BOOK WITH PHOTOGRAPHS OF RITCHIE BLACKMORE'S RAINBOW IN THE PIPELINE


The Deep Purple Appreciation Society (DPAS) has announced that they have several books in the pipeline. The (working) Titles are "Photographs of Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow", "Deep Purple - The Psychedelic Years", "Deep Purple - The Poster Collection", "Deep Purple - Day By Night", "Deep Purple Illustrated Discography Vol One - 1968 / 1976", "Deep Purple - Smoke On The Water" and "The Art Of The Concert Flyer".

They report about the "Photographs of Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow" book:

As this one has been drawn primarily from Simon's own collection, we'll let him explain: "I had our Japanese business contact over recently to discuss a book of Ramones photographs (!) and he spotted some of my old Blackmore prints. He suggested do something with the material; time marches on and this stuff is already over thirty years old. So the concept of a book of photographs came together.

The stuff has been filed away and most of the negatives (and just about all the slides) have never been published. I had no official access, everything was done off the cuff, but there was much less aggro back then and when I dug out the shots they seemed full of the atmosphere of the time.

As I understand it the emphasis will be on the 1976 and 1977 tours, although the Japanese may want later tours covered as well." We will have links through to the European publisher shortly, and some trial pages. In the meantime we are able to show the proposed cover.

More info on the other book can be found on www.deep-purple.net.

[Source: DeepPurple.net]



RAINBOW COMPILATION 'CATCH THE RAINBOW' RE-ISSUE ON SHM-CD IN JAPAN


The Rainbow 'Catch The Rainbow: The Anthology' Compilation CD gets a re-issue on the SHM-CD format. This will be a limited release in Japan. It will be out on June 25. Catalog no is UICY-90892.

Description: SHM-CD reissue featuring the 2003 edit of this release. The high quality SHM-CD (Super High Material CD) format features enhanced audio quality through the use of a special polycarbonate plastic. Using a process developed by JVC and Universal Music Japan discovered through the joint companies' research into LCD display manufacturing, SHM-CDs feature improved transparency on the data side of the disc, allowing for more accurate reading of CD data by the CD player laser head. SHM-CD format CDs are fully compatible with standard CD players. This release is also part of the 200-album SHM-CD Series Campaign from Universal Music Japan.

Tracks: Man On The Silver Mountain, Sixteenth Century Greensleeves, Catch The Rainbow, Tarot Woman, Starstruck, Stargazer, Light In The Black, Mistreated (live), Long Live Rock'n'Roll, Gates Of Babylon, Kill The King, Rainbow Eyes, Eyes Of The World, Since You Been Gone, All Night Long, Weiss Heim, I Surrender, Spotlight Kid, Can't Happen Here, Jealous Lover, Death Valley Driver, Stone Cold, Tearin' Out My Heart, Power, Can't Let You Go, Desperate Heart, Street Of Dreams, Difficult To Cure (live).

Other Rainbow SHM-CD are "Rainbow Rising" and "Long Live Rock'n'Roll", both released on January 23, 2008 in Japan.

[Source: CDJapan]



BOOK ABOUT THE RAINBOW RISING ALBUM & TOUR IN THE WORKS


Jerry Bloom of More Black Than Purple informs us that he's working on a book documenting about the Rainbow Rising album and 76 tour with as many reviews, anecdotes, photos etc as possible. Anyone who wants to contribute can contact Jerry by e-mail.

Other MBTP plans considering include a book documenting all the bootlegs from Purple, Rainbow etc.

Jerry Bloom started the More Black Than Purple magazine together with Mark Welch in 1996. The magazine is in A4 format on glossy art paper. It reports on the current exploits of the highly creative and fresh musical output of the 'Man In Black'. But MBTP also looks in detail at all facets of Blackmore's wonderful career. Each issue include a cross section of items from various eras of Blackmore's career, including interviews, either with the man himself or those who have at some point been associated with him. For more info and subscriptions on MBTP check this website.



RITCHIE BLACKMORE 'GUITAR GODS' DVD OUT ON SEPTEMBER 24


Classic Rock Legends releases again a DVD with the spotlight on Ritchie Blackmore. The description for this DVD is: A critical analysis of guitar hero Ritchie Blackmore, featuring the participation of Nicky Simper and Glen Hughes. Running time: 65 minutes

Guitar Gods looks at the pioneering technique of Blackmore that combined virtuosity with flamboyant showmanship, talking to those who knew and played with one of the most controversial frontmen in the history of Rock.

Including: Nicky Simper and Glenn Hughes give their honest opinions of a man with an ego as undeniable as his god-like talent.

Fascinating insights from former band members of Rainbow, from almost the entire 30 years of the bands multi-faceted history.

We also hear the views of Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Jon Lord, Ian Paice and Ronnie James Dio! Jaw-dropping footage spanning virtually Blackmore's entire career!

It can be ordered at Amazon UK.



RAINBOW 'LIVE IN NÜRNBERG' 2CD WILL BE RELEASED THIS AUTUMN


The last of three shows from RAINBOW's September 1976 tour of Germany (Dusseldorf and Cologne are already available), newly mixed from the multi-tracks, and issued to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the band's first world tour is finally released in Europe. As before the 2xCD set features the regular set-list from that tour:

Kill The King / Mistreated / Sixteenth Century Greensleeves / Catch The Rainbow / Man On The Silver Mountain / Stargazer / Still I'm Sad / Do You Close Your Eyes.

The 2CD comes with an 8 page colour booklet with notes and pictures. The releasedate has been put back several weeks. The releasedate is November 29. Although for some area's it's early December. The 2CD can be ordered at Amazon UK.

In Japan this 2CD was already released in May 2006 as part of a 6CD Box containing all 3 concerts. In Europe 'Live in Köln (Cologne)' was released in July 2006, 'Live in Düsseldorf 1976' in February 2007.

Note: Although the CD is supposed to be recorded in the Messzentrum Halle in Nürnberg, there are still sources that claim Rainbow played that night in the Mannheim Multihalle and never did Nürnberg that tour. Even the booklets of 'Live in Germany 1976' (released in 1990) and 'Live in Koln 1976' name Mannheim for September 28th.

Update: Advance press notices for the 1976 German tour listed a concert in Mannheim for September 28th. This was later changed to Nurnberg on the 28th, Mannheim being played on Sept 30th (with Munich on the 29th). The original notes on the CD Live in Germany had the dates wrong, due in part to one of the master reels for Nurnberg being dated 27th in error, and an engineer wrongly dating Nurnberg to the 29th on monitor mixes. Now all the tape boxes have been fully examined, and with confirmation from fans in Germany (one has a poster for the Nurnberg show, the other a ticket for Mannheim), we are now confident this is the correct date.
[source: CD booklet]

From the DPAS site: Some copies of this disc have a mastering error on CD2 which may cause the between song chat at the end of track two - Still I'm Sad - to repeat the last few seconds before moving into the following song. The error has been rectified but some copies may have reached the shops. If you have a copy which has this error it can be replaced free of charge. (So... Nothing is lost, and the music is not affected. Only a short clip of chat is repeated)

We have arranged for Darker Than Blue to handle this exchange for us in Europe. Send Disc 2 only (keep CD1 and the rest of the package) to: Darker Than Blue (Rainbow exchange) 74 Nethergate, Sheffield S6 6DJ, Great Britain.

Include a piece of paper with your FULL NAME and ADDRESS. A correct replacement Disc 2 will be sent out. This exchange only affects this disc, no other product is affected.



INDUCT RITCHIE BLACKMORE INTO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME PETITION


Gary M. Entler and Brent A. Soileau created a petition named "The Induct Ritchie Blackmore into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame". They wrote the following text for this petition:

To: Fans of Ritchie Blackmore

Ritchie Blackmore is one of the most influential guitarists in the history of rock music. He has inspired generations of musicians who exist today and those yet to be born with the classic riff from " Smoke on the Water."

Ritchie has played guitar for such legends as Gene Vincent, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Screaming Lord Sutch and was a founding member and guitarist for two of Rock and Roll's most dynamic bands, Deep Purple and Rainbow. Those two bands exhibited the finest musicianship that Rock has to offer while selling out major venues and millions upon miilions of records worldwide. Deep Purple alone, led by Ritchie's blazing guitar style, is credited with record saless of over 100 million albums. Rainbow continued Ritchie's Deep Purple tradition in sales, musical virtuosity, and lasting musical influence.

Blackmore is listed in Rolling Stone's " 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time " and was one of the first guitarists to combine blues scales and phrases with minor scales and ideas from European classical music. His resulting style has been referred to as ' neo-classical ' and has been emulated by many modern guitarists. Many prominent musicians of today credit Ritchie Blackmore as a main influence. Just read an interview ! Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani, Jon Petrucci, Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, Yngwie Malmsteen as well as bands like Iro Maiden, Saxon, Def Leppard, Judas Priest, The Scorpions...the list goes on and on !

Today, Ritchie explores his cultural roots in a band called Blackmore's Night, a medieval-inspired effort that calls Ritchie back to his love of Renaissance music and exposes rock fans to exciting new music that successfully integrates his signature guitar style into traditional Western music. Ritchie has and continues to inspire and entertain millions worldwide for over forty years.

Ritchie deserves a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. If you agree, and feel as motivated, please sign this Petition to be sent to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation to demand the inclusion of this innovative and unique rock artist in its ranks.

You can sign the petition here.

[Thanks to: Rainer Klos]



RAINBOW AUDIOBIOGRAPHY OUT ON AUGUST 20


On August 20 Regeneration will release a CD and Book set called the Rainbow Audiobiography. It looks like another product out of the company that is known as Classic Rock Productions but also uses a handfull other names as it seems. Expect a CD with most likely an edited version of the audio track of the "Inside The Rainbow" DVD's. The cover says: "In the words of the band and their critics", just like those DVD's. It can be ordered at Amazon UK.

It will be released on August 28 by Classic Rock Legends in the US and can be ordered at Amazon USA.



ANOTHER RAINBOW EXCLUSIVE COMPILATION IN 10 CD BOX


Another compilation! RAINBOW The Polydor Years 1975-1986. This time an exclusive limited edition box set comprised of 8 CD albums and 1 2-CD set for the Japanese market.

It includes the following albums: 'Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow', 'Rising', 'On Stage', 'Long Live Rock 'n Roll', 'Down to Earth', 'Difficult to Cure', 'Straight Between the Eyes', 'Bent Out of Shape', and 'Finyl Vinyl' - a total of 80 tracks! Each disc is presented in a mini LP-style card sleeve with obi strip, with the set housed inside a deluxe make-up style box, which is itself housed inside a sealed hardback slipcase + obi strip for the Japan release. In the mean time also for sale at Amazon UK and Amazon USA



NEW RAINBOW COMPILATION DVD OUT CALLED 'UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL'


Here we go again. This time under the monniker Total Rock Music (but it's the same company who used the name Classic Rock Production and some others) another dodgy compilation. Possible the same crappy footage as they used for other obscure releases in the past named "Inside Rainbow" and "Total Rock Review". The new release is called "Up Close And Personal". More than likely the same old interviews with people from the music business (who had nothing to do with Rainbow), some excerpts from old interviews plus heavily edited video and liveclips. We already spotted two different covers to make it more complicated....

The Total Rock Music website says: "Sometimes I feel like I own the stage completely… I'm just going crazy. The adrenalin is so much that all my musical upbringing is thrown into intensity onstage, rather than being a musician." - Ritchie Blackmore

This is the true story of Hard Rock Legends Rainbow, as told by the insiders who toured and recorded with the band! Few would dispute the genius of Blackmore, or the fact that behind the chaos of their carousel line-ups Rainbow produced some of the finest hard-rock music ever recorded.

Sit in on in-depth interviews with band members from almost the entire 30 plus years of Rainbow, in one incarnation or another. Lead vocalists Graham Bonnet ('79-'80) Joe Lynn Turner ('81-'84) and Dougie White ('94-'97), plus bass player Bob Daisley and drummer Bobby Rondinelli all offer intimate insight into the music of one of the most controversial of frontmen and the breathtaking band he created.

The 72-page book features a biography of Rainbow, with an analysis of every studio album Rainbow recorded, and is illustrated with many rare colour photographs from the early days.

Featured tracks include Man On The Silver Mountain, Since You Been Gone, All Night Long, Hall Of The Mountain King, Catch The Rainbow and many more!

English audio with subtitles in: French, Italian, German, Spanish, Swedish Approx running time 66 minutes.



RAINBOW VINYL REPLICA BOX SET TO BE ISSUED IN JAPAN IN MAY


The following classic RAINBOW albums will be repackaged into a deluxe box set due for release on May 23 in Japan via Universal International. Each disc comes as a paper sleeve replicating the original vinyl package. The box includes: Ritchie Blackmores Rainbow (1975), Rainbow Rising (1976), On Stage (1977), Long Live Rock N Roll (1978), Down To Earth (1979), Difficult To Cure (1981), Straight Between The Eyes (1982), Bent Out Of Shape (1983) and Final Vinyl (1986).
[source: Bravewords.net]



RAINBOW IN THEIR OWN WORDS & TOTAL ROCK REVIEW UNOFFICIAL COMPILATION DVDS


Edgehill Publishing has released on October 9 an unofficial compilation DVD called "Rainbow In Their Own Words".

The DVD Description says: "There are no harsher critics of Rainbow's work than the group themselves. This unique book and film review draws on rare documentary footage of Rainbow in performance, alongside the candid reflections of former Rainbow front man Doogie White, from television and radio archives around the world. We also hear the first hand accounts of insiders from the Rainbow plus the incisive views of a leading team of music critics and working musician to discover the influences which shaped some of the greatest hard rock music ever recorded. The book accompanying this unique film is the 96-page book 'Rainbow and the Press' featuring a comprehensive review of the relationship between the band and its critics. The book features extensive reflections on life inside the Rainbow touring machine drawing upon press interviews made during the band's heyday.

This totally independent film and book review was made with complete editorial freedom. The recollections expressed have not been censored or reviewed by the interviewees making this the ultimate hard hitting independent review on film and in print of the career of Rainbow from the inside in the words of those who really matter; the musicians themselves".

However as we seen more compilation like this before remarks like this should be noticed as well: This is series of interviews with a lot of the band members covering the whole history of the band interspersed with short video clips taken from various live performances but no complete songs. A lot of the interviews (especially those with Ritchie Blackmore and Ronnie James Dio) are not face to camera, only a poor quality audio tape with pictures of album covers etc. on screen. Only worth looking at if you are a serious fan of the band and better to rent rather than buy as you will only look at it once. [John R. Murdoch on Amazon.co.uk]

There's ANOTHER of those unofficial compilation DVDs out, this one titled RAINBOW IN THEIR OWN WORDS (though as the sleeve warns that neither Rainbow nor Blackmore were involved...), with a book attached, and issued by Tamanoir Ltd. The sleeve carries a warning about the quality of the clips, which carry on in the grand tradition of all previous releases from companies like Classic Rock Productions (and could well be the same people for all we know) using stuff taken from fans' VHS copies. Take our advice and avoid it like the plague. [DeepPurple.net]

For those who still want to buy it, it's on sale at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com.

And if it's not enough also announced for a release is another DVD unofficial compilation called "Rainbow: Total Rock Review" on November 17. We spotted it in 2 diferent covers already. According to the description it looks like a re-release of the poorly "Inside Rainbow Part II 79-97" DVD:

This is the critical review of the music of Rainbow during the crucial period from 1979-1997, which saw the arrival of Graham Bonnet through to the final Stranger In Us All tour...

Features rare footage of Rainbow with Graham Bonnet, Joe Lynn Turner and Dougie White. Dougie also gives us an insight into the workings of the band and explains what its like to tour and record with the man he calls 'the finest guitarist of his generation'.

This unique film uses rare footage of Rainbow on stage coupled with the incisive views of a leading team of music critics, working musicians and former Rainbow front man Dougie White to discover the influences that shaped some of the greatest hard rock music ever recorded.

On sale at Amazon.co.uk



RAINBOW "LIVE IN DUSSELDORF 1976" AUDIO CD EUROPEAN RELEASE IN NOVEMBER


The second of three shows from RAINBOW's September 1976 tour of Germany, newly mixed from the multi-tracks, is nearing release, and follows the pattern set by Cologne. From our research we believe only one track from this particular gig has ever been issued before (Catch The Rainbow on the old Connoisseur title Live In Germany).

The show dates from September 27th 1976, and features the regular set-list from that tour: Kill The King / Mistreated / Sixteenth Century Greensleeves / Catch The Rainbow / Man On The Silver Mountain / Stargazer / Still I'm Sad. There was no encore for this particular night. The CD can be pre-ordered now via dpas mail order and release is expected in November. On that schedule the last release will not now be out until the new year. Sleeve details haven't yet been supplied to us.
[source: Deep Purple.net]



TWO NEW EUROPEAN RAINBOW DVD'S TO BE RELEASED SOON


According to CDon.com there will be two European Rainbow DVD releases this month. First there's "Live At Budokan Tokyo 1984", released by SHO Masterplan (Catalog number: SHO-MP-42073). Releasedate is September 15.

Tracklist: Spotlight Kid, Miss Mistreated, I Surrender, Can't Happen Here, Catch The Rainbow, Power / Keyboard Solo, Street Of Dreams, Fool For The Night, Difficult To Cure, Guitar Improvisation, Drum Solo / Blues, Stranded, Death Alley Driver, Fire Dance, Maybe Next Time, All Night Long, Lazy, Since You've Been Gone, Smoke On The Water.

Update: In some forums are stories that SHO Masterplan would be a bootleg company. More details later.

The 2nd release in Europe is "Live Between The Eyes - Final Cut". This DVD with two previously released videos has been already released in Japan on May 10. In Europe it now will be released on September 25 by Universal Music (Catalog number: UNI-984241-2) according to CDon. Amazon gives October 9 as releasedate.

Tracklists:

Final Cut: Spotlight Kid, Death Alley Driver, I Surrender, All Night Long, Can't Happen Here, Difficult To Cure, Can't Let You Go, Power, Since You Been Gone, Stone Cold, Street Of Dreams.

Live Between The Eyes: Over The Rainbow, Spotlight Kid, Miss Mistreated, Can`t Happen Here, Tearin' Out My Heart, All Night Long, Stone Cold, Power, Blues, Difficult To Cure, Long Live Rock'n'Roll, Kill The King, Maybe Next Time, Smoke On The Water.



RITCHIE BLACKMORE BOOKS: THE NEXT STAGE & BLACK KNIGHT


According to a posting on BLACKMORE'S NIGHT's official web site, Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night have decided to share with their fans some real band experiences — past and present. "The Next Stage" will be out soon and is the only authorized book containing stories that Candice and Ritchie have personally told. Rumor has it even some stories from past bands will be included here. Don't bother with imitations when you can have the real item — first-time ever stories told by Ritchie and Candice for you to share. The Next Stage will be here soon and available through the BLACKMORE'S NIGHT merchandise page.

Black Knight - the unauthorised Ritchie Blackmore Biography Omnibus (ISBN: 1846092663)

Written and researched by Jerry Bloom who first met Ritchie more than twenty years ago; has followed his career since the seventies, and since 1996 has published and edited the International Ritchie Blackmore magazine 'More Black than Purple.'

The first ever Ritchie Blackmore biography by Jerry Bloom is published by Omnibus Press on 4th September. It is in hardback only and runs to 400 pages. All copies bought from MBTP will be signed by the author. Price:- £19.95, Add postage per book as follows: UK- £5.00 / Europe- £7.50 / Rest- £12.50 Release Date: 4th September 2006

Apart from "The Next Stage" and "Black Knight", former Deep Purple and Rainbow tour manager Colin Hart has written a book and is currently negotiating publishing deals.



JAPANESE RE-RELEASES FOR ALL RAINBOW ALBUMS


All the Rainbow Albums will be re-released in 2 different versions in Japan in August & September. First there is the re-release of the ordinary CD's on August 30 featuring: Ritchie Blackmores Rainbow (catalog number UICY-6368), Rainbow Rising (UICY-6369), On Stage (UICY-6370), Long Live Rock N Roll (UICY-6371), Down To Earth (UICY-6372), Difficult To Cure (UICY-6373), Straight Between The Eyes (UICY-6374), Bent Out Of Shape (UICY-6375) and Final Vinyl (UICY-6376).

On September 20 The Very Best Of Rainbow (catalog numer UICY-9749) will also be re-released.

On September 27 there is then re-releases of the same CD's as Limited Edition with Cardboard Sleeves: Ritchie Blackmores Rainbow (catalog number UICY-9190), Rainbow Rising (UICY-9191), On Stage (UICY-9192), Long Live Rock N Roll (UICY-9193), Down To Earth (UICY-9194), Difficult To Cure (UICY-9195), Straight Between The Eyes (UICY-9196), Bent Out Of Shape (UICY-9197) and Final Vinyl (UICY-9198).

Last April saw already the re-release of Stranger In Us All (BMG BVCM37696) in a Cardboard Sleeve.



RAINBOW LIVE IN MUNICH 1977 ALSO TO BE RELEASED ON AUDIO CD IN JUNE



After the DVD which was released last December in Japan and is expected to be out on August 21 in Europe, there will be now also a release of the same concert as double audio CD in the US & Japan. The releasedate is set for June 13 in Europe & the US (Eagle Records) and for June 21 in Japan (Catalogue Number: VICP63478).

The concert was recorded in Munich, Germany on October 20, 1977 with the following line-up: Ritchie Blackmore (guitar), Ronnie James Dio (vocals), Cozy Powell (drums), Bob Daisley (bass) & David Stone (keyboards).

CD1:
Kill The King, Mistreated, Sixteenth Century Greensleeves, Catch The Rainbow, Long Live Rock 'N' Roll

CD2:
Man On The Silver Mountain, Still I'm Sad, Do You Close Your Eyes



RAINBOW "DEUTSCHLAND TOURNEE 1976" 6 CD BOX OUT IN JAPAN ON MAY 24



VAP Japan will release the previously announced Rainbow "Deutschland Tournee 1976 / Live in Germany 1976" as a 6 CD Box (Catalogue Number: VPCK85354). Instead of 3 seperate releases as previously reported, it will be released in Japan as a box with 6 cds.

The cds will cover 3 complete concerts: Cologne 25th September 1976, Dusseldorf 27th September 1976 & Nurnberg 28th September 1976.

Setlist for these concerts: "Kill The King", "Mistreated", "Sixteenth Century Greensleeves", "Catch The Rainbow", "Man On The Silver Mountain", "Stargazer", "Still I'm Sad", "Do You Close Your Eyes".

No news or releasedate for Europe and the USA on the moment.




MORE VINTAGE RAINBOW VIDEOS TO BE RELEASED ON DVD IN JAPAN


Universal Music will be releasing a single DVD (Universal International UIBO1093) in Japan on May 10 with two Rainbow titles that only have been available on VHS video in the past: "Final Cut" and "Live Between The Eyes".

Tracklists:

Final Cut: Spotlight Kid, Death Alley Driver, I Surrender, All Night Long, Can't Happen Here, Difficult To Cure, Can't Let You Go, Power, Since You Been Gone, Stone Cold, Street Of Dreams.

Live Between The Eyes: Over The Rainbow, Spotlight Kid, Miss Mistreated, Can`t Happen Here, Tearin' Out My Heart, All Night Long, Stone Cold, Power, Blues, Difficult To Cure, Long Live Rock'n'Roll, Kill The King, Maybe Next Time, Smoke On The Water.

The DVD is already advertised by HMV Japan. No news if this DVD also will be released in Europe and the USA on the moment.



JAPANESE RE-RELEASE FOR "STRANGER IN US ALL" IN LIMITED PAPER SLEEVE


RCA Japan will reissue RAINBOW's 1995 release Stranger In Us All in a limited paper sleeve edition on April 26th. Only 2,200 copies of the reissue will be manufactured.

Tracks on the album include: 'Wolf To The Moon', 'Cold Hearted Woman', 'Hunting Humans', 'Stand And Fight', 'Ariel', 'Too Late For Tears', 'Black Masquerade', 'Silence', 'Hall Of The Mountain King', 'Still I'm Sad'.
[source: Brave Words.com]



THREE RAINBOW LIVE IN GERMANY 1976 CONCERTS TO BE RELEASED THIS YEAR


Darker Than Blue (The Deep Purple Collectors Service) has announced the release of 3 complete concerts from Rainbow 1976 European Tour in Germany on CD. The first release will be Live in Cologne 1976. Tracklist: "Kill The King", "Mistreated", "Sixteenth Century Greensleeves", "Catch The Rainbow", "Man On The Silver Mountain", "Stargazer", "Still I'm Sad", "Do You Close Your Eyes".

Three of Rainbow's German shows from 1976 have been remixed to form special collectors releases to mark the 30th anniversary of the first world tour. These have been produced primarily for Japan but will also be issued in Europe via AFN in Germany. The first release is Sept 25. 1976 Cologne issued as a 2CD in jewel case. Dusseldorf and Nurnberg will follow. Keep an eye on the deep-purple.net site for progress reports.
[source: deep-purple.net]

Update:
This first CD, Cologne 1976, is now out in Germany, releasedate May 26. It seems to be scheduled to be released in the rest of Europe on June 2.



RAINBOW LIVE IN MUNICH 1977 RELEASED ON DVD IN JAPAN

The Rockpalast 1977, Live in Munich October 20, is finally going to be released in Japan. The DVD will be released as a 2 DVD set on December 21. The first DVD will have the entire Munich liveshow. It's not clear what will be on the second DVD exactly but there's mention of interviews & clips. The DVD will have DTS 5.1 Ch Surround, Dolby Digital 5.1 Ch Surround and Dolby Digital 2.0ch Surround audio. The catalogue release no is VPBR-12464.

More info in Japanese on these links: CD/DVD Journal and HMV Japan.

Update: The second DVD will feature new interviews with Colin Hart (Rainbow's Tour Manager) and Bob Daisley plus the videoclips of L.A. Connection, Gates Of Babylon & Long Live Rock'N'Roll.

The European edition will contain an extra commentary, written by Rainbow biographer Roy Davies, extra packaging, etc. As well as the full concert (including guitar demolition and some great shots of the famous electronic rainbow), there are interviews, extra Rainbow promos etc. This show has been bootlegged extensively in a number of formats, but this new release will be pristine quality with remastered audio etc. Those who have seen the test copy say its excellent. For those who never saw Rainbow in their early days, a real treat. For those who did, a reminder of what an awesome band they were at the time. The European DVD has been reschedued for August 21, 2006.
[source: Deep Purple.net]