Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Robert John Hadfield dives into the fascinating final chapter of Rainbow through their 1983 album Bent Out of Shape—an album that quietly marked the end of an era, not just for the band, but for an entire branch of the Deep Purple family tree. What looked like “full speed ahead” at the time was actually the beginning of the end, as Richie Blackmore would soon pivot back to Deep Purple for the Perfect Strangers reunion.
Along the way, Robert unpacks the constantly shifting identity of Rainbow—arguably one of rock’s most unstable lineups—while tracing its evolution from Ronnie James Dio’s fantasy-driven beginnings to Joe Lynn Turner’s more melodic, commercial era. He also pulls back the curtain on the band’s internal tensions, Blackmore’s relentless pursuit of a hit, and the strange reality that Rainbow’s biggest success came from a song that wasn’t even theirs.
But this episode goes even deeper. Robert connects the album to the legendary design firm Hipgnosis and Storm Thorgerson’s transition into his own work—highlighting how Bent Out of Shape sits at the crossroads of both musical and visual history. Add in vintage Hit Parader insights, behind-the-scenes stories, and a killer trivia segment tying Rainbow to Metallica, and this becomes a full-on deep dive into one of rock’s most overlooked turning points.
⏱️ Timestamps
0:00 – “Be honest… you had a ghetto blaster”
0:18 – Rock trivia challenge (Rainbow + Metallica)
1:01 – Hit Parader discovery sparks the story
1:34 – Why Bent Out of Shape was the end
2:05 – “Who is Rainbow?” (lineup chaos explained)
2:29 – Blackmore leaves Deep Purple
3:19 – Ronnie James Dio and the birth of Rainbow
4:08 – The push for commercial success
4:25 – Graham Bonnet era + unexpected hit
4:57 – Joe Lynn Turner joins the band
6:17 – Rainbow’s biggest hits and standout tracks
7:15 – Why this album marks the real ending
7:39 – Hipgnosis and Storm Thorgerson connection
9:08 – “STD” design mystery explained
10:13 – Thorgerson’s legacy beyond the ‘80s
11:06 – Reading the 1983 Hit Parader article
13:26 – The struggle between art vs. hits
16:16 – Recording Bent Out of Shape
17:01 – Songwriting shifts within the band
18:05 – Joe Lynn Turner finding his place
19:50 – Endless lineup changes explained
22:24 – The biggest Rainbow tour ever
23:45 – “No one wants Deep Purple back”… really?
24:00 – Trivia answers revealed
25:38 – Martin Birch and metal production legacy
26:01 – Final thoughts + audience questions
🔥 Hashtags
#Rainbow #RitchieBlackmore #DeepPurple #ClassicRock #Metallica #RockHistory #Hipgnosis #StormThorgerson #Audiomover #JoeLynnTurner #RonnieJamesDio
Robert John Hadfield dives into the fascinating final chapter of Rainbow through their 1983 album Bent Out of Shape—an album that quietly marked the end of an era, not just for the band, but for an entire branch of the Deep Purple family tree. What looked like “full speed ahead” at the time was actually the beginning of the end, as Richie Blackmore would soon pivot back to Deep Purple for the Perfect Strangers reunion.
Along the way, Robert unpacks the constantly shifting identity of Rainbow—arguably one of rock’s most unstable lineups—while tracing its evolution from Ronnie James Dio’s fantasy-driven beginnings to Joe Lynn Turner’s more melodic, commercial era. He also pulls back the curtain on the band’s internal tensions, Blackmore’s relentless pursuit of a hit, and the strange reality that Rainbow’s biggest success came from a song that wasn’t even theirs.
But this episode goes even deeper. Robert connects the album to the legendary design firm Hipgnosis and Storm Thorgerson’s transition into his own work—highlighting how Bent Out of Shape sits at the crossroads of both musical and visual history. Add in vintage Hit Parader insights, behind-the-scenes stories, and a killer trivia segment tying Rainbow to Metallica, and this becomes a full-on deep dive into one of rock’s most overlooked turning points.
⏱️ Timestamps
0:00 – “Be honest… you had a ghetto blaster”
0:18 – Rock trivia challenge (Rainbow + Metallica)
1:01 – Hit Parader discovery sparks the story
1:34 – Why Bent Out of Shape was the end
2:05 – “Who is Rainbow?” (lineup chaos explained)
2:29 – Blackmore leaves Deep Purple
3:19 – Ronnie James Dio and the birth of Rainbow
4:08 – The push for commercial success
4:25 – Graham Bonnet era + unexpected hit
4:57 – Joe Lynn Turner joins the band
6:17 – Rainbow’s biggest hits and standout tracks
7:15 – Why this album marks the real ending
7:39 – Hipgnosis and Storm Thorgerson connection
9:08 – “STD” design mystery explained
10:13 – Thorgerson’s legacy beyond the ‘80s
11:06 – Reading the 1983 Hit Parader article
13:26 – The struggle between art vs. hits
16:16 – Recording Bent Out of Shape
17:01 – Songwriting shifts within the band
18:05 – Joe Lynn Turner finding his place
19:50 – Endless lineup changes explained
22:24 – The biggest Rainbow tour ever
23:45 – “No one wants Deep Purple back”… really?
24:00 – Trivia answers revealed
25:38 – Martin Birch and metal production legacy
26:01 – Final thoughts + audience questions
🔥 Hashtags
#Rainbow #RitchieBlackmore #DeepPurple #ClassicRock #Metallica #RockHistory #Hipgnosis #StormThorgerson #Audiomover #JoeLynnTurner #RonnieJamesDio
