June 3, 2024 12:32 pm
Posted by Editorial –
The name of Deep Purple will forever be related to that of Ritchie Blackmore, no matter how many years pass and guitarists who have occupied the position of creator of some of the most important anthems in rock history. The one who was his partner at the front of the legendary band, the vocalist Ian Gillanhas been very sincere about their relationship, and does not hesitate to describe the guitarist as “genius”.
The words offered by Gillan to Made in Metal They start from complimenting their current guitarist, Simon McBridebut they don’t overlook Blackmore’s legacy in the band as he recalls how they went from being roommates to living in darker days: “Simon is a genius. He is absolutely fantastic. He has all the energy, articulation and musical and creative abilities you could ever dream of. You can’t compare Ritchie to Simon, or to Steve Morseor with Joe Satrianithe musicians we have had in the band.
And I think Ritchie has to get all the credit in the world. He is a genius. He was fantastic. I thought he was brilliant. He was my roommate, we were colleagues and we shared a lot together. Then things, for some reason, went wrong later. And I’m sure half of it was my fault. Those days were dark and distant.”
The vocalist is very aware of the difficult job that each guitarist who has played in the band has to do, but he sees a trick when it comes to playing the most iconic songs created by Blackmore: “When you play a well-known solo, or a well-known guitar part, or any part really, the trick is to play the recognizable parts. The parts that everyone knows and that are significant in that solo, and then you can unleash to your freedom. But you have to catch it and show respect for the song and the original recording, because that’s how people like it. If you meander a little bit in the solo, that’s fine too, but you have to start and at the end, do the parts that people know.”
Gillan remembers a brilliant phrase left in this regard by Steve Morse, a guitarist who left his position to McBride: “Steve Morse said something nice when he joined the band and someone said, ‘How does it feel to step into Ritchie Blackmore’s shoes?’ And Steve said, ‘You know, I think Ritchie took his shoes when he left.'” “And that goes for everyone. That goes for Simon now. Simon is so lucky to have him.”
Deep Purple premiered a few weeks ago “Portable Door”the first preview of his new disk, ‘=1’, the first for Simon McBride to the guitar, which will see the light July 19 through earMUSIC.
Deep Purple will make us dream again with the essential songs of their live legacy, an experience that can be experienced again in our country in 2024 with the band’s participation in Madrid at the Soul Festival he June 13th, at the BBK Bilbao Music Legends (June 14 and 15, tickets at this link) and in Barcelona Rock Festival of the July 5 to 7.
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