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A re-recorded version of Rainbow staple composition 'I Surrender' was digitally released on May 26th. Further material has been recorded with Rainbow, perennially spearheaded by former Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. 
Ronnie Romero: In fact, one of the songs we have recorded is new material, and is an unreleased song. I don't know when that song is going to be released, but it's a really nice and good song. I think after the shows in the UK, we will see what happens as to the intentions of Ritchie Blackmore to make some new music, or do some new shows, or whatever. I don't have any idea right now. Probably we will have some idea at the end of June, after the UK tour. Ritchie sent me this song some months ago. I expected something different, but the song sounds like the early days of Rainbow the first album, the Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow album (August 1975) so I think the fans will really like it. It's an idea, of course, we've been recording some different stuff; some new songs, and then some songs from the old albums of Rainbow. After this UK tour, we will make some decisions about recording a complete album, or just a couple of more songs, or whatever. It's all about Ritchie's feelings after this month. Right now, I don't know his ideas for the band, but I've got the feeling that if the shows go well, probably we will make some different stuff. If the shows don't go well, June will probably be the end of the new Rainbow. Metal Forces Magazine - June 2017  Richie, it seems that everyone wants to see a final show of Deep Purple with you. What do you think about it? 
Ritchie Blackmore: I think if they would be interested, and our schedules aligned, I would be available for one show for nostalgic reasons. But I don't think Deep Purple have any interest in that. They have their niche and are not into doing things like that. We are friends and I've doing my music for twenty years, and they're doing their stuff for twenty years. It's probably not likely [to happen]. Also, their management wouldn't like it, even if it was for just one show. Their management wouldn't allow it, I'm sure.Rock'n'Roll Reporter, Germany - July 2017 Joe Lynn Turner delivered some harsh words for former Purple and Rainbow band-mate, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. 
Joe Lynn Turner: I had worked with Ritchie's manager for over a year trying to put something together that was authentic. When I say 'authentic,' I mean authentic lineup, regardless of who was still around, who wasn't. We were going to have people that actually were in Rainbow... And they just pulled out at the last minute really and put this thing together. I had worked with Ritchie's manager for over a year trying to put something together that was authentic. When I say 'authentic,' I mean authentic lineup, regardless of who was still around, who wasn't. We were going to have people that actually were in Rainbow... And they just pulled out at the last minute really and put this thing together.Why would anyone of [Blackmore's] iconic nature want to come out and not be as good as he can be? Because, obviously, the reviews haven't been that good. And that's not for me to say that's what people are saying. It's obvious that it's just not living up to snuff. Why would anyone of [Blackmore's] iconic nature want to come out and not be as good as he can be? Because, obviously, the reviews haven't been that good. And that's not for me to say that's what people are saying. It's obvious that it's just not living up to snuff. It's a shame that they didn't see the vision that they should have put an authentic Rainbow together, because all the fans feel disrespected in a way. They were hoping that they would get a chance to see at least some cast of Rainbow members, all in one place, all at one time. And that just didn't happen. Illawarra Mercury, Australia - July 11, 2017 A few months back your old band mate in Deep Purple Ritchie Blackmore returned to his Rock roots with Rainbow for the first time in over 20 years. What did you make of it? Have you heard any of the footage with Ronnie Romero? 
Glenn Hughes: I wasn't really sure. I'm glad he came back for his own sake, and, obviously, he wanted to make some electric rock music again after so long away. It's been 20-something years. It was his choice and his choice who he had playing with him. I wished him all the best and have nothing but total respect for him and he knows that. I hope he continues along the road he's on as his fans want more electric shows from him. All I want for Ritchie is happiness. Although I don't see him very often I still have good memories of him and it's all good between us.Singing Ronnie's [James Dio] songs needs a special kind of singer and I think the young chap did a reasonably good job and I think Ritchie may well have found the guy for him. He was certainly a good fit for Rainbow. Metal Express Radio - January 15, 2017 When you reformed Rainbow for the shows last June, were you disappointed that you weren't able to invite original singer Ronnie James Dio, who died in 2010?
Ritchie Blackmore: I hate to say it, but no, I wasn't. I'd finished with Ronnie a long time ago, and we kept in touch now and again but I went on to other things and he was in other things. We kept it very convivial and that, but I think neither one of us really wanted to get back together. He's a strong alpha male, and so am I; he wanted to go one way, I wanted to go the other.Newsweek - January 7, 2017 Rodney Marsh Is To Blame For Deep Purple Re-forming... 
Ian Gillan: Still being a QPR supporter, I think. I haven't been to Loftus Road for a while now, but I was at Wembley in 1967 when we beat West Brom in the League Cup final. I became good friends with Rodney Marsh [former QPR player]. He came to see us a few times. He came to a Gillan show once, around 1982. "Great show," he said, when he came backstage, "but it's not Deep Purple, is it?" I laughed it off, but it started me thinking. I called Jon Lord not long after that. We went out and had a meal and a chat, and the seeds of the Deep Purple re-formation were sown right there. So if you want to know who was behind that re-formation, blame Rodney Marsh.Classic Rock Magazine - October 2015 You were a big fan of Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow as well... 
Bruce Dickinson: At 15 or 16 I discovered Ronnie Dio on The Butterfly Ball [a 1974 concept album, produced by Roger Glover]. I heard that on the radio somewhere and thought, Who the hell is that kind of singer? Wow what a voice! And then of course Rainbow came along with Rainbow Rising [in 1976] and I heard that and that was like, 'Wow, I've got to investigate this guy because this guy can really, really sing and in a very different way to the other guys.' Ronnie had a lovely soulful voice but it wasn't bluesy. I never got the blues out of Ronnie in the same way I got out of Ian [Gillan] doing something like Lazy.TeamRock.com - August 2016 Ritchie Blackmore recently went out on the road with a new version of Rainbow. As a vocalist from that era and as a friend of Ritchie's from back in the day, what are your thoughts on the new Rainbow?
Glenn Hughes: He asked me to do it with him. And I said no because he wanted to, funny enough, he wanted to use an unknown singer and I said, "It's not me. It's not me to do that." I've done that with David and it was good. I don't want to do it again. It was something... I said, I very eloquently said, "No thank you. I really would like to see you, but I can't do this at the point where I am right now."Hardrock Haven - August 2016 On the early-1980s formation of the DIO band, led by iconic heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio. 
Vinny A: The interesting thing about that time period is Ronnie had a solo deal while he was in Black Sabbath. And his first plan was to, obviously, stay with Black Sabbath and then do the solo record with all his friends on it. And he wanted me to play on it, Cozy Powell and
all his friends that were in different bands, and it would like an all-star album; that was the original plan. But then when things soured up with Sabbath, things got a little bit funky, and he decided, that's it, he's leaving, then it became he's going to use that record deal to launch a new career, part of his career, and a new band..Silk And Steel Power Hour - July 19, 2016 Thin Lizzy opened up for Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, and before going on stage, the band did something that Tom Hamilton (bassplayer Thin Lizzy) had never witnessed before. 
Tom Hamilton: Right before they went on, they booted everyone off the stage. They had to watch from the side. And then they put up this tape across the walkway, like 'do not cross' red-and-white striped tape. Everybody's just kind of standing there staring at them, like 'oh my God, who's ever seen a band do that?', but he really did not want anybody on the stage while he was playing.CBS Local - June 29, 2016  |