Tour Dates


1975   1976   1977   1978   1979   1980   1981   1982   1983   1984


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[B] Bootleg   [T] Ticket stub    [M] Memorabilia   [P] Photos   [R] Review   [N] News Reports   [S] Setlist   [SA] Support Act



  • 11.01.1978 Shi Kokaido, Nagoya, Japan [S] [B] [T]
    support act: unknown

  • 12.01.1978 Kenritsu Taiikukan, Hiroshima, Japan [S] [B] [T]
    support act: unknown

  • 13.01.1978 Kumamoto Shiritsu Taiikukan, Kumamoto, Japan [S] [T]
    support act: unknown

  • 14.01.1978 Kyuden-Kinen Taiikukan, Fukuoka, Japan [S] [B]
    support act: unknown

  • 16.01.1978 Kosei Nenkin-Kaikan, Osaka, Japan [S] [B] [T]
    support act: unknown

  • 17.01.1978 Kosei Nenkin Kaikan, Osaka, Japan [S] [B] [T]
    support act: unknown

  • 18.01.1978 Kaikan Daiichi Hall, Kyoto, Japan [S] [B] [T]
    support act: unknown

  • 20.01.1978 Kosei Nenkin Kaikan, Osaka, Japan [S] [B] [T]
    support act: unknown

  • 21.01.1978 Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan [S] [B] [T]
    support act: unknown

  • 22.01.1978 Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan [S] [B] [T]
    support act: unknown

  • 24.01.1978 Shimin Bunka Center, Koriyama (Fukushima), Japan [S] [B] [T]
    support act: unknown

  • 27.01.1978 Nakajima Sports Centre, Sapporo, Japan [S] [B] [T] [R] [N]
    support act: Cosmos Factory
    young female college student Junko Kawaharada was killed and
    several others injured as the crowd rushed the stage

  • 28.01.1978 Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan
    extra show, not on original itinerary
    postponed till Februari 3rd because of the accident the day before

  • 29.01.1978 Kenmin Kaikan (Prefecture Hall), Akita, Japan [S] [T]
    support act: unknown

  • 31.01.1978 Kenmin-Kaikan Dai-Hall, Niigata, Japan [S] [B] [T]
    support act: unknown

  • 01.02.1978 Shi Kanko Kaikan, Kanazawa, Japan
    cancelled after the Sapporo accident

  • 03.02.1978 Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan [S] [B] [T] [M]
    support act: unknown - extra show, not on original itinerary


  • Earlier plans for the 1977/78 World Tour, after the Japan Tour, had included Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and Malaysia though no shows in these territories seem to have been played - or even booked and cancelled. After the release of the "Long Live Rock 'n' Roll" album, the continued effort to break America seemed all-important.


  • 09.05.1978 Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis TN, USA [S] [T]
    headliner: Foghat - support act: The Hounds / 1st date of the US Tour

  • 11.05.1978 The Checkerdome, St. Louis MO, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M] [P] [R]
    headliner: REO Speedwagon - 2nd support act: No Dice

  • 12.05.1978 Kemper Arena, Kansas City MO, USA [S] [SA] [T] [R]
    headliner: REO Speedwagon - 2nd support act: No Dice

  • 13.05.1978 Kemper Arena, Kansas City MO, USA [S] [SA] [T]
    headliner: REO Speedwagon - 2nd support act: No Dice

  • 14.05.1978 Kansas Coliseum - Britt Brown Arena, Wichita KS, USA [S] [SA]
    headliner: REO Speedwagon - 2nd support act: No Dice

  • 15.05.1978 Marvel Park Stadium, Morton Parsons KS, USA
    cancelled - a surprisingly small community to host a concert. After the Municipal Auditorium was closed in 1974
    a teacher at the local high school had started to promote concerts including Styx in 1976
    an agreement was made with Rainbow's booking agent and posters were printed but eventually
    the cost to put on the concert made it prohibitive and it was cancelled

  • 18.05.1978 Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles CA, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M] [P] [R]
    headliner: REO Speedwagon - 2nd support act: No Dice
    The set has been said to have included Gates Of Babylon and Lady Of The Lake

  • 19.05.1978 Swing Auditorium, San Bernardino CA, USA [S] [T] [M] [R]
    support acts: Montrose, No Dice

  • 20.05.1978 Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco CA, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M] [R] [P1] [P2] [P3]
    co-headliner: REO Speedwagon - 2nd support act: No Dice

  • 21.05.1978 Warnors Theatre, Fresno CA, USA [S] [T] [M] [B] [P]
    support act: No Dice - no backdrop or rainbow - L.A. Connection was performed

  • 22.05.1978 Sports Arena, San Diego CA, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M] [P1] [P2]
    headliner: REO Speedwagon - 2nd support act: No Dice

  • 26.05.1978 Sports Arena, Toledo OH, USA [S] [SA] [M] [T]
    headliner: REO Speedwagon - 2nd support act: No Dice

  • 27.05.1978 Louisville Gardens, Louisville KY, USA [S] [SA] [B] [R] [T]
    support acts: Henry Gross, No Dice - L.A. Connection was performed
    radio station WLRS 102 promotion with admission pegged at $1.02

  • 28.05.1978 Fairgrounds, Allentown PA, USA [S] [SA] [R] [P] [B] [M]
    headliner: Foghat - 2nd support: The Hounds
    in case of cancellation May 30 had been set aside as a 'rain date'

  • 29.05.1978 Civic Arena, Springfield MA, USA [S] [SA] [T] [R]
    headliner: Foghat

  • 31.05.1978 Hara Arena, Dayton OH, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    headliner: REO Speedwagon - 2nd support act: Cheap Trick

  • 01.06.1978 Fieldhouse, Erie County PA, USA [M]
    cancelled - due to illness

  • 02.06.1978 Capitol Theater, Passaic NJ, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M] [P1] [P2] [R]
    support acts: No Dice, Uriah Heep
    L.A. Connection & Gates Of Babylon were played in the set according to person present at the show

  • 03.06.1978 Palace Theatre, Albany NY, USA [S] [SA] [T]
    headliner: REO Speedwagon

  • 04.06.1978 Civic Center, Providence RI, USA [S] [SA] [T] [R]
    headliner: Foghat - other support acts: The Sweet, Atlanta Rhythm Section

  • 05.06.1978 Garden, Boston MA, USA [S]
    headliner/support act: unknown - might've been June 6

  • 07.06.1978 Mid-Hudson Civic Center Arena, Poughkeepsie NY, USA [S] [M]
    headliner: REO Speedwagon

  • 08.06.1978 Pinecrest Country Club, Shelton CT, USA [M]
    support: Cheap Trick - cancelled

  • 09.06.1978 War Memorial Auditorium, Rochester NY, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M] [R]
    headliner: REO Speedwagon

  • 10.06.1978 Veterans Memorial Coliseum CT, USA [M]
    headliner: Foghat - Rainbow cancelled and got replaced by The Sweet

  • 10.06.1978 Suffolk Forum, Commack NY, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M] [P] [R]
    headliner: REO Speedwagon - 2nd support: The Godz
    venue: better known as the Commack Arena or Long Island Arena

  • 11.06.1978 Capitol Center, Largo MD, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    headliner: Foghat - support: Cheap Trick

  • 15.06.1978 Boutwell Municipal Auditorium, Birmingham AL, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    headliner: Foghat

  • 16.06.1978 Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Jacksonville FL, USA [S] [SA] [T]
    headliner: Foghat

  • 17.06.1978 Civic Center, Lakeland FL, USA [S] [SA] [T]
    headliner: Foghat - support acts: Cheap Trick, Max Webster

  • 18.06.1978 Sportatorium, Hollywood FL, USA [T] [M]
    cancelled - headliner: Foghat - replacement support acts: Point Blank, Cozy Powell

  • 19.06.1978 Jai Alai Fronton, Miami FL, USA [S]
    headliner/support act: unknown - date: press listed this as June 18

  • 22.06.1978 Civic Center, Dothan AL, USA
    cancelled - headliner: REO Speedwagon

  • 23.06.1978 Coliseum, Greensboro NC, USA
    cancelled - headliner: REO Speedwagon - exact date: some sources say this was June 20

  • 23.06.1978 Freedom Hall, Johnson City TN, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M] [R]
    headliner: REO Speedwagon - support act: Nantucket

  • 24.06.1978 Omni, Atlanta GA, USA [S] [SA] [T] [B] [R]
    headliner: REO Speedwagon - support act: Nantucket - 60 minute set recorded for radio
    Blackmore had a fight with Reo Speedwagon's stage manager Andy Green on stage

  • 25.06.1978 Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte NC, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    headliner: Reo Speedwagon - support act: Nantucket

  • 27.06.1978 Civic Auditorium, Knoxville TN, USA [S]
    headliner/support act: unknown

  • 28.06.1978 Municipal Auditorium Arena, Nashville TN, USA [S] [SA] [B] [T] [M]
    headliner: REO Speedwagon - support act: Nantucket

  • 29.06.1978 Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis TN, USA [T]
    A source tells not Rainbow but Nantucket & Wet Willie were support for REO Speedwagon on this show

  • 29.06.1978 Carolina Coliseum, Columbia SC, USA [T] [M] [R]
    headliner: Alice Cooper - 2nd support act: Rob Crosby
    AC/DC cancelled (and got replaced by Rob Crosby on acoustic guitar)

  • 30.06.1978 Mississippi Coliseum, Jackson MS, USA
    headliner: REO Speedwagon - listed in the press & on original tour schedule
    Reo Speedwagon played here on July 1 without Rainbow as support

  • 30.06.1978 Convention Centre, Pine Bluff AR, USA [S] [SA] [T]
    headliner: REO Speedwagon - also been listed as Barton Coliseum, Little Rock AR

  • 01.07.1978 The Armory, Springfield IL, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    headliner: Cheap Trick - 2nd support act: Max Webster
    - listed as Jackson, MS in Circus (Reo Speedwagon played here on July 1)

  • 02.07.1978 International Amphitheater, Chicago IL, USA [S] [SA] [B] [T] [M] [P] [R]
    headliner: Cheap Trick - 2nd support act: Max Webster
    Roger Glover: "I went to see them live in Chicago and talked to Ritchie. All the past was
    kind of forgotten; I didn't bring it up and he didn't, and I felt good in a way that he was
    looking for me to help after what had happened in 1973."

  • 04.07.1978 Edgewater Raceway Park, Cleves - Cincinnati OH, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    headliner: The Outlaws - other acts: Rick Derringer, Rare Earth, Dixie Dregs, Max Webster
    Rainbow played for about an hour and Ritchie smashed a guitar

  • 07.07.1978 Fairgrounds Pavillion, Tulsa, OK, USA [S] [P] [T] [M]
    headliner: REO Speedwagon - 2nd support: Bliss

  • 08.07.1978 Myriad, Oklahoma City OK, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M] [P]
    headliner: REO Speedwagon - 2nd support: Ultra

  • 09.07.1978 Civic Center Coliseum, Amarillo TX, USA [S] [SA] [T]
    headliner: REO Speedwagon - 2nd support: Blackstone

  • 11.07.1978 Taylor County Coliseum, Abilene TX, USA [M]
    headliner: REO Speedwagon - cancelled: poor ticket sales

  • 13.07.1978 Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston TX, USA [S] [SA] [B] [T]
    headliner: REO Speedwagon - 2nd support: Max Webster

  • 14.07.1978 Convention Center Arena, Dallas TX, USA [S] [SA] [T]
    headliner: REO Speedwagon - 2nd support: Max Webster

  • 15.07.1978 Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio TX, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    headliner: REO Speedwagon - 2nd support: Max Webster

  • 16.07.1978 Fair Park Coliseum, Beaumont TX, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    headliner: REO Speedwagon - 2nd support: Max Webster

  • 18.07.1978 Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi TX, USA [S] [SA]
    headliner: REO Speedwagon - 2nd support: Max Webster

  • 20.07.1978 Riverside Centroplex, Baton Rouge LA, USA [S] [SA] [T] [R]
    headliner: REO Speedwagon - 2nd support act: CS Trucking

  • 21.07.1978 Louisiana State University Assembly Center, Baton Rouge LA, USA
    headliner/support act: unknown - unconfirmed

  • 21.07.1978 Municipal Auditorium, Shreveport LA, USA [T] [M]
    cancelled / postponed till July 22 at Hirsch Memorial Coliseum

  • 22.07.1978 Hirsch Memorial Coliseum, Shreveport LA, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M] [R] [P]
    headliner: REO Speedwagon - 2nd support: Bliss

  • 23.07.1978 Municipal Auditorium, Austin TX, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M] [R]
    headliner: REO Speedwagon - 2nd support: Max Webster

  • 25.07.1978 County Coliseum, El Paso TX, USA
    headliner: REO Speedwagon - 2nd support: Max Webster
  • El Paso Times reported on July 25: REO Cancels Tour.
    REO Speedwagon, scheduled to perform with Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow and Max Webster at 8 p.m. Tuesday
    in the El Paso County Coliseum, has canceled its local show and the remainder of its summer tour.

  • 28.07.1978 Coliseum, Richfield (Cleveland) OH, USA [S] [SA] [P] [M] [R]
    support: Black Oak Arkansas - short set - crowd throwing missiles (beach balls and frisbees)

  • 29.07.1978 Kennedy Stadium, Bridgeport CT, USA [R]
    cancelled - festival with Blue yster Cult and The J. Geils Band, Rainbow cancelled

  • 01.08.1978 Spectrum, Philadelphia PA, USA
    cancelled - possibly a planned co-headlining date with Cheap Trick

  • 02.08.1978 Tower Theater, Upper Darby (Philadelphia) PA, USA [S] [SA] [B] [T] [M] [P] [R]
    support acts: Cheap Trick, Nantucket

  • 05.08.1978 Leroy Concert Theater, Pawtucket RI, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M] [R]
    support act: Cheap Trick

  • 09.08.1978 Salem Civic Center, Salem VA, USA [T] [M]
    support act: AC/DC - 2nd support act: Cheap Trick
    Although tickets exist, gig advert shows AC/DC as headliner, Rainbow most likely cancelled
    Fan Report says AC/DC headlined with Cheap Trick & UFO as support

  • 13.08.1978 Convention Center, Dallas TX, USA [S] [SA] [T]
    headliner: Kansas - 2nd support act: Thin Lizzy

  • 14.08.1978 Music Theatre, Royal Oak MI, USA [S] [SA] [T] [R] [P]
    support act: The Cars, Rob Tyner Band

  • 15.08.1978 Music Theatre, Royal Oak MI, USA [S] [SA] [M] [R] [P]
    support act: The Cars

  • 16.08.1978 Music Hall, Royal Oak MI, USA
    support act: The Cars - claimed to be an unusual three-night stint
    Michigan Concert Database only shows two gigs in this venue

  • 17.08.1978 Stanley Theater, Pittsburgh PA, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    support act: Eddie Money - Rainbow played only 45 minutes, audience almost rioted after the show

  • 18.08.1978 Calderone Concert Hall, Hempstead NY, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    support act: AC/DC

  • 19.08.1978 Paramount Theater, Wilkes-Barre PA, USA [S] [SA]
    support act: AC/DC - no encore, fireworks thrown onstage just before band returned to play encore

  • 20.08.1978 War Memorial, Johnstown PA, USA [M]
    cancelled - support act: AC/DC

  • 21.08.1978 Paradise Theatre, Boston MA, USA
    AC/DC did a headlining show here with Dirty Angels supporting, no Rainbow

  • 23.08.1978 Palace Theater, Albany NY, USA [S] [SA]
    support act: AC/DC

  • 24.08.1978 Palladium, New York City NY, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M] [R]
    support act: AC/DC - only 2 songs, then abandoned because of technical problems
    interference problems between the rainbow and the PA, after a further ninety minutes of efforts that
    left the problem unresolved, Ronnie announced to the audience that ticket money would be refunded

  • 26.08.1978 Convention Hall, Asbury Park NJ, USA [T] [M] [R]
    cancelled - with the interference problems still persisting during the soundcheck this show was cancelled
    and ticket money refunded, instead David Johansen (ex-New York Dolls) played a free show.
  • And so this era of the band came to what seems an undignified end. The sound problems that had arisen with the rainbow from the outset had returned; the rainbow would go into storage (or, depending on which story you believe, into an ocean!), never to be seen again and it would be more than a year before the band played live again.

  • 27.12.1978 The Marquee Club, London Soho, UK [R] [M]
    Ritchie Blackmore jammed with the Ian Gillan Band during encore



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