Instruments Bass Name Craig Gruber | Role Vocalist | |
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Associated acts Elf, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, Bible Black, Gary Moore and Raven Lord Died May 5, 2015, Florida, United States Albums Ritchie Black's Rainbow, Live Between the Eyes, Burning at the Speed of Light, Descent to the Underworld Music groups Rainbow (1975), Bible Black (1980 – 1985), Raven Lord (2013) Similar People Gary Driscoll, Micky Lee Soule, Tony Carey, David Stone, Jimmy Bain | ||
Dio/Elf - Live 1974 - Syracuse, NY - USA
Craig M. Gruber (June 15, 1951 – May 5, 2015) was an American rock bassist, best known as the original bassist in Rainbow and most recently was a member for the band Zvekan. He also played in Elf, consisting of vocalist Ronnie James Dio, keyboardist Mickey Lee Soule, drummer Gary Driscoll and guitarist David Feinstein.
Contents
- DioElf Live 1974 Syracuse NY USA
- Scars and stripes with craig gruber on bass
- Death
- With Elf
- With Rainbow
- With Ozz
- With Gary Moore
- With The Rods
- References
Elf released three albums before they joined Ritchie Blackmore in his newly formed band Rainbow in mid-1975. Gruber played on Rainbow's first album, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. Soon after the album was released, Blackmore fired everyone except Dio. Gruber was also in the early recording sessions on Black Sabbath's Heaven and Hell album, co-writing "Die Young," until Geezer Butler heard Dio, and returned to the band.
Gruber played live with Gary Moore on his supporting tour for his album Victims of the Future, and featured on Moore's 1984 live album We Want Moore. In 1980 he formed Bible Black with former Elf and Rainbow drummer Gary Driscoll. The band produced two albums before Driscoll's murder in 1987. Near the end of his life, Gruber had been building a line of high-end "soloing" basses, which can be seen at Infinite Metal Werkz. Gruber had also been working on an Elf reunion, even though such a prospect seemed unlikely given the deaths of Driscoll and frontman Ronnie James Dio; both of whom had been members of the band from foundation until dissolution.
Early in 2010 Gruber formed "ED3N"- a metal band in the classic rock genre. The band featured vocalist Jeff Fenholt and guitarist David Shankle, of DSG and formerly Manowar.
On April 18, 2013 it was announced that Gruber had joined the band Raven Lord. He was to replace Jamie Mallender for the bassist's position. However, Gruber departed the band shortly thereafter and was replaced by Lucio Manca. On November 7, 2013, Gruber announced via Facebook that he became part of a newly formed band founded by Csaba Zvekan called Zvekan.
Scars and stripes with craig gruber on bass
Death
Craig Gruber died of prostate cancer in Florida on May 5, 2015, aged 63.