“People think of Ritchie as an angry, unfriendly guy, and that’s not him. I knew him when he was in a very good place”: Ronnie Romero has sung for Ritchie Blackmore and Michael Schenker and lived to tell the tale
In the world of hard rock and heavy metal, legends cast long shadows—and stepping into those shadows as a frontman can be as daunting as it is thrilling. For Chilean-born singer Ronnie Romero, however, it’s been a career-defining challenge he’s embraced with open arms and a powerful voice. Having performed with both Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow and the Michael Schenker Group (MSG), Romero has proven himself more than capable of holding his own amid some of the most iconic names in rock history.
But it’s Romero’s insight into the man behind the music—particularly Ritchie Blackmore—that offers a surprising and humanizing perspective. “People think of Ritchie as an angry, unfriendly guy, and that’s not him,” Romero says in a recent interview. “I knew him when he was in a very good place in his life. He was generous, funny, and honestly just happy to be playing rock music again.”
Blackmore, best known for his work with Deep Purple and Rainbow, is often portrayed in the media as a reclusive and mercurial figure. Stories of his exacting nature and sometimes abrupt decisions—such as disbanding bands without notice or switching singers—have fed a mythos that borders on legend. So when Blackmore reformed Rainbow in 2015 after nearly two decades focused on his Renaissance-inspired project Blackmore’s Night, many were surprised at his choice of Romero, a then-relatively unknown vocalist based in Spain.
“When I got the call, I thought it was a prank,” Romero recalls. “But Ritchie saw something in me, and that changed everything.” The reformed Rainbow may have only played a handful of shows between 2016 and 2019, but Romero’s performances won over skeptical fans and helped usher in a new era for the band’s storied catalogue.
Just as impressive has been Romero’s tenure with Michael Schenker, the legendary German guitarist whose resume includes UFO and the Scorpions. Joining MSG for tours and albums like *Immortal* and *Universal*, Romero brought his soaring vocals and dynamic stage presence to Schenker’s equally intense guitar wizardry.
“Michael and Ritchie are very different in how they work, but they’re both geniuses in their own right,” Romero says. “Michael is spontaneous and feeds off the energy of the moment. Ritchie is more calculated but has this deep emotional connection to every note he plays.”
Romero’s ability to adapt to both of these titanic personalities has earned him respect across the rock community. Not only has he handled classic material with reverence, but he’s also brought new energy to it—without sounding like an impersonator.
“People say, ‘How do you sing like Dio or Graham Bonnet or Joe Lynn Turner?’ And the answer is—I don’t. I sing like Ronnie Romero,” he emphasizes. “You have to respect the original, but you also have to be true to yourself.”
Romero’s journey from fronting local bands in Chile to sharing stages with rock’s elite is the stuff of rock and roll dreams, but it hasn’t been without its trials. “You’re stepping into history every time you sing those songs,” he says. “And some people want to keep that history frozen. But music is alive. That’s what Ritchie and Michael both understand in their own ways.”
As for what’s next, Romero continues to tour internationally, collaborate with artists across genres, and release solo material that showcases his range and passion beyond the classic rock confines.
Still, he knows the questions about Blackmore will always follow him.
“I’m proud of what we did,” Romero says. “And I’ll always be grateful that I got to know Ritchie—not the myth, but the man. And he was in a good place. I think people should know that.”
