I guess some people haven't heard Elf. Ronnie's singing style was clearly established in 1972 and since he had been around so long by then even, it's hard to imagine it being much different. Elf wasn't even really a metal band. It was like some kind of Fozzy the bear honly tonk band or something, but thatvoice had a destiny from the get-go that screamed to be in a band that was making the heaviest music. Ronnie's aesthetic tastes were firmly metal before that entire thing was established too. He looked like a goof in the seventies like everyone else, but naming his band "Elf" IS telling of his personality. You never have to question his sincerity, but if you asked Gillan in 75 if he wanted to be a pop star or an obscure footnote in mainstream music, I couldn't answer for him. You can for Dio. You know he wouldn't even consider compromising himself for more success. The others did at various points. Though to clean that argument up I would say commercial rainbow was not that, that was the purple reunion IMO was the compromise for Ritchie.