The Great Rainbow Debate (Part 1): In Praise Of Dio
Who was the best singer in Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow?
Was it Ronnie James Dio, Graham Bonnet or Joe Lynn Turner?
Over the next three days, Classic Rock writers will be stating the case for each of the above.
Today we start with Dave Ling on Ronnie James Dio. Tomorrow (October 9) will be Malcolm Dome on Graham Bonnet. And on October 10 Geoff Barton will be waxing lyrical (again) about Joe Lynn Turner. And no, we haven’t forgotten about Doogie White. (We have, actually…)
Take it away, Dave…
Geoff Barton’s review of Rainbow’s just-released Anthology 1975-1983 (available via Universal Records) has ruffled a few feathers.
Somewhat controversially, Barton takes the opportunity to pour scorn upon the years the band spent with Ronnie James Dio on vocals, claiming that the records fronted by Joe Lynn Turner – 1981’s Difficult To Cure, the following year’s Straight Between The Eyes and Bent Out Of Shape (1983) – have been undervalued.
“Wading through the contrived bombast of Catch The Rainbow makes you realise Dio has been getting away with the same old stodge for 35 years,” claims Barton, adding: “Turner eventually saves the day. Originally criticised for his super-syrupy style, today JLT sounds as timeless as Dio sounds turgid.” (For the full text, see the current issue of Classic Rock, dated October 2009).
Unsurprisingly, these comments have caused a furore among the group’s fan-base.
“I’m sure Barton was writing his opinion, but to be honest I was wondering if he was being 100% serious!!” spluttered a poster called Dark at the Classic Rock website forum.
“Hopefully Barton won’t be reviewing the soon-to-be-reissued version of Rising!” agreed an individual called AWM79.
As a long-time follower of Dio’s work, I can only concur. Not that it’s the issue being debated here, but Dio’s voice remains in the best shape of all the classic-era rock singers. Whilst Coverdale, Plant et al – JLT, included – are having to adapt their style of delivery, Dio still belts ‘em out like he did decades ago.
The JLT-fronted albums have their place in the band’s catalogue, of course, as does the Bonnet-voiced Down To Earth. The hits from all of those records speak for themselves. But to demean Rising and Long Live Rock ‘N’ Roll is nothing less than an act of heresy!
Whatever Mr Barton – I believe he used to be nicknamed ‘Deaf’ during his time with Sounds magazine? – was drinking on the day he wrote that review, I’ll take a pint of.
Then, whilst wondering whether Ronnie might be sticking pins into voodoo doll of Geoff Barton, I happened to stumble upon an interview printed in the April 2000 issue of Classic Rock in which Ronnie offers his own opinion of his successors in Rainbow.
“Graham Bonnet [1979-'80] wasn’t bad, but Joe Lynn Turner was a bit too poppy for my taste,” reveals Dio. “My problem with all the singers that followed me was that they negated the whole idea of the band.
“We started Rainbow as a classical rock band that would take things further even than Jethro Tull, but it eventually became a deluded pop thing.
“Nothing personal to those guys, but I don’t hear people out there demanding Graham or Joe Lynn Turner to get back with Ritchie again.”
Barton… you’ve been told!!
– Dave Ling
Hear hear.
Ronnie Dio was one of the main reasons that I got into this music. He is as fresh now as he has ever been.
As a big fan of Rainbow, I have enjoyed all the different versions of singers. But, with that said, Dio is the singer that fronted the most hard rocking versions of Rainbow, and in my opion stands the test of time. If Rainbow WERE to get back together, then Dio is the one I would want to see with them. You just can’t beat the first three albums: Blackmore’s Rainbow, Rising, and Long Live Rock ‘N’ Roll — all are classics in the annals of rock!!!
Geoff’s original review of Difficult to Cure must’ve been a dream, then! Dave Ling speaks for almost all Rainbow / Purple types when he points out that Dio’s vocals have not diminished, and let’s add that he’s older than all his contemporaries. His live performances have always been as good as his recorded works. There would never have been a Rainbow without RJD. Sorry, Geoff.
Doogie White rules!
‘Stranger In Us All’ is a great album!
Dio and Doogie White was by far the best singers for Rainbow. The Dio-era records stands the test of time- they’re all classics, and the Doogie-era record, Strangers In Us All, was by far the best record made after Dio left the band. SIUA was underrated by the fans and neglected by the press, and that’s to bad since it contains great riffs, a inspired Blackmore, great songs, great production, Blackmores guitarsound was the best since the 70s…etc. etc.
A great band!
Bonnet and Turner better than Dio? oh I see…hahahah hahahahahahah ahahahahahah awww deary me, had me goin’ there.. hahahahahahaha funny fuckers! Brilliant lads, but leave it till April 1st next time eh? Aww hehehe, brilliant…..
A pointless topic to be honest – the band adapted to suit both the market and obviously the vocalist at the time. From a personal point of view Les Dawson could have been singing however it would not detract from Blackmores magical guitar work. I still listen to Rising on a weekly basis and never tire of it! Its all about personal opinions and Mr Barton is entitled to his.
Excellent website and Magazine by the way
For somebody whose work I have enjoyed reading for neary 30 years, Barton has let himself down very badly. I won and enjoy all of Rainbow’s albums, but those of the Dio era stand head and shoulders above all but Down To Earth. JLT possesses a fine voice and is sorely underrated – but he has never graced a bona fide classic album, whereas RJD features on a minimum of 3 – Rising, H & H, and Holy Diver – a fact that Barton cannot possibly deny despite having a degree of similarity. I would love to have heard more albums with Bonnet – possibly the most powerful singer I have ever heard live, but overall the answer as to Rainbow’s greatest singer HAS to be RJD. Nothing more needs to be said.
Of course it was Dio. Barton’s just being a troll suggesting otherwise.
What a nonsense.
“…Dio still belts ‘em out like he did decades ago..” … eh no he doesn’t, sadly. Listen to the “Holy Diver Live” album …. the voice is still good. He still hits the notes. But not like in the old days. Which is okay – the guy is going on 70! However, I think JLT’s voice has improved vastly over the years. He’s got some roughness now that he didn’t have back in the 80s. Listen to the two Sunstorm albums, and any of his recent solo discs, and I think you’ll agree.
That being said, I think it’s really hard to decide which was the better singer in Rainbow. They were all good IMO.
guys, please don’t forget Doogie White. for some reason the last line up of Rainbow is always overlooked in these discussions – while in fact some of the material from the last album wipes the floor with 85% of the JLT era. not to mention how the live shows were superb and had an amazing set list
As a big Rainbow fan, i have to say that, as with other bands, each singer brings his own quality and style to a band. Dio was his usual elf and magic self, Graham Bonnett presided over a more chart orientated rock style, and JLT gave them a more American, soft rock feel. The only other comment i would make is that the RJD stuff, though excellent, does sound a tad dated when listening to it now. As far as i am concerned they are all great singers, and having seen both RJD and GB fronting them live, ive enjoyed it all. Long Live Rock n’Roll!!!
[...] Yesterday, Dave Ling stoutly stood up for Ronnie James Dio as the pre-eminent Rainbow vocalist. [...]
They were all great vocalists but Dio is easily up there in the top five best Rock vocalists of all time so it’s unfair on JLT, Bonnet etc to compare them with such a, erm, giant (?). Ahem.
[...] A coupla days ago, Dave Ling stoutly stood up for Ronnie James Dio as the pre-eminent Rainbow vocali… [...]
Ronnie James Dio was Rainbow…it was a 50/50 partnership with Blacker`s. Nothing is up for debate here, Dio is unique, period.
Simply the ultimate HR/HM singer of all time, with Rainbow, Dio excelled and more.
His multi-dimensional vocal lyrical metaphor`s and delivery are unsurpassed. From 75-78 Rainbow ruled the roost…forget Zeppelin.
Rainbow pushed the dimensions further than anyone in this genre of music.
PowerKnight.
I’ve been a Rainbow fan since I was very young, the first album I heard being Rising. To this day it gets a blasting from my stereo because it’s a timeless album. Can anybody imagine what that album would sound like if Graham Bonnet or JLT sang on it instead? For me the Dio era Rainbow gets my vote every time.
By the way check out ebay cos someone is selling an ad for Rainbow Rising. It has a quote written on it by a certain G.B…..”Rainbow Rising is thermo-nuclear rock and roll……”
Just to agree with the Dougie White defenders – yes, Stranger in Us All is a fantastic album. Hunting Humans, Silence, Ariel, Stand & Fight, Black Masquerade – they’re up there with the Dio classics.
I have been a Rainbow fan since 1978 and have enjoyed all eras of the band. However Graham Bonnet was technically the best vocalist they had. It seems a little bit unfair to judge him against the other two as he only recorded one studio album with them, were as Dio and JLT recorded 3 albums as their legacy. I know Bonnet didn’t write any material either but his live performances were great even his versions of the Dio era songs were commendable. Very few bands ever attempt to cover the Bonnet songs and if they do the singer is always short of the mark, or they alter the key. I myself have been singing in rock bands for many years and can handle Stargazer or I Surrender but alas the Bonnet songs are a tall order.
RONNIE JAMES DIO….END OF!!!!
Ronnie James Dio all the way!! Rising is an all time classic rock album, no filler, varied and contains Stargazer, which is reason enough to buy the album anyway. The players are committed and excel throughout … from the opening (Tarot Woman) to the end (A Light in the Black), the album never fails to put a massive smile of my face, it’s just perfect, subtle, bombastic, crafted and pure joy. Bonnet and Turner are fine singers and worthy in their own right, but Dio can never be followed … can’t wait to see him in Bristol again …. (make sure that keyboard works first huh?)
[...] Who was the best singer in Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow? Read the case for Ronnie James Dio here. [...]
The Rainbow studio albums fronted by Ronnie James Dio are absolutely brilliant (and the live LP On Stage is almost on that level, but not quite due Ritchie and the band being a little over indulgent in places). I still listen to all three regularly, without skipping a single track. Those records house some of my all time favourite hard rock songs! Classics! Maybe I’m slightly biased because I’m such a big Dio fan (I’ll always bore anybody who’ll listen banging on about how his was/is the best Sabbath era and how important his solo work has been, even after the 80’s heyday), but I just think that him and Ritchie made the perfect team at the time. The mysticism and magic, combined with the stellar music made for a winning combination on all levels! Taking the best elements of Deep Purple and Elf and adding in a liberal helping of the medieval, 70’s Rainbow couldn’t have been better! However, that’s not taking anything away from Messers Bonnet, Turner and White. Down To Earth, even though stylistically transitional, was great… aside from Since You’ve Been Gone! It may have its moments but I’ve never been too fond of Difficult To Cure (more Russ bloody Ballard) but Straight Between The Eyes and Bent Out Of Shape had a generous sprinkling of solid/catchy songs. Also, although I didn’t really care for it at the time, the Doogie White helmed Stranger In Us All has grown on me over the years (due to my renewed interest in the album at the time I was reminded of White’s existence when he worked with Yngwie Malmsteen in the early 2000’s)… it’s definitely less pop-rocky than the Turner years and more like the Dio days of yore! Ultimately though, I think it’s difficult to compare the Rainbow eras based solely on the frontmen. The musical direction of the Dio albums was something I personally could identify with but maybe others couldn’t? The Turner records were too poppy for my liking but gained the band their biggest commercial success (following on from Since You’ve Been Gone). Maybe if Ritchie Blackmore had continued on the same path musically, the changes of singer wouldn’t have seemed so significant and, in my opinion, detrimental to the legacy Rainbow built up in their early days. The other guys were all excellent in their own right (and I consider ALL Rainbow LP’s worthy of a place in any hard rock fan’s collection) but, following on from a superstar like Ronnie, they fell flat! For me it has to be RJD all the way!
I do respect Barton’s opinion of course, but his reasoning is strange. How does what Dio has done after Rainbow effect the judgement on the first three Rainbow albums? If someone keep repeating him- or herself, does that make the first time bad? I don’t think so.
Further, Barton’s analogy of a 1976 TV set compared to today’s technology is even more bizarre. Is music just broadcast technology to him? The classical composers did not have TV sets at all. Time for “a reassessment” here too?
But I do understand Barton’s disillusionment with Rising. I have read his Rainbow articles of 1976 and he was over the moon (understatement) with the album, and the band, at the time.
We do not need a reassessment of Rainbow. Like whatever album or era you like, or do not like any of it. With Barton’s experience, one would think he needed not to ‘rationalize’ his opinions by comparisons to TV sets and football players.
Best wishes.
i have been a rainbow fan all my life and have enjoyed every line up but blackmore and dio a match made in hell ronnie just fuckin rules no contest catch yourself on barton
Dio..without a shadow of a doubt!! End of debate!!:-):-)
As far as i’m concerned Joe Lynn Turner was the best singer in Raindow. Himself and Richie Blackmore were Rainbow and always will be.
barton go an jerk off to slaves and masters u big fuckin twat