Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore has posted the first photo of his new “rock” lineup on his Facebook page along with the comment, “And so the rehearsals begin..”
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.
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.
Blackmore’s band lineup includes: Lords of Black singer Ronnie Romero, Stratovarius keyboardist Jens Johansson, Blackmore’s Night drummer David Keith and bassist Bob Nouveau.
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 here.
26 Responses
I’m sure this is going to be great but those guys look more like a 1990s Alternative band like COLLECTIVE SOUL or LIVE but that wasn’t a bad look. He found those guys at the student union building at SUNY: NEW PALTZ. HEY DO YOU WANNA GIVE BLOOD FOR BEER MONEY OR SING MAN ON THE SILVER MOUNTAIN AND STARGAZER? Definetly fans of M#N WI$%O*T H@TS. No that is over with of course. DOUGGIE my boy had my back. Every incarnation of RAINBOW, and I mean the 4 singers was unique and I have no doubt that RAINBOW 2016 will be awesome. Hopefully STILL I’M SAD with vocals makes the cut. The ON STAGE version of that song is in my opinion. The best song ever sung by RJD and Blackmore’s best guitar playing. An underated landmark cover of an inferior original.
You know it Rich…Michael! (still getting used to that!) 😉
Hey, THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR! Cheers! 🙂
I’m with you Michael,
I’m a fan of all the Rainbow lineups. I think the Stranger in Us All album from 1995 is criminally overlooked, as none of the tracks from that album ever make the constant Rainbow compilations that are rolling out every other year.
I only wish I could see this in person. Ritchie is my favorite guitarist, and I doubt I’ll ever get to see him live.
It’s going to a tough task to make a setlist for these shows, considering they’re including Deep Purple cuts as well.
I bet that scrotum Joe Lynn Turner is excited about this.
I’m totally judging a book by it’s cover, but this is not inspiring greatness to me. This has got ‘I’m paying you nothing but the promise of one day becoming great because of this moment’ written all over it. I hope the dude can sing like Newton from Hercules claims he can. I personally would’ve went with a name because there’d be less pressure. I’m sure Joe Lynn Turner has a wig already picked out for the event. But Richie knows his shit, so lets assume this will be good.
Ritchie may not get along with them, but he always works with good lead singers:
Rod Evans
Ian Gillian
David Coverdale
Glenn Hughes
Ronnie James Dio
Graham Bonnett
Joe Lynn Turner
Dougie White
Candice Night
BLACKMORE’S NIGHT is not for everyone, but as far as Rocking Ritchie goes: Can anyone think of a bad album with him on it? None. Zero. The man has never ever mailed it in. Thnk of some of the garbage out there that says THE ROLLING STONES and realize that no way Blackmore would put his name on crap. He won’t start now. Major talent.
If only every artist thought like Ritchie, he respects, first and foremost, the integrity of the music, i.e., if he’s not feeling it, he goes to where his muse will take him, this is a guy who won’t b.s. himself into a big paycheck. So, he got the itch to do rock again, and he’s getting the last laugh really, these songs will be performed in their correct keys, and I love that he still looks for young talent. Nothing against Turner, who may still be able to sing the songs in their proper keys, but Ritchie needed someone who could hit the right keys, and be able to cover a broad range of material. Man, I’m excited.
You really don’t like that Whitesnake/Purple tribute album do you.
Lol….no.
I like some Blackmore’s Night if in the right mood. A fall night with some mead maybe. And I do like the Xmas album. That kind of music goes well with Xmas.
I’ll give Ritchie credit for one thing. He went and did what he wanted instead of continuing to go through the motions. I’d rather have him doing his medieval stuff than putting out mediocre rock albums for the last 20 years (ie Rolling Stones and McCartney come to mind). That speaks to your point Michael. Ritchie doesn’t mail it in. He may take a hard left, but never mailed it in.
I think I may change my name to Ken Stratemeyer…except I’ll be Kendall, to avoid confusion
Funny you mention that Ken. I just got that HOLIDAY CAROLS CD used off Amazon and it really is nice. Candice Night sounds beautiful on all of those songs. She even sings one in Hebrew. I’ll take BLACKMORE’S NIGHT over Paul McCartney striving for relevance by doing a song with Kanye and Rihana. Blackmore wouldn’t be caught dead playing over stupid duets and crossover nonsense. No one else should even pick up a guitar if he’s in the same room. I have respect for Springsteen as well but his movie soundtrack songs are 90% atrocious and 100% unnecessary. Knock em dead Ritchie.
Actually at the time of Down to Earth Blackmore got together with Agnetha from Abba, and considered some kind of collaboration. Obviously the meeting didn’t go very far, but his infatuation with that group explains how he ended up going in a pop commercial direction with Joe Lynn Turner.
“I like some Blackmore’s Night if in the right mood. A fall night with some mead maybe. And I do like the Xmas album. That kind of music goes well with Xmas.” – Kenneth Stratemeyer
Kenneth, would you like to take this back? You need to turn in your Metal Card and move along.
LOL. No sir.
Kenneth, I’ll bow to your comments and sense of logic and recognize that you’re most likely correct. RB has never mailed it in and is responsible for many a name vocalist of whom we would have never known. Maybe he’s right about this new guy he’s got singing for him. I wasn’t aware of the Holidays Carol (thx Richman), and will check that out tonight.
DR, maybe you and Kenneth can get together and drink hot cocoa and sit by the fireplace and sing Christmas carols. The thought of it warms my heart.
I’m still trying to figure out how all of this is supposed to affect me emotionally.
Hey Scrooge, what’s wrong with drinking hot cocoa, sitting by the fireplace and singing Christmas carols? Guys, just ignore Harry, he’s a little Tainted.
Shannon, get some help buddy! 😉 Later…
This is all just smoke on the water under the bridge, right there, right Doug (who’s always right). Thank you Doug for keeping us line.
Harry, are you lonely?
Shannon, my friend, once again, quoting ALICE IN CHAINS, you “Got Me Wrong.”
Not about being right, those posts speak for themselves.
For God’s sake Doug, I was attempting to expose the absurdity of taking a harsh tone with someone while in the realm anonymity (although I’m sure some are fine folks in real life). Is the irony lost on you?
And now a word from our sponsor: “Hi, this is Paul Stanley…” lol…I just can’t say it.
For what it’s worth: of all the guitar players we talk about on here, Ritchie is the only one I could possibly ascribe genius to.