The Blackmore Legacy 2014 - 2016
The Blackmore Legacy were formed in 2014 following changes within the tribute band Rainbow Rising. The band were looking to expand their show to include tracks from other bands that were directly and indirectly influenced by Ritchie Blackmore and artists that performed alongside him. The bands were to include Rainbow, Deep purple, Whitesnake, Heaven & Hell and Dio.
James Last - Drums
Peter Hagan - Bass Guitar
Barry Sharples - Lead Guitar
Andy Keys - Keyboard
Mark Raggie Slack - Vocals
They performed their first "Tribute To Ritchie Blackmore" on October 4th 2014 at The Moses Gate in Farnworth and the setlist was varied to the extreme.
Burn, Stormbringer, Highway Star, Fool For Your Loving, Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues, Stand Up And Shout, Holy Diver, Don't Talk To Strangers, Soldier Of Fortune, Heaven And Hell, Blindman, Mistreated, Catch The Rainbow, Tearing Out My Heart, Stargazer, Kill The King, Rainbow In The Dark and Long Live Rock 'N' Roll.
One more gig was performed in 2014 at Arches in Coventry with a return to a Rainbow laiden setlist with only two non Rainbow tracks being performed in Burn and Highway Star.
2015 was a devastating year for the band and the music scene as a whole. Mark "Raggie" Slack was to perform only two more gigs with The Blackmore Legacy, the first being a Deep Purple Family Tree event when the band were to headline with a shortened Rainbow set following performances from Lovehunter and Pure Purple, the second was the following night on January 31st at Yardbirds in Grimsby.
Mark passed away on March 10th 2015. It was a devastating shock for his family, friends and bandmates and would send the band into standstill whilst they came to terms with the tragic loss and indeed question there desire to continue at all.
It was six months before the band decided they wanted to carry on, well aware that there could be no replacement for Raggie, both as a singer, and as a friend.
On the 17th October the band auditioned and offered the role to Wayne Dorman. In Wayne they had found a voice of the standard needed to do justice to the trinity of Dio, Bonnet and Turner. An instant hit, Wayne bought a style of his own and immediately felt like a part of the band with his personality and drive matching those of his bandmates.
Wayne Dorman - Vocals 2015
James Last - Drums
Peter Hagan - Bass Guitar
Barry Sharples - Lead Guitar
Andy Keys - Keyboard
Wayne Dorman - Vocals
It would be just two days short of a year before the band were to perform again. On Friday January 29th 2016 The Blackmore Legacy took the stage at Bilston for The Deep Purple Family Tree event opening a triple header with Pure Purple and Whitesnake UK. The band performed a Rainbow only shortened set consisting of Kill The King, Man On The Silver Mountain, I Surrender, Catch The Rainbow, Since You've Been Gone, Love's No Friend, Stargazer and Long Live Rock 'N' Roll. A massive night for the band, emotionally charged and performed with great power. Wayne quite rightly received a great reception and did himself, the band and the memory of Raggie proud.
Another six gigs followed in 2016 and saw the band going from strength to strength. The origional idea of covering numerous bands was dropped as they returned to a Rainbow heavy setlist with a few Deep Purple tracks thrown in the mix. Wayne had put his own stamp on things and the band had bonded and were now playing with great ease and cohesion, lots of onstage banter was being witnessed and the music was of the highest standard.
Another change of events was to see the band looking for a replacement drummer as James announced his intention to leave as he had decided to move to Canada. Mick Rice who had been the drummer for Rainbow Rising from it's birth in 1996 agreed to pick up the drum sticks and it was because of this that a decision was made to bring an end to The Blackmore Legacy and continue once more as Rainbow Rising.
The Blackmore Legacy performed their last gig at The Tavistock Wharf on Saturday August 20th in what proved to be their finest concert. With a setlist consisting of Kill The King, 16th Century Greensleeves, Self Portrait, Catch The Rainbow, Mistreated, Burn, Perfect Strangers, Tearing Out My Heart, Difficult To Cure, Still I'm Sad, Stargazer, A Light In The Black, Man On The Silver Mountain, Since You've Been Gone and (at James's request in memory of Raggie) Gates Of Babylon the band wowed the audience with a near perfect flawless performance. The Wharf offers a big stage, great lighting and an immense sound system which the band took full advantage of and left everyone on a high. James bowed out in style with a blistering solo during Still I'm Sad including his own tribute to the legendary Cozy Powel.
On a personal note it was an honour to share the journey - the good and the bad - the joy and the tradgedy. The music lives on - Long Live Rock 'N' Roll.
