OVER THE RAINBOW Schedules Japanese Dates

January 20, 2009

OVER THE RAINBOW — the new band featuring former RAINBOW musicians Joe Lynn Turner, Tony Carey, Bobby Rondinelli and Greg Smith alongside the son of the iconic RAINBOW founder/guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, Jürgen Blackmore — will play three shows in Japan this spring. The dates are as follows:

Apr. 27 - Namba Hatch - Osaka, JPN
Apr. 29 - Diamond Hall - Nagoya, JPN
May 01 - Kosei-Nenkin Hall - Tokyo, JPN

For Japanese fans, this will be their first glimpse at the younger Blackmore in their country. Jürgen "J.R." Blackmore is looking forward to handling guitar duties for OVER THE RAINBOW in a country that has always embraced the melodic hard rock sound that made RAINBOW famous. He says, "I have never been to Japan before but it was always my big dream. So, my dream comes true, to meet the Japanese rock fans live."

Drummer Bobby Rondinelli reminisces, "Japan was always like a second home for RAINBOW and I'm really looking forward to going home with OVER THE RAINBOW."

Some of the most memorable shows in RAINBOW's history took place at the legendary Budokan arena. Singer Joe Lynn Turner recalls, "Those concerts at the Budokan were among the greatest highlights of my career. I have since gone back and played many shows in Japan as a solo artist and with other projects. The audiences in Japan are among the best in the world. They have kept the spirit of classic melodic hard rock alive."

Keyboardist Tony Carey adds, "The last time I played in Japan was in 1976 with RAINBOW. I had a great time and now, all these years later, we're coming back to rock the house down. You might not need to lock up your daughters anymore — but wear heavy shoes or we'll blow you off your feet."

OVER THE RAINBOW is:

Joe Lynn Turner (RAINBOW 1980-1984) - Vocals
Tony Carey (RAINBOW 1975-1978) - Keyboards
Bobby Rondinelli (RAINBOW 1980-1983) - Drums
Greg Smith (RAINBOW 1994-1997) - Bass
Jürgen "J.R." Blackmore - Guitar

Jürgen Blackmore is a critically acclaimed guitarist in his own right and agreed to join this endeavor after realizing how intense the demand was for a RAINBOW "reunion." OVER THE RAINBOW marks the first time that four members from three different eras of RAINBOW will take the stage together along with J.R. Blackmore.

OVER THE RAINBOW will begin touring in Russia during February of 2009. The dates are as follows:

Feb. 14 - Minsk, Belarus - Palace of Sport
Feb. 16 - Saint-Petersburg, Russia - Big Concert Hall
Feb. 18 - Moscow, Russia - Club B1 Maximum
Feb. 19 - Ivanovo, Russia - Music Theatre
Feb. 21 - Ekaterinburg, Russia - Palace of Youth
Feb. 23 - Odessa, Ukraine - Palace of Sport
Feb. 24 - Kiev, Ukraine - Palace of Sport
Feb. 26 - Kharkov, Ukraine - Opera Theatre
Feb. 27 - Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine - Palace of Sport

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