Ritchie Blackmore has revealed the lineup for the series of shows he’ll play with Rainbow next year.
The guitarist will be joined by Lords Of Black singer Ronnie Romero, Stratovarius keyboardist Jens Johansson, Blackmore’s Night drummer David Keith and bassist Bob Nouveau.
The group will perform the Best of Rainbow and Deep Purple at the Monsters Of Rock festivals in Loreley, Germany on June 17 and Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany on June 18, as well as a solo headlining date at the Genting Arena in Birmingham, UK on June 25.
“I'm doing it for the fans, for nostalgia, and the singer I found is very exciting,” says Blackmore. “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."
The 2016 shows marks a rare return to rock by the guitarist after years as the leader of Blackmore’s Night, a medieval folk band he formed in 1997 with then-girlfriend and now-wife Candice Night.
Deep Purple were recently named among the nominees for induction into the 2016 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.
The band are under consideration among 14 other artists for one of five spots in the Cleveland-based institution alongside Cheap Trick, Yes, The Cars and Steve Miller, among others.
See also:
Ritchie Blackmore brings Rainbow to the UK
Ritchie Blackmore to play 2016 rock show in the UK
Ritchie Blackmore confirms second Best Of Rainbow & Deep Purple show
Ritchie Blackmore announces Best Of Rainbow & Deep Purple show
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