Ritchie Blackmore has begun scheduling dates for his Purple Rainbows set (for want of a better name!). It looks like these will be part of the big summer rock festivals in 2016 and take in Finland, Sweden, Germany and the UK. But he has told one reporter that he doesn’t rule out more shows if these go well.
The first date to be announced officially is the Monsters of Rock Festival in Bietigheim, Germany at the Viadukt (the site is right next to an impressive stone viaduct) on June 18th. Tickets will go on sale on the 6th November. Prognosticators are suggesting Download in the UK and Sweden Rocks may be likely events for the “tour”.
Still at least doing festivals ends any personal inner torment about whether to go or not, I’m certainly not sitting in a muddy field all day being deafened by musicians I have absolutely no interest in for anyone! The concerts will be filmed so this sounds like a better option.
Names of the other musicians are still on hold, though Ritchie has admitted an older idea was to cut a studio album using a number of different guest singers. This has been dropped.
Throughout it all Ritchie is clearly at pains to stress this is an adjunct to Blackmore’s Night. I’m not sure he need worry, they have a dedicated audience and I’m sure they’ll still be there when the rock shows are over.
Tags: 2016, deep purple, festival, rainbow, ritchie blackmore
darker than blue 
November 8, 2015 at 8:00 pm |
After a terrible day trying to get UK tickets it might cheaper to go to Germany!
October 23, 2015 at 10:19 am |
It’s just fantastic news made my week/s. . . . and good as GH is it seems half-baked what I’ve seen with Doug and the drummer (only) and with all due respect could be far more exciting with RB and DC . . . . and yes Mach 3 would have been a good title but then again – and the evocation of glorious history thinking back to 76 that hand gripping the Rainbow…! I still think Catch the Rainbow and Stargazer and Gates of Babylon (ok being fair one from each of the classic css!) are Tops and best anything from DP – make sure they’re in the set-list please!!!
October 22, 2015 at 11:40 am |
As I live in the States, I hope they record at least one show. Go Ritchie!!
October 24, 2015 at 7:50 am |
Both Shows in Germany will be filmed.
October 21, 2015 at 8:52 pm |
Where to buy tickets ? Anyone know ?
October 23, 2015 at 9:16 am |
I ordered my ticket by phone today. Yippiyeah
“Reservierung unter 0711-221105 oder tickets@musiccircus.de ab 23.10. möglich”
October 20, 2015 at 1:03 am |
welcome back Ritchie! Truly looking forward to this he is most special indeed. Tell you what a vocalist who incidentally did a marvellous job in the tribute to Dio and also the Moody/Marsden era of Whitesnake tributes – is Jorn Lande! I really recommend the Jorn album Song for Ronnie James a truly fitting tribute indeed. And this guy can sound incredibly like both David Coverdale and Ronnie James Dio – so there you go – Mk3 era DP and classic Rainbow eras covered for starters!
October 19, 2015 at 3:29 am |
Read bits of translation of Japanese Burnnnn! article and one tidbit had “let’s see first” about possible album with new singer.
October 21, 2015 at 12:56 pm |
Konrad is referring to a lengthy interview Ritchie has done with the Japanese metal magazine Burrrn (I forget how many Rs they have in the title) which one of our friends there sent us the gist of.
October 18, 2015 at 5:13 pm |
I really really wish something could have been worked out with Coverdale/Hughes. I think those two guys really could have added a lot of value to an already great event. Coverdale/Hughes are experienced veterans who know Blackmore, would know what to expect with Blackmore and because they can both still sing well (especially Hughes), together they could cover so much range. Hughes has been one of the best at covering for Dio when he sang with Heaven and Hell and Coverdale has a lot of life left.
Anyway, that’s what I’d like to see.
October 21, 2015 at 12:57 pm |
Yes, in a sane world that’s what would happen.
October 22, 2015 at 6:58 am |
Great suggestion by Starometska! Seconded (thirded?!) by Me!!! Tell you what one of the best Whitesnake tributes was M3 so why not call this Mk3 or is that trespassing…
October 22, 2015 at 1:02 pm
My suggestion (which I did discuss with Purple’s old manager for a while) was to go out as Mach 3. No copyright issues, but we’d all know what and who it was.
October 18, 2015 at 4:08 pm |
It’s going to be great seeing Ritchie Blackmore perform LIVE again some of the Rainbow and Deep Purple songs! It’s going to be amazing! I’am so looking forward to these events.
October 18, 2015 at 3:30 pm |
Bietigheim is right in front of my doorstep, guess who’s going to go an see this!
October 21, 2015 at 12:59 pm |
That’s very handy Mathias! I guess if he was playing on our doorstep it might make a difference!
October 22, 2015 at 12:02 am
I’ve got a muddy field on my doorstep Simon, do you think he might come and play that?.
October 22, 2015 at 1:06 pm
Not sure what the fee would be. I do recall foolishly asking Purple’s UK booker if we could book them for a week and crowdfund whatever their fee was. The only stipulation was to be that whoever helped the crowdfund would get to vote for what they played. Then we’d give the group two days to rehearse (with tickets available) and three finished shows. He didn’t think they’d go for it!
October 23, 2015 at 4:18 pm
Ha! Only 2 days to rehearse 3 shows… Obviously Satriani wasn’t available!? And you’re right, I forgot Blackers might want payment. How about, I’ve got a “Ye Olde Haunted Muddy Field” on my doorstep…