"On Stage" is a live album released by the British rock band Rainbow in 1977. It was recorded during the band's European tour in late 1976. The album primarily includes live renditions of their songs from their previous two studio albums, "Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow" and "Rising."
The band's lineup for this album includes Ritchie Blackmore on guitar, Ronnie James Dio on vocals, Cozy Powell on drums, Jimmy Bain on bass, and Tony Carey on keyboards. This record is often praised for its energetic performances and excellent instrumentation, particularly Blackmore's guitar riffs and solos and Dio's powerful vocal performance.
Despite the fact that most of the songs performed are long, they are rousing renditions that were often altered from their original structures. Songs like "Kill the King" and "Catch the Rainbow" are notable highlights of the album.
"On Stage" captures the essence of Rainbow's live performances and showcases the exceptional talent and synergy of its band members. Despite some criticisms regarding the album's tracklist being too short, it is nevertheless considered a seminal live album within the heavy metal genre.
