A sweeping tribute to the legacy of Ritchie Blackmore's RAINBOW is on the way: 'Ride The Rainbow — The Ultimate Tribute To Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow' will be released on June 19, 2026 via Cleopatra Records.
The 14-track compilation brings together an extraordinary roster of rock and metal royalty to reinterpret RAINBOW's classic catalog from the 1970s and 1980s. Among the contributors are six actual RAINBOW alumni: Bob Daisley, Graham Bonnet, Don Airey, Joe Lynn Turner, Doogie White, and Ronnie Romero. Former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson, former GUNS N' ROSES and SKID ROW vocalist Sebastian Bach, and ex-DEEP PURPLE guitarist Steve Morse appear as guests, alongside Rick Wakeman of YES, Mike Tramp of WHITE LION, and the band ANGEL. Ritchie Blackmore's wife and BLACKMORE'S NIGHT vocalist Candice Night makes a special appearance as well.
RAINBOW, formed by Ritchie Blackmore after his departure from DEEP PURPLE in 1975, produced a string of groundbreaking heavy rock albums throughout the late 1970s and 1980s with a succession of iconic vocalists including Ronnie James Dio, Graham Bonnet, and Joe Lynn Turner. Their legacy continues to resonate across generations of metal musicians.
The band's most recent reunion shows took place in Germany in June 2016, documented on the concert release 'Memories In Rock — Live In Germany'. Liner notes for the tribute were written by Jason Myers of ICARUS WITCH.
With contributions spanning multiple eras and an all-star lineup rarely assembled outside of active touring, 'Ride The Rainbow' promises to be one of the year's most ambitious tribute releases.