Comments on: The Great Rainbow Debate (Part 2): A Boost For Bonnet

By: Andy DiGelsomina

Andy DiGelsomina — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 00:40:26 +0000

I’m a bit biased, due to my association with Graham, but I have loved Down to Earth ever since receiving it for Christmas as a kid. I remember having gotten In Through the Our Door as well that Christmas, but I sold the Dead Zeppelin and just cranked away Down to Earth like crazy. I really love that album, everything went downhill for Rainbow after that.

The Doogie White era was great in concert, but the studio album they put out was way overdone. In fact, Rainbow for me should have packed it in after Down to Earth.

Eyes of the World, Danger Zone, Love’s No Friend, and Lost in Hollywood were the last real Rainbow songs.

By: Dearth Vodken

Dearth Vodken — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 22:09:01 +0000

Graham Bonnet was the last Rainbow singer. He was much like a higher pitched, belting version of Dio. Joe Lynn Turner and Doogie White never had the same aggression.

It stopped being Metal when Bonnet left. Eyes of the World. Danger Zone, and Lost in Hollywood are some of the best music Blackmore has ever been involved in.

By: eddie

eddie — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:30:34 +0000

‘ he cannot sing ‘??- powerknight. Are you serious mate ? have a listen to him pre rainbow…..i’ll rest my case there..and if anything…listen to ‘assault attack’ again…dont think rjd would be able to handle the vocals ?

By: Gobberz

Gobberz — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:55:28 +0000

I don’t know what it means to other people, but what song are most widely know from Rainbow. Since You’ve Been Gone and All night Long. Put it this way, if I went to a random person and played Rainbow songs, as well as the ones mentioned. Which are the most likely to be recognised???

Don’t get me wrong, my favourite is Rising, but I think you might agree that, it has the more recognised songs on it!!

By: broz

broz — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:24:42 +0000

was not aware that blackmore approached gillan to join rainbow after dio had gone glad he didnt cuz bonnet does afine job on this classic album not as good as the dio era but still up there

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

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:41:02 +0000

[...] Or was it Graham Bonnet? [...]

By: PowerKnight

PowerKnight — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:23:06 +0000

How can Stargazer be explained on The Monsters Of Rock album featuring Stargazer live with Bonnet!!!
He didn`t just kill it, he strangled it, contrary to popular belief here was the acid test and it turned out to be a complete disaster.
Where are these unusual octaves we are told he has, there isn`t any. PowerKnight.

By: robbie temple

robbie temple — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:36:51 +0000

Grahem bonnet omg should never have in Rainbow, if anyone has seen his version of stargazer live in glasgow would have to agree. he`s had he`s fifteen minutes now do us all a favour and retire.

By: Leftin

Leftin — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 18:34:55 +0000

MD makes very good points here, and Bonnet really excelled on three lesser-known songs – Danger Zone, No Time to Lose (which could’ve been hit single #3), and Bad Girl (b-side). For my money, though, GB REALLY made his mark on the MSG Assault Attack album. Schenker coaxed him to write, and the results were spectacular. One listen to Samurai or AA itself should do the trick. Ironically, MSG fans laud AA as much as the classic first album. (No boozy AA jokes, please!)

By: the rainbow and rising

the rainbow and rising — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:36:35 +0000

If you heard the commemorative Donington Monster’s of Rock 1980 live album and Graham Bonnet’s extending ‘All Night Long’. This cat has one powerful voice that would put many so called HM vocalists to shame – the only thing they have more is hair. I agree with many of the above comments, e.g. it may only have been OK for 1 album and I’d have ditched the Hawaiian shirts.

Irrespective of all of this I disagree totally with Geoff Barton’s evalaution of Ronnie Dio’s Rainbow work.