Comments on: The Great Rainbow Debate (Part 1): In Praise Of Dio

By: broz

broz — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:31:39 +0000

barton go an jerk off to slaves and masters u big fuckin twat

By: Kath

Kath — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:01:20 +0000

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.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:08:21 +0000

Dio..without a shadow of a doubt!! End of debate!!:-):-)

By: the broz

the broz — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:53:33 +0000

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

By: Rezi

Rezi — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:35:43 +0000

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.

By: SML3000

SML3000 — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:02:46 +0000

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!

By: Classic Rock » Blog Archive » Dio To Play New Song Live; Heaven & Hell Tour In February

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:40:03 +0000

[...] Who was the best singer in Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow? Read the case for Ronnie James Dio here. [...]

By: Chris Woodman

Chris Woodman — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:06:36 +0000

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?)

By: LEE

LEE — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:08:14 +0000

RONNIE JAMES DIO….END OF!!!!

By: Ritchie Bee

Ritchie Bee — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:47:12 +0000

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.