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Being pretty bad at receiving awards
Blabbermouth reports that Ritchie Blackmore gave an interview to the VH1 Radio Network and elaborated on his stance regarding the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame:
I was quoted as saying I couldn’t care less about it, and, yes, I couldn’t care less, but at the same time, I don’t wish to throw it back in their faces. I mean, I wouldn’t turn up to any kind of such event. It’s not, to me, anything to do with music. Music is about playing and getting on the stage, not receiving awards. I’m pretty bad at receiving awards.
No disrespect to the Hall Of Fame, whatever that is, I really don’t keep up with it. I mean, there are so many Hall Of Fames and places that are honoring people and a lot of the time I see who they are honoring and it really has nothing to do with rock and roll — very strange people.
Not much of an elaboration, really…
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
Ritchie….It’s still a recognition for all the music you made, that people all over the world (including me) love to death. Maybe you should’ve gotten it years ago, so what! I quote: “I see who they are honoring and it really has nothing to do with rock and roll — very strange people” Yes Mr. Blackmore, but its also true that you yourself have nothing to do with rock n’ roll anymore… as you should, you strange man 🙂
I don’t care too much about the RRHOF, but you, if anyone, belong there! If I were you, I’d be damn proud that I’ve made so many so happy and I’d gladly go and accept the award! I’d do it for the fans…
October 23rd, 2012 at 21:12Not much of an elaboration but the Second paragraph speaks VOLUMES!
October 23rd, 2012 at 21:38Yeah, go ahead and shoot yourself and your most lucrative band in the foot Ritchie. I can guarantee this…If ‘Blackmore’s Night’ was up for it he would go and with a smile, you can bet your sweet arse. He left Purple a bitter man and is frolicking in the forest now. His hen has him now and would Order him to accept it if she was the recipient, and he would. The will use the attention to help promote and expose their music you can bet.
CheerZ
October 23rd, 2012 at 21:43@1 married to strange kinda woman. Ritchie always was a little different “suspicious” so to say about people, but he has that right .
October 23rd, 2012 at 22:00And we re all running around like chickens because” Ritchie says something” ……
October 23rd, 2012 at 22:36Tracy, I have to disagree with you. We’ve known Richie many years, I don’t think he would entertain any ideas of attending such an event. [
October 23rd, 2012 at 22:40Bravo Ritchie! DP’s music will outlive the RRHOF.
October 23rd, 2012 at 22:45How can you comment about his wife (hen) and calling him strange without knowing the man? Bit personal for my liking. RB is entitled to his opinion. Without his attitude you wouldn’t have the music so you can’t have it both ways….Just listen to his music, a lasting legacy. Robert
October 23rd, 2012 at 23:06A lot of time they are honoring people who have nothing to do with rock n roll.Yesssssssss Sir!!!And the crowd yeld Ritchie Ritchie Ritchie Ritchie Ritchie Ritchie Ritchie Ritchie….
October 23rd, 2012 at 23:50# 3 He left Purple a bitter band.
October 23rd, 2012 at 23:51Rainbow should be there as well,of course for me the real one is the on with Ronnie James Dio! (Rest in Peace )
October 24th, 2012 at 00:42He’s an ass for the first paragraph, and very right about the second.
The paradox that is Ritchie Blackmore.
October 24th, 2012 at 03:25Well said, Ritchie!
October 24th, 2012 at 05:11long live ritchie blackmore , the best , the master
October 24th, 2012 at 06:34I know what you are implying Tracy about ‘other’ people having influences over Ritchie and its kinda sad and baffling to some degree as Blackers is a steadfast character who normally gets what he wants and does what he wants. Maybe he did/does want a bit of flexibility around his musical direction but these ‘other’ people are not allowing it..I really dont know!
October 24th, 2012 at 06:59Dear Friends!
October 24th, 2012 at 07:16Just accept what he thinks and says! Respect him for what he had done for rock and music in general but also respect his opinion and choice. Don’t listen to any part of his music that you don’t like and do listen to the parts you like – in my humble opinion, as simple as that.
Go Ritchie, the last true rock ‘n’ roll rebel, he’s spot on! All the rock stars currently being knighted and inducted into Halls of Fame would have run a mile from the thought of it in the 60s and 70s yet in the end they all seek afirmation and establishment acceptance. Ritchie has never done that and I very much doubt he’d turn up even if it was Blackmore’s Night being inducted. He’s a true original and we should treasure him and his music all the more for it, as a fan I don’t need him to be inducted into the HoF on my account, he just needs to strap on the stratocaster and turn it up to 11!!
October 24th, 2012 at 07:20You do this, You do that. Nothing´s ever enough! I think it´s nice to have Ritchie speaking for a change and giving his opinions clear in public. Let The Man do what he does. He does not deserve us – fans – followers, whatever, judging him. Not at all. He still has it. The Touch. I don´t care in what genre that ever will be. It´s Ritchie Blackmore. The Most Underrated Guitarist of all time.
Just now I have the feeling something good is coming! Looking forward for it. ..and in the meanwhile…Best regards from the 2nd best Guitarist of them all, Mr. Vai! Cheers!
October 24th, 2012 at 09:13So what did people expect? This is what Ritchie’s like, and he’s got a point. He doesn’t like dwelling on his past, he doesn’t like awards, he’d be like a fish out of water, so he doesn’t want to go to the event even if he does get the award. That’s his right.
October 24th, 2012 at 09:14Ritchie is absolutely right. It has nothing whatsoever to do with music. For Ritchie only playing music counts. Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame is all about the people organising this Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame: it is them they want to promote. By this Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame thing they desparately want to be part of the talent they lack themselves.
Long live Ritchie Blackmore! Long live Deep Purple!
October 24th, 2012 at 10:10I’d like to return slightly at lament on Ritchie isn’t in rock anymore.
I agree with others, Ritchie’s rock tunes are those which made him famous all over the world, he is for me the best guitar player I’ve ever heard or seen. I prefer his DP and Rainbow days over his BN’s part of career (even though it’s good that he left such peculiar touch on medieval music style), but let us be honest, he was in rock for almost 30 years, and he produced tons of rock, hard rock, heavy and progressive material, look at his discography, incredible…
Can anyone blame him for doing something else, different, and doing it with such success.
I don’t belive that any other guitarist of his generation, and other as well, has reached this variety and diversity in more or less different styles of guitar playing – in terms of success and .
I’d like to hear some more of his hard rock tunes, but I can understand why he’s off.
Let us all be honest, today’s DP making their living on his riffs, he is indispensable – replacable maybe, but even the replacement has to play his tunes.
So, if he went to rock for one last time, I’d be really happy, but if not, I can understand that 30 years is enough.
October 24th, 2012 at 11:03as for Deep Purple: “win it and refuse it”
October 24th, 2012 at 11:42” I was quoted as saying I couldn’t care less about it, and, yes, I couldn’t care less, but at the same time, I don’t wish to throw it back in their faces. I mean, I wouldn’t turn up to any kind of such event. It’s not, to me, anything to do with music. Music is about playing and getting on the stage, not receiving awards. I’m pretty bad at receiving awards.”
Yeah – that is our Ritchie, like we know and love him . 🙂
LLRnR
kraatzy
October 24th, 2012 at 12:14DP is not Rock-n-Roll anyway** They stand by themselves**
October 24th, 2012 at 13:00Well, it was nice of him to clarify his statements. If he doesn’t show up, then the current DP will show up. And maybe they can do a triple act tour with Heart and Rush. Now that would be COOL!
October 24th, 2012 at 13:18Zzzzz…
October 24th, 2012 at 15:57LOL. Just take the damn award, break out the strat and play some real rock instead of the tripe you’ve been spewing out with BN over the past 15 years. I see no downside to showing up and giving your fans a show.
October 24th, 2012 at 17:26If Ritchie is right then the one who should be being inducted is Mrs. Blackmore, NOT HIM…!
October 24th, 2012 at 18:43Ritchie for the Hall(of fame) of the Mountain King!!!
October 24th, 2012 at 22:25ritchie who?
October 24th, 2012 at 22:26El salón de la fama no lo es todo en la vida. A dp no le hace falta porque tiene el reconocimiento que mas importa y es el del publico. Tiene razón Blackmore. el saloncito es irrelevante… Cuanta basura comercial esta incluida ahí?
October 25th, 2012 at 02:33the hall of fame is a joke, and for once, I totally agree with the man in black.
why bother?
Deep Purple is arguably one of the founding fathers of a genre in rock and roll which has proven, and continues to prove, its staying power.
Yet – the hall of fame ignores this completely for almost two decades. Not only that, but in the meantime they have inducted acts which have NOTHING to do with rock and roll. This unddermines the credibility of the whole organisation.
So to me, the whole thing is a joke. Good on you, Blackmore
October 25th, 2012 at 07:10Probably the cases are different but……
If TINNITUS was and is the real reason he does not like to plat as loud as fuck anymore……
1 Why did Pete townsend overcome(appearantly)his problem with the damage on his ears?
Maybe Ritchie should ask Pete? : )
But I think there is NO solution for his tinnutus(If that story is true, btw)because Ritchie always had good medical care along the way is my impression.
He seemed very aware of his health, taking all kinds of vitamins, etc.
Could he not have used some protection?
October 25th, 2012 at 08:56@27 I really dont see what thats gonna achieve in the whole scheme of things: ‘showing up and giving your fans a show’. If we are genuine fans of Ritchie then we follow him, listen and appreciate what he is doing musically no matter what genre of music. Long live Ritchie Blackmore!!
October 25th, 2012 at 14:18Ok- I’m guesssing I’m a bit older than most here. 58. been a huge dp fan since first saw them in 1970. RB was just awesome and in my opinion wrote several chapters of the rock guitar god book. He wasn’t the only one though!! For four years he was just brilliant and I also liked the first 3 or 4 years of Rainbow. The re union stuff was less good apart from a couple of tracks. The 5 shows I saw of the re union band were average. I desparatly tried to like B Night but be honest. If this was the same music with a different guitarist 99% of thefolk on here would laugh at it. And unless he has spome magic formula I would like to have,wearing a wig and playing a mandolin is not how I want to remember him. S Morse saved DP and has been in the band for many times more years than RB. Some idiot suggested RB left DP a bitter band. All the interviews I have ever seen or read show the existing members of DP being incredibly repsectful to RB as I would expect. BUT. Sorry he has decided to go down a very strange path as he is entitled but is no relevance to anything I want to listen to. Still DP were the best rock band IMHO of all time.(and still not bad live although IG really needs to sto pbefore it gets silly)
October 25th, 2012 at 18:37Ricrae @35…
Am I the idiot you are referring to regarding my statement @ 3? “He left Purple a bitter man and is frolicking in the forest now.” If so I deserve an apology. Read it again. ‘man’ not ‘band’. I am fully aware of Purple being a happy band since TMIB departed. I have been a strong advocate for the positive aspect Morse had on the band upon his joining, so who really is the idiot here?
CheerZ
October 26th, 2012 at 00:38@35 just to clarify that I am not one of the 99% of folk on here. I think your assessment of Ritchie’s music now is rather narrow minded to say the least.
October 26th, 2012 at 09:14Nag nag nag…….
Ricrae
You probably missed the many heartfelt and very outspoken insults in the direction of Ritchie by Gillan?
October 26th, 2012 at 09:49Ritchie in hobbit movie, as flower pot man.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:04On the other hand.
Gillan on Blackmore.Paying him a compliment.
The so called swollen face was worse in that era I think.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs7-S-2Gom8&feature=related
October 26th, 2012 at 13:26I am no fan of BN….but it was better for DP and for Ritchie to leave and do something different. DP wasn’t going anywhere with him and the Morse era studio work, while maddeningly sparse…has been considerably better than the reunion era Blackmore stuff.
I think fans would enjoy a show featuring past and present members. I doubt it will happen because the members are too petty for that….but I don’t think anyone would deny that getting all of the surviving members of all the different Marks on stage for a run through of songs would be great.
Plus you could get some of the folks from the Machine Head tribute CD up there as well….that would be pretty cool. I would travel to LA for that show.
If nothing else, it should be looked at by all of those with a business stake in the DP brand…to sell music. Both the back catalog and the new release. I don’t want to be the weaselly capitalist in the bunch…but there are no logical reasons not to participate….if you can get past the general (and well deserved) emotional disdane for the HOF. Let the band get the last laugh and use the tools to put on a good show for fans and introduce new folks to the band.
October 26th, 2012 at 14:20Tracey@36- My apologies. Misread.
October 26th, 2012 at 16:09Long live blackmore, very great
October 26th, 2012 at 20:02# 36 Hey Tracy,the idiot in question is me Moreblack ha ha.Ricrae does not agree that Ritchie letf Deep Purple a bitter BAND.Of course he knows nothing bout Purple.He let himself go with smiling faces and good vibe interviews.
October 26th, 2012 at 21:36Asked if compared with Gillan, Dio or Coverdale, Candice looks like who in term of collaboration, Blackers responded that she’s like David, because always shouting on him “BABY”!
Listen to this interview:
October 27th, 2012 at 22:08http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojy0C1ITOO8
I remember the come Hell Or High Water VHS & during some sections of those interviews or comments by the remaining 4 members, they seem to me to be bitter & resentful towards Blackmore! Sure they would have been annoyed with his attitude at times, but they all still seem to respect each other. To air those thoughts publicly in front of a camera, astounded me then, & it still makes me wonder to this day. If people have problems with each other, don’t go public with it. What for? Jon Lord & Blackmore were still friends up until Lord’s unfortunate passing.
October 27th, 2012 at 22:40I respect Ritchie’s point of view. Do as you will Sir. But I will say this: all of you have legions of fans that have embedded their lives in your music and general public opinion about you. I can’t tell you the number of times I have promoted Deep Purple in arguments with friends and strangers, pushing the point that there once was a time when talent mattered and Purple had it. The RRHOF may be a farce, but it is the point of reference, somehow.
If you don’t do it for yourself, do it for us. You can’t leave our arguments hanging. Believe it or not, you owe it to us.
October 28th, 2012 at 05:45On Saturday, October 27, Ritchie Blackmore and his wife, Candice Night, spoke to 103.9 WRCN-FM, Long Island’s classic rock radio station, about Ritchie’s distinguished career and their medieval/renaissance group, Blackmore’s Night. You can now listen to the 36 minute chat below:
October 28th, 2012 at 09:05http://heavyrocktheplaylist.blogspot.no/2012/10/ritchie-blackmore-talks-blackmores.html
Just saw Blackmore’s Night in Stroudsburg Pa. First time for a BN show. Have to say all on stage looked happy. The strat did come out a few times and no matter what…..it was the highlight. The guy plays so effortless he looks like Uncle Joe moving kind of slow but he’s not! Still has it and appeared in good physical shape. Even spoke a word or two at the crowd. Overall a nice show.
October 28th, 2012 at 14:49Ricrae @ 42,
Thanks for re-reading and setting it straight. Stand up guy, even though I don’t quite agree 100% with your total post…..that’s ok though.
Moreblack @ 44,
Don’t quite get your point. Ricrae set it straight and Does seem to realize TMIB left the band as a ‘Bitter Man’. The Band on the other hand has been Happily ever After. That should be the title and premise for one of their new songs on the new album or even the title of the album and title track. They could even do a play on words as with ‘Purpendicular’……”Purpley Ever After”. It’s been 18 years ‘Since He’s Been Gone’. 18 years of Bliss in the Purple Camp and the same with TMIB in his little pointy hat and green tights in the forest playing his lute. All is good. Everybody’s happy. What’s wrong with that? Everybody of except the frustrated Blackmore Worshippers whom can’t stand his present music and can’t stand Purple without him…..oh well.
CheerZ
October 28th, 2012 at 22:04It is not so that we so called Blackmore worshippers were not open for a replacement, although that was tried before and that could have been a warning for them to do so, but we just dont ” like” the choice of replacement.
Apart from that, even me and loads of others so called nay sayers just would have a lot more respect if they had continued the Purpendicular tour/setlist adventures.
Abandon was a crap album(We know they did not take much for that)but the tour was quite enjoyable to good.
Simon Robinson was overjoyed with that one, he even named it an experience that could have been called INTO THE FIRE all night long intensity.
Hell, even I did enjoy it very much at the Festival in Germany, in 1998.
standing front row and getting a burned head because of the heat that day.
I think of festivals as too crowded and pushing people cramped upon and agains each other.
And mostly in bad weather. This was not the case that day. : )
And hey , they even tried some NEW tracks. That soon changed ofcourse.
Well, at least I witnessed 7th Heaven, most of us probably did not, is my guess.
I think they played Any Fule Know that, and lesser crap like Jacky Ruby and Evil Louie I think.
Watching The Sky must have been there too, not sure.
I should try to find a boot of that day.
As long they played new, some quite good because they were fitted for Morse, and some golden oldies as Bloodsucker.Were Fireball and No One Came still there, not sure.
Thats kinda weird, I remember that as a very good day but cant remember the complete setlist : (
Anyway, I m still curious for the new album, although I do have my cynical reservations.
This fprthcoming tours should come out of the Morse era albums amainly.
But I KNOW that is a dream.
They ll find a excuse to play generally, I know of a few exceptions, the same setlist.
Some I can imagine.
I m afraid this will not be the last tour .
I d not surprised they ll tour another 5 year or more.
A good excuse would be that loads of youngsters never saw the band and the band wants to give them a chance to witness those old songs.
But hey, in the end the band will split and die.
Afterwards there will be never a DP band again.
So, why not push the bar and do something else?
It will not happen, just a few exeptions.
I think it is logical combining several reasons that well willing Blackmore fans will get cynical again.
They ll succumb(again) to play old records and \dvd’s instead of getting tortured by an outfit that does not want to avoid the tribute band tag.
I m always hoping that this time around we ll see something else.
Blackmore may be bitter about the way it ended but he has been a gentleman at the same time.
October 30th, 2012 at 15:16He could have, like Sharon and Ozzy did, forbidden them to use the NAME.
Heaven And Hell flourished without the Black Sabbath name.
Maybe DP could have gone on as Fireball or something like that?
[…] to Deep Purple’s unofficial site the Highway Star Blackmore was quoted amongst other things as […]
October 30th, 2012 at 22:34I think Blackers has earned the right to say yes or no to any proposed induction into RRHoF…he is, IMHO, one of the greatest rock guitarists of all….but he has always marched to the beat of his own drum….
Guess my musing is who out of all the DP ‘team’ over all the line-ups will be asked to accept?
October 31st, 2012 at 04:27Just Mk 11 members ? Or Rod Evans, Nick Simper ( both there right at the start of DP ), Coverdale, Hughes, Morse, Airey as well ? Where does the HOF draw the line ? Part of the problem with the DP extended family…..just my 2 cents…
# 50 I’m not,never was a frustraded Blackers worshiper.Why frustraded? Purple disbanded in 1993.That was all.Remember Jefferson Airplaine then Jefferson Starship then Starship?At the end it was not the same band anymore.Things come to an end.Why push things to eternity?The magic is gone forever.
October 31st, 2012 at 23:01Say what you want about Blackmores Night, but Deep Purple is an embaressment. Gillan was the greatest rock singer of the 70’s but now looks foolish fronting the band. And sounds awful.
November 1st, 2012 at 12:43Time marchs on and Ritchie looks and sounds great playing some fantastic music for a man in his 60’s.
Maybe its time Roger gets into folk music and Paice back to jazz where he started. Purple should have been done years ago.
#55 Yeah as told by Scott!!!Yeah man,cool!
November 1st, 2012 at 21:55@ 54, 55, 56:
I’m happy that Deep Purple is still around and I’m looking forward to their upcoming record.
When you get into your 60ies and you have a wife/girlfriend at your age, would you go to her and say: You know what, you are an embaressement. We should have broken up years ago because you don’t are in the shape that you once used to be.
When you love something then you won’t let it go. And as long as you show that love there’s nothing to complain about. I really appreciate the music Deep Purple created with Ritchie. But at the same time Steve brought different and interesting music to the band and I’m grateful for that. There you have all this rich influences that came together over decades of songwriting. And those guys are fantastic musicians, all of them. They really can play and belong to the best out there. Considering the massive amount of gigs Gillan performed all those years I don’t wonder that his voice has changed. But man, he is 67 years old and touring with that hard rock band. Other people at that age can’t move anymore. And that guy still sings his ass off. There is one word that fits: OUTSTANDING!
November 3rd, 2012 at 00:55Tommy
” I really appreciate the music Deep Purple created with Ritchie.
But at the same time Steve brought different and interesting music to the band and I’m grateful for that.
There you have all this rich influences that came together over decades of songwriting.
And those guys are fantastic musicians, all of them. They really can play and belong to the best out there.”
Loving post, I like that.
But…..
Ofcourse there is a but : )
If they really love each other that much then why does that not show in their respects towards their music made TOGETHER?
Why not in the final days pulling out all stops so secure that their contribution will be forgotten?
Hopefully they will surprise me (AT LAST and ABOUT TIME TOO!)in their final days.
But I m afraid it will be the same formula.
First some mixing of old and new and then back to same old, same old.
It is not meant cynical or disrespectful but…..
I see that his aging has not stopped in the last years.
I still think they are doing it to have enough money when they re OLD.
I mean, Gillan might live for another 30 years.
Very nice to have a pension like that.
I understand that.
But Still……….Indeed…….I m Sad.
November 3rd, 2012 at 22:35fI orgot the word NOT between will……forgotten.
November 3rd, 2012 at 22:36What difference do awards make to music, or people’s opinions of said music? Music is the best.
November 10th, 2012 at 17:41