Rainbow (rock band) steered Deep Purple through a significant personnel change, with Ian Gillan and Roger Glover being replaced by David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes. However, the new members were keen to add new musical styles and Blackmore found his request to record the Steve Hammond-penned "Black Sheep of the Family" with "Sixteenth Century Greensleeves" turned down by the band. He decided to record the song with Dio instead, using Dio's band Elf as additional musicians. He enjoyed the results, and a full album, billed as "Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow" was recorded between February and March 1975 at Musicland Studios in Munich, Germany. The
Gillan (band) then accepted an offer to front Black Sabbath to the incredulity of the Gillan band members, particularly McCoy, and the acrimony remains to the present day. McCoy subsequently released compilations of studio out-takes to which he had the rights, known as "The Gillan Tapes", and ensured that revenues were distributed fairly amongst the band. Bernie Tormé and John McCoy collaborated on the GMT band project, releasing two albums in 2006 and 2009. According to at least one interview, Gillan did not have nodes removed as British doctors recommended, as he was afraid that would adversely affect his voice. A German