Rainbow – The Temple of the King 1975-1976 (2026)

To mark the 50th anniversary of the formation of Rainbow and the release of their debut album, Demon Music is releasing an extensive box set that chronicles the band’s foundational period between 1975 and 1976. This collection offers a deep dive into the earliest phase of the legendary rock group led by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, featuring both studio and live material carefully remastered for the occasion.

Rainbow originated in early 1975 as a solo venture by Blackmore following his tenure with Deep Purple. The genesis came in part from his collaboration with Ronnie James Dio, the vocalist of the American band Elf, who had supported Deep Purple on tour. Impressed by Dio’s voice, Blackmore invited him to sing on a cover track, which organically developed into a full album project. Blackmore personally financed the recordings, demonstrating his commitment to crafting a distinct musical identity separate from his previous work.

The band’s first album, titled Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, was recorded over February and March 1975 at Musicland Studios in Munich, Germany. This debut effort is noted for its unique fusion of hard rock and classical influences, partly inspired by Blackmore’s exploration of the cello to expand beyond traditional guitar progressions. The album achieved commercial success, reaching the top 15 in the UK charts and breaking into the top 30 in the US.

Following this positive reception, Blackmore made the pivotal decision to leave Deep Purple to focus exclusively on Rainbow. The initial lineup was augmented with the addition of bassist Jimmy Bain, keyboardist Tony Carey, and drummer Cozy Powell, formerly of the Jeff Beck Group. This ensemble embarked on Rainbow’s first tour, cementing the band’s presence on the international rock scene.

By 1976, the ensemble had streamlined its name to simply Rainbow and returned to Musicland Studios to record their sophomore album, Rising. Released that year, Rising is distinguished by its iconic cover art depicting a clenched fist gripping a rainbow amid a mystical backdrop. The album’s concise track list includes the epic compositions “Stargazer” and “A Light in the Black,” which are now regarded as seminal works in the hard rock canon.

The band’s live performances during this period were notable for extended renditions and improvisations, expanding the studio tracks into elaborate concerts. Their setlists incorporated material like Deep Purple’s “Mistreated,” showcasing Blackmore’s musical lineage. Recordings from their 1976 world tour, including shows in Germany and Japan, were compiled into the live album On Stage, released in 1977.

The new box set, titled The Temple of the King 1975-1976, assembles nine discs of audio, including the first two studio albums along with three live albums capturing Rainbow’s inaugural tour appearances in Europe. These live recordings from Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Nuremberg have not previously been issued outside Japan. The package concludes with a disc of rare mixes, edits, and studio rehearsals, all remastered by Andy Pearce and Matt Wortham, offering fans and historians a comprehensive look at this formative era.

This release not only celebrates Rainbow’s early musical achievements but also illuminates the band’s evolution from a side project to a pioneering force in the hard rock and heavy metal genres. While details on additional archival material remain limited, this collection underscores the enduring legacy of Blackmore and Dio’s collaboration and the band’s foundational contributions to rock history.