Craig Gruber

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Craig Gruber

| image = Craig Gruber bassist.jpg

| landscape = yes

| birth_date = June 15, 1951

| birth_place = Cortland, New York, U.S.

| death_date = May 5, 2015 (aged 63)

| death_place = Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.

| occupation = Bassist

| years_active = 1970s–2015

| past_member_of = Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Bible Black, Gary Moore, Raven Lord{{cite web|url=http://www.musicmight.com/artist/united+states/california/los+angeles/ozz|title=Artists: OZZ|publisher=MusicMight.com|access-date=2015-05-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518064128/http://www.musicmight.com/artist/united+states/california/los+angeles/ozz|archive-date=2015-05-18|url-status=dead}}

}}

Craig M. Gruber (June 15, 1951 – May 5, 2015)[http://memorialwebsites.legacy.com/CraigGruber/Homepage.aspx Craig M. Gruber] was an American rock bassist, best known as the original bassist in Rainbow. He also played in Elf, consisting of vocalist Ronnie James Dio, keyboardist Mickey Lee Soule, drummer Gary Driscoll, and guitarist David Feinstein.

Biography

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/rainbow-bassist-craig-gruber-dead-at-63|title=Rainbow bassist Craig Gruber dead at 63|date=6 May 2015}}{{Cite web |url=https://playdabass.ca/bass-players-worldwide-2/bass-players-surnames-the-letter-g/craig-gruber/ |title=Craig Gruber – Play da Bass |access-date=2020-10-13 |archive-date=2020-07-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716152709/https://playdabass.ca/bass-players-worldwide-2/bass-players-surnames-the-letter-g/craig-gruber/ |url-status=dead }}

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 released three albums before Driscoll's murder in 1987. Gruber had also been working on an Elf reunion, even though it 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.{{citation needed|date=May 2015}}

Early in 2010 Gruber formed "ED3N"- a metal band in the classic rock genre. The band featured Gruber's former Bible Black bandmate and vocalist Jeff Fenholt and guitarist David Shankle, of DSG and formerly Manowar.{{citation needed|date=May 2015}}

Death

Craig Gruber died of prostate cancer in Florida on May 5, 2015, aged 63.{{cite web|author=Stef Lach|url=https://classicrock.teamrock.com/news/2015-05-06/rainbow-bassist-craig-gruber-dead-at-63|title=Rainbow bassist Craig Gruber dead at 63|publisher=ClassicRock.com|access-date=2015-05-06}}