BIOGRAPHY
Rainbow is a British rock band originating from Hertford, England. Founded in 1975 by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, lead vocalist Ronnie James Dio, and bassist Jimmy Bain, the band initially performed under the name Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. Commercial success came with the albums Rainbow Rising (1976) and Long Live Rock 'n' Roll (1978), and the album Down to Earth (1979) also received critical acclaim, reaching fourth place in the UK.
Over the years, Rainbow experienced lineup changes, with Ritchie Blackmore and Ronnie James Dio remaining constant members. The band first disbanded in 1984, then was reformed in 1993 by Blackmore and Dio. The album Stranger in Us All (1995) also met with success, reaching fifth place in the UK. After a separation in 1997, Rainbow was reformed in 2016 by Blackmore.
The band has sold over 28 million albums worldwide and has been ranked by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the 100 greatest hard rock bands of all time. In 2017, Rainbow was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.