Decisive Band · Hard Rock, Prog & Early Metal
Rainbow
Ritchie Blackmore's post–Deep Purple band; Rising (1976) and the Dio years set fantasy-lyric hard rock with neoclassical guitar figures.
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01 / 06
Blackmore meets Dio
Blackmore recruits Elf's Ronnie James Dio after quitting Deep Purple mid-1975 tour. Debut Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow (1975) is leaner than Purple Mark II. Man on the Silver Mountain fixes the template: Dio's chest voice, Blackmore's ascending riff, no organ pad. Self-titled set proves a guitar star can reboot without Gillan/Lord chemistry.
02 / 06
Rising: power trio plus keys
Rainbow Rising (1976) strips to Blackmore, Dio, Jimmy Bain (bass), Powell (drums), Carey (keys). Stargazer adds Munich orchestra—Dio lyric myth without prog suite sprawl. Tarot Woman and A Light in the Black push tempo; Starstruck stays in single range. Peak Dio era; vocal power and riff clarity at maximum before lineup churn.
03 / 06
Long Live Rock 'n' Roll and post-Dio
Long Live Rock 'n' Roll (1978) closes the Dio era with Gate of Babylon and the title track. Dio exits 1979; Glover and Powell anchor the Bonnet then Turner commercial lineups. Down to Earth (1979) adds Since You Been Gone—AOR polish, still Blackmore riff core. Rainbow ends 1984 when Blackmore rejoins Deep Purple Mk II reunion.
04 / 06
Man on the Silver Mountain
Debut single—Dio's mid-range over Blackmore's pentatonic climb.
05 / 06
Stargazer
Orchestra on Rising—epic metal before the term fixed.
06 / 06
Kill the King
Speed intro and stop-start riffs—Powell's double-kick drive.
Blackmore meets Dio
Composition table
band · year · track · members_on_stage · genre_tags
| Year | Track | Members on stage | Genre tags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Man on the Silver MountainDebut single—Dio's mid-range over Blackmore's pentatonic climb. | Ritchie Blackmore, Ronnie James Dio, Mickey Lee Soule | |
| 1976 | StargazerOrchestra on Rising—epic metal before the term fixed. | Ritchie Blackmore, Ronnie James Dio, Tony Carey | |
| 1978 | Kill the KingSpeed intro and stop-start riffs—Powell's double-kick drive. | Ritchie Blackmore, Ronnie James Dio, Roger Glover, Cozy Powell |