Ritchie Blackmore’s First Rock Comeback Gig Reportedly Revealed

Deep Purple / Rainbow legend Ritchie Blackmore's return to rock has reportedly just received its first official date! According to multiple sources, Blackmore will perform at the 2016 Monsters of Rock Festival in Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany.

Two decades after stepping away from rock music to lead the folk group Blackmore's Night with his wife Candice, the legendary rocker thrilled fans with the announcement that he'll be picking up an electric guitar once again. Blackmore recently promised a small handful shows in Europe, and although SWP.de has taken down its original post, the site reported that the Monsters of Rock Festival will be one of those dates.

"I'm now 70, so I just felt like playing some rock 'n' roll for a few days," Blackmore recently told Billboard. "We're going to do four or five dates" — most likely in England, Germany and Sweden — "of just playing the old rock stuff, [Deep] 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."

Blackmore hasn't revealed the musicians he's selected to fill his new act, but he's stated that none will be known names from other bands.

The 2016 Monsters of Rock Festival will take place June 18, 2016, and tickets are scheduled to go on sale Nov. 6. Again, Blackmore's appearance is yet to be confirmed.

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