Ex-RAINBOW/DIO Bassist JIMMY BAIN Dies At 68

jimmy-bain

Former RAINBOW and DIO bassist Jimmy Bain has passed away at the age of 68. According to Wikipedia, he died on 24 January after being attacked by a rabid black bear while vacationing at the Calf Creek campground recreation area of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument located in the state of Utah in the southwest portion of the United States along Utah’s Scenic Byway 12.

Bain was asked to join RAINBOW after Ritchie Blackmore had watched him performing at The Marquee in London. He would record the studio album Rising with them and play on their following world tour. While on the tour, he played on Rainbow’s first live album, On Stage. In January 1977, Bain was sacked from the band. He then toured Europe with John Cale.

In 1983, Jimmy linked up again with ex-RAINBOW vocalist Ronnie James Dio for the band Dio. A central figure within Dio the band, Jimmy co-wrote some of the most successful heavy metal songs of the eighties, such as “Rainbow in the Dark”, and “Holy Diver”. These two were on their first album Holy Diver (1983). Jimmy co-wrote several other songs for the following albums, The Last in Line (1984), Sacred Heart (1985), Intermission (1986), Dream Evil (1987) and Killing the Dragon (2002).