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Original releasedate: 15 January 1984

This is a rough'n'ready translation of the magazine which was original in the Dutch language.
Besides this is only a summary as only the most interesting parts are translated.


From the Headoffice
Hi Rainbow rockers A new year, a new cover. The (by now) old trustworthy Rainbow fist on the orange background had to make space for a new design. From now on each new issue will have a new designed cover. On the back there's only the address. On the last backcover was some criticism. Suggestions for another backcover are always welcome.

In this fanzine we have exclusive interviews we did ourselves with Chuck Burgi, Ronnie James Dio and Jimmy Bain. Also the poll-result and a review of the excellent concert DIO did in Utrecht.

Ronnie and Co confirmed the sticked down label that DIO should be "the continuation of the old Rainbow". It won't take long before DIO will be amongst the topbands in hardrock. They exist of four strong musicians and although Vivian Campbell is not a Ritchie Blackmore, he's better than many of the average guitarplayers around these days. DIO is also doing very well in the poll.

As far as Rainbow is concerned it's keeps awkward quiet. After the UK tour the band did seven shows in Scandinavia. In the States they did eleven gigs on the East Coast before they did (only) ten shows on the West Coast. Maybe they changed their plans because of the positive recordsales. Both Polydor and the usual promotors don't know anything about plans for a Tour on the Continent on the moment.

"I need a box of aspirin. This is too loud. It's noise, without a doubt" thus the reaction on "Lost in Hollywood" of the pride of all grannies in Holland, André Hazes in Muziekkrant Oor during a listening session to various records. From a point of sympathy we have send our friend Hazes some aspirin in case he has to listen to Rainbow again. If more people wants to get rid off their aspirin they can send it to Andre Hazes, Melvin Productions, Willemsparkweg 121, 1071 GW Amsterdam. He'll love it!!!

Keep the Rainbow rockin



HOT SHOTS


  • GRAHAM BONNET released with his new group ALCATRAZZ his first single, titled "Island in the sun". Late January Alcatrazz will be touring Japan.

  • In HELSINKI, where RAINBOW ended the Scandinavian Tour Ritchie threw at the end of the normal set his real Fender Stratocaster in the audience. This wasn't the intention as some roadies where send into the audience to recover his instrument.

  • During the encore in HELSINKI LITA FORD played on stage with Rainbow.

  • STARGAZER was no longer in the set on the Scandinavian tour.

  • The video of DIO, that was recorded in Utrecht, will come out later this year as an official video release.

  • New RAINBOW bootlegs came out with the titles "Cure for herpes" (recordings of the "Live between the eyes" video) and "Brain Storm".

  • In december there was another edition of the disreputable "Rockpop in concert-festival". RAINBOW was invited again. The promoter and organization give up the band after they asked too much money for the show.



    DON'T TALK TO STRANGERS
    TALK TO RONNIE & JIMMY       Part 1: Jimmy


    Sunday 4 December, finally after six years ex-Rainbow singer Ronnie James Dio was going to play one of the Dutch stages. To make this party complete he took with him also ex-Rainbow bassist Jimmy Bain. Ofcourse we took the opportunity to speak with both of them. Firstly we let Jimmy Bain be speaking.


    Can you tell us what you did after you left Rainbow and before you joined DIO.

    In that period I did a lot of things, but I was not really in the picture. I was together with Brian Robertson in Wild Horses, I did a tour with Phil Lynott and I played on an album of Kate Bush. I also wrote in that period a lot of songs and recently I played together with Bobby Rondinelli on the new album of the Scorpions. I don't know if they'll release that album because, for a reason unknown to me, they recorded the whole album all over again with their old line-up.

    With Phil Lynott you played keyboards, just like on Holy Diver. What was in your early days your musical ambition? Playing the bass or playing keyboards?.

    The bassguitar was without a doubt my biggest ambition musically. In the bassguitar there's much more power than in keyboards. If I was playing mainly keyboards, I never should have made it to Rainbow. Ritchie had seen a playing a few times and because he was lookin' for a new bassplayer he asked me to come to the studio. Ritchie played something on his guitar and I'd to play that after him (Jimmy imitate loud what Ritchie was playing). Then Ritchie played something faster and I played that also. That was all and I was the new Rainbow bassplayer. Playing the keyboards I learned myself. I never took lessons.

    On the cover of Holy Diver it says that you and Ronnie both played the keyboards. Who had the biggest part?

    That was me. Ronnie only did a few things.

    I heard you have some on stage who plays the keyboards. Is that right?

    Yes indeed. Claude Schnell is the man who plays the keyboards live. Like you probably know Ronnie likes to have keyboards during the liveshows. The role of Claude is not that big by the way.

    Is Claude Schnell also the one who'll play keyboards on the new album?

    No, I'll do that again, together with Ronnie.

    Now we're talking about the new album, tell me, when will that be recorded and what can you tell about it?

    On the moment we don't have anything for the new album, except for Evil Eyes. On the new album will be another version of Evil Eyes than we released as a b-side for the Holy Diver single. Evil Eyes is a good song, but not as good as the other songs.

    That's because we had to record and mix it in only two days. The recordcompany wanted a new song for the backside of the single, and when we had two days off in Los Angeles we recorded Evil Eyes in a rush (Rainbow did it this way as well with Jealous lover - red.) We now will go in the studio in February and the album should be in the shops early June.

    What are you going to do between now and February?

    We still have to do two European shows, today here in Utrecht and the day after tomorrow in Paris. Then we go back to Amsterdam and on 10 December we'll have the next show in the States. There we'll play some shows to go and conquer Japan and Australia next.

    How's the tour going so far?

    Excellent, we hardly can't believe it, it's going so well. First we did twelve shows in the States as support for Aerosmith and then we toured England. The way we were received was better than in our dreams. It was unbelievable. Only two concerts weren't completely sold out, for the rest there was no ticket left. Then we went to Lund in Sweden. Ronnie expected the public wouldn't be so wild as in England, but he was wrong. They were even more fanatic than in England. Then we did Germany and Belgium, only in Belgium the audience was not as fanatic as on the other shows. I don't know the reason because I think we did a great show last night in Belgium as well.

    How is it to work with Ronnie's wife as your manager?

    That's not so difficult: She leads DIO but if anything threatens to happen and Ronnie don't like it, then Ronnie decides what's will happen. So she leads DIO but on the other hand she's not. It's not easy to explain, but I hope you understand. I myself always follow Ronnie. I trust him so I follow him blindly.

    Why did Ronnie decide to produce Holy Diver himself?

    Ronnie has been working with many good producers, and he was thinking he was ready to do himself the job. You know the result: Ronnie proved he's not only a great singer but also a good producer.

    Do you have yourself plans for a solo-album?


    No, I don't have time for that on the moment. I'm too busy with DIO.

    On Donington you played for about 50 minutes. Why did you used half of that time to play coversongs?

    We wanted ourselves not to play our whole album, and because the audience still loves to hear songs like Stargazer, Man on the silver mountain and Heaven and hell. So why not? I think we still play it better than Black Sabbath.

    On Donington you played for a crowd of about 50.000 people. Were you nervous before that show?


    No, on the contrary. Nobody in the band was nervous before that concert. I think we're too professional to get anymore nervous before any show.

    On Donington you did Stargazer. What do you think about the fact Rainbow now also plays this song again?

    I think Rainbow is on the good way back if they play Stargazer indeed again.

    What is your opinion anyway on Rainbow?

    I think their singer is very good. I don't know anything about their new drummer, but I know Bobby Rondinelli is a great drummer. It's a fact Ritchie always has good musicians around him. I don't know why he kicks so many people out. I myself had to come to Bruce (Payne) and he told me I was fired. My replacement Bob Daisley was already waiting. I was there when they made Bob clear there was a dividing line on stage between Ritchie's side and the other side of the stage.

    Everyone who was passing this line could leave immediately. Bobby Rondinelli felt he was going to be the boot and left the band just before they were going to kick him out. We both don't know the reason why we were fired, but I think that's something more ex-Rainbow members are wondering why. I met Joe Lynn Turner just before his first concert with Rainbow in the Rainbow in London.

    Joe was very nervous, and I told him there was nothing to be nervous for about, because there was no need for that. We're one big family that keeps growing. First it was only Rainbow, Gillan and Whitesnake, but now you can add also Gary Moore and Ozzy Osbourne with it. I myself has forgiven Ritchie everything because it don't get you anywhere if you stay cross. And we had a great time anyway.

    How about Blackmore's choice to get Roger Glover in the band?

    I think that was a good choice. Roger is not only a good bassplayer, but also an extraordinary producer. He's a lot more use for the band than when I was the bassplayer.

    To end can you tell us a 'nice story' from your Rainbow days?

    Yes, just before the recordings of Rainbow Rising. We were somewhere outside Munich in the studio, it was terrible cold and we hardly came out of the studio or the hotel. Then one day we finally were outside and there where two rainbows in the sky. The first thought was ofcourse 'this is gonna be a damn good album' and that's what it got indeed.

    Jimmy Bain is totally not negative about Rainbow and Ritchie like we expected a bit though. Let's see if that's also the case with Ronnie James Dio.




    DON'T TALK TO STRANGERS
    TALK TO RONNIE & JIMMY       Part 2: Ronnie


    I was told the tour is going very well so far. Why do you think that is?

    It's going very well indeed. I think that's because we were right from our start with DIO well known. Vinnie and I were known from Black Sabbath and Jimmy and I from Rainbow, so our names were already settled. Besides it's, I think, because DIO now is what Rainbow should have been now. When Ritchie and I started Rainbow, we wanted to form a band that wasn't going to be playing popmusic. I think Rainbow these days sounds like some kid of popband. They are at least a lot more commercial than when we started. That's why I tried to start a band that should be like Rainbow should have been. Ritchie only focus on one point: America. He wants to be successful in America one way or the other. And I think he'll succeed with this kind of music.

    Does this mean you don't like Rainbow at all anymore?

    Oh no, I don't think they're bad, I never think of Rainbow anymore. It's not the kind of music I listen to. I listen to much more hard music than they do these days. My opinion is that Rainbow is no longer a real hardrockband, but that doesn't mean they're bad. Whatever they'll do, they'll always be successful and that's good for them. I don't care if they have or don't have any success.

    Can you tell what you are goin' to do when this European tour is finished, why are you coming back to Amsterdam?

    First we'll play on Tuesday in Paris and then we'll indeed return to Amsterdam. We'll do that because we are going to mix there the sound for the film we will record tonight.

    The show tonight will be filmed by six cameras, most likely to be aired by MTV. By the way this is the only show we'll film. After that we'll return to the States, we'll play some shows overthere and then we'll do some concerts in Japan and Australia.

    After that we'll record our new album and after that we'll return to Europe. We'll then play some festivals and do some more shows on our own. I think you should play as many places as possible, because the fans wants to see you as close as possible. Many fans are not willing to travel large distances to go and see a band play live. That's the reason we did an extended English tour. You can play twice Wembley and say you played the whole of England, but that's nonsense. For example you won't reach fans from Newcastle this way and you have to prevent that from a band's point of view. You have to try to play for anyone who wants to see you. That's why we often play in small venues.

    The audience is small venues is often better, because you've got more contact with the public in small places. In a small place you also can involve the people in the back. In a large hall you never can reach them. This is something Ritchie doesn't care about. Ritchie don't care about the audience. Believe me, I can know it. I know him in a way the fans never got to see him, and if they see him that way, then people say "he's in a bad mood". Everything that in relation to the public is not good is justified by Ritchie's mood. Many fans don't accept this anymore and he's losing a lot of fans. The only thing Ritchie cares about is himself. He only plays for himself. It looks like he's now playing for his band but that's deceit. Why do you think there are so many line-up changes. The name of the band is Rainbow, but in fact it's should still be named Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. That's just what it is.

    What do think of the fact Ritchie always get unknown names in his band?

    That's a good thing. I never heard for example of Rondinelli, Burgi, Rosenthal or Turner. I think it's very good he gives new talent a chance.

    What's your opinion about Rainbow's current singer Joe Lynn Turner?

    Joe is a very good singer, but I think it's weak he tries to imitate Lou Gramm of Foreigner. There's only one Lou Gramm, just like there's one Coverdale, and one Bonnet. I wouldn't be surprised if Joe is the next person who leaves Rainbow. (Has Ronnie read our last issue?). I know Ritchie long enough to know how he respects the other members in the band. If he fires Joe you'll think: that Ronnie was right about it. Believe me, I know exactly how Ritchie treat and respect his bandmembers. And if you don't respect your fans, you can't respect yourself. I think Ritchie don't respect himself. And believe me, you will notice that I'm right about this again.

    Now something else. You was going to make a solo album with quiet songs. Can we still expect that one?

    My solo-album in the end became Holy Diver. It has not become the album with quiet songs, but I consider it more or less as my solo album. There are still plans for that quiet album though.

    Who should play on that one?

    I've got some names in my head, they are Cozy Powell, Roger Glover, Geezer Butler (!!!) and Kerry Livgren of Kansas.

    When should this solo-album be recorded?

    Not for a while at least. I'm too busy with DIO on the moment.

    I heard you telling in an interview you didn't wanna be "Iron man" or "War pig". Why did you went to Sabbath anyway?

    Because I got the opportunity to sing in a major band. I think I didn't do that bad, Heaven and Hell became a great album.

    I also heard you telling that DIO was going fully in the direction of Rainbow Rising. I think Holy Diver sounds more like Black Sabbath than Rainbow Rising.

    It depends who listens to it. Many people told me that Holy Diver very much sounded like Rainbow, but I also heard as many telling it's like Black Sabbath. I think myself that Holy Diver sounds like me, don't forget I put my stamp on both Rainbow and Black Sabbath .

    Just when we want do go on about this, some people including the roadmanager show up and tell there's no more time to continue unfortunately. It looks like Ronnie is no longer a friend of Ritchie, although he doesn't show this always in other interviews.




    DIO (BACK) IN HOLLAND

    After the not that impressing support-act Waysted it was DIO's turn to conquer the Dutch public. When during the intro the curtains are opened we see a very impressing stage full of large rocks with a cave in the middle. During the intro it's Ronnie James Dio who surrounded by smoke comes walking out of the cave.

    The band starts furious with "Stand up and shout" followed by the songs, that are very close to the studio album versions, "Straight through the heart" and "Shame on the night". "Children of the sea" is the first cover of the night. Then we get "Holy Diver", we got to see during this song a backdrop with the devil's head from their albumcover.

    After this it's time for Vinnie Appice who does about the same drumsolo as you can hear on Black Sabbath's live LP "Live Evil". This drumsolo goes over in "Stargazer". Ronnie sings the classic first-class.

    We have to think back to England, where Rainbow did this song also a few months ago. In this song Ronnie proves to have a lot more to offer than Joe Lynn Turner. Musical Rainbow plays this classic better, but on vocals Ronnie teach them a lesson. The second Sabbath song tonight is "Heaven and Hell". We get the same game as Ronnie did in Black Sabbath, again he shows his skills to entertain the audience. The guitarsolo of Vivian Campbell in this song is weak though.

    "Rainbow in the dark" is the next track, the keyboards are kept in the background. Finally we get "Man on the silver mountain" with a long improvisation which don't get bored at all. In the middle of the song we also get "Starstruck". The long version of another Rainbow classic is the end of the set. The first encore is "Evil eyes"; followed by the excellent "Don't talk to strangers". After the audience is thanked the band leaves the stage. See you next year, Ronnie!



    HOT SHOTS


  • On 4 February the Rockpopfestival will be aired featuring Ozzy Osbourne (AIREY/DAISLEY), Krokus, MSG, Quiet Riot, Judas Priest, Def Leppard, Scorpions and Iron Maiden on the German ZDF Channel.



    HAMMERHEAD


    Since we besides Rainbow don't pay attention anymore to originated groups from Deep Purple and we also don't wanna print everytime old articles we have this time the spotlight on a Dutch group called HAMMERHEAD.

    Hammerhead has four members, two Dutch and two English members: Wilco van Beek (guitar), Bert van de Watering (drums and vocals), Ian Parry (vocals) and Ian Bishop (bass). The direction of their music is English Heavy Metal with strong American commercial melodic influences, like Rainbow and Vandenberg. In the past there have been many line-up changes. Many musicians came later in known Dutch acts like Picture and Highway Chile. On the moment the band exist of four talented musicians. Singer Ian Parry, born in Liverpool was in the group Mono Pacific, together with drummer and son of Ringo Starr Zac. He came in Hammerhead after an advert in Melody Maker. Bassguitarist and second Englishman is Ian Bishop, born in Bournemouth and playing the bass since his early school years. He came in the early seventies to Holland, played in many Dutch acts including Stud (with Herman Brood) and The Wild. In this last group also was drummer Bert van de Watering. Together the joined Hammerhead. Bert is also doing the background vocals. Guitarist Wilco van Beek plays on a selfmade guitar and his influences together with his instrument make a more than an average guitarplayer.

    The band recorded a four song demo tape. This very well sounding demo draw a comparison between Vandenberg (sound) and Rainbow (way the songs are built up). Titles of the songs are: Wait for me, Down and out, Stormborn child (ballad) and No time to loose (with drummer Bert van de Watering on vocals in the first part). Live Hammerhead also they are a hot act, their repertoire is all own songs including the four songs of their demo. It looks very professional, in which guitarist Wilco van Beek, also because of his appearance and looks, strongly reminds you to Ritchie Blackmore. The rhythm section is very solid and singer Ian Parry (Hey Ritchie, remember this name) with his Paul Rodgers-style voice makes it all to one total good sounding band. It won't take long before they got signed by a major recordcompany.

    There are some stories around about bassplayer Ian Bishop versus Roger Glover. For those who don't know what's it all about; The Wild promoted themselves some times with 'The Wild featuring the ex-bassist of Deep Purple'. They should have him (Ian Bishop) in their band. Story say Ian replaced Roger during some shows because Roger wasn't able to play because of drink and drugs problems. Mention the name of Ian Bishop to Roger and you'll see a very agressive Mr Glover. Ian told me the real story.

    I met Ritchie Blackmore in 1970, just after the release of the "In rock" album in a pub in Bournemouth. We got talking and I told him I played the bass. Ritchie told me he was the guitarplayer of Deep Purple. I didn't know the group that moment. Ritchie suggested to join him for the soundcheck. After this event I jammed with the band. Later that night I was a guest when the band played their show. After that night I travelled some more shows with the band.

    Ritchie at that time already had plans to leave Deep Purple, he checked me as bassist, but didn't think I was good enough. Roger gave me the advice to play with a pick, because it sounds much heavier. It took me some years to have it down to a fine art, but I managed in the end. Nowadays I play both with my fingers and a pick. Roger was ill in that period, but certainly not because of drugs! Nobody in Purple used drugs!! Ritchie was very nervous around that time and already had plans then to, what later became Rainbow, set up a new band. He only was talking with Paice and Gillan, not with the other two. Just arter that I was supposed to go to Sweden, but I got stucked in Holland and I'm still here today. I met Ritchie again in 1973. That was in the hotel after the disastrous concert in the old RAI in Amsterdam. After that I never met him again. I never noticed anything from his moody nature.

    Hammerhead signed a major deal with EMI in 1984, they recorded their first and only album with DAVID ROSENTHAL on keyboards in January 1985 in Cologne. David also produced the album. EMI shelved the album though because of several problems, mainly the budget in excess, it only got released recently, 15 years later, in the year 2000 by Pseudonym Records. [Ed.]





    CHUCK BURGI

    RAINBOW'SLATESTT NEW MEMBER


    In the last issue you could have read something about Chuck Burgi, but because of lack of space there was no room for the full interview we did last September in Bristol with Chuck. As promised here's the full interview now.

    Can you tell us first something about your musical past.

    CB: One of the bands I was in is Brand-X, but you know that already because I saw it in one of your magazines. How did you found out that?

    Joe Lynn Turner told us. We also know you played in Balance. Hoe about that?

    CB: After my Hall & Oates period I was indeed the drummer in Balance. I also played on an album of Michael Bolton. By the way the guitarist on that album is Bobby Kulick, who was also in Balance. Together with Mark Clarke, who also once was a member of Rainbow, and some other friends of Bobby we played on that Michael Bolton album. In my time with Balance Bobby and I were much asked studio-musicians. We also played on the first album of Aldo Nova.

    Hall & Oates?

    CB: In 1980 and 1981 I played on the Hall & Oates albums "Voices" and "Private eyes". In that period we also had some hitsingles like "Kiss on my list", but after I left they even got more and bigger successes. Still I don't regret leaving them. They never wanted a band with strong musicians, while I like to play with individual strong musicians like in Rainbow. Not that I ever will find what I'm lookin' for, but this is a fine situation to work in. We get along quite well. We have a lot of fun together and that is something that hasn't been for a long time in this band.

    Isn't it very difficult to work with Ritchie? You need to keep your eye on him because he gives signs to the band all the time.

    CB: Sometimes it's very difficult, because I have to watch both my drumkit and Ritchie and I manage that not always. You must have noticed I completely lost Ritchie once tonight. I'm used he's on the left side of me, but I when I watched there was nobody. Then I watched the other side and I only saw Roger and David. It scared the hell outta me, but just on that moment I saw Ritchie again on my right side. If you don't keep constant on eye on him you can get yourself in rare problems.

    How did you got involved in Rainbow?

    CB: Actually it went via Joe. I know Joe a long time, long before he went to sing in Rainbow. In fact I was with him in a band called Fandango.

    Did you play on any of their albums?

    CB: No, I didn't play on any Fandango album. I did help them to get a recorddeal, but when they got that I left for the West Coast. I didn't hear a thing from Joe for a while, but in 1979 he phoned me and ask me to play on their upcoming tour then. After that tour I joined Hall & Oates and I lost contact with Joe again. During my time in Balance I got in contact with him again and when Rainbow had some problems in the summer of 1982 with Bobby Rondinelli, Joe phoned me and ask me for this band. I told him I had musical commitments towards Balance. Joe told me: "That doesn't matter, just come over". So I then met them and played with the band. That was a positive experience, but I made them clear that I could go on the road with them because I was still in Balance. Early this year they gave me another call and I played with them again.

    But I still wasn't sure if I wanted to play in Rainbow because I was still having a good time with Balance. So I told them: "Sorry, but I can't do it. I'm still in Balance and I've got quite some work as a studio musician. I can't do it". Then Roger asked me to play on his solo album. I did that and I'm very satisfied about that about that should be released in January.

    It's no hardrock, but reggae, funk and dancemusic. It's was something completely new for Roger and also for me, it sure was fun. But back to Rainbow now. Rainbow hired another drummer and went with him to Copenhagen to record the album. I don't know his name, but it didn't work out between him and the rest of the band. Roger knew me and suggest Joe to ask me again. Joe talked to Ritchie and that's the way it went for a new, my third, invitation to join Rainbow. I then packed my drums and told the guys in Balance: "Goodbye, I had a great time with you but I'm gone". And I took the plane to Copenhagen.

    Isn't it exciting to play in Rainbow?

    CB: Yes, it is indeed. You know, on stage you can have a lot of fun together, but if you don't get along with each other personally it will go wrong. You're most of time stucked with each other, in the car, train of plane. And if you don't get along it gets annoying pretty soon.

    I didn't know how Ritchie would be mingle with other people, but, and actually I'm not allowed to say this, he's a lot nicer than the press writes about him. But he's very demanding and has a very strong personality, but we get along well, and we're having fun.

    Ritchie deserves it to have fun and to be happy with his band because Rainbow hasn't always been a nice experience for him and that's a pity because it's his band. It has taken a long time, but recently he feels comfortable with the rest of the band.

    How did you got into Brand-X?

    CB: I was on tour with Al Dimeola and when we had a break I was phoned by a technician who's from New Jersey just like me and he told me that the bassist of Brand-X, Percy Jones, was in town to look for a new drummer for Brand-X. I then did an audition, but didn't hear from them so I went on tour again with Al Dimeola. But after that one was finished Percy phoned me and asked me to join Brand-X. The whole band came over to New Jersey and we did some jamming. Afterwards I was invited to come and see a live concert of them the next day. I like that and told them to be present but it was a bit rare they didn't say anything about me joining them. The next night halfway the concert the manager of Brand-X (and also Genesis) Tony Smith came to me and told me I was their new drummer. So it all was to be in the right place on the right moment. This was late 1977. Early 1978 we flew to England and I then stayed and lived overthere. In that period we toured with Genesis and John Mclaughin. We also recorded the "Masques" album in three weeks when we had time for that.

    Why did you left Brand-X?

    CB: Because I needed a break. I was playing for three years in a row and just finished a long tour. I was tired and really needed a holiday, but I was happy to have got the chance to have played and recorded an album with a known act. A lot of my best drumwork is on "Masques". Maybe not musically, but for sure technically. But I wanted to play in a band again with a singer. Some time later I got a phonecall of Joe to play again in Fandango, which I did.

    We know now a lot more about your past. Can you tell us why the new Rainbow album is called "Bent out of shape".

    CB: I don't know, really. I don't know who came up with that title, but I think it's fun. I think it reflects on the situation the band was in when we had recorded the album. They had a lot of problems with the other drummer and when the album was finished the other four in the band actually were very "Bent Out Of Shape". But I'm not sure if this is the real reason.

    Did Bobby Rondinelli left himself Rainbow?

    CB: I don't know, and apart from that, I don't interfere with that kinda politics.

    What do you think about your predecessor Bobby and Cozy?

    CB: I like them, but they are not the kind of drummers I listen to for a long time. The drummers I like are playing in a different way. I like drummers who play jazz. My favorite drummers are Mitch Mitchell and Billy Cobham. I think there are not much drummers who are not influenced by these two. they are very good, at least they were, the way they play these days I don't like that much, but everyone has his own taste. I think Bobby and Cozy are fine drummers, but like I told before they are not the drummers I listen to.

    Don't you listen to rockmusic in general?

    CB: Oh yes, I do, when I started I hardly listened to anything else like Hendrix and the Beatles. I learned how to drum in that period and in my eyes hardly any drummer could come close to Mitch Mitchell. That's still the case today. He really had a jazz-feel and a good jazz-technique, just like Ritchie has. Now not many young musicians listen to jazz-musicians which had an influence on Ritchie as well. They will never understand what's his starting point, but do does play rock'n'roll! The best you can do as a drummer is playing in a trio, it gives you a lot of freedom. It's totally different when you're with five, like in Rainbow. You have to change your whole way of playing. Another point is that Rainbow has done many albums in the past and you can't change the drumsound for those songs all of a sudden. I have to play kinda the others did before me in this band.

    When did you start playing the drums?

    CH: When I was about twelve years old. One of my friends, who played in a band when he was on high school, had a drumkit at home. In that band also was Joe Walsh, known from among others the Eagles. On a certain moment they didn't have a place to practise. We then put his drumkit at my place and there they practised. So that's how I got interested in drumming, that's how it all started.

    Did you ever played after that with Joe Walsh?

    CB: No, but he did ask me, just before I joined Rainbow, to go on tour with him. Maybe I'll do that next year. I think it should be fun to record an album with him, because I haven't played with him since we both went to high-school and that's about fourteen years ago.

    What are the plans after this English tour?

    CB: After this tour we'll do some shows in Scandinavia and then we leave for the States. We'll do a "coast to coast" tour. Then we have a short break around Christmas and New Year and after that it's Japan and Europa, that will be January or February.

    Are there plans to change the setlist for the American tour?

    CB: Maybe. I surprised we don't do "Street of dreams". It's a good song. But if it gets a hit in the States we most likely will play it. Also "Can't let you go" is a song we might go and play in the future.

    What is your favorite track on "Bent out of shape"?

    CB: "Street of dreams" is a very good song I think, but my real favorite track is "Fool for the night".

    What is actually the best song you know at all?

    CB: That's a difficult one. I think Deep Purple's "Machine head" is a great album but I don't like most of the old Rainbow songs.

    Is it difficult for you to play those old Rainbow songs then?

    CB: No, it's very easy. We don't play that much old songs. We only do "Long live rock 'n'roll", "All night long", "Stargazer" and "Since you been gone".
    How about "Hey Joe"?

    CB: That's a tiny encore and it's fun. Ritchie always is influenced by Hendrix . We don't play that every night, although we did it all the five shows so far we did.

    We saw four of the shows, but I think tonight was the best one so far.

    CB: I agree, tonight was the best one. Last night in Stafford it was not that good. There was a lot of people, the sound was a lot worse, etc. This venue is a lot better so we could hear each other much better. The sphere was also more relaxed. The band is now already in fine form and that's quite soon, because most bands I was in needed several weeks before things went a bit good. If you consider we did our first show in Liverpool with a new man for the lights and tonight it already when great, it only can get even better in the weeks to come.

    Did you wrote more songs than are on "Bent out of shape"?

    CB: There were some others, but we didn't used them. The band hired the Sweet Silence for six weeks, but because the band was rehearsing firstly with another drummer they lost two weeks before I joined. So we only had four weeks to finish the album. There was no time for experiments because we couldn't stay any longer in the Sweet Silence.

    Most members in the band like to play soccer. How about you?

    CB: Oh yes, it's for me the best way to keep in good shape.

    Did you already play soccer with the band?

    CB: Once. In Copenhagen against Iron Maiden. We played a lot of soccer, but I'm not that keen on it because the next day you suffer from sore muscles everywhere. In Liverpool we also played soccer in the hall when all the chairs where out. That wasn't easy because the place slant. We hardly got the ball the right way.

    Two weeks ago Rainbow should have played soccer in New York against Def Leppard. There were stories Ritchie injured his back seriously. Is that right?

    CB: They did play against Def Leppard, but I don't know anything about Ritchie's injury. I didn't play that match because the traffic is very busy and it's no fun to drive to Long Island. That's were Ritchie lives. I myself lives in New Jersey, just like Joey. Roger lives in Greenwich, Connecticut and David lives in Boston.

    Last question. Tell us a "nice story" from you stay in Rainbow so far.

    CB: Ooh, that's not easy. There's so much going on since I joined them. You know what, when we're next year in Holland I'll answer that question. Gives me some time to think about it.




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