Los Angeles, California: The countdown is almost complete; the wait is almost over. After weeks of building anticipation, Ride The Rainbow - The Ultimate Tribute To Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow finally hits the stores tomorrow, an absolutely star-studded journey through the many faces of the Ritchie Blackmore-led legend, with stunning performances from no fewer than six Rainbow alumni - Bob Daisley, Graham Bonnet, Don Airey, Joe Lynn Turner, Ronnie Romero and Doogie White! 
But that’s not all. Also riding’ the rainbow across this stunning portrait, we find Steve Morse (Blackmore’s successor in Deep Purple) and Candice Night (Ritchie’s partner in Blackmore’s Night); Carmine Appice, whose own late 1960s band Vanilla Fudge were a key influence upon Purple themselves; Punky Meadows, Danny Farrow and Angel; Sebastian Bach (Skid Row, Twisted Sister), Mick Box (Uriah Heep), Rick Wakeman (Yes), Jonathan Cain (Journey), Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath), Joe Bouchard (Blue Öyster Cult), Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake, Dio), Marc Lopes (Metal Church), Chris Adler, Marty Friedman, Chris Poland and David Ellefson (Megadeth), and more!
And many of them, already wedded to the songs upon which they were invited to play, have something to say!
Candice Night: “When I heard that Cleopatra Records were going to release a Rainbow tribute album I was so very excited for a few reasons. Rainbow was one of my very first musical loves. As a teenager, I was introduced to the Rainbow Rising album, and was obsessed. The heavy edge, Ronnie James Dio’s intense vocals, the musical genius skills of Ritchie Blackmore and the mastermind songwriting were a magical balance. As Rainbow took on other incarnations and line ups I found them all equally incredible. Such powerful melodies. I was mesmerized.”
Carmine Appice: “I was supposed to be in Rainbow back in the day. Ritchie asked me to be in it, but I couldn’t do it, so I was very pleased to play on this album. I love all the musicians, too - they are all fantastic players and all good friends. ‘Man On The Silver Mountain’ kicks ass!”
Steve Morse: “I remember playing an outdoor festival show featuring Rainbow, with my previous band, The Dregs. I stayed and watched Rainbow and thought that every single song sounded really good! Ritchie had always worked with very good musicians, but his vision of heavy, but melodic, rock really impressed me. I think hearing them sounding so well playing live, really helped to set the bar high for live performance.”
Danny Farrow: "We were very happy when asked to record a song for the Ride The Rainbow Tribute album from Cleopatra Records. Recording 'Lady of the Lake' was a lot of fun with the band, and we really love the way the song came out."
Chris Adler: “Rainbow’s legacy IS the DNA of everything heavy and epic in rock — and it’s not just my opinion that ‘Kill the King’ is one of the tunes that built that foundation. I remember someone describing it as the prototype of speed metal and always thought that was well put.”
Jonathan Cain: “When Cleopatra asked me to play on a Rainbow Tribute project, I was excited to add my keyboards to it. Rainbow with Ronnie James Dio were one of the truly melodic and memorable metal bands. I got to party with him towards the end of his touring days after a Sweden Rock Festival. His soaring voice and melodies will be remembered for decades to come.”
Punky Meadows: “Rainbow were a great band,. Angel had the opportunity to play some shows with Rainbow back in the day, and it was awesome! Angel is so honored to record 'Lady of the Lake" for the Rainbow tribute album and....we killed it!"
Candice Night: “I was lucky enough to cowrite, tour and do background vocals on ‘Stranger In Us All’ in 1995, as well as the reformed touring Rainbow from 2016 to 2019, and was able to witness that musical magic on stage and in studio. When Cleopatra asked me to be a part of the tribute album and sing ‘I Surrender,’ contributing my vocals to Marcus Nand’s brilliant acoustic version, it was an instant Yes! I love this version because it pays respects to the original song, but with a softer, wistful interpretation of that great song.
Ronnie Romero: “Being part of the Rainbow legacy, and having the opportunity to play ‘Temple Of The King’ with Ritchie himself on stage, to record this song it means the world to me. I would never be grateful enough for the chance of being part of this legendary band, so here is a humble way to pay tribute to one of my favorite songs and my all time favorite band. Hope the people like it the same way I loved it recording it.”
Carmine Appice: “I always liked ‘Long Live Rock’n’Roll.’ It had a Cactus boogie, easy for me to play...it kicked ass then and now!”
Chris Adler: “The story behind how my name got thrown into this hat would likely cause a generational war, so let’s stick to the facts — Rick Wakeman, Bob Daisley, Vinnie Moore. These aren’t people paying tribute to Rainbow, they ARE Rainbow. Marc Lopes - who fucking kills it on this track - and I showed up like two guys who somehow got handed green jackets at Augusta. I did my best to honor what the late and very great Cozy Powell built and make sure the track hits as hard as it deserves. Pretty sure we pulled it off — and it was an honor to be asked.”
Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal: “I heard the Rainbow Rising album as a kid and became a life-long Rainbow fan! It's a great honor to pay tribute to this historic band!”
Candice Night: “I love that this project will introduce such great songs to new audiences and generations of fans and I’m also happy so many amazing musicians are a part of this record.”
And so say all of us!
CD/VINYL/CASS: https://cleorecs.com/search?q=ride+the+rainbow
DIGITAL: https://orcd.co/ridetherainbow_ultimatetributetorainbow
Track listing
1. Long Live Rock ’n’ Roll - Bob Daisley, Graham Bonnet, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, Carmine Appice, Don Airey
2. Man on the Silver Mountain - Sebastian Bach, Doug Aldrich, Bob Daisley, Carmine Appice, Mick Box, Jonathan Cain
3. Stargazer - Derek Sherinian, Marty Friedman, Vinny Appice, Jürgen Engler, Joe Bouchard, Ronnie Romero
4. Lady of the Lake - Angel
5. Rainbow Eyes - Mike Tramp
6. Since You Been Gone - Marty Friedman, Vinny Appice, Graham Bonnet, Jürgen Engler
7. Kill the King - Rick Wakeman, Bob Daisley, Vinnie Moore, Marc Lopes, Chris Adler
8. The Temple of the King - Steve Morse, Phil Soussan, Ronnie Romero, Simon Wright, Jonathan Cain, Kevin James Morse
9. Jealous Lover - George Lynch, Vinny Appice, Andrew Freeman, David Ellefson, Jonathan Cain
10. I Surrender - Eric Gales, Tim "Ripper" Owens, Phil Soussan, Don Airey, Chris Adler
11. Catch the Rainbow - Doogie White, Derek Sherinian, Chris Poland, Vinny Appice, Bob Daisley
12. Street of Dreams - Paul Shortino, Joel Hoekstra, Joe Bouchard, Fred Aching, Jonathan Cain
13. Stone Cold - Vivian Campbell, Joe Lynn Turner
14. I Surrender - Marcus Nand, Candice Night
