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Purple and Black in the press
Classic Rock Magazine has made good on their promise to (finally!) put Deep Purple on the cover — they appear on the February 2009 issue. Inside the issue there is a 20-page Purple feature with interviews from Gillan, Glover, Paicey and Coverdale, excerpts from an old Blackmore interview, and sidebars on Steve Morse and JLT.
On the other side of the pond, Blackmore has an extensive brand new interview in the February 2009 issue of Guitar World (the one with Eddie Van Halen on the cover). The interview was taken by Andy Aledorf back in November at a restaurant in Long Island, NY, and discusses his life, career and the the most recent Blackmore’s Night album Secret Voyage.
Thanks to Elinor and Daniel Bengtsson for the info.
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
Deep Purple’s influence–and Ritchie Blackmore’s in particular–has never been appreciated fully by the mainstream, be it on the part of rock fans overall or the media in general. The longevity of this band largely has been ignored, with few of their peers still in existence and fewer still touring and recording.
From time to time, however, we get treated with something like this. On a recent episode of “That Metal Show”, during a discussion on Black Sabbath vs. Led Zeppelin as the greatest influence in rock, one of the panelists muttered, “Purple.” Yngwie Malmsteen, also in attendance, commented that Purple was larger than either of those bands in his home country and environs. He added that this was not the case in America, however. Appropriately, he named Dio as the superior Sabbath singer.
Better late than never. But it figures the Blackmore interview is in Guitar World. I subscribe to Guitar Player.
December 28th, 2008 at 04:31FINALLY and LONG overdue. The band that nearly defines the genre of Classic Rock (even though IG hates the term.) Together for now OVER 40 years & having spawned more classic rock spin-offs than Star Trek did TV shows.This cover was WAY too long in coming. In the now 100+ issues of C.R. there should have been at least three covers of DP given that other bands have been afforded this honor on several occasions. I for one can’t wait for my copy to come in the post in the next few weeks. Time to put HIGHWAY STAR on and go for a DRIVE……….. I LOVE IT.. I NEED IT………
December 28th, 2008 at 12:16Next up, lets get d.p. into the rock-n-roll hall of fame!! D.P. not being in is a joke… Long live the Morse era…
December 28th, 2008 at 16:41Today I read Jack Bruce spiiting his fire towards lED ZEPPELIN
December 28th, 2008 at 18:19That was kinda funny and ubderstandable too
why?
December 28th, 2008 at 22:55There’s also a very good article about Deep purple MKI in the new issue of Mojo magazine (January 2009). I love the headline on the front cover…
DEEP PURPLE
December 29th, 2008 at 00:08When the ’60’s got heavy!
Ahh yes….good old Jack Bruce,sour grapes anyone???
December 29th, 2008 at 08:50Priest!
That news was happened about two months ago. Where have you been?
In Classic Rock Awards held in London, Cream was honoured the, I think best classic album (correct me if I’m wrong) for Disraeli Gears. After the ceremony, he was interviewed about that award. Note that no reporters ask him about Led Zeppelin. But when somebody ask him question about Cream, he basically added the sentence “Led Zeppelin is a ****”. And to ensure his anger, in the next question he added ” Fuck off Led Zeppelin, you’re a crap”. Again he added when somebody asked who is better, Eric Clapton or Jimmy Page, then he simply answer “Eric is God, but Page is ***”.
Well, I wasn’t around there. But I think Jack Bruce criticize Led Zep O2 concert, esp. when they used low registered key for some songs instead of original key. And maybe there’s another reasons.
Yes, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath were basically overrated. Deep Purple even never connected with drugs and popularity! They are simply for music.
December 29th, 2008 at 13:33I hear a lower key in “Tales Of Ulysses” at the Albert Hall, what was Jack on about?
December 29th, 2008 at 15:17I managed to pick up the Guitar World issue yesterday. As always, Blackmore is intelligent and articulate, although there is little in the interview that people on this site didn’t already know. It was interesting reading nonetheless.
One of the theses I have proposed on the site in the past is that Blackmore had the idea for a Blackmore’s Night style of band since early in his career. At what point a great person comes to an epiphany is a question of historical importance, but more often than not it isn’t a single moment–but rather the culmination of a series of events and experiences. Musically, the fusion of classical themes and medieval modes and structures is fundamental in Blackmore’s style of playing and composition and always has been. Only in the latter part of his career has Blackmore been able to make a living playing the music he envisioned for most of his life.
The article reveals that Blackmore’s interest in medieval music began with “Greensleeves” as a choirboy at the age of nine. “Ever since then, that song has remained at the back of my mind,” he said. “I’m obsessed with instrumental Renaissance dance music, and I probably always have been.” He also indicated that, “…music of this type is the kind of music I listen to most of the time.” In the 1980’s, Blackmore lamented that you can’t make a living playing lutes. He has now found a way to do just that.
December 29th, 2008 at 16:11More interesting is the disussion on purism vs. modernism in the kind of music Blackmore now plays. The band is caught in the middle between those who object to the inclusion of modern and non-authentic instruments, and those who object to the lack of electric guitar. Despite the fact that the musical themes are very much like Rainbow, both in structure and in execution (e.g., “Locked in a Crystal Ball,” “Fires at Midnight”), the inclusion of period-authentic instruments like the shawn or nyckelharpa raises eyebrows in the rock fan community, while the use of the electric guitar, keyboards–and even bass–is the subject of controversy among the purist crowd. The greatness of Blackmore’s Night is the fusion of the two, and bringing these sides to the attention of a public that might otherwise have never heard Renaissance-inspired music.
Blackmore’s Night is therefore not to everyone’s liking. Then again, neither is Beethoven. However, Beethoven’s bridging the gap between classicism and romanticism brought similar complaints about traditional forms versus the expression of new ideas. The Ninth Symphony was hardly well-accepted at the time. Few, however, question the greatness of Beethvoven today–even if they may not have much of his work in their CD collection.
December 29th, 2008 at 16:12A word must be said about Candice Night. On this site, few members of the extended Purple family have received harsher criticism. Night knew nothing of this sort of music before meeting Blackmore, and played none of the instruments. “I’d never even heard Renaissance or medieval music before I met Ritchie. The genesis of that music’s influence on me started when I would visit Ritchie at his big, old dark Tudor house… …This was the type of music he listened to at home all the time.” Nonetheless, Night became adept at playing those old, authentic instruments and has become a performer in her own right. Few give her credit for that. “…we both play the hurdy-gurdy now. So it’s really a constant learning process…”
December 29th, 2008 at 16:13you better save this copy and any articles written about DP and friends. amazing the treatment DP gets from the media as if they have a contagious disease. I bet the FBI couldn’t even find a handful of positive articles on this great band. Led Zep–Black Sab–Aerosmith—same crap, but never any new crap. big deal–give me more DP.
December 30th, 2008 at 12:00Just a quick response to Crimson Ghost, because I’m a pedantic sort. I saw Cream on their second night at the Royal Albert Hall and they had the same set for the whole residency. They didn’t play ‘Tales of Brave Ulysses’, however they did play that song at Madison Square Garden, where they’re were no ‘proper’ recordings.
December 30th, 2008 at 13:10Must be where my footage is from then.
December 30th, 2008 at 15:56Jack Bruce did make an interesting comment. “We were the pioneers and pioneers don’t always get the recognition they deserve…” Perhaps there is another group of pioneers that get equal, if not greater indifference: Deep Purple.
“Let’s face it: Jimmy Page ain’t no Eric Clapton, no matter what anybody thinks,” Bruce concluded. Perhaps so; however, neither Jimmy Page nor Eric Claption is a Ritchie Blackmore. Not even close.
As far as lowering the pitch a step or two–that’s a side-effect of age as the vocal cords can no longer handle higher pitches without sounding like an overblown woodwind. I doubt that it be an issue with a lay audience, but it is admirable when a vocalist can still reach the highs as they were recorded.
Bruce had a legitimate reason to be piqued–if not envious–but not as much as Purple and the way THEY’VE been dissed over the years.
December 31st, 2008 at 04:24T
I totally agree with you
December 31st, 2008 at 13:32So do I, every word of that.
December 31st, 2008 at 16:59bulls-eye T. said with grace….as always, thanks.
December 31st, 2008 at 18:47You hit the spot again, T….fabulous!! Take care, man!
December 31st, 2008 at 23:53I also agree with T and I think that DP have handled their frequent snubs with a lot of class by just “continuing” to be themselves and play “their” music.
January 1st, 2009 at 01:23In my country everybody, particulary journalists, talk a lot about led zeppelin and black sabbath about modern music influences but they miss deep purple…
January 2nd, 2009 at 12:59same thing in the USA Roberto—Deep Purple gets the step-child treatment.
January 2nd, 2009 at 15:37with uriah heep and nazareth the most underrated band ever….
January 2nd, 2009 at 18:51Plant better than Gillan
Blackmore better than Page or Clapton.
Are we talking opinion, technically, or commercially?
Or just maybe they cant be compared…..
I enjoy the music of DP, LZ, and numerous other bands……..
Are DP the best band in the world? They maybe the best at what they do, and maybe Zep the best at what they do, and maybe ACDC are the best at what they do…………etc
January 5th, 2009 at 14:35All in All, this is exactly what I have advocated over and over again….Unfortunately, Purple’s lack of pushing for that Commercial Success and sticking strictly to their Creative and Musical Guns has been their biggest enemy regarding being ‘Overlooked’. Even when the 80′ dawned the new era of MTV and the Music Video that soon became the ‘Breakthrough’ avenue for bands, Purple themselves basically snubbed that window of opportunity. LZ and Sabbath worked towards a Commercial Success and achieved it. I truly believe Purple has a ton of Radio Friendly tunes that never got the chance. Some much more so than the ones chosen from Sabbath and LZ. BUT, the Promotional Machine for Purple Sucked Big-time. Not so for the others. Now, no matter what song Sabbath (fronted by Ozzy) is presented, it will get world wide Radio Play. The same would be for LZ if they write a new song. Just as AC/DC gets. They get automatic Airplay when a new album comes out. WHY?…..they have been on the Commercial Ride forever, and stayed there by PROPER PROMOTION!!!!! They became ‘Household Names’.
Purple dropped their own ball. Too bad too, because I believe if they ever were able to promote properly, they would have been much bigger than LZ or Sabbath or AC/DC, publicly.
That’s the price you pay when you stand by you virtues…..but either way, they did and still do make awesome music, whether it gets the notoriety or not. We know it..
Cheers
January 6th, 2009 at 19:46It s unbelievable
January 7th, 2009 at 21:46I agree completely
But of course, and how could you not….., even though it goes against the grain…..but at least we are breaking ground……he he he..
I LOVE YOU PRIEST……..THOUGH, not as much as I love MK8……(but close)…..NOTTTTTTT!!!!!
Cheers
January 8th, 2009 at 04:09Confusion again
January 9th, 2009 at 00:07You told me only recently you admitted to love mk 2 MORE
Hehehe
Yes…..MK2. I love them more than you…..hehehe
January 9th, 2009 at 19:50Pfoehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
January 9th, 2009 at 22:00I am glad, soooooooooooooooooooooooo glad.
…..So Glad, so glad, so glad…….
Cheers
January 10th, 2009 at 01:23You could produce volumes debating the merits of Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple –
as a group or as individual musicians – and I think this is after all a fruitless enterprise. I would always go for DP, but then it’s often a matter of mood.
I do agree however, that Deep Purple is much underrated – something that doesn’t happen to Led Zeppelin. This seems unfair, but I could easily speculate on some reasons why this might be so.
Especially journalists seem to have a certain aloofness and do not too readily grant greatness to things they don’t understand or that they consider as gross (if it’s not gross on purpose like punk). “Smoke On The Water”, “Highway Star” and the groups of people that grew fond of this type of rock were regarded as rough, as simpletons by the spin doctors in the music media and they didn’t want to be associated with that kind of clientele. Only more so, as
“Smoke On The Water” grew to be the formula after which millions of young bands in the late 70s composed their music, which unfortunately turned out to be real simpleton music (Saxon, Judas Priest, Malmsteen).
Notwithstanding all the benefits that SOTW has created for DP, for me, it was never really representative of what DP REALLY was about.
Led Zeppelin did have their chart hits as well, but “Whole Lotta Love” and “Stairway To Heaven” represent the spirit of the band much better than SOTW does DP. For me theres not much to argue, that the best known LZ tracks are way cooler than the best known DP tracks.
For all the complexity of DP music – I have always found it much more easy to play LZ to girls than DP. There seems to be a gentleness to LZ that DP lacks.
Public opinion would of course quite naturally find the duo Plant Page visually a bit more appealing than Gillan Blackmore, blowing the importance of the band to spheres that go beyond music.
And then LZ was around for so much longer, when they were in their prime, hauling out one great record after the other, seriously working on their legacy, and then after Bonzo’s death it was period, which only enlarged the greatness of their myth.
No half-cooked reunions with mediocre albums and lacklustre concerts, with which the MK II b incarnation destroyed their own legend.
When the Zeps did reunite, it was for a clearly defined limited purpose and never designed to reinstall the original.
Oh – and by the way – musical quality in more recent years.
January 22nd, 2009 at 00:29Plant and Page did release some astonishingly weak records (Fate of Nations, Walking into Clarksdale, Coverdale Page), but when they were good, they were not just good, they were magic!
“No Quarter” and “Mighty Rearranger” are two of the best records of all time for me – nothing that DP issued after 1974 comes anywhere near that.
Page and Plant maybe better songwriters than Blackmore and Gillan but when it comes to live performing I doubt anyone could top Made In Japan or ever will And with the constant Airplay Zeppelin got in the US what chance did Purple ever have against the Machine? Page has amazing studio ability but Blackmore probably gets the win because of sheer energy and determination. Trampled Under Foot was one incredible song though. There is always the Jon Lord factor which many laymen and laywomen all too soon forget. That has to put Purple over the top.
March 16th, 2009 at 04:11deep purple number1
January 26th, 2010 at 03:03blackmore not celebrity type of guy
January 26th, 2010 at 03:06Most of Page & Plant music was old black blues rip offs. So I can’t say they come close as song writers. Zep was weak live. At least the 2 times I saw them they were unlistenable. To be fair you only have 3 musicians and what sounds like a cat with a rocking chair hitting his tail. I probably have seen Purple 10 times live since ’72 in every phase of the band and with the exception of the Bolin show all of them were incredible.
October 23rd, 2012 at 19:50