1980

February

1st – RAINBOW – FOREST-Vorst National, Belgium

Part of a long tour, the band’s first in a year following the loss of Ronnie Dio. They were promoting the Down To Earth album and fronted by new singer Graham Bonnet. The tour lasted almost twelve months and culminated in the outdoor show at Donington. This large A0 size screen-printed poster was typical of many concert posters of the time, designed for maximum visibility, and despite Ritchie’s promises in 1976, still carried his name above the band. Rudy’s Music Shops are still going strong, with a few branches selling musical instruments etc. but I don’t know their exact connection with the promoters, Lion Concerts.  There is a full tour list in the Graham Bonnet biography published by Easy On The Eye Books.

September

24th – GILLAN – BBC Paris Studio, London

The Gillan band recorded one of the famous BBC radio In Concert sets in September 1980. Tickets for this event were free on application but limited.  The show was aired on BBC Radio 1 a few days later, and issued by RPM Records on a 2CD set of the band’s BBC recordings in 1998 (then in poorer versions by other labels.)

 

Unchain Your Brain 4:08 / Are You Sure? 4:42 / Mr. Universe 6:43 / No Easy Way 9:05 / Trouble 3:24 / If You Believe Me 8:19 / On The Rocks 6:00 / Nervous 4:06 / Running White Face City Boy 3:38 / Vengeance 4:19 / Lucille 3:12