Rainbow and Deep Purple Revelations From Ritchie Blackmore
Ritchie Blackmore has given a frank interview to the Guardian newspaper in which he says he would play with Deep Purple again, in the unlikely event that they asked him. He also reminisces about past days with his subsequent band Rainbow, as the revived group prepare for their return to UK stages next month.
In the interview, which you can read in full here, Blackmore, now 72, also says that he enjoys being seen as the angry man of rock, because “It keeps the people I don’t like away.” He reveals that when former Rainbow lead singer Graham Bonnet got his hair cut, Blackmore was outraged that the vocalist had broken with the band’s long-haired, denim-clad image of the time. “I took it as an insult. I don’t think I spoke to him again after that,” he says.
Blackmore also explains his businesslike approach to his work by saying: “I don’t think the world is a fun place. I’m very content in my own mind, in a way, but fun, I’m not too sure about. I don’t quite know what fun is. I don’t know why I should walk around with a perpetual grin on my face, saying everything’s wonderful.”
Nevertheless, the guitarist’s previous and well-known disapproval of his former bandmates in Deep Purple appears to be softening. He says that, while it is “probably not probable” that he would be asked to play with the band again, he “bears no malice” towards them.
Meanwhile, the current incarnation of Rainbow will be playing four UK arena shows in June, including an appearance at the Stone Free Festival at London’s The 02 on the 17th. They have also recorded some new material of late with new lead singer Ronnie Romero, from the band Lords Of Black.
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umberto maffucci
May 29, 2017 at 9:05 pm
Ritchie Blackmore, il più grande chitarrista rock, un uomo che ha fatto grandi tanti musicisti, un musicista grande anche nell’essere sottovalutato
Karl
June 1, 2017 at 4:25 am
Why does the Rainbow promo video feat Highway Star by Deep Purple ? It’s great song, but if you go to see Rainbow, wouldn’t you expect to hear songs from some of the 8 great Rainbow albums ?
Scott
June 28, 2017 at 10:48 pm
I think Blackmore needs Deep Purple a lot more than they need him. Of course, money is no doubt the mitigating factor here – Purple has done just fine with their line-up featuring the excellent Steve Morse in place of Blackmore, and Ritchie’s acoustic stuff has not sold worth a shit. He is arrogant, rude and from all I’ve read about him from members of Purple and Rainbow, is an impossible twit to work with. I wouldn’t take orders from a guy like him.
umberto maffucci
July 8, 2019 at 8:10 pm
La verità è che sono degli ingrati e la loro sindrome rancorosa viene fuori in tutte le interviste che rilasciano: negli ultimi dieci anni mai in un’intervista Blackmore ha parlato male dei suoi ex compagni. Non si può, però, dire il contrario. Che abbiano fatto, senza di lui, grandi album, trovo che sia molto ma molto opinabile…e non parlate di vendite perché un album che si vende bene non necessariamente è un capolavoro….
Irv C
July 5, 2017 at 7:59 pm
Fantastic Guitar player and one of my favorites, however its not the same without JLT of Rainbow or Gillian for Purple… I just can listen to this Garbage!! Old Rainbow and Deep Purple 100%….
byron
July 6, 2017 at 12:55 am
i totally agree with u on that one irv c he`s one of the best guitarist in the world but rainbow is not the same without JLT i`m sorry folks but i can`t get into this new rainbow stuff he should of just gotten back with JLT but oh well it`s his group
Antonio Triggiani
July 6, 2017 at 12:05 pm
RITCHIE BLACKMORE il MAESTRO un chitarrista con la chitarra Parlante.
Alexandros
July 6, 2017 at 3:02 pm
2 rock giants in the same group..and arrogant as well,both !!! It was inevitable that Richie and Ian would collide and fight ..well,shit happens ..My opinion is I would love to see them on a tour together..name it the PURPLE RAINBOW tour and have DEEP PURPLE and RAINBOW ( current line ups ) touring alongside throughout Europe..Final stop Hertfordshire …ohhh yeahhhhh !!!!!
joan
July 6, 2017 at 6:41 pm
ritchie blackmore es sin duda el mejor guitarrista de la guitarra electrica, me parece bien su nueva formacion ya que el esta con nostalgia y no veo mal el hecho de quiera volver a tocar sus mas grandes existos. por otro lado me parece que deep purple hicieron un buen trabajo en todos estos años pero la verdad que ian gillan es realmente un asco cantando, la banda no tiene fuerza, y el ultimo disco me parecio una blasfemia.
Lovegun
July 6, 2017 at 10:53 pm
Now Richie lost his rock’n’roll passion and soul. Unfortunately forever. So sad.
Lovegun
July 6, 2017 at 10:56 pm
Ritchie, sorry
Ed Rizzo
July 6, 2017 at 11:39 pm
Blackmore does not need Deep Purple and he definitely doesn’t need the money. Blackmores Night is doing just fine actually. Some people talk shit without a clue of what they are saying. Ritchie could have stopped playing and recording 30 years ago and lived quite comfortably off royalties.
ruben v
July 7, 2017 at 4:30 am
Rainbow is and always will be ritchie blackmore & ronnie james dio 😉