The iconic '70s track, seen as transformative for a renowned rock band, was initially met with skepticism by some members. Despite one member's dismissive remark that it was overly pop-oriented, it ended up being the band's defining anthem.
Graham Bonnet's Impact on Rainbow: Steering a Commercially Successful Shift
Graham Bonnet, a native of Skegness, Lincolnshire, joined Rainbow in 1979, following an audition with the Deep Purple song “Mistreated” for Ritchie Blackmore. Initially hesitant due to his dislike for Rainbow's earlier "dungeons and dragons" style and Ronnie James Dio's voice, Bonnet was eventually persuaded by his manager and the more straightforward hard rock direction of the new material, leading him to accept the position [1].
Bonnet's arrival marked a significant shift in Rainbow's music towards a more commercial and concise hard rock style. The 1979 album "Down to Earth," featuring Bonnet on vocals, was notably more accessible than earlier albums. It included the hit single “Since You Been Gone,” which became Rainbow’s first major hit and exemplified this polished, catchy rock sound. The album reached No. 6 on the UK charts, and its singles like “Since You Been Gone” and “All Night Long” saw chart success [1][2][3].
This era established Rainbow's breakthrough into mainstream hard rock, moving away from their earlier mystical, neoclassical metal style. Cozy Powell joined Rainbow as a powerhouse drummer during this period, adding to the band's new sound. However, Bonnet's tenure with Rainbow was short-lived. He left the band after a call from the band's management, who asked if they were allowed to use another singer on any tracks that he didn't like [4].
Rainbow subsequently recruited American singer Joe Lynn Turner to record the 1981 album Difficult To Cure. Bonnet felt the ground shifting when work began on the follow-up to Down To Earth with new drummer Bobby Rondinelli in place [5]. It was during this time that Rainbow performed their last show with Bonnet at the first Monsters Of Rock festival, staged at Donington Park in Leicestershire on 16 August 1980. The festival also featured Judas Priest, Scorpions, Saxon, and others [6].
Before Bonnet's departure, only one new song, "I Surrender," was recorded. Prior to Bonnet's arrival, the albums Rising (1976) and Long Live Rock 'N' Roll (1978) were released by the revamped Rainbow [7]. Interestingly, Bonnet had hits with pop songs in the '60s and was an MOR crooner in the mid-'70s, making his transition to hard rock with Rainbow all the more surprising [8].
During the Down To Earth tour, Ritchie Blackmore attempted to convince Bonnet to grow his hair and wear regulation rock 'n' roll gear, but Bonnet's image was viewed as heresy by longhaired, denim-and-leather-clad headbangers [9]. Despite this, Bonnet's impact was to help steer Rainbow into a commercially successful phase characterized by shorter, melodic hard rock songs that broadened their audience. This shift contributed significantly to the band's legacy and sales, marking a turning point in their musical evolution [1][3][5].
Engaging in education-and-self-development, Graham Bonnet honed his vocal prowess during his pop and MOR career in the '60s and mid-'70s, which later proved crucial for his transition into the world of hard rock with Rainbow. During career-development discussions with Ritchie Blackmore, Bonnet expressed an interest in expanding his musical horizons, leading to a more commercially successful phase for the band with the release of the album "Down To Earth." This era was characterized by entertainment filled with polished, catchy rock songs, such as "Since You Been Gone," that even found a place on the music charts. Furthermore, the audience for Rainbow expanded, and their legacy prospered through this diverse shift in musical style, demonstrating how music can evolve and adapt to various audiences.
