Ex-DIO / RAINBOW Bassist JIMMY BAIN Recalls First Meeting With RONNIE JAMES DIO
January 17, 2011, 13 years ago
Rock Eyes' Greg Schmitt has issued an interview with former DIO / RAINBOW bassist Jimmy Bain. The following is an excerpt:
Q: Do you remember your first time meeting Ronnie (James Dio)? Obviously, it was back in the Rainbow days.
A: :It was in the Rainbow days, absolutely – it was in London and I had just spoken with Ritchie Blackmore a few days before, and he had asked me when I was gonna be playing again, and I said 'next Sunday at the Marquee Club'. And basically what he said was 'I’m gonna come over and check you out', which freaked me out at the time, because he was my big idol as guitar players went. And as it happened, when he came over, he brought Ronnie Dio with him, and Bruce Payne, the manager, and Fergie, the roadie who was the guy who knew me, who introduced me to Ritchie in the first place. So they all flew over to London to see me play, and it was kind of hilarious, because my band really didn't do a very good job. The drummer did particularly bad, and was sick. And instead of hitting the drums, and the stick was coming up and hitting me… and I was singing and playing the guitar player’s roles… and I was just completely disgusted, because I thought that was my big chance to get into the states and play in a band with Blackmore and stuff. And as it happens, as Ritchie put it - they made me look great, so that’s kinda how I got the job."
Read the complete interview at this location.
