Tour Dates


1975   1976   1977   1978   1979   1980   1981   1982   1983   1984


1995   1996   1997           2016   2017   2018   2019



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




  • 20.02.1981 Peppermint Beach Club, Virginia Beach VA, USA [S] [P] [R]
    support: Bruce Olson & the Offenders
    warm up show in a small club


  • 21.02.1981 Empire Theater, Richmond VA, USA [S] [B] [M]
    rare performance of "No Release"

  • 22.02.1981 Louie's Rock City, Bailey's Crossroads VA, USA [S] [B] [P] [T] [M]
    support act: The Boyz / another performance of "No Release"
    Ritchie smashed up the wrong guitar, one of his Fender Stratocasters


  • 25.02.1981 J.B. Scotts, Albany NY, USA [S] [T] [M] [R]
    described afterwards in Rolling Stone as one of several club dates

  • 10.03.1981 Max Bell Centre, Calgary AB, Canada [S] [SA] [M]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers / support act: Harlot
    described in the press as the first of 45 dates in 63 days


  • 14.03.1981 Concert Bowl, Edmonton AB, Canada [S] [SA] [M]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers - support act: Pretty Rough

  • 16.03.1981 Coliseum Concert Bowl, Vancouver BC, Canada [S] [SA] [T] [R]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers - support act: Headpins

  • 18.03.1981 Seattle Center Arena, Seattle WA, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M] [R]
    headliner: Pat Travers - support: 4 Out Of 5 Doctors

  • 19.03.1981 Memorial Coliseum Complex, Portland OR, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M] [P]
    headliner: Pat Travers - support: 4 Out Of 5 Doctors

  • 21.03.1981 Cow Palace, Daly City/San Francisco CA, USA [S] [B] [T] [M] [P] [R]
    headliner: Pat Travers

  • 22.03.1981 The Forum, Inglewood CA, USA [S] [SA] [B] [T] [M] [R]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers - support: 4 Out Of 5 Doctors

  • 23.03.1981 Sports Arena, San Diego CA, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M] [R]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers - support: 4 Out Of 5 Doctors

  • 24.03.1981 Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix AZ, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M] [R]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers - support: 4 Out Of 5 Doctors

  • 25.03.1981 Swing Auditorium, San Bernardino CA, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M] [R]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers - support: 4 Out Of 5 Doctors

  • 26.03.1981 Selland Arena, Fresno CA, USA [S] [SA] [T]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers - support: 4 Out Of 5 Doctors

  • 27.03.1981 Memorial Arena, Sarcamento, CA, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    headliner: Pat Travers - support: 4 Out Of 5 Doctors
    Rainbow did not play this date (source: review in newspaper The Sacremento Bee)
    Advert of California Dates confirms this was Pat Travers only


  • 29.03.1981 Salt Palace Expo Hall, Salt Lake City UT, USA [S] [SA] [M]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers - support act: Lightning

  • 30.03.1981 University Arena, Denver CO, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers

  • 02.04.1981 Convention Center, San Antonio TX, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers

  • 03.04.1981 Moody Coliseum, Dallas TX, USA [S] [SA] [P] [T] [M]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers - support act: Lightning

  • 04.04.1981 Fair Park Coliseum, Beaumont TX, USA [S] [SA] [T] [R]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers - support act: Lightning

  • 05.04.1981 Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston TX, USA [S] [SA] [P] [T] [M]
    headliner: Pat Travers - support act: Rocky Athas and Lightining

  • 07.04.1981 Municipal Coliseum, Lubbock TX, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers - support act: Lightning

  • 08.04.1981 The Old Lady of Brady Theatre, Tulsa OK, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers - support act: Krokus

  • 09.04.1981 Lloyd Noble Center, Norman OK, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers - support-act: Krokus

  • 10.04.1981 Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis MO, USA [S] [SA] [P] [T] [M] [R]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers - support act: Krokus

  • 11.04.1981 Ellis Auditorium North Hall, Memphis TN, USA [S] [SA] [P] [T] [M]
    headliner: Pat Travers - support act: Krokus

  • 12.04.1981 Municipal Auditorium Arena, Nashville TN, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers - support act: Krokus

  • 14.04.81 Jealous Lover, released as a b-side, was recorded in Minneapolis
        It was later included on compilations albums like on "Finyl Vinyl"
  • 15.04.1981 Civic Center, St. Paul-Minneapolis MN, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M] [P]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers - support act: Krokus

  • 16.04.1981 International Amphitheatre, Chicago IL, USA [S] [SA] [B] [T] [M]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers

  • 17.04.1981 Cobo Arena, Detroit MI, USA [S] [SA] [B] [P] [T] [M]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers - support act: Krokus

  • 18.04.1981 Convention Center, Indianapolis IN, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers - support act: Krokus
    Pat Travers' band opened though Pat was ill so the rest of the band went on without him


  • 19.04.1981 Louisville Gardens, Louisville KY, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers - support act: Krokus

  • 21.04.1981 Palmer Alumni Auditorium, Davenport IA, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M] [R]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers - support act: Krokus

  • 22.04.1981 Prairie Capital Convention Center, Springfield IL, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers - support act: Krokus

  • 24.04.1981 Dane County Memorial Coliseum, Madison WI, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers

  • 25.04.1981 Auditorium, Milwaukee WI, USA [S] [SA] [B] [T] [M]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers - support act: Krokus

  • 26.04.1981 Sports Arena, Toledo OH, USA [S] [SA]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers - support act: Krokus

  • 27.04.1981 Music Hall, Cleveland OH, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers

  • 28.04.1981 IMA Auditorium, Flint MI, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M] [R]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers - support act: Krokus

  • 30.04.1981 Stanley Theater, Pittsburgh PA, USA [S] [SA] [B] [T] [M] [R]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers

  • 01.05.1981 McDonough Arena, Georgetown Campus, Washington DC, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers

  • 02.05.1981 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum - Uniondale NY, USA [S] [SA] [B] [P] [T] [M]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers - support act: Riot

  • 03.05.1981 Palace Theate, Waterbury CT, USA [S] [SA] [B] [T] [M]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers

  • 05.05.1981 War Memorial Auditorium Theater, Rochester NY, USA [S] [SA] [M]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers

  • 06.05.1981 Orpheum Theater, Boston MA, USA [S] [SA] [M]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers - support-act: The Jon Butcher Axis

  • 07.05.1981 Orpheum Theater, Boston MA, USA [S] [SA] [B] [T] [M]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers - support-act: The Jon Butcher Axis
    originally scheduled for May 9 - recorded for a King Biscuit Flower Hour radio show


  • 08.05.1981 Capitol Theater, Passaic NJ, USA [S] [SA] [P] [T] [M]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers (2nd on the bill)

  • 09.05.1981 Tower Theater, Upper Darby (near Philadelphia) PA, USA [S] [SA] [B] [M] [T] [R]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers (billed as Pat Travers headlining on the first night. As it was, Travers opened the show)

  • 10.05.1981 Tower Theater, Upper Darby (near Philadelphia) PA, USA [S] [SA] [B] [M] [T] [R]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers

  • 12.05.1981 Palace Theater, Albany NY, USA [S] [SA] [B] [T]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers

  • 13.05.1981 Civic Arena, Springfield MA, USA [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    co-headliner: Pat Travers

  • 14.05.1981 Mid-Hunter Civic Center, Poughkeepsie NY, USA [S] [M]
    support: unknown

  • 15.05.1981 Seneca College Fieldhouse, Toronto ON, Canada
    unconfirmed - stage pass exists but only Pat Travers played this show [M] [T]

  • 16.05.1981 Centre in the Square, Kitchener ON, Canada
    unconfirmed - stage pass exists but only Pat Travers played this show [M]

  • 16.05.1981 Ritchie marries Amy Rothman
  • 02.06.1981 Club Lobo, Gothenburg, Sweden
        Rehearsals 16.00 - 20.00 hours
  • 03.06.1981 Scandinavium, Gothenburg, Sweden [S] [SA] [B] [T] [M]
    support act: unknown - Def Leppard cancelled

  • 04.06.1981 Johanneshov Isstadion, Stockholm, Sweden [S] [SA] [B] [T] [R]
    support act: EF Band

  • 05.06.1981 Brøndby-Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark [S] [SA] [B] [T] [P] [R]
    support act: Dynamoe

  • 07.06.1981 UKK Halli, Helsinki, Finland [B] [T] [M] [R]
    support act: Kassu Halonen Band

  • 10.06.1981 Gruga-Halle, Essen, Germany [S] [SA] [B] [T] [M]
    support act: Def Leppard

  • 11.06.1981 Patinoire de Boulogne-Billancourt, Paris, France [S] [SA] [B] [T] [P] [M] [R]
    support act: Def Leppard

  • 12.06.1981 Palais Saint-Sauveur, Lille, France [S] [SA] [T]
    support act: Def Leppard

  • 13.06.1981 Sportpaleis Ahoy, Rotterdam, The Netherlands [S] [SA] [B] [T] [P] [M] [R]
    support act: Def Leppard

  • 14.06.1981 Niedersachsenhalle, Hannover, Germany [S] [SA] [T] [M] [P]
    support act: Def Leppard

  • 16.06.1981 Carl-Diem-Halle, Würzburg, Germany [S] [SA] [M] [P]
    support act: Def Leppard

  • 17.06.1981 Eissporthalle, Kockelscheuer, Luxembourg [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    support act: Def Leppard

  • 18.06.1981 Sporthalle, Cologne, Germany [S] [SA] [B] [T] [M]
    support act: Def Leppard

  • 19.06.1981 Forest National, Brussels, Belgium [S] [SA] [B] [T] [M] [P]
    support act: Def Leppard
    some UK fans took advantage of a well-organised coach trip,
    many of whom were rewarded by being invited backstage afterwards


  • 21.06.1981 Waldbühne, Berlin, Germany [M]
    initially scheduled for June 21 - could be postponed but most likely cancelled

  • 21.06.1981 Theatre de Plein Air du Parc Expo, Colmar, France [S] [SA] [T] [M] [R]
    support act: Def Leppard

  • 23.06.1981 Messehalle, Stuttgart Sindelfingen, Germany [S] [SA] [B] [T]
    support act: Def Leppard

  • 25.06.1981 Ernst-Merck Halle, Hamburg, Germany [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    support act: Def Leppard

  • 26.06.1981 Festhalle, Frankfurt, Germany [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    support act: Def Leppard

  • 27.06.1981 Rudi-Sedlmayer-Halle, Munich, Germany [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    support act: Def Leppard

  • 29.06.1981 Rhein-Neckar Halle, Eppelheim-Heidelberg, Germany [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    support act: Def Leppard

  • 30.06.1981 Palais Du Beaulieu, Lausanne, Switzerland [S] [SA] [M]
    support act: Def Leppard

  • 01.07.1981 Parc des Expositions Alexpo Hall, Grenoble, France [S] [SA] [T]
    support act: Def Leppard

  • 03.07.1981 Plaza Toros Monumental, Barcelona, Spain [S] [SA] [B] [T] [M] [P]
    support acts: Def Leppard, UFO (replacement for Scorpions)
    With the gig starting late and Ritchie not wanting to play after midnight at this outdoor show
    the running order was changed - Def Leppard opened for an hour, followed by Rainbow
    UFO went on last and played for around 75 minutes.


  • 04.07.1981 Estadio Roman Valero, Madrid, Spain [S] [SA] [T] [M] [R]
    support acts: Def Leppard, UFO (replacement for Scorpions)
    Once again, with the Spanish promoters refusing to start the gig in daylight and Ritchie not wanting
    to still be on stage after midnight at this another outdoor show, the running order was changed
    UFO opened followed by Rainbow. Def Leppard went on last but, by that time, most of the crowd had gone home


  • 05.07.1981 Velodromo de Anoeta, San Sebastian, Spain [S] [SA] [B] [T]
    support acts: Def Leppard, UFO (replacement for Scorpions)

  • 07.07.1981 La Beaujoire, Nantes, France
    cancelled

  • 08.07.1981 Parc d'Exposition, Brest, France
    cancelled

  • 08.07.1981 Rainbow Theatre, London, UK [S] [SA] [B] [T] [M] [R]
    support act: Rose Tattoo - due to cancellations in France two unplanned gigs in London were added

  • 09.07.1981 Rainbow Theatre, London, UK [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    support act: Rose Tattoo

  • 10.07.1981 Ingliston Exhibition Hall, Edinburgh Scotland, UK [S] [SA] [T]
    support act: Rose Tattoo

  • 11.07.1981 Ingliston Exhibition Hall, Edinburgh Scotland, UK [S] [SA] [B] [T]
    support act: Rose Tattoo

  • 13.07.1981 Queens Hall, Leeds, UK [S] [SA] [B] [T]
    support act: Rose Tattoo

  • 14.07.1981 Queens Hall, Leeds, UK [S] [SA] [B] [T]
    support act: Rose Tattoo

  • 15.07.1981 Granby Halls, Leicester, UK [S] [SA] [B] [T] [M] [R]
    support act: Rose Tattoo

  • 16.07.1981 Granby Halls, Leicester, UK [S] [SA] [B] [T]
    support act: Rose Tattoo

  • 18.07.1981 Bingley Hall, Stafford, UK [S] [SA] [T] [M]
    support act: Rose Tattoo

  • 19.07.1981 Bingley Hall, Stafford, UK [S] [SA] [B] [T] [M]
    support act: Rose Tattoo
    The show was filmed and Cozy Powell saw this one as did many who had been coached down from Manchester
    after the Belle Vue gig was cancelled very late on, supposedly due to poor acoustics


  • 20.07.1981 Coliseum, St. Austell, UK [S] [SA] [B] [T] [M]
    support act: Rose Tattoo

  • 22.07.1981 Apollo Theatre, Manchester, UK [S] [SA] [B] [T]
    support act: Rose Tattoo - venue: originally planned for Belle Vue

  • 23.07.1981 City Hall, Newcastle, UK [S] [SA] [T] [R]
    support act: Rose Tattoo - Backing vocalists were added for the first time
    Lin Robinson and Dee Beale had previously recorded with the band Reflections for Purple Records in 1974 and 1975


  • 24.07.1981 City Hall, Newcastle, UK [S] [SA] [B] [T]
    support act: Rose Tattoo

  • 26.07.1981 Hammersmith Odeon,London, UK [S] [SA] [B] [T] [P] [M]
    support act: Rose Tattoo

  • 27.07.1981 Hammersmith Odeon,London, UK [S] [SA] [B] [T] [P] [M]
    support act: Rose Tattoo

  • ??.07.1981 Sophia Gardens, Cardiff Wales, UK
    unconfirmed - though mooted in the UK press before the tour, this gig doesn't seem to have happened

  • 18.08.1981 Sun Palace, Fukuoka, Japan [S] [SA] [B] [T]
    support act: Ma-Ma-Doo

  • 20.08.1981 Festival Hall, Osaka, Japan [S] [SA] [B] [T]
    support act: Ma-Ma-Doo

  • 21.08.1981 Festival Hall, Osaka, Japan [S] [SA] [B] [T]
    support act: Ma-Ma-Doo

  • 22.08.1981 Sun Palace, Fukuoka, Japan
    unconfirmed - it seems Rainbow only played the one, earlier gig in Fukuoka on this tour

  • 23.08.1981 Shi Kokaido, Nagoya, Japan [S] [SA] [B] [T]
    support act: Ma-Ma-Doo

  • 24.08.1981 Kaikan Daiichi Hall, Kyoto, Japan [S] [SA] [B] [T]
    support act: Ma-Ma-Doo

  • 26.08.1981 Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan [S] [SA] [B] [T] [M]
    support act: Ma-Ma-Doo

  • 27.08.1981 Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan [S] [SA] [B] [T] [M] [P]
    support act: Ma-Ma-Doo

  • 28.08.1981 Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan [S] [SA] [B] [T] [M]
    support act: Ma-Ma-Doo

  • 05.09.1981 Andrews Amphitheater, Honolulu, Hawaii [S] [P] [M] [R]
    support act: unknown - last concert with Don Airey
    during Don Airey's keyboard solo the rest of the band went
    back to the hotel not to return on stage again.