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MASTERS
OF ROCK MASTERS OF ROCK MASTERS OF ROCK
RAINBOW
With a name that sounds a bit like an idealistic hippy trip is in fact
an often overlooked rock & roll milestone. What started out as a side
project for Deep
Purple's signature
guitarist Jimmy Page, became a full time session. With the truly blistering
vocal talents of ex-Elf
vocalist Ronnie James Dio (later also joining Black
Sabbath & ultimately
going solo until today as Dio),
the group not only encapsulated rock purity of old, but also a new dawning
of hard, melody driven music overflowing with talented musical craftsmanship.
The title track from the album Long Live Rock & Roll is a phenomenal
anthem with as much impact now as it had in the 70s. Unfortunately their
charmingly sweet Butterfly Ball was omitted from this 16 track
strong collection. The 70s rock sound is well in place with guitar riff
and fine vocal talent taking center stage, and with it some hefty egos.
Tracks like Since You've Been Gone is one of those tracks you instantly
recognize and go "was that a Rainbow
song?" It has a Boston
feel to it whereas songs like I Surrender has a cheesy Rock & Roll
Musical character. Tunes like Kill The King picks the pace up considerably
and made it borderline heavy metal. A Deep
Purple, Smoke On
The Water groove can be felt in Man On The Silver Mountain,
allowed of course since it's Blackmore's claim to fame. A live version
of Sixteenth Century Greensleeves is also included for the lovers
of the concert feeling. The Dio period is by far the most exciting and
memorable in the Rainbow history - this is quite evident in the Dio-less
songs like Miss Mistreated and Lost In Hollywood, the titles
alone an indication of its more puerile character. With his American attitude
and attack, it made for an igniting blend with Blackmore's crafted & intricate
but also simplified, catchy trademark guitar abilities. Where many a fan
is broken by the split or departure of a member or two, at least it is
good to know that, as in the case with Rainbow
and the branching off from their in return, the combination with other
musicians often lead to amalgamations of new ideas and angles which result
in a body of work you would not otherwise have had the pleasure of enjoying.
(Dio
will be performing in South Africa early November 2001 with Motörhead
and Jerusalem
at the Monsters Of Rock !)
4 / A
- PB
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