Rock Meets Classic, the annual European tour featuring classic rock artists backed by a band and full orchestra, have issued the following update:

"Breaking News! Rock Meets Classic is proud to announce that Joey Tempest of Europe will join the Rock Meets Classic tour 2016 with a Best Of Europe set. Joey will headline the 2016 event and we’re really looking forward to present the great songs of Europe with the Mat Sinner Band and the Bohemian Symphony Orchestra Prague in 16 cities in Germany and Switzerland!"

Joey Tempest: "I’m honoured to be asked to headline this amazing event together with this very accomplished orchestra and band. Following in the footsteps of such legends as Ian Gillan and Alice Cooper, let’s rock big style!"

Rock Meets Classic have announced the dates for their 2016 run. Tickets go on sale September 18th, more shows are expected to be announced soon.

Rock Meets Classic organizers recently issued the following update:

"It's tradition that we're inviting one artist from the past years back to Rock Meets Classic again. One of the most spectacular surprises of the RMC history was the incredible performance of Midge Ure with a fantastic feedback of the audience - welcome back Midge to the RMC tour 2016!"

Former Kansas frontman Steve Walsh, German metal queen Doro, and Thin Lizzy's Scott Gorham and Ricky Warwick are also confirmed for Rock Meets Classic 2016.

Rock Meets Classic features the Bohemian Symphony Orchestra Prague and The Mat Sinner Band, the latter including Primal Fear members Mat Sinner and Alex Beyrodt (guitars), and also featuring Trillium / Avantasia's Amanda Somerville (backing vocals), Avantasia's Oliver Hartmann (guitars), Voodoo Circle's Jimmy Kresic (keyboards), Sinner's Moritz Müller (drums), Tiffany Kirkland (backing vocals), Kolinda Brozovic (backing vocals) and Sascha Krebs (backing vocals).

This summer Rock Meets Classic performed two special festival shows in Germany at Rock Of Ages and the Wacken Open Air on July 31st and August 1st respectively.

Featured artists for these two exclusive shows included Dee Snider (Twisted Sister), Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow), Michael Kiske (Unisonic, ex-Helloween), Marc Storace (Krokus) and Jennifer Haben (Beyond The Black).

Check out footage of Kiske performing the Helloween classic "I Want Out" at Wacken Open Air 2015 below:

Watch the official Rock Meets Classic Facebook page here for updates.

Photo by Florian Stangl for Metal-Fotos.de