My MP3 Player Won't Stop Playing: Since You Been Gone

Rainbow was a band that went through lead singers like politicians go through mistresses. I think this was mainly because Ritchie Blackmore (of Deep Purple fame), the driving force behind the band, was patient zero for what would later be named Yngwie Malmsteen Disease, a malady which causes talented guitarists to develop a God complex and piss off their lead singers (as well as everybody else in the band).

Ronnie James Dio gave way to Graham Bonnet, who gave way to Joe Lynn Turner (who would later sing with Yngwie's band before leaving. See? SEE?) who gave way to something called a "Doogie White".

Anyway, lately the ole' Zen has been feeling nostalgic for a time when lead singers wore giant aviator sunglasses, drummers sported wristbands with big spikes that went perfectly with their windbreaker, and feathered hair wasn't a fashion choice, it was the law:



What this might mean: Zen is interested in the dynamics of how a band can survive, and even thrive, after multiple lineup changes while retaining the one piece of the puzzle (Blackmore) who keeps mucking it up in the first place.

What else this might mean: If I made a Halloween costume that combined Bonnet's sunglasses, Blackmore's leftover haircut from Deep Purple, Roger Glover's satin jacket and white tie combo and the wristbands that the drummer stole from Gwar's dressing room, October 31st, 2009 would be the day I took over the world.

Bonus trivia: Russ Ballard wrote this song. If you don't know who that is, Google Bing him. He wrote an awful lot of songs you'll recognize.