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Not the only reason

Ritchie Blackmore, Stroudsburg PA, May 14, 2011; © Nick Soveiko CC-BY-NC-SA

Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night gave an interview to Noisey. In which Ritchie, like many times before, professed his aversion to noise. But that is not new. The new (and more interesting) bits are:

When I first heard ‘All Our Yesterdays’ [covered on the new Blackmore’s Night album — THS] I thought of some of the people you have lost recently including Ronnie James Dio.
Ritchie: Yes, Ronnie Dio. I had not seen him in 30 years, so it was kind of like an old friend that I knew a long time ago. So it didn’t [impact me] as much as Jon Lord’s passing; he and I put Purple together… Ronnie was a good friend of mine in the beginning. Although I ended with Ronnie not as friends, we did some great music together. And he was very serious, great singer and musician. Sometimes I would ask him, “What are you hearing in this riff?” I would sing it to him very quietly, and he would grasp it immediately and know exactly what I was talking about… He was very easy to work with as far as knowing how to sing and where to go.

I know you’ve said many things about Jon including ‘Without Jon there would be no Deep Purple. What should people know about him on a personal level?
Ritchie: Jon was always a gentleman, sort of like Rex Harrison. Anyone who met him found him full of old-style charm.

Thinking of Jon, I must ask why you decided to do the Deep Purple and Rainbow dates now?
Ritchie: I turned 70. And arthritis is starting to set in. Jon’s not around. So many others aren’t around. You start to see your friends pass and just feel it’s time to play some of the old songs. Nostalgia is a big reason to do it, but not the only reason.

Read more in Noisey.

Thanks to Blabbermouth for the info.



16 Comments to “Not the only reason”:

  1. 1
    Robert B says:

    Refreshingly kind words from Ritchie 🙂 🙂

  2. 2
    Zlatan Hadzic says:

    I wonder, who is the singer..

  3. 3
    MacGregor says:

    Have to agree with Blackmore in regards to seeking peace & quiet in this forever noisy world! Looking forward to these ‘noisy’ rock gigs next year though, bring it on! Cheers.

  4. 4
    Neon Knight says:

    I hope, they’ll bring these shows out on DVD.

  5. 5
    Buttockss says:

    How come good t-shirts don’t come in xtra large ?

  6. 6
    kraatzy says:

    What a great obituary to Ronnie and Jon.

    I know … we all can´t wait till the time has come, that to hear Ritchie (with a “new band”) with some music we all missed and we all loved sooo much:

    Rock
    or
    Rock ´N´ Roll

    LL Ritchie´N´Roll

    -kraatzy-

  7. 7
    Les Hedger says:

    Nice interview!! He will always be my favorite guitar player. Can’t wait for the live shows!

  8. 8
    Andres says:

    2:

    Hopefully, Jorn Lande.

  9. 9
    Andres says:

    Not related with this article, but for all of you to know: Child in time in a Kenzo commercial:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=278QfV2Zqvw

    Nice!

  10. 10
    LRT says:

    @2 How is anyone supposed to know if they’re all “unknowns?” Doesn’t anybody read anymore?

    @8 Again… he’s well known and too expensive. This is an economical thing, plain and simple. However, why anyone would even demand to get paid for the opportunity to play with him four times is beyond Albert E. 😀

  11. 11
    Scott W says:

    I am thinking Doogie will take a break from Schenker and do the shows. Michael and Ritchie have mutual admiration for each other that goes back a while. I am sure Michael would be fine with Doogie doing it as long as Doogie goes back to MSG. We’ll see…

  12. 12
    Tracy(Zero the Hero)Heyder says:

    I guess everybody here missed the most important part of this article. At the beginning, this statement is made;

    “Yes, Richie Blackmore will regroup with members of Rainbow and Deep Purple for what will probably be four shows next year in Europe. And no, despite some news media reports to the contrary, he’s not joking.”

    Unknowns?

  13. 13
    LRT says:

    Nope. Everyone speculating ex-member when it’s clear in the article posted that it’s “unknowns!!!!!!!!!” Why keep speculating that NONSENSE, doesn’t anyone actually read before they comment? (by the way on the subject of Michael Schenker, Temple Of Rock will never have a permanent line-up, Pete Holmes back on drums very soon, he’s my friend I grew up down the street from)

    I’m sure this big Billboard story will run here as usual, but here it is anyway unless they don’t allow this post before it does reach the editors, “as usual” when I go out of the way to do this. jk 😀

    “I’m now 70, so I just felt like playing some rock ‘n’ roll for a few days,” he says. “We’re going to do four or five dates of just playing the old rock stuff, Purple stuff and Rainbow. I’m doing it for the fans, for nostalgia, and the singer I found is very exciting; he’s a cross between Dio meets Freddie Mercury. So this will mean exposing a new singer to the masses, and I’m sure he’ll become pretty famous because of his voice.”

    Blackmore isn’t revealing the other musicians yet because contracts are still being negotiated, but none will be known names from his previous groups as has been rumored. He plans to film and record the performances for future release.

    New BN promo clip within, as well.

    http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/6693008/ritchie-blackmore-blackmores-night-will-o-the-wisp-song-premiere?mobile_redirection=false

  14. 14
    Russ Fleenor says:

    I think a big reason is that Ritchie turned 70 and thought I have young kids, I’d better do something to see that their future is well funded. I mean for example he’s recently been re-releasing a lot of Rainbow stuff along with going after those who’ve owed him money. That and wanting to show the world that he is a rock legend. There’s not a lot of rock in the mainstream press but if Ritchie can catch some interest of the press it will payoff very well for him.

  15. 15
    DarthVander says:

    @14 If it was about securing his children’s financial future he wouldn’t be doing only four or five dates… If it was about the money he could easily put together a new version of Rainbow and do a full tour.
    Of course if four or five dates are indeed big festival appearances he will still get paid handsomely.

  16. 16
    James Poland says:

    Finally good news about rock concerts with Ritchie after so many many years since 1997 when I was a kid…Lots of people from Poland is waiting to see Master Blackmore in action again! We still remember great stuff from Rainbow and MkII and III Deep Purple era.

    And hope to see Mr Blackmore with musicians He wants in 2016 Poland Silesia

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