Becoming discontented with the future of 'Deep Purple', 'Ritchie Blackmore'
quit and along with members of quirky American Hard Rock outfit 'Elf', formed
the influential 'Rainbow'. Their first album acquired only moderate success so
new faces were brought in, replacing all original 'Elf' members, except
powerhouse vocalist 'Ronnie James Dio'. This line-up consisted of 'Jimmy Bain'
and late journeyman drummer 'Cozy Powell' and produced the classic 'Rainbow
Rising'. After another excellent album, 'Dio' became unhappy with 'Blackmore's'
more commercial direction for the band and left to join 'Black Sabbath'.
Another line up change brought 'Graham Bonnet' and later 'Joe Lynn Turner' to
the vocal position and a more mainstream sound was achieved. After numerous
other band changes the group was disbanded in 84' albait a brief revival in 96',
as Blackmore left to rejoin 'Deep Purple'.
