Full Description
Portraits of Rainbow - The Dio Years is a photographic celebration of Ritchie Blackmore's supergroup, formed in 1975 when the guitarist left Deep Purple and joined forces with four members of Elf, including vocalist Ronnie James Dio. However, Rainbow truly hit its stride when Blackmore brought in drummer Cozy Powell, bassist Jimmy Bain, and keyboardist Tony Carey, leading to the creation of the seminal 1976 album Rising.
Sounds writer Geoff Barton recalls: "I marveled at the fist-thunderin' maelstrom on the cover, a pulse-poundin' paintin' by Ken (Kiss, Manowar) Kelly. I also described the album's musical content as: THERMO-NUCLEAR ROCK'N'ROLL!"
Though this incarnation of Rainbow was short-lived, for many fans, the combination of Blackmore, Dio, and Powell remains the definitive sound and image of the band—a powerful, progressive force in rock. The era came to an end in 1979 when Blackmore shifted toward a more commercial direction.
This book features hundreds of classic and unseen, carefully restored black-and-white images of Rainbow, capturing both candid moments and electrifying live performances. Legendary rock journalist Geoff Barton contributes an insightful introduction, drawing from his firsthand experiences with Ritchie and the band in the 1970s.
Measuring 230mm square, this case-bound, 240-page book is printed on luxury 170gsm matt-coated paper. It includes a fold-out poster and is housed in a black slipcase with a gold foil logo. The main edition is limited to 666 numbered copies.
Contents
Introduction (by Geoff Barton), Page 7.
Up Close & Personal (photos by Wendy Dio), Page 10.
Blackmore's Rainbow, Page 68.
Rainbow Rising, Page 98.
Thermo-Nuclear Rock 'n; Roll (by Geoff Barton), Page 149.
Long Live Rock 'n' Roll, Page 172.
All things must pass (by Geoff Barton), Page 239.
