Putting together a tribute to Rainbow comes with a built-in advantage: the band’s legacy runs deep, and many of the musicians who shaped it are still active. Cleopatra Records leans into that with Ride The Rainbow – The Ultimate Tribute To Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, arriving June 19.
The release pulls in a wide cast, including former Rainbow members Bob Daisley, Graham Bonnet, Don Airey, Joe Lynn Turner, Doogie White and Ronnie Romero. It also features Candice Night, known for her work with Blackmore’s Night, and guitarist Steve Morse, who followed Ritchie Blackmore in Deep Purple. As the subtitle puts it, it is “the ultimate tribute to Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow“.
One of the early highlights sees Graham Bonnet, Don Airey and Bob Daisley reconnecting for the first time since the early ’80s to take on “Long Live Rock ‘N’ Roll”, the title track from Long Live Rock ‘N’ Roll, originally released in 1978. While Ronnie James Dio handled vocals on that record, Bonnet and Airey later joined for Down To Earth, and the song stayed in the band’s live set during their era.
The rhythm section on this version adds another layer. Alongside Bob Daisley, drummer Carmine Appice steps in. His connection goes back to Vanilla Fudge, a band that influenced the early direction of Deep Purple. Keyboardist Jon Lord once said after seeing them live in 1967, “We were going to be an English Vanilla Fudge.” Appice, now also known for his work with Cactus, brings that lineage into the track.
“I always liked “Long Live Rock ‘N’ Roll””, says Carmine Appice. “It had a Cactus boogie, easy for me to play…it kicked ass then and now!”
Guitar duties include Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, who came to Rainbow as a listener first. “I heard the Rainbow Rising album as a kid and became a lifelong Rainbow fan! It’s a great honor to play on this song and to pay tribute to this historic band.”
Liner notes for Ride The Rainbow – The Ultimate Tribute To Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow were written by Jason Myers of Icarus Witch, adding context from someone rooted in classic metal revival.
Across the years, Rainbow, led by Ritchie Blackmore, built a catalog that shaped hard rock through the ’70s and ’80s. Tracks like “Stargazer”, “Man On A Silver Mountain”, “All Night Long”, “Long Live Rock ‘N’ Roll” and “Since You Been Gone” became staples, both on record and on stage.
The lineup shifted often, but the quality held. Ronnie James Dio and Graham Bonnet handled vocals in different eras, while players like Roger Glover and Cozy Powell helped define the band’s sound across multiple releases.
More recently, Ronnie Romero stepped in as vocalist for a revived version of Rainbow, making his live debut in June 2016 after being chosen by Ritchie Blackmore following his departure from Deep Purple years earlier. That lineup also included Jens Johansson of Stratovarius, drummer David Keith, bassist Bob Nouveau, plus backing vocals from Candice Night and Lady Lynn.
Those 2016 German shows were documented on Memories In Rock – Live In Germany, released later that year in multiple formats, capturing a modern take on a band with a long history.
Pre-order Ride The Rainbow – The Ultimate Tribute To Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow here.
