Graham Bonnet has said he was “an idiot” to quit Rainbow after only having recorded parts of one song. The singer admitted he’s “kicking himself now” after making a decision he describes as “a bit too cocky.”

He replaced Ronnie James Dio in Ritchie Blackmore’s band in 1979, but he was only there long enough to lay down backing vocals for the track “I Surrender” in the U.K. before he went home to Los Angeles and refused to return. His place was taken by Joe Lynn Turner.

“I did some backing vocals and quit after the backing vocals were done, because we had nothing else," Bonnet told Metal Talk. “I said, ‘I’ve done backing. What else have you got?’ ‘We have nothing.’ So I went back to L.A. They called me up a little later to say, ‘We’ve got some more songs now. If we get another singer to so some of the songs you don’t want to do, you do the songs you like.’ And I said, ‘No, that won’t work – two singers?’ So I just quit. What an idiot! I’m kicking myself now. I should have stayed a bit longer.”

He reported that he’d since apologized to the members of Rainbow and added, “My ego was taking me somewhere else. I was a bit too cocky – but in the end it worked out okay.”

Bonnet went on to work briefly with the Michael Schenker Group, Alcatrazz and Impellitteri. He released a new solo album, The Book, in November, and last year lined up alongside Gary Barden and Robin McAuley to share vocals with a revitalized MSG.

Blackmore, who split Rainbow in 1997, presented a 21st-century lineup in 2016 – and he’s confirmed more appearances will take place this year.

Top 50 Classic Heavy Metal Albums

More From 100.7 KOOL FM