Ronald Romero (born 20 November 1981) is a Chilean singer best known as the vocalist of the rock/heavy metal bands Elegant Weapons, Lords of Black, Rainbow, the Ferrymen, Michael Schenker Group, and Sunstorm. He represented Bulgaria at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 as the lead singer of Intelligent Music Project.
Early life Ronnie Romero was born in Santiago, Chile, in 1981. He has lived in Madrid, Spain, since 2009.
Career Lords of Black
In 2014, Romero, together with guitarist Tony Hernando, formerly of Spanish band Saratoga, founded the heavy metal band Lords of Black. Romero left the band in 2019 but returned in 2020.
Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
In 2015, Ritchie Blackmore announced his return to rock with a new lineup for his band Rainbow, with Ronnie Romero as the lead singer.
Elegant Weapons In 2022, Romero co-founded the metal supergroup Elegant Weapons with Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner, Pantera bassist Rex Brown, and Judas Priest drummer Scott Travis. The band released the album Horns for a Halo in 2023, after which Brown and Travis departed. They were replaced by Accept drummer Christopher Williams and Uriah Heep bassist Dave Rimmer.
Other projects
CoreLeoni
In 2017, Leo Leoni and Hena Habegger of Swiss hard rock band Gotthard formed a side project titled CoreLeoni, with Romero, whom Leoni had met in 2014, joining on vocals. Romero left the project in 2020.
The Ferrymen
Also in 2017, Romero joined the supergroup the Ferrymen, which additionally includes Magnus Karlsson on guitar and Mike Terrana on drums. They released their self-titled debut album the same year. The trio released their sophomore album, A New Evil, in 2019.
Nozomu Wakai's Destinia
In 2018, Romero sang on the album Metal Souls by Nozomu Wakai's Destinia, a project launched by the Japanese guitarist in 2014.
Michael Schenker Group
In 2020, Michael Schenker announced that Romero would be participating in the upcoming MSG album Immortal, which was released in 2021.
Vandenberg
Also in 2020, Adrian Vandenberg recruited Romero to join his band Vandenberg in recording the album 2020.
Intelligent Music Project
Another new musical venture for Romero in 2020 was the Intelligent Music Project, an enterprise founded by Bulgarian arts patron Milen Vrabevski in 2010. Romero appears on the albums Life Motion (2020), The Creation (2021), and Undonditioned (2022). Romero and the Intelligent Music Project were revealed as Bulgaria's entrant in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022, with the song "Intention".
Adrian Benegas
Romero recorded vocals on the second studio album by Paraguayan heavy metal composer Adrian Benegas, released in May 2023. The record also features input from Spanish singer Zuberoa Aznárez, German drummer Michael Ehré (Primal Fear, Gamma Ray), German producer Sascha Paeth (Avantasia, Kamelot), Tunisian bassist Anis Jouini (Myrath), and Dutch guitarist Timo Somers (Delain, Ayreon).
Band timeline Santelmo (2010–2011) Jose Rubio's Nova Era (2011–2013) Aria Inferno (2012–2013) Voces del Rock (2013–2014) Lords of Black (2014–2019, 2020–present) Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow (2015–2019) Walter Giardino Temple (2017) The Ferrymen (2017–present) Nozomu Wakai's Destinia (2018) CoreLeoni (2018–2020) Vandenberg (2020–2021) Michael Schenker Group (2020–2023) Intelligent Music Project (2020–2023) Sunstorm (2020–present) Elegant Weapons (2022–present)
Discography DateArtistAlbum titleNotes2010SantelmoLa TempestadDemo2012Jose Rubio's Nova EraNova EraStudio2013Jose Rubio's Nova EraAfter AllSingle2014Lords of BlackLords of BlackStudio2016Ritchie Blackmore's RainbowMemories in Rock – Live in GermanyLive, CD & DVD2016Lords of BlackIIStudio2017Ritchie Blackmore's RainbowLive in Birmingham 2016Live2017Ritchie Blackmore's RainbowI SurrenderDigital single2017The FerrymenThe FerrymenStudio2018Ritchie Blackmore's RainbowMemories in Rock IILive2018Ritchie Blackmore's RainbowWaiting for a SignDigital single2018Lords of BlackIcons of the New DaysStudio2018Nozomu Wakai's DestiniaMetal SoulsStudio2018CoreLeoniThe Greatest Hits Part 1Studio2019Ritchie Blackmore's RainbowBlack Sheep of the FamilyDigital single2019Ritchie Blackmore's RainbowThe StormDigital single2019Ritchie Blackmore's RainbowRainbow VorwärtsEP2019CoreLeoniIIStudio2019The FerrymenA New EvilStudio2019Michael Schenker FestRevelationStudio, track 92020Vandenberg2020Studio2020Lords of BlackAlchemy of Souls, Part 1Studio2020Intelligent Music ProjectLife MotionStudio2021Michael Schenker GroupImmortalStudio, tracks 3, 6, 8, 102021SunstormAfterlifeStudio2021Intelligent Music ProjectThe CreationStudio2021Nozomu Wakai's DestiniaTokyo EncounterLive2021Lords of BlackAlchemy of Souls, Part 2Studio2022The FerrymenOne More River to CrossStudio2022Ronnie RomeroRaised on RadioStudio, cover2022Intelligent Music ProjectUnconditionedStudio2022Michael Schenker GroupUniversalStudio2022SunstormBrothers in ArmsStudio2022Ronnie Romero & Nozomu Wakai Metal SoulsMemories of Metal WeekendLive, cover2023Ronnie RomeroRaised on Heavy RadioStudio, cover2023Elegant WeaponsHorns for a HaloStudio2023Adrian BenegasArcanvmStudio2023Ronnie RomeroToo Many Lies, Too Many MastersStudio2024Lords of BlackMechanics of PredacityStudio2024SunstormRestless FightStudio2025Ronnie RomeroLive at Rock Imperium FestivalLive2025Ronnie RomeroBackboneStudio2025The FerrymenIron WillStudio2026Elegant WeaponsEvolutionStudio
Guest appearances DateArtistAlbum title2013Aria InfernoThe Starring Serpent (single)2014SacramentoA sangre Y fuego2014Legado De Una TragediaLegado De Una Tragedia II2016Legado De Una TragediaLegado De Una Tragedia II2017FB1964Störtebeker2018RenegadeGiven Work?2019Chaos MagicFuryborn2019SinnerSanta Muerte2022Crystal BallCrysteria2025BonahoraPath of Love2026Gus GSteel Burner
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