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Rainbow, over and out…
All three ‘Rainbow’ shows have now taken place, so here is a little round up of what we found out….
from HardrockHaven:
Christopher Willow: When you play a bass solo, you like to play it just alone or to the other instrument? For example, Cozy Powell played sometimes his solo to the organ.
Bob Nouveau: Most of the time I like playing bass solos with a light rhythm (drums) supporting me, and/or light keyboard playing chords. Honestly, because I play other instruments I think bass solos are not the most interesting for me … but still a lot of fun!
Christopher Willow: When having rehearsals, what excites you the most?
Bob Nouveau: Rehearsals get exciting for me when we find new and better ways of doing things … things that make us special and distinctive. Good collaboration is important in creating the band’s sound and identity. It’s also important that there are no problems or difficulties with personalities in the band. As you know, problems like this can destroy a band. So far we are all smiling!
Christopher Willow: How do you connect with the drummer David Keith? Deep Purple and Rainbow have had a very significant sound of the rhythm section. Have you established any special construction of the rhythm line ( bass and drums) for the new Rainbow?
Bob Nouveau: I’m sure David and I will develop our ‘sound’. It takes time for this to happen but remember, Ritchie picked the both of us for a reason. I think we will develop fast.
full interview
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
I wonder if we’ll get a live DVD/CD package out of this “tour”……
June 29th, 2016 at 13:52how about a new album and some new music Ritchie?! you got a great powerful singer and you look very inspired by his singing and voice? oh if you do drop the drummer please.
June 29th, 2016 at 14:21Dear Candice, to answer sincerely, I for one would certainly love to hear any or all of these goodies (In no particular order): GATES OF BABYLON, Tarot Woman, A Light In The Black, No Release, Midtown Tunnel Vision, Drinking With The Devil, Bad Girl, Lost In Hollywood, All Night Long, The Shed (Subtle), Run With The Wolf, Eyes Of Fire, Black Sheep Of The Family, Silence & of course, KILL THE KING!. There’s your concert. With the very best of good wishes to you & your man, be happy!.
June 29th, 2016 at 14:27They can play whatever they want as far as I’m concerned. I’m hoping for a show in NY or Long Island.
June 29th, 2016 at 14:31“I think bass solos are not the most interesting for me”
“I’m sure David and I will develop our ‘sound’. It takes time for this to happen”
It’s all explained, then.
June 29th, 2016 at 15:11For me, these titels – please:
Ronnie you could do this – Ritchie, you too !! 😉 (when you will) 😉
Self Portrait
Black Sheep Of The Family
The Temple Of The King
Tarot Woman
Light in the Black
Kill the King
L.A. Connection
Gates of Babylon (my No. 1)
The Shed (Subtle)
Eyes Of The World
Makin’ Love
Love’s No Friend
Midtown Tunnel Vision
Death Alley Driver
Tite Squeeze
MISS Mistreated
Snowman
Desperate Heart
Drinking With the Devil
Any questions ???
LLRnR
LLRitchie
Hope to see you again in germany !!
cheers
kraatzy
June 29th, 2016 at 17:03Third show was much better indeed.Best songs were Catch the rainbow and soldier of fortune,Mistreated was really good too with Ritchie providing some of his legendary trade mark licks .Stargazer not bad at all,but can you imagine this song without the drums intro???
June 29th, 2016 at 20:38I still find that band is weak,except Romero who did a fantastic job.Future dates?Why not,but they must rehearse more in the future..the final part of “man on the silver mountain” is ..”embarassing”.But the audience was really great.
New songs right now!!!
June 30th, 2016 at 03:35Strange heading, strange teaser. I expected to find a summary of all three shows, maybe setlists and some background infos. Instead there’s just one not so exciting interview and a tweet by Candice Night. Silly season?
June 30th, 2016 at 06:43Since you asked…
Kill the King (alternate with Highway Star)
Stone Cold (replace Spotlight Kid)
Street of Dreams (replace Since You Been Gone)
Snowman and Anybody There (alternate with Difficult to Cure)
Gates of Babylon (alternate with Child in Time)
A Light in the Black (alternate with Perfect Strangers)
[by alternate I mean some gigs they play one song, at others they play the alternate song).
Thanks
June 30th, 2016 at 11:34Just stay with the Dio era in my book, maybe Eyes Of The World from DTE also! Spotlight Kid & Beethoven’s Ninth are enough of the JLT era for my liking. His ego is big enough as it is, don’t want to massage it too much now do we? While we are at it, maybe a little song introduction for Joe, The Spotlight Kid. I wonder who wrote the lyrics for that song, Glover or Turner? Was it a autobiographical writing Mr Turner? Looking into the future perhaps, from 1981 to 2016? Come to think of it, play all the JLT era songs, that would surely piss him off big time! As for the Stranger In Us All material, whilst the album is strong, I think those songs didn’t work that well in a live setting. At least not from what I have seen of recorded concerts! However, Ronnie Romero might be able to cover one or two perhaps! Cheers.
June 30th, 2016 at 11:46Less Purple songs, More Rainbow songs and “SOME NEW SONGS”!
June 30th, 2016 at 14:24Since you asked:
June 30th, 2016 at 16:31Temple of the King
Gates of Babylon
Kill the King
Stone Cold
Street of Dreams
Ariel
Wolf to the Moon
Black Masquarade
Well…very diappointed about websiet the highwaystar. Followed it for years. Alwayspretty good in information about DP and members. But now….threeRainbow shows of the man that made DP and is back now, hot news. Be exited, be positive, total bullshit this “article”.
June 30th, 2016 at 18:17What is it? Is Gillan and co. sponsoring this site or what? I expected more and better news about Ritchies return.
If they keep some Purple tunes in the setlist I would love to hear a favorite of mine they have seldumed played through the years. Rat Bat Blue !!
June 30th, 2016 at 18:39Hi Candice.
June 30th, 2016 at 20:11I would love to hear Blackmore playing some of the Steve MORSE ERA SONGS from the current DP line up.
Many thanks
Have a good day.
Firstly thanks for doing the shows. Wish I could have been there.
“King of Dreams” may work well with this band
“Still I’m Sad” would be good with Romero
“Eyes of the World”?
“Rainbow Eyes” could be interesting with a new more acoustic arrangement ……..
(*Romero could probably ace it.)
Wish there were a tad more sustain/drive on the guitar sound. Consider loosing “Black Night.”
June 30th, 2016 at 22:310 Over The Rainbow
July 1st, 2016 at 04:331 Kill The King
2 Eays Of The World
3Black Masquerade
4Street Of Dreams
5Catch The Rainbow
6Starstruck
7Lost in Hollywood I / solo key, drum, bass / Lost in Hollywood II
8Lazy Intro / Man On The Silver Mountain
9Acoustic block:
a) Soldier Of Fortune
b) Temple Of The King
c)Rainbow Eyes
10Stargazer
11Medley
a) Black Night b) Long Live Rock n Roll c) All Night Long
12 Ariel or Gates Of Babylon?
13 Burn
Encore:
14Carry On Jon
15 Smoke On The Water
On a more serious note in regards to possible 2107 concerts. Now that we have had the 3 gigs & the 3rd & most important in my view wasn’t filmed, apparently. If there are to be more shows, make it count, play a dozen or so indoors & film the last one or two! Forget the outdoor festival thing! I cannot fathom why the first show recently was filmed & not the 3rd, if that is the case! Why film the first concert at all? I am not sure if the 2nd gig was filmed? Bizarre in my mind, but what would I know? And as some of us had hoped for a few new songs, it doesn’t have to be a full album, wouldn’t that be something extra! There you have it, my ‘expectations’ have surfaced at last! And they say expectation is a prison! Cheers.
July 1st, 2016 at 05:16@MacGregor—-Black Masquerade worked a treat live…probably the strongest song on Stranger In Us All…oh and not forgetting Ariel..so I guess those 2 songs and please please Kill The King and Gates Of Babylon. Indeed less Purple songs and more Dio material 🙂 From all the soundbites it seems Ritchie will rock again next year
July 1st, 2016 at 06:41Yes I agree with 14, the Reunion.Not enough said about Ritchie, he is an
July 1st, 2016 at 08:08absolute legend. Just to see him with that fender and his tone. It’s just
awesome. The negitive people need to take a step back and just appreciate what your seeing and hearing
@14 to me they are calling it as it is. Why get excited about a single tribute act with Ritchie and his drinking buddies? Get a normal band, record an album and do a proper tour – now that would be exciting. Like the rumors for a new BCC album/tour.
July 1st, 2016 at 08:43Gates Of Babylon & Kill The King seem to be on many people’s lists….
July 1st, 2016 at 11:03Another ‘old timer’ cranking it!
July 1st, 2016 at 11:25http://www.planetrock.com/news/rock-news/watch-david-gilmour-performs-pink-floyds-one-of-these-days-for-first-time-in-22-years/
@ 14:
Don’t cherish the illusion that DP cares too much about what Ritchie’s doing right now or that people’s opinions have to be manipulated because they aren’t overwhelming – rightfully so, if you ask me. Appreciate the fact that at least they’re honest and that “thehighwaystar” isn’t a website where a band or particular musicians get praised for whatever they do, irrespective of quality.
Ronnie is a great vocalist who has a promising future but that’s about it. Ritchie was a pale shadow of himself – far away from his sound and the fire he once had when he played those songs many years ago. The rest of the band reminded me of most tribute bands. Remember the great Cozy Powell, the bass playes and keyboardists who played in Rainbow. These lads could really play. The article above is from “HardrockHaven” by the way.
July 1st, 2016 at 13:15A gazillion and one ears and eyes with assorted opinions….
http://radio.com/2016/06/29/aerosmiths-tom-hamilton-disses-ritchie-blackmore/
Great to see him back one way or another….
Peace,
July 1st, 2016 at 17:16Ted
More Ritchie knocking, whats up with you lot? Can’t you be happy for the man? He’s smiling, he’s loving what he’s doing, the fans love what he’s done, but you lot. it’s all moan, moan, moan. It was advertised as playing the songs of both bands y’know. He said it himself. If you don’t like it bog off and watch gillans cover band FFS.
July 1st, 2016 at 21:57Bob Nouveau: I think what makes this band a bit special is that we have the ability to play all the different styles of the many ‘Deep Purple’ and ‘Rainbow’ lineups throughout the decades … and we can do it by also combining it with our own individual styles and personalities. I wish we had more time to develop our own unique sound. I can hear it coming and it could be really exciting!
Well, The Doogie White already did that, so……
And the best ever DP cover was Mistreated with DIO.
No way Romero and the lot tackled Spotlight Kid.
July 1st, 2016 at 22:22Funny all of the comments suggesting different set lists. Ritchie doesn’t listen to anyone. He plays what wants to play. He played Stargazer, Child in Time, and Mistreated with a vocalist who pulled all three songs off. So I am very happy and the rest of the set list is fine with me.
July 2nd, 2016 at 03:00@ Tracy (…)
What a dream … one more hardrock album from our master … what a dream … a last masterpiece … wow
But in fact … it wouln´d be … sadly 🙁
So lets have a look forward for some (or many?) other live events with the Banjo Man …
LLRnR
LLRitchie Blackmore
kraatzy
July 2nd, 2016 at 07:29As far as I have seen on the pictures from the shows, the second one was filmed. To me, that was a weird choice. In my world, you give it all for the opening night. Hopefully, that goes well and that means you relax on the second night, which also means the show has more mistakes. Wise from that you sharpen your act and do good shows from show three and forward. 🙂
July 3rd, 2016 at 22:03Travelled to Birmingham from Scotland with few expectations, but … IMO he pulled it off. Not as visually dynamic or musically challenging as those 70s shows, but then again who of us that saw those could still be.
Guitar sound was up front, offering no hiding place, solos were less fiery than 30-40yrs ago, but no less effective for that.
RB himself said it was for nostalgia reasons, a chance to play the old songs one last time. I for one am glad we had the chance to see it again.
July 3rd, 2016 at 22:30That David Gilmour clip I posted a link to @ 23 of him & his band cranking One Of These Days, was withdrawn within 24 hours! It looked like an officially filmed concert, so I guess there are no surprises there! Bummer as it was a cracking version with Gilmour on the lap steel. ” One Of These Days I Am Going To Cut You Into Little Pieces”, a classic Floyd track! Cheers.
July 4th, 2016 at 04:32Having seen the clips from the first gig, I can’t believe that it’s possible to salvage a DVD.
July 4th, 2016 at 06:50Hi everyone,
We’ll have to wait for an official DVD/Blu-Ray release.
I never expected a (nearly) perfect show like the Led Zeppelin concert in London or a high-end production like Pink Floyd’s “P.U.L.S.E”.
I also hope, there will be some bonus-material (rehearsals, interviews,
backstage footage).
Let’s see…
Have a nice Day!
July 4th, 2016 at 08:23I would like to hear: Black Masquerade,Tarot Woman,Dead Alley Driver,Ariel,Gates Of Babylon,
July 4th, 2016 at 14:23Street Of Dreams,Still I’m Sad,Temple Of The King,Lady Of The Lake,Burn,Kill The King,
Soldier Of Fortune,Difficult To Cure,Firedance,Smoke On The Water
Do you seriously think that this folky rythm section can handle the “Kill the king”part initiated by Cozy..?As for Ritchie he was so uninspired during the “Burn” guitar solo -I can’t imagine him getting wild once again with that track.They should focus on quieter tracks.”Lady of the lake”,why not,
July 4th, 2016 at 16:30That screaming in CIT was awful.
July 4th, 2016 at 19:56Am I really the only one that heard that?
Gates of Babylon
July 4th, 2016 at 21:46Tarot Woman
A Light in the Black
Eyes of the World
Kill the King
Black Masquerade
Rainbow Eyes
Wolf to the Moon
@ 15, Adel:
I laughed hard at that one, thank you :-).
July 5th, 2016 at 08:09I would love to hear
July 5th, 2016 at 12:28GATES OF BABYLON
STREET OF DREAMS
BLACK MASQUERADE
SELF PORTRAIT
and RUN WITH THE WOLF
Well. It shows how well rehearsed and competent the recent Deep Purple is.
July 5th, 2016 at 16:06Crying shame, the whole thing.
July 5th, 2016 at 17:05@ 30
Svante,
July 5th, 2016 at 19:36I was at the Loreley gig (first one). It was (pro)-shot with too big cameras in front of the stage and several more smaller ones everywhere.
Sorry, typo: Of course I meant “TWO big cameras” (on rails).
July 5th, 2016 at 19:38I was at Birmingham and very happy with the set list! I would have opted to drop the keybord/drum solos for another song though. Or Ritchie could have thrown a few more teaser riffs in there or a medley of riffs, so many classic songs and no chance of playing all of them.
Maybe next time? 😉
Disappointed Brum wasn’t filmed.
July 6th, 2016 at 12:42In an answer to miss Candice’s question…
July 7th, 2016 at 00:131. remove all DP songs.( let DP play DP songs)
2. gates of Babylon
3.kill the king(in place of highway star)
4. temple of the king
5. loves no friend(in place of mistreated)
6. all night long(in place of since you…)
7. LA connection
8.stone cold or can’t happen here
9. eyes of the world(in place of perfect strangers)
Loreley was filmed too, I was there (and the following night too). Whether it will ever be released and how much the audio will be doctored then (Ritchie has rerecorded solos for “live” releases before) is another question. In theory, Loreley was the nicest and most impressive venue before the largest audience, but (1) the gig wasn’t great, (2) sound was abysmal in places (that can probably be fixed) and (3) it rained. That said, the fireworks at Loreley were a lot more impressive (and closer to the stage and the audience) than in Stuttgart, so they might be tempted to use the Loreley gig. Of immediate interest to anyone who always wondered how John Gustafson, circa Ian Gillan Band era, would sound with Rainbow.
July 7th, 2016 at 13:25“I think what makes this band a bit special is that we have the ability to play all the different styles of the many ‘Deep Purple’ and ‘Rainbow’ lineups throughout the decades … and we can do it by also combining it with our own individual styles and personalities.”
Nope, I’m afraid. The current line up matches neither Mk II’s elegance, Mk III’s gung-ho approach nor the “vandals at the gate”-grandeur of Dio/Powell-Rainbow.
I’m glad that they didn’t attempt Lazy, they could have never pulled that one off. At no point was the current band better than a very good (Rainbow) tribute act would be. And as regards the Purple numbers they only approached mediocre tribute act. All with a guitarist, it has to be said, who really looked a lot like an elder Blackmore, amazing!
And I marvel how anyone could prefer Rainbow’s various Mistreated versions to the Mk 3 ones. Dio could never project a young Coverdale’s bloozy hurt machismo in those lyrics and no Rainbow bassist could ever match Glenn Hughes’ contrapunctual bass work in the live versions of that song (nor how Neil Murray played it with Whitesnake), the Rainbow bassists all sounded leaden in comparison. Dio singing that song was about as gripping as if he had done James Brown’s Sex Machine. Dio was a wonderful singer, but not for that type of lyric.
July 7th, 2016 at 13:48Would love to see the band do more shows and therefore bed in a bit more. As for songs, it would be fantastic if Ritchie decided to play some of the following, especially ones that were never played live.
Rainbow Songs:
Self Portrait
Gates Of Babylon
Kill The King
Rainbow Eyes
Tarot Woman
Light In The Black
Eyes Of The World
Makin’ Love
Danger Zone
Deep Purple:
Bloodsucker
July 8th, 2016 at 12:18Speed King
Hush
Into The Fire
Fireball
No No No
Fools
Maybe I’m A Leo
Pictures Of Home
Lazy
Rat Bat Blue
Lay Down, Stay Down
Sail Away
You Fool No One
Bad Attitude
RB is RB. He or the management probably relayed on the experience from MIJ where the 2nd show is the main ingredience of the release and clearly better than the other dates. I’m not saying it worked out in 2016, though.
July 9th, 2016 at 14:52@26 Comments from an average bass player who complained about how hard it was to learn the Lizzy tracks… I’m not surprised. Where is his professionalism? Of course learning songs you have never played before is challenging. His/her? comment about Ritchie being ‘pudgy’ coming from someone who looks like a homely albino chick is also a bit amusing. He has worked in a band who has been sucked up thin from drug abuse for so long, I’m sure someone with some skin on their bones may come as a shock. RB kept in great shape for years by playing soccer but I think his back and age prevents him from playing much anymore. During the 80’s RB was in much better shape than his DP bandmates and to this day still is, although Gillan looks better now! Roger has remained about the same as well, cannot say the same for a couple others.
July 10th, 2016 at 01:39uwe@ 49- what is the rave about ‘matching’ any past lineups???????? You just don’t get it! It isn’t about trying to sound like something else from a past era! It is madness to suggest that, it sounds crazy indeed! You missed the point totally! Tribute bands you are welcome to, I don’t ever bother with them at all! Blackmore wrote or co-wrote the music! What tribute band does that? All they do is mimic someone else to the best of their ability! And of course, they may make a certain amount of money off other peoples creativity.
July 10th, 2016 at 10:21Ole @42- some perspective please & a touch of reality if you don’t mind!
Cheers.
Had to watch this just for R J Dio & his vocal on his co- written original songs. Not into the guitarist at all, especially on Kill The King! Two great songs though. Not too bad for a ‘tribute’ band eh?
RIP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0BsEVAx6MU
July 10th, 2016 at 10:38DIO – Temple of the King & Kill the King (Bulgaria 2006)
@25
Isn’t Gillan for years a very pale shadow of himself, and Paice?
Hasn’t this do to with age?
The “rest” of the Rainbow play as they were supposed to play. supportive.
July 10th, 2016 at 13:35I was at both German gigs and it was great to see and hear the best guitarist.
Didn’t expect him to play like in the 70s.
The crowd loved it and sang to every song played. It was magical, even if Blackmore lost some of his chops. Don’t care if it was age or his physical condition or unrehearsed. Just seeing him there was enough.
Regarding whether or not the best gig was filmed, it’s worth remembering that Ritchie has always hated being filmed at gigs. Maybe the Brum gig was so much better than the other two gigs because it *wasn’t* filmed, so he felt more relaxed? And maybe if it had been filmed, it wouldn’t have been so good?
July 13th, 2016 at 13:22I suppose they could put together a dvd comprised of the live concerts recorded sounds, that were then syncronised to some videos recorded by members of the audiences. The Red Hot Chile Peppers did something like that some years ago. Now that would be interesting!. Smiles to ya.
July 15th, 2016 at 03:58@55 You are absolutely laughable. Paice has lost something? I think we should all dog your ass for that! And the “rest” of Purple don’t support? You’re in need of a lobotomy there. Man alive! Look people, if you actually trip out to see Purple and can say it’s any kind of bogus, you’re stick so far up “the old” Ritchie’s ass you will never find your way out. As for how this whole thing has gone down, below mediocre from the look and sound of it but the DVD will correct that I’m sure. But one thing is can’t do is shoot some energy and speed up to their proper place.
@53 I suppose then you can explain why he calls it something from the past and only plays stuff from the past but it isn’t supposed to come out up to par with it on any level. Lucre doesn’t discriminate, washed up or down. More laughter indeed.
Btw, have a listen. This is because I am “supportive,” but not of this lot. Hear Ritchie talk about it and hear that he can’t tell three DP numbers from the six they played. Otherwise it’s a worthy interview. Apparently the Rainbow is not over with. http://www.radioveronica.nl/gemist/highlights/countdown-cafe/telefonisch-interview-met-ritchie-blackmore-van-blackmores-night-15-07-2016
July 18th, 2016 at 06:10@37 You can’t make this stuff up. Only they can. 🙂
July 18th, 2016 at 06:11@ 55, Theo:
It wasn’t so much his playing abilities but his attitude. He didn’t even use his whammy bar and he didn’t play with fire. I can’t say the same thing about the guys in Purple. Even if they might have lost some edge over the years (who can blame them anyway) they still have fire. Look at Ian Gillan, he’s singing his lungs out. I was missing excitement from Ritchie when I watched those Rainbow concerts. Maybe he just was very concentrated because these songs aren’t easy to play, who knows …
Of course one has to consider that Ritchie hasn’t played those songs with a dedicated rock band for two decades. It felt a lot different with the last Rainbow line-up (the one with Doogie) for instance. I think it hasn’t much to do with age (although it’s factor too) but rather with the fact that Ritchie moved on and away from this kind of music long ago. Maybe his fire might get reignited if he played more concerts but I doubt it.
For many things in life there’s a certain time and then it’s only a healthy progression to move on to something else. You realise when this time has come as soon as the passion you once had fades away and doesn’t come back again.
I was quite in favor of the clever approach of Robert Plant & The Strange Sensation (sadly disbanded in 2007) regarding Led Zeppelin material – great musicianship.
July 18th, 2016 at 08:39I saw Blackmore’s Night in Creuzburg on last Friday. It was a fine concert and Ritchie in relaxed, humorous mood, but I have never witnesses a BN concert where he played so few solos, 90% of the gig he was content strumming along. I believe he still has real issues with his hand, those Raimbow gigs probab,y came way too early.
And the current BN line up is worlds apart from the current Rainbow line up as regards tightness, those Rainbow concerts would have really been better had he used BN as a backing band, full stop. Say what you will about Mr Mohawk, but he’s a very good and sensitive drummer.
July 19th, 2016 at 16:36LRT @ 58 – thanks for the humour, you are getting better at it, sort of! My comments are what most people with a normal perspective on reality would understand & more than likely hold the same! Just for you & a few others who may not understand. Different time period! Different musicians bar one! Different age for that one musician! Different outlook, attitude or the like! Different equipment! Anything else that doesn’t match up or that isn’t ‘up to par’ with, from the glorious past? In regards to the modern day Purple, there are plenty of people who go to a gig & then say ‘no thanks’, it isn’t what it used to be or what I expected, not ‘matching up’ or ‘up to par’! It happens, some people have certain ‘expectations’ don’t they? Cheers.
July 21st, 2016 at 05:31LRT @58…
The interview you posted is pretty interesting….
A couple of things caught my ear. He stated that there had been talk of reforming Rainbow with David Coverdale, Glenn Hughes and others that he sat on pondering for over a year and then decided no. I thought Coverdale and Hughes were trying to put together a MK3 Purple thing together. I never read or heard anything about a Rainbow Reunion except for JLT pushing for it. Poor JLT. The one who actually fantasized about the reunion and his name didn’t even pop up in Blackmore’s recollection.
Another thing is that he does actually state interest in doing some more in the future and made mention of listening to what the fans have been stating about the shows. Mainly that he will do as most have bitched about and play mainly Rainbow music. So, since he seems to be ready to take advice from the Fans, he should follow suit and do what ALL of his fans have requested. MAKE A NEW ALBUM!!!! Give you new Rainbow Line-up their proper place in line…..
Ch-BeerZ
July 21st, 2016 at 15:55I saw Purple yesterday in Fulda – Don Airey can play circles around that Johansson guy with both arms tied behind his back, there is just no comparison. The amount of soloing that Don gets to do with Purple has made him – he who was a little too technical for me initially – a very organic (no pun intended) and spontaneous player. Morse took a similar development after he joined in the 90ies and was asked to solo a lot more than he had been used to doing with either the Dregs or his own trio (both very arranged) or Kansas (ditto).
Don’s glorious playing aside, it wasn’t the most inspired of gigs (though Steve seems to be doing better with his hand and is once again more daring in his solos, Big Ian sang well and Little Ian held back a little), I’d give it a B probably, but compared to current Rainbow even an “only a little better than average” Purple gig is shit-tight and, most importantly, the music flows.
July 21st, 2016 at 19:15uwe@64 – i need to comment again, I know i should just leave it, but some things need to be put into perspective, again! You said ‘there is just no comparison’ after comparing Don Airey & Jens Johansson???????????????????? They are both superb keyboard players with years, decades of experience! Classically trained both of them, it isn’t about tying anyone’s hands behind their back! It sounds like more of you putting this Rainbow thing down, again, any way you can? Why? Who can tell! Some sort of justification needed for some reason? I don’t know, maybe you can tell us in a realistic sort of way. If you don’t like it, fine, but some of the things you are saying? ‘I’d give it a B probably, but compared to current Rainbow even an “only a little better than average” Purple gig is shit-tight and, most importantly, the music flows’. Please uwe, keep it real, how long have the current version of DP been playing together?? We all know how long! Blackmore throws a band together for a blast & some people just seem so content in putting it down, to justify something. It is absurd to attempt to compare, it really is, as you said, there is no comparison, well if only some would not compare! Cheers.
July 22nd, 2016 at 11:28@62 MacGregor, wow!, you seem to be one of the few that actually get it. You must be an Aussie. Typically, the only constant in life is change.
July 22nd, 2016 at 13:59This ain’t the garden of Eden, there ain’t no angels above… & things ain’t like what they used to be & this ain’t the summer of love (B.O.C.).
Just accept it as it comes & enjoy it for what it is. Take it or leave it & let the critics go jump in the lake!. I fukn love Rainbow in all of its forms. Be happy!.
Believing that Ritchie is one of the greatest electric guitarists on earth doesn’t make me go deaf, you know. I have no hate for the man, he can be good fun (with BN he mostly is, Candice lightens him up). But when Blackmore is below par I don’t freeze in adulation. I’m not any more impatient with him than he is with himself btw.
I play in bands myself, so I have an ear for what gels and what doesn’t. DP gels, BN gels (never mind how corny they can be), Rainbow did not and – as professional musicians go – they did have ample time to rehearse. When David Gilmour goes on tour after a decade’s hiatus from playing live, he and his band are not rusty because they worked their asses off before.
Johansson might be the most brilliant keyboardsmith on earth, but with Rainbow he just did not cut it. Not even to the extent of approximating the Child in Time intro which is not about technique, but A B O U T F E E L !!! And since Blackmore needs to play off a good keyboard player any band defunct in that department has Blacker’s performance suffer too, competetive ole badger he is.
So DP play live all the time and have been doing too much of the same set for decades – true. But the Rainbow gigs showed – and let’s face it: Rainbow was never more than a 2nd rate DP with Ritchie at the reins – that it is hellishly difficult to emulate the sound of that old warhorse (with all due respect to Nick’s musical exploits though I prefer his Fandango over Warhorse) convincingly. And if you do an old chestnut like Highway Star, you better do it either in a totally new arrangement or you match the original in energy and attack, not deliver those half-arsed versions I heard at the two Kraut gigs (hell, even the ramshackle DP Mk IV renditions of that classic had more life in them). It pains me no end to hear Ritchie substandard, but I’m not afraid to remark on it. He never minced words either.
And to semi-quote Little Ian from the WDTWA inner sleeve: I buy the friggin Rainbow tickets as well as BN tickets and CDs religiously, so I can bloody well boot them too!
Long live rock’n’rant!!! ; – )
July 23rd, 2016 at 00:49Uwe & his ‘comparison’ to David Gilmour’s band is, well, another miss indeed! Guy Pratt, Jon Carin, Phil Manzanera & Steve DiStanislao have been playing most of that music since the 2006 tour. Carin & Pratt since 1987 for many tracks. Gilmour is also a totally different character to Blackmore, so the rehearsals side of it would be a different scenario indeed! There have been different members recently added to Gilmour’s band & rehearsals would have been included into their ‘initiation’ into the band, so to speak! Maybe Uwe could use as an example, some artists who didn’t rehearse much at all for whatever reason, & then look at their respective performances & compare them against the recent ‘Rainbow’ appearances!? I mentioned a few about one month ago, not that i was comparing at all, I used them as a ‘reference’ to ‘one off gigs’ as such. I am not defending this Rainbow band for their slightly awkward approach to these 3 gigs! Who knows why & how that unfolded? I suppose it depends on what some people expect, as i said earlier! As for the ‘Rainbow was only ever a 2nd rate DP with Ritchie at the reins” comment, we had better not take that line out of context then. The Highway Star comment also makes me ponder some more. “And if you do an old chestnut like Highway Star, you better do it either in a totally new arrangement or you match the original in energy and attack, not deliver those half-arsed versions I heard at the two Kraut gigs”. They play it how they play it, they don’t have to rearrange it at all, or attempt to match it to the original. This is where the problem lies with comparisons & expectations, they usually disappoint, but sometimes not. It is only Rock ‘n Roll, but I only like some of it! Cheers.
July 26th, 2016 at 07:25It’s amazing how Ritchie seems to always bring out the real fighting passion in people. These arguments have raged on for years, only a brilliant musician can stir up that sort of emotion in people. Long live Mr. Ritchie Blackmore.
July 31st, 2016 at 20:05And I thought up to now sloppiness in live gigs was only defended (and elevated to an art form of personal expression) in Led Zep forums, you live and learn!
If you want to entertain some 18.000 people and have them pay good money for it, then you better not be underrehearsed, especially if you are a pro musician with Blackmore’s pedigree, period. He would have been all over his own performance at Loreley if he had applied the standards under which he used to criticize other bands in the 70ies and 80ies.
I’ve been to hundreds of concerts (thousands?) and I have never ever experienced a headliner as shambolic and shaky. Frankly, if I hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t have believed that Blackmore would embarrass himself (and me – see below) like that. I’ve seen him play better totally inebriated. The lack of professionalism was inexcusable. And I had people with me who I had been raving about what a great live performer and soloist he is – they later said “the singer was quite good” and I cringed.
No one was asking the impossible. Three weeks of solid 6 hour rehearsals would have prevented this from happening – if Blackmore could not be bothered to do it, he could have sent a stand-in (like Neil Murray stood in for John Deacon in preparation of the Freddy Mercury event, btw here you have your example of a one-off that was tightly played …). That is not asking too much, it’s not that Rainbow’s music is excruciatingly complex. They are not Gentle Giant by any means.
And lieber Herr MacGregor, you – like me – would not have recognized Highway Star at Loreley until Herr Romero began singing, it was that abysmal (and taken at much too slow a pace – Blackmore started it without drums so he is to blame – and I’m not asking for the frantic MIJ speed or how DP – thanks to Blackers – speeded everything up in the 80ies). Sadly so!
Ritchie like anyone is allowed to have a crap gig and nothing at Lorely takes anything away from his achievements in the past (or those in the future) – but don’t sugarcoat an epic failure.
August 12th, 2016 at 18:29@70 uwe, maybe your expectations were a little high…. Perhaps in the lead up, the guitarman never had any intentions of presenting or performing these 3 gigs as anything more than a good old fashioned nostalgic singalong. I think that he had said as much beforehand. Anyway, he isn’t really the rock star that he once was… he is an old man with a young family who usually performs folk music to the type of people that like that sort of thing. He has had people demanding that he come back and play rock for ages… & when he does, all you do is criticize him. Uwe, when & if you ever achieve in your life even half of what Mr B has in his, then I’ll take your complaints seriously….. but until then, SMILES TO YA!.
August 13th, 2016 at 06:47My expectations have always been high with him, he is my favourite rock guitarist. And come to think of it probably my favourite mock medieval minstrel renaissance men in tights-guitarist too. From Herr Blackmore I expect to be overwhelmed (not by stage antics or smashing of guitars, but by choice of notes during his solos).
I have to come to grips with the concept that Ritchie’s doubtless achievements of the past somehow cancel out a bad performance today and that expecting a professional gig from a professional musician is asking too much. Or that old men have to necessarily play sloppy. Don’t let Jeff Beck hear that.
And by the way: I never demanded him to come back and play rock again. For me Rainbow was over and done with, I respected his decision to play his lightweight renaissance stuff, I believe it was sincere. I prefer him playing well with Blackmore’s Night to diluting his reputation with a band that calls itself Rainbow.
August 17th, 2016 at 15:31@72 uwe, oh well…. I enjoyed the latest Rainbow efforts, as did a lot of others. I guess one man’s meat is another man’s lousy luck!. I suspect the finger surgery and possible medications may have had some impact on performance, but when the tickets have already been sold, does one let the audiences down, or soldier on & do the best they can under the circumstances?. Nevermind, there’s always next time…. the new DP album for instance. Be happy… !?.
August 18th, 2016 at 23:30Any new DP album makes me happy! : – ) I have yet to hear a really bad one, even the slightly shaky ones have their indisputable moments. Yup, that includes Shades of, Who do we … (I actually think that is a good album), Stormbringer (ditto), Slaves & Masters (ditto), The Battle rages … and Rapture!!!
As regards Rainbow, I believe they peaked with Long Live Rock’n’Roll (both production- and songwriting-wise a better effort than Rising which had its share of fillers and almost no bass in the mix) and the murkily produced debut (that said, the Elf guys had a nice band groove) though I will forever have a weak spot for Bonnet’s supercharged vocal roar and stage humour.
My personal fantasy would be to hear Blackmore in a power trio with a drummer and a bass player in his league. He has never done that. Sort of Blackmore, Bogert & Appice or Blackmore, Bruce & Phillips! Or why stray .. Blackmore, Hughes & Paice would do the job just fine.
August 23rd, 2016 at 15:50@74 uwe, you’ve put a huge smile on my face, I love all that stuff too!. However, I love the JLT & Doogie Rainbow albums equally as much. Our favourite guitarist can do no wrong in my eyes. I am particularly fond of much of the Rod Evans era… Why didn’t Rosemary was a template for Strange kind of woman. Other songs like Chasing shadows; The bird has flown; Emmaretta; April (1-3); Mandrake root; Help; Listen, learn, read on; Kentucky woman; Wring that neck…. etc etc, well I just adore them!. All prehistoric, but still far more interesting than the music of Gunship or Flight Facilities that my son admires so much!. You know, Jon Lord also expressed a desire to see/hear Mr B perform in a blues trio… so you’re not alone in that thought Uwe. Anyhoo… Smiles to ya!.
August 28th, 2016 at 23:42A good article about the logistics and technology of the 2016 shows.
https://www.tpimagazine.com/ritchie-blackmores-rainbow/
Just posting this here, it was published at the time, but I only just found it while looking online for any information about the original 1970s version of the rainbow – prompted by watching the ’77 Munich show on YouTube. If I find some, I will probably post a follow-up.
October 2nd, 2024 at 14:27I saw four gigs of ReunionBow at various locations – the sound was always excellent. Too excellent in fact as it put the band under the microscope of being under-rehearsed, inexperienced at this kind of music and burdened with a guitarist past his physical prime for being a hard rock axeman. A less perfect sound would have been more forgiving, especially Ritchie did not stand up to close scrutiny anymore.
October 2nd, 2024 at 19:56