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No spandex required

Steve Morse, Cosmo Music Hall, Toronto, Oct 18, 2009; Photo: Nick Soveiko CC-BY-NC-SA

An article published today on Guitar International starts with

Steve Morse is sitting in a studio on the outskirts of Orlando, Florida, chewing on a chocolate chip cookie and waiting patiently for the members of his band to show up for rehearsal. The band that’s he’s waiting for, though, is not made up of his regular musical partners. They are not the members of Dixie Dregs, not the members of the Steve Morse Band, not even the members of Kansas. No, this time Steve Morse is waiting for Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord, and Ian Paice – a group of Englishmen known for almost 30 years as Deep Purple.

We hope your heart didn’t skip a beat. Before the rumours start spreading like a wildfire, the article containing an extended interview with Steve is a reprint from May 1995 Guitar Magazine, when the band was indeed almost 30 years old. It is, none the less, an interesting read with the benefit of the 15 years of hindsight:

They asked me when we went on tour if I wanted to play any of my stuff. I said no – not because I was scared of how it would sound, but because the tickets that people were holding started with a ‘D’ and not an ‘M.’ Like any musician that performs for a living, I just wanted to do what was right for the show. In that light, they never had to tell me how to play, or what not to play. I know what people want to hear and I wasn’t going to change it, because it’s amazing to see the power some of these songs have over a crowd – it’s like pushing a button. It’s a rush for me, but I also know that it’s coming from familiarity with what Ritchie wrote. For me the challenge, live, is to make that work. So to play someone else’s stuff literally, in the style of the tune, I’m willing to be adaptable. I would do the same thing to a bluegrass tune that I might bring into my own band. What I do is just drop some parts that I might normally play in my style, things that might not be as interesting in the context of the song. On the other hand, I’m playing a lot more with the whammy bar in Deep Purple than I have recently [Laughs]. It’s funny, because when I first started playing, and especially all through college, the whammy bar was a big part of my style.

Read the rest of this rather lengthy and in depth article on Guitar International.

Thanks to George Kikonishvili for the info. We hope he didn’t start another rumour already. 😉



13 Comments to “No spandex required”:

  1. 1
    George says:

    🙁
    Oh my god! I was due to post this “news” on deeppurple.com and deep-purple.it. I simply entered here to see if the “news” was posted and read… what seems to be a “bad news” for me… 🙁

    When I read this article on GuitarInternational.com, from the first sentences telling that Morse is waitting for the rest of the band to record a new album, I was so happy and crazy that didn’t read it till the end… So, I just escaped from the status of “rumors spreader”, in sake of ths.com… thnaks 🙂

    I was so happy for the last two hours 🙁

  2. 2
    HZ says:

    “But you know, this isn’t about my being in a kind of cover band and just doing famous old Deep Purple songs. I’m here to be part of their next album. ”

    Well they’ve sticked to that. Almost same setlist since Ritchie has gone..

  3. 3
    Drdp says:

    DAMN! YES it did skip a beat.

  4. 4
    mike whiteley says:

    Good article.
    OK,so,15 years ago,as the” new guy”, Steve sounded content in a support role.4 albums and countless shows later,I wonder if that’s still true ??

  5. 5
    kraatzy says:

    It is so goofy and pity, that we had nothing news but only rumours !!!???

    In a never ending awaiting and having a pleasure hoping to hear & get a new album in Purple … (in 2011 or 2012 … ).

    … but maybe, Ritchie & and Candy will get a little brother for Jürgen before other things will occure … 😉

    *LLRnR*

    *LLDnP*

    -kraatzy-

  6. 6
    Jeff Summers says:

    I for one will not hold my breath for a new album, especially if they plan to use that producer again. As much as I like the material and performance on the last 2 albums, I have trouble listening to them because of the schoolby production.

  7. 7
    purplepriest1965 says:

    My heart did NOT skip a beat and I think this is really old crap.

    Whats so interesting about it?

  8. 8
    kraatzy says:

    @ purplepriest1965:

    You are right man, THERE IS TRUELY NOTHING interesting about this article because it´s really “old crap” !

    *LLRnR* (but please in another way)

    -kraatzy-

  9. 9
    Eddie6string says:

    Whilst articles containing the musings of Steve Morse are of little relevance to some – A trusted headline that read “Blackmore to reform DP MKII or MKiV” would be a BIG mistake & embarrassment for all!

    I would welcome the band collaborating with several other guitarists over the next few albums, maybe then Mr Morse’s true worth would be realised & put into context?

    Steve has redefined guitar playing for many aspiring performers & composers, including yours truly, as well as being a nice bloke to boot!

    It’s more a question of defining the next ‘era’ for the band, either with or without certain members on board – either way to continue in the current vein would be a remarkable under achievement!!!

  10. 10
    purplepriest1965 says:

    I did explore some of Steves so called great history before and parallel to DP.

    One of the titles is Dregs on Earth or something.

    Zapping through hours and hours and hours of tubes I always think……

    So many did this style before him.

    The first time I heard it was Cozy Powells OVER THE TOP.

    Cozy had worked with Jeff Beck and Gary Moore.
    Don Airey had worked with Cozy and Gary before.
    This style was very hot mid 70 s.

    Always very over appreciated by MUSICIANS and others who snobistic talked about the technical side of that music.

    Ian Gillan fell for it during the IGB days and in the end ditched it because his DP audience got very bored by all that selfindulgent masturbation.

    Maybe because he got into other thinking due to the PUNK shit now becoming a new HYPE, he switched back to classic rock combined with a punk twist.

    Very telling…..

    Bernie Torme years later on said that he was not really good in the GILLAN days.
    Ofcourse, Punk musicians, duhhhhhhhhh, were not really able to play at all.

    Punk.Just a pile of shit.

    Ken Hensley, 1978.

  11. 11
    Tracy Heyder (aka Zero the Hero) says:

    There have been many postings of Old Articles from the past. Various ones mostly from the Blackmore days. Didn’t see the Blackmore worshippers cry about those Old Articles being posted…..

    This is a nice re-print of a really good article from the Present Purple Daze….Good Read.

    Cheers

  12. 12
    purplepriest1965 says:

    When its stale, its stale.

  13. 13
    COCOBEACHSILVERSTRATSURFERYAY says:

    WHAMMY BAR IS SUPER IMPORTANT ~ IF YA GET A GOLD WHAMMY BAR IS GROOVY & YER STRAT WONT GET LOST OR CONFUSED WITH EVERYBODY ELSES IF YA LEAVE IT SOMEWHERE GROOVING COASTING A SOUND~~~~~~~~~~ EBAY THEY SELL BLACK BLACKMORE WHAMMY BAR LIKE DO YALL KNOW IF RITCHIE EVER USED A BLACK WHAMMY BAR IN THE 20TH CENTURY ~ I ALLWAYS REMEMBER ENRGETIC GALLENT RITCHIE ROLLING AROUND & SURFING ON ANOTHER FAKE JAP STRAT WHEN HE RAINBOWED HORSING AROUND WITH RONDINELLI & ALSO DP 1985 I REMEMBER SILVER WHAMMY BARS BOLDLY GOING AROUND THE STARS WHERE NO WHAMMY TREMELO BAR HAS GONE BEFORE ********** KEN HENSLY GOTTA STILL BE MUSICLY INCREDIBLE COZ JULY 1973 I SUPEREST LUCKY MET GARY THAIN BASS OF URIAH HEEP WHILE HE WAS PRACTICING IN HIS FLAT ~ OLD BROMPTON RD GREATEST TIME ~ HIS GUITARIST FRIEND FROM KEEF HARTLY SAID HE WAS IN TEXAS MAYBE 1967 DAYS & WENT IN BAR & A COWBOY NEXT TO SAID ” HEY FELLER WEEEEE DONT LIKE LONGHAIRS IN HERE ” & HE PULLED OUT A 6GUN & HE SAID ” BY JOVE I JUS TOOK OFF OUTTA THERE BLIMEY!!!!!!!!! ” 2 SUPER GUITARISTISTS ~ DAVEY MESSENGER {MADE LP WITH TOBIAS IN CANADA1976 & DAVIS & MANAGER ROY WOOLNOUGH I MET IN PARK BROUGHT ME THERE ~ WE PLAYED WROTE NEW SONGS FUN AMAZING I LEARNED LOTS ESPECIALLY ITS SUPER JOLLY GOOD TO ALLWAYS USE A 7TH CHORD IF YA WANNA MAKE EVERYONE JOLLY INDEED SUPER WOW!!!!!!!!!! GARY HAD TAPE REEL HE MADE IN FRANCE OF 3 SONGS ~ DREAMER ~ 1DAY ~ SWEET FREEDOM ~ BOASTING LOUDLY SUPER ~ YOOO GOHT TO PLAY US LOUD WE GONNA BLOW YA OUTTA YER SEAT WHEN YA SEE US!!!!!!!!!! I LOVED IT SUPER !!!!!!!!! {gary in 2nd loudest band in world next to dp & zep had to whisper coz guy upstairs gotta sleep 4 work at 5 am !!!!!!!!! } THEN GARY PUT THE BIGFAT HEADPHONES ON OLD ROY WHO LOOK LIKE ALFRED THE BUTLER ON BATMAN!!!!!!!!! ROY ONLY LIKES COUNTRY & COHNT STAND ROCK & FOUND GARY FROM NEW ZEALAND 1966 SLEEPING ON HIS BASEMENT DOOR FLAT STAIRS PAINTED PSYCHEDELIC DLOW ORANGE&PURPLE HEY HE WAS HIP 60S ~ ENGLAND SWING LIKE A PENDULEM DO~ 1MORNING FED POOR BOY & GARY THAIN GOT FAMOUS LIKE GREAT EXPECTATIONS!!!!!!!!!! ROY WOOLNOUGH WAS ONLY 1 IN ENGLAND TO HAVE A BIG CONFEDERATE STARS&BARS FLAG OVER HIS MARBLE CHESS SET IN HIS BASEMENT FLAT IN CHELSEA ~ SAID MICK LIVED ON HIS BLDG BEFORE I CAME & IT GOT WILD!!!!!!!! ~ GARY GOTTA PLAY THE TAPE AT 11 HIS KNOB GO TO 11 BEFORE SPINALTAP EXISTED!!!!!!!!!! WILDLY DISTORTING !!!!!!!!!!!! LEE KERSLAKES BASS DRUM STARTED = DREAMER ~ ROY WITH FAT HEADPHOBES ON ~ HIS FACE SHAKING LIKE A WILD GOLD RAISEN ~ SHOUTING ~ ” GAAAHHHHRYYY I CAHHHNT STAND THIS ITS HORRRIBLE!!!!!!!!!! } GARY ALAFFING BRISKLY HUFFINGLY WILDLY STONED OUT SAYS “HAHAHAHAHA !!!!!!!!!! ILL BRAINWASH IM YET !!!!!!!!!!! ” & HE CALLS HIS MA JOLLY LONG DISTANCE TELLIN HER THE JOLLIEST STUF WHEN HE STONED OUT SUPER TO NEW ZEALAND A BIG DEAL1973!!!!!!!! GARYS ACTRESS GODDESS GIRL MIKO MAKES BEST CHEESE SANDWICHES MET IN JAPAN TOUR YOU CAN SEE MIKO ON SOME FANTASTIC BEVERLY HILLBILLYS SHOWS !!!!!!!!!! SHE GAVE GARY { THEY SAID GAAAHHHRY } A YAMAHA ACOUSTIC FOR BIRTHDAY HE PLAYED A SONG ~ CIRCUS ~ FOR ME HE WROTE IN 1968 HOLLYWOOD ~ THINK I HOPE I INSPIRED HIM TO RECORD IT IN FRANCE {NOSTRADAMUS WROTE QUATRAIN YA BE SURPRISE YA READ HIM ~~~~~~~~~~STRING MUSIC VILLAFRANCHE ~ ABOUT THIS & MORE SUPER FUTURE MUSIC SAVES WORLS SUPER!!!!!!!!!! } URIAH HEEP WENT LAFRANCE COZ ROYALQUEEN MADE BIG TAX COZ KIETH RICHARDS 1968 ~ SAID COPS LET BEATLES WHO WAS AT KIETHS HOUSE PARTY WITH THE WHOLE ‘HOOD COMMUNION COMUNITY MOB ESCAPE MAYBE COZ THEY HAVE MBE MEDALS SO MAKE SURE YA ALLWAYS FRIENDS WITH ALL BIG CHEESES!!!!!!!!! USE ALL YER WELL EARNED POLITICS KIETH& MICK GOOD NOW THEIR DAUGHTERS WAS EVEN FASHION MODELS ON BEAUTIFUL TROPIC TROPPO ISLAND PHOTOS WITH PREZ DUBYA BUZH DAUGHTERS!!!!!!!!! ANYWAY KEN HENSLY GOTTA BE AWESOME HE SUPER EVERY TIME I SEE URIAH SHOWS!!!!!!!! 1995 KISSA MEEE FLORIDA SILVER CTR GLOVER TOLD ME HE PARTY WITH GARY THAIN ALLTIME GREATEST TIMES EVER LONDON SUPER!!!!!!!!!! IFYA WANT WHEN YA TALK IT WAYSBETTER NOT CUSS & SPECIALLY WITH MUSIC TRY TO TERM EXACTLY IN MUSICAL WORDS LIKE FORTISSINO ANDANTE YKNOW ITS SUPEREST TO GET MUSIC DICTIONARY SERIOUSLY IFYA PLAY HELPS YA ALOT COZ I BEEN IN 100 BANDS & ESPECIALLY IN MIDST OF A SHOW IF YER PIANIST OR THEM SAY SOMETHING ITS BEST TO SAY A MUSICAL WORD OR ELSE THE WHOLE BAND GETS CONFUSED & THATS WHY LIKE YALL KEEP SAYIN THE MUSIC AINT DRIVING RIGHT & STUFF ESPECIALLY WHEN YER ON STAGE & YA WANNA MAKE THE BAND & AUDIENCE HYSTERICAL & ROCKIN WHOA!!!!!!!!!!!! ^^^^^^^^^^ ************* GET A GOLD WHAMMY BAR & GET HAPPIER THAN A KITTEN !!!!!!!!!! YEEEEE ~ HAAAAW !!!!!!!!!!

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