"Since You Been Gone" is the title of a rock song written and recorded by former Argent guitarist, Russ Ballard, and first released on his 1976 album, Winning. "Since You Been Gone"- Rainbow's 1979 hit version from the song is from the album Down to Earth, released in 1979. Rainbow's cover version featuring lead singer, Graham Bonnet, was a Top 10 single in the United Kingdom and was named the 82nd best hard rock song of all time by VH1. Rainbow (also known as Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow or Blackmore's Rainbow) were a British hard rock band formed in California, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. They were originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up. In addition to lead singers Ronnie James Dio, Graham Bonnet, Joe Lynn Turner and Doogie White, the project consisted of numerous backing musicians. The band started out combining mystical lyric themes with neo-classical metal, but went in a more streamlined commercial style following Dio's departure from the group. Rainbow were ranked No. 90 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock. The band has sold over 28 million albums worldwide and 4 million albums in the United States.