more so than I chose to forget), only Romero has anything resembling power and authority. And the laid back groove of the whole thing is the exact thing a young Cozy Powell (and a young Blackmore) would have poured derision over, The Grateful Dead or Dire Straits would have played this more forcefully. I remember a Powell interview in NME circa “On Stage”-release where he accused everyone from Aerosmith to Ted Nugent to the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac for sounding lame and limp and put it down to only the British being able to play proper rock (never mind that Nugent back then had a British drummer and Fleetwood Mac were 3/5 Brits!).
I never thought I would miss Cozy Powell’s drumming anywhere, but here I do.
November 1st, 2016 at 13:04El Gibleto says:
“I’m with Philip @26. I too was at Birmingham. I am a realist. I am 39 years old. Am I as physically able as I was 20 years ago? No! Not a million miles off it, but I notice it, the odd creak in the knee up the stairs etc etc. ”
Well, maybe you should rethink what you re doing and how
I was in the best shape of my life at 42 after a combination of sports and yoga while a lot of people said that could not be done at such an age.
Years in a row before that moment I struggled with my health, also terrible pain(s) in my hand and pullse and fingers.
Ofcourse 71 is not 42.
And when I was 44 I got terrible backaches wich have kinda wrecked me since.
Still trying though to fight back.
Btw, it has been said before, people like David Gilmour still pull it off.
November 3rd, 2016 at 00:09Glenn still rocks, etc.
@ 47 uwe, I think we’re all hearing you clearly now…. You don’t like it & it’s lacklustre & -CLICK- you don’t like it & it’s lacklustre & -CLICK- the record’s stuck -CLICK- the record’s stuck -CLICK- the record’s stuck…. Oh well, you’ll get over it eventually dude.
November 3rd, 2016 at 06:43Be happy!.
@33 Byron…..I agree with ya..Ritchie’s acoustic guitar playing and composing are fantastic. I always maintain that his guitar playing in Blackmore’s Night is top notch.Blackmore’s Night may not be everyone’s cuppa but Ritchie’s unique guitar style is still very much prominent
November 3rd, 2016 at 13:21