BraveWords.com has received the following:

In August 2008, four former RAINBOW musicians reunited and asked Jurgen Blackmore, son of Rainbow's founder Ritchie Blackmore, to join them in OVER THE RAINBOW.

The band launched their debut tour in Russia, Belarus and The Ukraine earlier this year before sold out arena crowds. The buzz generated by fans was so intense that the demand for them to return to Russia had to be met.

Bassist Greg Smith says, "I am very excited about going back to Russia. The fans there were amazing and I cant wait to play for them again. Its also exciting to bring this show to several cities in Western and Eastern Europe for the first time."

Vocalist Joe Lynn Turner adds, "The variety of European cities that we are playing on this tour is a strong testament to the fact that the music of Rainbow is alive, well and in demand by the fans who have never forgotten its contribution to music history. As for returning to Russia, the Russian people and fans have always had a warm place in my musical heart and soul. Debuting Over The Rainbow earlier this year there was electric! We are ready to give the fans more this fall!"

In the 70s, 80s and 90s, Rainbow released over 20 albums (five Gold, four Silver), seven Billboard Hot 100 and Mainstream Rock tracks, six Top 75 UK songs and at least seven MTV frequently played videos. Since 1998, former members of Rainbow and their respective management offices were overloaded with requests for Rainbow to reunite. Rondinelli, Smith and Turner agreed that the only legitimate way to accomplish this was to employ a Blackmore on guitar.

Jurgen Blackmore said, "The Russian fans welcomed me with open arms during the band's debut tour. I felt like the fans were very encouraging. They were obviously so hungry to hear Rainbow songs performed live again and I was proud to be the one to help deliver the music to them! For this tour, I am especially looking forward to playing in my home country of Germany."

Over The Rainbow is:

Vocals: Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow 1980-1984)

Drums: Bobby Rondinelli (Rainbow 1980-1983)

Bass: Greg Smith (Rainbow 1994-1997)

Guitar: Jurgen ("J.R.") Blackmore

On keyboards for this forthcoming tour is Paul Morris (Rainbow 1994-1997). He adds, "When I played with Rainbow back in the 90's we did a couple of tours in Europe, but never went any further [east] then East Germany. It will be awesome to play this great music to so many new people who never got the chance to see [the original] Rainbow."

Drummer Bobby Rondinelli sums it up best by saying, "Europe is our second home and Russia is where the band was born. It will be great to go back."

Tour dates:

September

4 - Fratelli - Bucharest, Romania
5 - City Square - Kavarna, Bulgaria
15 - Palace of Sport - Krasnodar, Russia
17 - Palace of Sport Olimp - Rostov-on-Don, Russia
19 - Concert Hall Philarmonic - Tyumen, Russia
21 - Palace of Culture - Perm, Russia
23 - MTL Arena - Samara, Russia
25 - Piramida - Kazan, Russia
27 - Palace of Sport - Omsk, Russia
29 - Ice Palace - Irkutsk, Russia

October

1 - Palace of Sport - Krasnoyarsk, Russia
3 - Palace of Sport - Novosibirsk, Russia
5 - Concert Hall Russia - Moscow, Russia
7 - Yeni Melek G.M. - Istanbul Turkey
9 - Forum Palace - Vilnius, Lithuania
10 - House of Culture - Helsinki, Finland
12 - Tradgarn - Gothenburg, Sweden
13 - Kulturbolaget - Malmo, Sweden
15 - Retro Music Hall - Prague, Czech Republic
17 - Estragon - Bologna, Italy
18 - TBA - Thessanoliki, Greece
19 - Gagarian - Athens, Greece
21 - TBA - Ioninna, Greece
23 - Festhalle Durlach - Karlsruhe, Germany
24 - De Pul - Uden, Holland
25 - Aladin - Bremen, Germany
28 - Sala Joy Eslava - Madrid, Spain
29 - Razzmatazz II - Barcelona, Spain
31 - Rockstar Live - Bilbao, Spain