The Deep Purple and Rainbow founder recently confirmed he'd play a handful of rock shows next June, and later explained some of his reasons behind the move. His latest comments are at odds with ex-Rainbow frontman Joe Lynn Turner's insistence that he'd be part of the project.

Blackmore tells Billboard: "The singer I found is very exciting - he's a cross between Dio and Freddie Mercury. This will mean exposing a new singer to the masses, and I'm sure he'll become pretty famous because of his voice."