Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow to showcase new track on live album

Ritchie Blackmore
Ritchie Blackmore (Image credit: Getty)

Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow have announced they’ll release a new live album titled Memories In Rock II later this year.

It was recorded during the band’s shows across the UK last year and will feature a brand new track.

While a final release date has still to be confirmed, the band have issued a 9-minute video to showcase the album, featuring live clips and interview footage.

In the video, Blackmore says of his return to rock: “Rainbow is part of my life, as is Deep Purple. I just got back together for a few shows because I wanted to have a blast on the Strat.

“That’s always good fun but it’s not something I will do all the time. I might do another couple of shows. Japan wants us and a lot of other places.

“Blackmore’s Night is really my main music – that’s much more challenging. It’s not so easy to play.”

Further album details will be revealed in due course, while the full video can be seen below.

Blackmore reactivated Rainbow with Lords Of Black singer Ronnie Romero in 2015, also bringing in Stratovarius keyboardist Jens Johansson, Blackmore’s Night drummer David Keith and bassist Bob Nouveau.

Listen to Ritchie Blackmore's first new Rainbow recordings in two decades

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Scott has spent more than 30 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, scouts out the best deals for music fans and reviews headphones, speakers, books and more. He's written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog and has previous written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.