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.
[Dana’s note: Thank you to Todd, for passing this news along.]
additional source: guitarplayer.com
31 Responses
I thought he might have saved a spot for Frodo or Bilbo. Ritchie doing shows without the Baggins boys? Say it aint so!!
Also, what a giant middle finger he gave to that feminine hygiene product, Joe Lynn Turner.
Maybe JLT can work as the court vocalist for Putin.
I can’t help but think he’ll add a few more shows if it goes well, which I’m sure it will. This singer will be a household name after this, so good for him. Maybe they’ll do some large theater shows n the US.
I will definitely buy this DVD.
Hi Dana,
This seems a good a place as any to post one account of Cozy Powell’s death.
At your request, and sorry for the wait … as well as for raising whatever expectations you had of a juicy story. This excerpt from Iommi’s autobiography understates what I must have read elsewhere about Cozy Powell’s accident in caused in part by a needy girlfriend. Still pretty bad though:
“Cozy was seeing this girl. She was married but separated, or separating, and she had problems with her husband. Cozy was at home and he’d had a few drinks, as he tended to, and she called him all upset and said: ‘Can you come over quick[ly]?’
Cozy lived about thirty or forty miles away from her. He flew down the motorway in his Saab, quite a quick car. While he was driving towards her she phoned him up. ‘Where are you?’
‘I’m on my way.’
While they were on the phone, she heard him go: ‘Oh, shit!’
And the next thing: bang!
I think it was raining at the time. Cozy wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. He hit something and went straight through the windscreen.”
Iommi’s memoirs also presents a lot of reasons to be skeptical that a reunion of Iommi and Dio would have included Powell.
Hi Tyger,
Thank you so much for relaying this story. So tragic, as Powell was simply magic (yes, sorry for the cheesy rhyme) on the drums.
If Cozy had not answered the phone, he might still be here. But then again, if he always drove like he was on autobahn, this may have been fait di complet.
D 🙂
… fait accompli
🙂
Yes, thank you.
The spelling looked weird to me too, as I took French for six years. But, when I typed it into Google to make sure I was spelling it correctly, that is what they gave me.
Google est tres stupide et ma francais est tres mal. LOL!
D 🙂
WAIT! WAIT! WAIT! HOLD ON A MINUTE. ARE YOU SURE? I MEAN FOR REAL. PORTNOY IS NOT IN THIS BAND? YOU NEED TO DOUBLE CHECK.
The guy in the picture? Is that Blackmore or Al Pacino dressed as Blackmore?