When Rainbow performed its final show in 1997, many fans of the metal band figured that was that for guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and crew. But since 2008, a “new” band, Over The Rainbow, featuring four former Rainbow members and a key newcomer have been bringing the classic sound to fans.
After playing to thousands of festival-goers in Europe, Over The Rainbow is making its U.S. debut, including a Friday, July 10 show at Crocodile Rock Café in Allentown.
OTR is a band of remarkable pedigree, with Rainbow’s former singer Joe Lynn Turner, former drummer Bobby Rondinelli, former bass player Greg Smith and former keyboardist Paul Morris all in the lineup.
The most interesting position, of course, is the guitar slot left vacant by guitar wizard Blackmore, who has been focusing on Renaissance music. In a twist fitting of OTR, which shares an intertwining history with not only Rainbow but also Black Sabbath and
Deep Purple, Jurgen Blackmore has taken his father’s familiar six-string role.
The Rainbow fans, Jurgen Blackmore said in a phone interview from his native Germany, are liking what they’re hearing from OTR.
“I would say in the beginning, nobody knew what was going on,” he said. “One piece was liking it and was very happy that it was all happening again. Now, I’m very honest, I’m so happy, because all of the people that were talking, I wouldn’t say bullshit, but those people are very happy. And we are very, very happy.”
The elder Blackmore, who has been out of rock music for more than a decade, gave his son his blessing to join Over The Rainbow.
“I talked to him about this happening,” said Jurgen. “He said, ‘Yes, OK, go on, do it.’ He knew I was a guitar player, and said ‘Do what you want.’”
That said, the reclusive Ritchie, from the U.K. and now based in Long Island, N.Y., has not come out to an Over The Rainbow show yet. At least not to his son’s knowledge.
“I don’t think so, because my father, how can I say. … He is not interested in all the things and the world,” Jurgen said. “He doesn’t even go on the Internet. I don’t know what he’s doing. It’s his choice. I don’t know how he’s feeling. I talk to him sometimes. But I know people around him told me they have heard a little of stuff from Over The Rainbow and always say it’s great. And everybody says they are proud and ‘Your dad is proud, too.’”
OTR’s members have impressive resumes in addition to their Rainbow tenures. Rondinelli — with Rainbow during its 1980-83 commercial peak — has also played with Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult, Quiet Riot, The Scorpions, Zebra and Aerosmith. Turner, who was one of several singers to work with Rainbow after Ronnie James Dio left to join Sabbath, helped revive guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen’s career and also played with Blackmore in Deep Purple. Smith, who lives in the Lehigh Valley, tours with Dokken and Tommy James and The Shondells and played on the “Movin’ Out” tour, a production based on Billy Joel songs.
Jurgen, who said that he is in OTR for the long haul and hopes to record new music with the band, said he’s excited to bring the band to the U.S. He added that he’s been pleasantly surprised by the crowds in Europe, not only by their size, but also their enthusiasm and diversity.
“It’s like a big party, it’s awesome,” he said. “It’s all ages. I was thinking at the beginning, ‘We’ll only get people over 35.’ And when we started playing our first shows, you’d even see 6-year-old girls on (their parents’) shoulders. I talked to these people and said, ‘Why are you so young, you never saw this band?’ They said, ‘That’s the point. My dad grew up with this, and he always told me stories about this.’” w
Over The Rainbow, Friday, July 10, Crocodile Rock Café (520 W. Hamilton St., Allentown). Tickets: $16.50 advance, $18 day of show. All Ages. Info: 610.434.4600, www.crocodilerockcafe.com/concerts.asp, myspace.com/overtherainbowrocks
| Tweet | Follow @wkdr |
|
|
