Down to Earth (Rainbow album)
Down to Earth is the fourth studio album by the British hard rock band Rainbow. It is their last album to feature drummer Cozy Powell, their first with bassist Roger Glover and keyboardist Don Airey and their only album with vocalist Graham Bonnet. Released in 1979, it contains Rainbow's first hit single "Since You Been Gone", marking a more commercial direction of the band's sound.
Cover art by Ron Walotsky
Rainbow are a British/American rock band formed in London and Los Angeles in 1975 by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. Established in the aftermath of Blackmore's first departure from Deep Purple, they originally featured four members of the band Elf, including their singer Ronnie James Dio, but after their self-titled debut album, Blackmore fired these members, except Dio, recruiting drummer Cozy Powell, bassist Jimmy Bain and keyboardist Tony Carey. This line-up recorded the band's second album Rising (1976), while Long Live Rock 'n' Roll (1978) saw Bob Daisley and David Stone replace Bain and Carey, respectively. Long Live Rock 'n' Roll was also the last album with Dio before he left the band to join Black Sabbath in 1979.
Rainbow performing in 2017. (From left to right) keyboardist Jens Johansson, backing vocalists Lady Lynn and Candice Night, bassist Bob Nouveau, guitarist and founder Ritchie Blackmore, singer Ronnie Romero and drummer David Keith
Ronnie James Dio and Ritchie Blackmore in 1977
Rainbow performing in Munich, West Germany, in 1977
Doogie White in 2009