Editing Rainbow (rock band) (section)

===Formation (1975)===
[[File:Rainbow in performance (27 09 1977 02 500b).jpg|thumb|250x250px|[[Ronnie James Dio]] and [[Ritchie Blackmore]] in 1977]]

In 1973, Blackmore steered [[Deep Purple]] through a significant personnel change, with [[Ian Gillan]] and [[Roger Glover]] being replaced by [[David Coverdale]] and [[Glenn Hughes (English singer)|Glenn Hughes]]. However, the new members were keen to add their own musical influences into the band's sound, some of which were not to Blackmore's taste. During the sessions for the 1974 album ''[[Stormbringer (album)|Stormbringer]]'', Blackmore found his request to record the [[Fat Mattress|Steve Hammond]]-penned "Black Sheep of the Family" turned down by the band.<ref name="robinson">{{cite AV media notes|others=Deep Purple|title=Mk III: The Final Concerts|first=Simon|last=Robinson|publisher=Connoisseur Collection|id=DPVSOPCD-230|year=1996}}</ref> On the subsequent tour, Deep Purple were supported by American band [[Elf (band)|Elf]], with Blackmore being especially impressed by their singer [[Ronnie James Dio]]. Still wishing to put his interpretation of "Black Sheep of the Family" to record, he decided to record the song as a single, accompanied by four members of Elf, Dio, bassist [[Craig Gruber]], drummer [[Gary Driscoll]], and keyboardist [[Mickey Lee Soule]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Rainbow - 1975-1978 |work=Ronnie James Dio (Official Site) |url=http://ronniejamesdio.com/disc_rainbow.asp |access-date=24 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090621123414/http://www.ronniejamesdio.com/disc_rainbow.asp |archive-date=21 June 2009}}</ref> The sessions went so well that a full album began to take shape, with Blackmore and Dio collaborating on original songs. The album, ''[[Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow]]'', was recorded between February and March 1975 at [[Musicland Studios]] in [[Munich]], [[Germany]].<ref name="1stalbum">{{cite AV media notes|others=Rainbow|title=Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow|publisher=Polydor Records|id=825-089-2|year=1990}}</ref> The band name was inspired by the [[Rainbow Bar and Grill]] in [[West Hollywood, California]].{{sfn|Bloom|2007|p=193}}

The style was partly inspired by classical music since Blackmore had started playing cello to help him construct interesting chord progressions,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehighwaystar.com/interviews/blackmore/rb199102xx.html |title=When There's Smoke.. There's Fire! |date=February 1991 |work=[[Guitar World]] |author=Mordechai Kleidermacher}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Ritchie Blackmore: The Autumn Sky Interview |work=Guitar International Magazine |date=28 January 2011 |url=http://guitarinternational.com/wpmu/2011/01/28/ritchie-blackmore-the-autumn-sky-interview/ |first=Matt |last=Warnock |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110201150020/http://guitarinternational.com/wpmu/2011/01/28/ritchie-blackmore-the-autumn-sky-interview/ |archive-date=1 February 2011 }}</ref> and Dio's lyrics reflected medieval themes and imagery. Dio possessed a powerful and versatile vocal range that encompassed hard rock and lighter ballads. Blackmore commented that when he heard Dio sing, "I felt shivers down my spine."{{sfn|Bloom|2007|p=186}} Although Dio never played a musical instrument on any Rainbow album, he is credited with writing and arranging the music with Blackmore, in addition to writing all the lyrics.<ref name="1stalbum"/><ref>{{Cite book |title=Rainbow Rising| publisher=Polydor Records| location = CD liner notes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Long Live Rock 'N' Roll| publisher=Polydor Records |location=CD liner notes}}</ref> Blackmore and Dio also found a common ground in their sense of humour.{{sfn|Bloom|2007|p=187}} The band, said the singer, "was my opportunity to show my wares. I thank Ritchie for that all the time. Ritchie Blackmore is the one who gave me my opportunity to show what I was worth."<ref>Ronnie James Dio interview with [[Tommy Vance]] for [[BBC Radio 1]]'s ''[[Friday Rock Show]]''; broadcast 21 August 1987; transcribed by editor Peter Scott for Sabbath [[fanzine]] ''Southern Cross'' #11, October 1996, p27</ref>

Following the positive experience of recording with Dio, Blackmore decided to leave Deep Purple, playing his last show with them in Paris in April 1975.<ref name="robinson"/>{{sfn|Bloom|2007|p=184}} Blackmore's departure from Deep Purple was announced on 21 June. Released in September 1975, ''Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow'' met a positive critical reception and was a top 20 UK and top 30 US hit.{{sfn|Thompson|2004|p=176}}