MEMORIES IN ROCK - LIVE IN GERMANY

The new Rainbow line-up, from which a new album was expected, but only a few concerts were given. Also interesting, why not? Ritchie Blackmore is already 71 years old, and you can feel it in his careful solos in Highway Star and Spotlight Kid - less improvisation, slower speed. The same in the proven concert number Mistreated, which is initially slow, and then throughout the concert. Understandable. Otherwise, the age of the legendary guitarist does not affect anything. Probably, the new team of young musicians does not allow to relax.

I really like the vocal work of Ronnie Romero. In Highway Star he sang very similar to Ian Gillan, in Mistreated - almost like David Coverdale, and in the songs of the Dio era, in places it seemed that the great Man on the Silver Mountain was resurrected for this concert. Up to some of his specific, slightly growling intonations. A magical feeling, I can imagine what the audience felt at the concert. There is something to say about the contribution of the other musicians. They accompany perfectly, do not take the foreground and create a wonderful background for Ritchie Blackmore's passages. Drummer David Keith played beautifully on Difficult to Cure, but that is not why we love this instrumental. Although the jazz touch that is present in this version and the medley of famous classical pieces definitely do it good. Original! The performance of the famous Stargazer, which has not been played for a long time, is also pleasing. Very passionate and powerful. Of course, you can criticize Ronnie Romero for singing as if he is in a tribute band, but I liked it.

It was a good idea to include some Deep Purple songs in the setlist of the concert. Perfect Strangers is a little lacking the majestic keys of Jon Lord, but keyboardist Jens Johansson knows his stuff: after all, he played with the power metal band Stratovarius, Yngwie Malmsteen and Dio. The unexpected reincarnation of Child in Time also does not disappoint, although I never really liked this song. It sounded quite fresh, and Richie Blackmore's expressive solo simply takes your breath away.

Overall, a great concert. It's a pity that there were few such performances. And perhaps it's good that a studio album was not recorded. It would hardly have surpassed Stranger in us All, not to mention Rising.