One of the prime figures in the evolution of hard rock and heavy metal,
guitarist Ritchie Blackmore was always the driving force behind Rainbow in two
spells in the spotlight, between 1975-1984 and 1994-1997. Blackmore originally
built his formidable reputation playing lead guitar with Deep Purple but left in
1974 in frustration at their musical direction, recruiting Ronnie James Dio from
Elf as lead singer in the first Rainbow line-up. They released their debut album
Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow the following year but, despite a minor hit with Man
On The Silver Mountain, Blackmor...