As previously reported, founding Deep Purple and Rainbow guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, has announced that he will be playing three rock shows in Europe under the name of Ricthie Blackmore’s Rainbow. Blackmore has finally revealed who will his bandmates. Sharing the stage with the legendary guitarist will be Lords of Black singer Ronnie Romero, Stratovarius keyboardist Jens Johansson, Blackmore’s Night drummer David Keith and bassist Bob Nouveau.
While some fans may be underwhelmed by the news, this lineup will keep the focus on Blackmore, which is what the tour is all about.Blackmore is particularly excited about introducing Romero to a larger audience.“The singer I found is very exciting,” Blackmore told Billboard in September, before he announced the lineup. “He’s a cross between [former Rainbow frontman Ronnie James] Dio meets Freddie Mercury. So, this will mean exposing a new singer to the masses, and I’m sure he’ll become pretty famous because of his voice.”
Listen to Romero cover of Deep Purple’s Stormbringer in the video below.Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow and guests are scheduled to play at two Monsters Of Rock festivals in Germany on June 17th and 18th and one UK show on June 25 in England at Birmingham Genting Arena. More dates are expected to be announced. Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow will perform “the classic rock anthems of Rainbow and Deep Purple,” according to show announcements. Blackmore reportedly plans to film and record the performances for future release.
It’s a double honor for us to bring this ground-breaking festival back to life. On the one hand it’s the festival itself, and on the other it’s the fact that Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow are an absolutely legendary band who have just been confirmed as the headlining act. Ritchie Blackmore has won worldwide acclaim as the driving force behind the likes of Deep Purple, Rainbow and Blackmore’s Night and is without a doubt one of the most important personalities in the history of hard rock.
Now the guitarist extraordinaire is about to make history again by performing his greatest hits from the Deep Purple and Rainbow eras at those upcoming German shows (two of only three gigs worldwide!). “I’m doing it for the fans,” says the Man in Black. It has not been confirmed yet who will join him on stage, but one thing is for sure: he is planning to film and record the performances for future release.
In addition, on November 20th, Eagle Vision is about to release The Ritchie Blackmore Story, a Blu-ray/DVD/CD package, presenting for the very first time the whole story of Blackmore’s remarkable career, featuring videos from his time with Deep Purple, Rainbow and Blackmore’s Night. It will also include extended interviews with the man himself and his colleagues and admirers, such as Brian May (Queen), Glenn Hughes, Lars Ulrich (Metallica), Steve Lukather (Toto), Joe Satriani, the late Jon Lord, David Coverdale, Gene Simmons, Joe Lynn Turner, Steve Vai, Graham Bonnet and Ian Anderson.
Blackmore recently told Billboard about his plans to revisit Rainbow and Deep Purple classics, stating, “I’m now 70, so I just felt like playing some rock n’ roll for a few days. We’re going to do four or five dates” — most likely in England, Germany and Sweden — “of just playing the old rock stuff, Purple stuff and Rainbow. I’m doing it for the fans, for nostalgia, and the singer I found is very exciting; he’s a cross between [Ronnie James] Dio meets Freddie Mercury. So this will mean exposing a new singer to the masses, and I’m sure he’ll become pretty famous because of his voice.”
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