Well, I guess if the Allman Brothers Band and Yes can start getting the kids involved, so can other bands. I was (and still am) an enormous Rainbow fan and Ritchie Blackmore is my favorite guitar player ever. But, since Ritchie continues to live amongst pixies, fairies, goblins and nerds, I guess this news is the best fans could hope for.
4 ex-Rainbow members including vocalist Joe Lynn Turner have put the band back together as Over The Rainbow (hey-they're letting you know it's not Rainbow per se) with Ritchie's son on guitar, who looks just like him! I can only imagine he's a great musician and that this is happening with Blackmore's blessing-I'm quite curious about that.
Doubt they'll play the States, don't know if I'd go anyway. Without Ritchie it's just not Rainbow-then again, I'd be so curious to hear his son. Plus, it's the Dio lineup I'd want back together anyway, but with Cozy Powell gone that wouldn't be the same either. Ritchie-just play Rock again!
Anyway, from Melodic Rock.com:

FORMER RAINBOW STARS GATHER:
Former Rainbow musicians Joe Lynn Turner, Tony Carey, Bobby Rondinelli and Greg Smith have united with a second generation Blackmore to form Over The Rainbow.
Over The Rainbow is: Vocals: Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow 1980-1984) Keyboards: Tony Carey (Rainbow 1975-1978) Drums: Bobby Rondinelli (Rainbow 1980-1983) Bass: Greg Smith (Rainbow 1994-1997) Guitar: Jurgen ("J.R.") Blackmore.
Carey, who has produced several artists including Joe Cocker and David Knopfler since his Rainbow days says, "Having done everything from country to opera, I thought it would be fun to play some rock again without the burden of singing everything."
Rondinelli adds, "Over the Rainbow re-unites members of one of the most distinctive sounding bands of all time and introduces a hidden treasure to the world in J.R. Blackmore.''
The son of the iconic Rainbow founder/guitarist, Ritchie Blackmore, is Jurgen ("J.R.") Blackmore. J.R. is a critically acclaimed guitarist in his own right and agreed to join this endeavor after realizing how intense the demand was for a Rainbow "reunion." Over The Rainbow marks the first time that four members from three different eras of Rainbow will take the stage together along with J.R. Blackmore.
Rainbow has spawned 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. Their longest tenure was from its inception through 1984 when it went on hiatus so Blackmore could reform Deep Purple. A decade later, Rainbow toured and recorded an album. Since then, Ritchie Blackmore has turned his focus toward Blackmore’s Night.
Since 1998, former members of Rainbow and their respective management offices have been bombarded with requests for Rainbow to reunite. Carey, Rondinelli, Smith and Turner answered "the call" but agreed that the only legitimate way that this could be accomplished was with a Blackmore on guitar. Enter: J.R. Blackmore.
How does the younger Blackmore feel about sharing the stage with musicians he grew up watching perform in concert with his legendary father? "I have not worked with them," says Blackmore, "But, I have admired them since I was young. That makes them like brothers.”
Greg Smith agrees that the market for Rainbow’s brand of rock is under served. "I know there is a big demand for this music,” he says, “The fact that all members are ex-Rainbow from different periods in the band's history will give the music the integrity it deserves. A Blackmore on guitar will give it even more authenticity."
While Joe Lynn Turner has fond memories of collaborating with and great respect for Ritchie Blackmore, he's looking forward to working with his son. He states, “J.R. is the only logical choice for the guitar slot for Over The Rainbow. I have followed some of his projects over the years now. He's very talented."
Over the Rainbow will begin touring in Russia during February of 2009.

Slightly misleading thread title, but hey, it works!

Is this the same group that was calling itself Purple Rainbow? I remember reading something that Joe Lynn Turner was involved in a group with such a name. There may have been another ex-Purple member involved, but it was a little while ago.

This is that same lineup with the addition of Young Blackmore.

Wow-we went and saw Over The Rainbow tonight down the shore in beautiful Ocean City because we could walk the boards, enjoy the ocean (man it was beautiful tonight) and see the show.
It really kicked ass! Jurgen Blackmore is very, very good. He's still not Ritchie though, but he handled himself well. Joe Lynn Turner can still sing but he was best on his own era material, less so on the Dio, Bonnett and Doogie eras. Bobby Rondinelli is still a beast on drums! What a solo! And Paul Morris is a true keyboard virtuoso-he was stunningly brilliant. It was really fun. I saw Rainbow back in the day and they were simply awesome-they've always been one of my favorite bands and still are, so I took this for what it was. Everyone I went with had never seen rainbow so they really enjoyed it. And, "Stargazer" was killer!
We met Jurgen afterwards and got his autograph-a very nice guy and he was asking everyone if they enjoyed it-we did!

They played almost everything they should and then some. A dream setlist for a Rainbow fan, (if only Ritchie were there):
Tarot Woman
Kill The King
Man On The Silver Mountain
Can't Happen Here
Death Alley Driver
Street Of Dreams
Eyes Of The World (w/ keyboard solo)
Long Live Rock N' Roll (including Lazy)
Ariel
Wolf To The Moon
I Surrender
Jealous Lover
Stargazer (w/ drum solo)
Since You've Been Gone
Stone Cold
All Night Long

They're playing the Stone Pony this Saturday July 11-if anyone is curious, go-you will be very impressed!

Ritchie's too busy frolicking in the woods. However it is nice to know that someone else in the family knows the knobs go to eleven.