Rainbow

British rock band

Rainbow was a British rock band formed in 1975 by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, who had just left Deep Purple. The band underwent numerous lineup changes throughout its existence, with Blackmore being the only constant member. Rainbow's music was characterized by a heavy rock sound combined with neoclassical influences and fantasy-themed lyrics. Their second album, "Rainbow Rising," released in 1976, is often considered one of the cornerstones of heavy metal and hard rock, featuring classics like "Stargazer" and "A Light in the Black." The follow-up album, "Long Live Rock 'N' Roll," released in 1978, continued their success and was the last to feature vocalist Ronnie James Dio before he left to join Black Sabbath.