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Oct 02, 2024 Web Exclusive By Hays Davis

Captured only two years after guitarist Ritchie Blackmore founded the band Rainbow following his departure from Deep Purple, Live in Munich 1977 is the only full live concert filmed of the Blackmore/singer Ronnie James Dio/drummer Cozy Powell lineup of Rainbow. Previously issued as separate DVD and 2-CD packages, this 3-disc set combines the previous releases for this well-shot show and its live album. Along with fans of Rainbow and Deep Purple, anyone interested in ’70s rock in general will want to cue this up.

If ever there was a man who was genuinely well-suited for his job, that would be the late Ronnie James Dio, who fronted Elf (who had toured in support of Deep Purple) prior to Rainbow, and later Black Sabbath and his own Dio. In onstage fringed glory, Dio brings out the full metal drama of “Sixteenth Century Greensleeves” and others. Blackmore, who will live forever as the fingers behind the Deep Purple riff of “Smoke on the Water,” stalks the stage in front of a wall of Marshall amps as one of the great ’70s guitar heroes. Powell powers everything, years before he would go on to also join Sabbath, along with bassist Bob Daisley and keyboardist David Stone.

Under a lit-up rainbow that arches over the stage, Rainbow revs up the crowd with favorites like “Long Live Rock ‘N’ Roll” and “Man on the Silver Mountain,” and such early footage from these members is a treasure. The DVD also includes promo videos, interviews, and a real treat in the period mini-doc “Rainbow Over Texas ’76,” and the booklet rounds out the package with plenty of background details and photos.

(www.blackmoresnight.com/ritchie-blackmores-rainbow)