I went to a couple of Rainbow concerts in the 70s. The first was the Beacon where I scored the interview with RG and Ritchie Blackmore, took some slides (which I seem to have misplaced) and the signed ticket stub of course.
The second was a little over a year later at the Asbury Park Convention Center in Asbury Park, New Jersey. My recollections are it was a very small venue, and I stood in front FRONT OF HOUSE waiting for the band to take the stage. I was so close Ritchie could hear what I was saying to a friend standing next to me. RJD was on the other side of the small stage.
I awlso went to the Radio City Music Hall Deep Purple concert with the guitarist that replaced Rtichie. I'm sorry his name escapes me at the moment. The wereo is the utmost. Oh yes, Tommy Bolin. My memory is still good.
Yes sir, that's how it went! Gawd man, I have slides somewhere of Ritchie and Rainbow at the Beacon. I also had a taped interview I did with Roger Glover and Ritchie Blackmore after the show. Yes, RG was in attendance and BACK OF HOUSE awlthough not performing. So I interviewed him and Ritchie, but I don't have the tape anymore. Actually I do have it, but recorded something over it. It's awl fate.
I was covorting with Ritchie, among other things, about California Jam of course. Little did either of us know I was the only one sitting on the tapes of the Jam. When I mentioned California Jam to Ritchie, he broke into a wide grin. Hardly anyone else standing around watching this spectacle of me interviewing Ritchie knew what the hell California Jam is! You know they *still* don't lol. It's amazing how many hardcore rock fans STILL have never heard of California Jam!
At Asbury Park I was FRONT OF HOUSE with Rainbow. There were no seats in the venue, so everyone stood for the whole show. It was a small venue, relatively small. Me and my friend Kevin were standing right in front of Ritchie, and it was a small, low to the ground stage.
I said something to Kevin and while playing Ritchie took it as a sleight, but actually it was a compliment. Ritchie should've picked up on that by the wide smiles on me and Kevin's faces but you know how high-strung Ritchie is. Let's say he didn't take it as any sort of compliment. That's how FRONT OF HOUSE me and Keven were to Rainbow.
You're good with dates, Ken. Can you nail down the exact date of this particular Rainbow show? The Beacon show was November 12, 1975. I just took the RB autographed ticket stub out of my desk to confirm. I believe the Asbury Park Convention Center show was around a year after that?
Many thanks, and Happy Holidays to you and yours KEN and The DaMB!!! See if you can get that date for me.
