Year : 2017
Style : Hard Rock , Heavy Metal , AOR
Country : United Kingdom
Audio : 320 kbps + scans
Size : 142 mb
Bio:
Rainbow (also known as Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow or Blackmore's Rainbow) were an English rock band, controlled by former Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with former Elf members, though over the years Rainbow went through many lineup changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up. In addition to lead singers Ronnie James Dio, Graham Bonnet, Joe Lynn Turner and Doogie White, the project consisted of numerous backing musicians. The band started out combining mystical lyric themes with neo-classical metal, but went in a more streamlined commercial style following Dio's departure from the group.Rainbow was ranked #90 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.Early years: In 1974, Ritchie Blackmore became infuriated at the funk/soul (or as Blackmore called it, "shoeshine music") elements being introduced to Deep Purple by David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes, as well as with the rejection from his bandmates of his suggestion to record a cover for inclusion on Stormbringer. Blackmore had originally intended to record Steve Hammond's "Black Sheep of the Family", a song recorded by the band Quatermass, as a solo single to express that his ideas were being suppressed in Deep Purple. During recent US tours, Deep Purple's support band had been Elf, and Ritchie had been impressed by Elf's singer, Ronnie James Dio. Blackmore and Dio found they had such a creative rapport that a full album's worth of music was soon composed, and they recorded it with Elf as a session band. Emboldened by the experience, Blackmore decided to leave Deep Purple and form his own band around Elf, effectively taking it over minus their guitarist and renaming it Rainbow. The name of the band was inspired by the Rainbow Bar and Grill in Hollywood that catered to rock stars, groupies and rock enthusiasts.
Album:
For the past couple of decades, legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore has been focusing on his folk-oriented project Blackmore’s Night. But last year, he put together a lineup of RAINBOW to perform two shows in Germany and one in England. The German shows were released last year as the concert DVD Memories In Rock — Live in Germany.Now, tomorrow June 9, a double CD of the British show is being unveiled; "Live In Birmingham 2016".This was the most requested show by fans to be released, because not only includes all the Rainbow / Deep Purple classics everyone wants to hear, but as well it was regarded as the best performance of the tour.The setlist for the concert at Genting Arena in Birmingham includes classics from Rainbow such as “Man on the Silver Mountain,” “Since You’ve Been Gone” and “Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll” along with iconic Deep Purple tracks like “Highway Star” and “Smoke on the Water.”The double CD set has performances of “Burn” and “Soldier of Fortune” from Deep Purple’s Mark III era that were not in the German shows. In addition to Blackmore, the Rainbow lineup included vocalist Ronnie Romero, bassist Bob Nouveau, drummer David Keith (Blackmore’s Night), keyboardist Jens Johanssen (Stratovarius) and backing vocalists Candice Night (Blackmore’s Night) and Lady Lynn.Things started off in familiar fashion with the sound of Judy Garland's voice coming through the P.A.: "We must be over the rainbow, rainbow, rainbow," before this 2017 Rainbow show opens with... a Deep Purple song, the classic 'Highway Star'. It's an odd choice to be sure, but Romero's voice stands out immediately.Throughout the set, the elastic singer comfortably handles the unenviable task of recreating the voices, and registers, of Ian Gillan, Dio, David Coverdale, Glenn Hughes, Joe Lynn Turner and Graham Bonnet: nailing it. If nerves were an issue in front of a crowd this size, it didn't show.Then there's Blackmore. Inspiration can come from unexpected sources, and Blackmore has historically been content to lay back and listen for that opportunity. When it happens, it's the reason that everyone is there.Never a "safe" guitarist, Blackmore always searches for that new source of inspiration—even in a song that he's played hundreds of times before. This particular evening was no exception. Four months after finger surgery on his fretting hand, the fully recovered Blackmore displayed a deliberate and melodic phrasing to his guitar solos."Mistreated", originally a Purple song, perhaps got more mileage from the version from Rainbow's 1977 double live album "On Stage". In fact, most of the Dio-era Rainbow material presented here seems to use "On Stage" versions as a template.But "Mistreated" has a deliberate 1974 "Burn-era' feel, with Blackmore finding that sweet zone, and Romero rendering a Coverdale "California Jam" flashback, with crowd assist."Difficult to Cure", the awesome instrumental title track from Rainbow's 1981 is delivered greatly by this line-up. It supplied the intended old-school nostalgia, including a shredding keyboard solo from Jens Johansson.A must for Rainbow / Deep Purple fans, "Live In Birmingham 2016" results also quite recommended to all classic hard rock fans.If you liked last year's release from the Germany shows, then you need this "Live In Birmingham 2016" as it's much better in terms of performances and setlist chosen.
Line Up:
Ritchie Blackmore (guitar)
Ronnie Romero (vocals)
David Keith (drums)
Bob Nouveau (bass)
Jens Johansson (keyboards)
Candice Night, Lady Lynn (backing vocals)
Tracklist:
CD 1:
01. Over The Rainbow / Highway Star
02. Spotlight Kid
03. Mistreated
04. Since You Been Gone
05. Man On The Silver Mountain
06. Soldier Of Fortune
07. Medley: Difficult To Cure (Beethoven’s Ninth) / Drum Solo / Bass Solo / Band Jam / Keyboard Solo (inc Toccata & Fugue in Dm) / Difficult To Cure (Beethoven’s Ninth)
08. Catch The Rainbow
CD 2:
01. Perfect Strangers
02. Long Live Rock ‘N’ Roll
03. Child In Time
04. Stargazer
05. Medley: Black Night / Woman From Tokyo / Black Night
06. Burn
07. Smoke On The Water
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
