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A very sensitive kind of person

Ritchie Blackmore, House of Blues Chicago, Oct 17 2009; photo: Nick Soveiko CC-BY-NC-SA

To celebrate Ritchie’s 70th, The Guardian has reprinted a 1978 interview from Trouser Press magazine with the man in black. And it’s one of those rare gems where he is being thoughtful, open, self reflecting and, for the most part, quite serious. To the bemusement of the interviewer:

Ritchie Blackmore turned out to be a genial model of decorum, and was fully prepared to discuss anything. Indeed, when we got over the surprise of discovering him to be a pleasant fellow, he even fielded borderline tactless questions, unthinkable to ask of someone with his image. My only complaint about the thoughtful and open Mr Blackmore was that he insisted on keeping his juiciest comments off the record.

A lot of ground was covered, from starting to play guitar at age 11, to Outlaws, to Purple, to Rainbow, and everything in between and beyond. Some of Blackmore’s words became prophetic 30 years later:

Ever considered playing another kind of music?

Yeah, I have thought about that, but I’m very interested in extreme rock’n’roll. At the other extreme, I’m interested in medieval modes, quiet 15th-century sitting in a park playing little minuets … I don’t like to mix the two.

Go and read it in The Guardian.



6 Comments to “A very sensitive kind of person”:

  1. 1
    LRT says:

    You must’ve missed “I don’t like to mix the two.” That’s where the “some words” come in I take it. 🙂 He does now.

  2. 2
    Joeyrenaldo says:

    This is the first time I’ve read it. Apparently, Ritchie doesn’t like repeating himself because from the limited articles I’ve read about him, what he said here didn’t appear later.

    But I think this is a revelation, a fair revelation that makes me appreciate Blackmore all the more.

    Whatever he’s doing know, he deserves his kudos too.

    Thanks for posting this article.

  3. 3
    albertz says:

    Great interview. Ritchie alludes to Roger being in the band he was forming with Ian P & Phil Lynot – Babyface as its been referred to, but I’ve only ever heard of it mentioned as a trio. Anyone know anything more?

  4. 4
    peter chrisp says:

    Great interview from the man in black, well there is one thing for certain, he doesn’t mess around with what he thinks
    straight to the point, in the interview all those years ago, as we all know there are many sides to Ritchie’s thoughts
    on his music, the people and musicians he has come across over the years, and what type of person he is, this is where
    i find it quite amazing, i guess we all know that Ritchie has a “mean streak” i guess we all have at one time? With the above interview which is now 37 years ago, we all no doubt will have different opinions of the man himself, whether
    there is any self-righteousness or a bit of an ego but one thing is for certain, he has left us with some brilliant music over the years, whether it’s with Dio, Ian Gillan,Joe Lynn Turner, & Graham Bonnet, or Doogie, in the end there is some great stuff in there. Happy birthday to the M.I.B.

  5. 5
    JOEY57 says:

    @3 This is true I have heard both Ritchie Blackmore and Ian Paice state that originally Babyface was going to be a trio, but truth is Phil Lynott just wasnt playing bass up to their level yet, so Roger Glover was brought in to play bass

  6. 6
    LRT says:

    Keep listening to your Smoke On The Water’s, over and over and over… I’ll keep listening forward.

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