![[hand]](/hs-pics/portraits/hands/gillan4.jpg)
![[face]](/hs-pics/portraits/faces/airey3.jpg)
Regarding the boot size
Guitar World has a long(ish) interview with Simon McBride, whose profile have certainly got a boost after being tapped for the banjo player job, albeit a temp one, in one of the most influential bands of all time.
To be honest, I’ve known about this for a while. There was talk of it before, since the end of last year. Steve wants to do the shows obviously, because he is the guitar player in Deep Purple.
It’s very unfortunate with his wife… so yeah, it’s very hard for him to leave and come over to Europe. It’s a bittersweet emotion for me, because it’s under sad circumstances, but on the other hand I’m also going ‘Yes!’ because it’s a dream opportunity. It’s a bizarre thing.
I’ve known the guys for a while. I’ve toured with Ian [Gillan] and Don [Airey] a fair bit over the years. I’ve also played with Roger [Glover] and [Ian] Paicey, so I’ve played with them all, just not at the same time! [laughs] Now I get to do that, and I’m very excited about it, running through all those classic iconic songs we all learn when we’re young. Now I get to play them as part of the band. Steve is an amazing guitarist, so I know I’ve got big boots to fill…
Read more in Guitar World.
Simon also has a solo album The Fighter coming out of May 25 via earMUSIC.
And just to leave you with another dose of McBriderism (yes, we’ve just invented the word), here is Simon putting on his best SRV impression while doing a gear demo:
Thanks to Gary Poronovich for the info.
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
Dude can play and I like his sound.
April 21st, 2022 at 20:55Nailed!
April 21st, 2022 at 23:00Oh. My. God. What a player! One of the best SRV-impressions I have heard, added with some of his own. Can’t wait to see what he can do with DP.
April 22nd, 2022 at 07:15Let’s hope Stratocaster will come back to DP’s sound. Unfortunately, it seems he mostly plays some shitty prs.
April 22nd, 2022 at 09:59Oh yeah, he’s good, he’s very good. Please watch the DVD/bluray with Ian Gillan & the Don Airey Band with Orchestra, astonishing performance!
April 22nd, 2022 at 10:00Have a nice Day!
Definitely a player!!! Like his sound as well – I will buy his solo album like the Fighter!!
April 22nd, 2022 at 11:17He sounds ‘gallagherish’ (Rory, not Noel) to me, which isn’t a bad thing given that Rory too was on Coverdale’s list of potential successors to Ritchie in 1975.
Rory was also one of the few “Brit” (I use the term in a roundabout way knowing fully well that Rory came from the Irish Republic and not from the UK or Northern Ireland) guitarists of the time to find favor with Ritchie. Naming his son “Rory” is probably no coincidence.
April 22nd, 2022 at 14:20He sure has Brit grit in his playing, more so than Steve who always sounds very American to me (as did Tommy Bolin). That’s not a knock on Steve, just an observation. There is a reason why Toto and the Doobie Brothers were American bands and Dr. Feelgood was not. I like all three.
April 22nd, 2022 at 14:30Nothing shitty about PRS guitars. They make excellent guitars. Anyway it ain’t about the guitar. All of purples guitarists would sound great on a cheap squire or epiphone. BTW Bernie Mardsen plays PRS and even has a signature PRS.
April 22nd, 2022 at 17:01I like what Simon plays during the verse of smoke and his solo is a excellent too. Good choice purple!
Yes I do hear a Rory Gallagher influence indeed, rhythmically especially. Eric Johnson also on the lead playing but nowhere near as melodic or lyrical as Johnson is. More of a SRV as it says. Simon McBride like so many other guitarists, seems to be trying to play too fast at times, Even Blackmore did that occasionally, oh well.
April 22nd, 2022 at 22:12@ 9 – Regarding Paul Reed Smith guitars, they are a superb instrument, I am not a guitarist at all but I know plenty who are & they are all very impressed by PRS. The sound is wonderful.
@ 4- yes the classic Stratocaster bite, I know what you mean. He may play live with DP with one. Tommy Bolin played a Strat didn’t he? However I didn’t hear that like the Blackmore tone, but who can emulate that, not even Blackmore. Bolin wasn’t that sort of player either, each to their own. Cheers.
It’s very pleasing to me that he’s so influenced by Gary Moore. Can’t wait to get the new album.
April 22nd, 2022 at 22:23I feel really bad for Steve and his wife and I hope everything turns out good for them. I hope Steve can get back to touring as soon as possible. I was hoping that there would be a live release this fall from one or more of the upcoming shows. But now that seems not likely. I don’t think the band will release a live album with Simon. When Joe replaced Ritchie not one of the shows Joe did was officially released. I know I’m being selfish but I really love Deep Purple live albums. If Purple recorded everything I would probably buy most of it. To me the Whoosh album is great and I hope they play as much as possible from it. Time will tell.
April 23rd, 2022 at 01:31It’s very difficult to get the blackmore sound from around 72 era. Believe me I have tried. You need a modded marshal major and a treble booster to start with. There are a couple of guys on YouTube who have all this stuff n they do have it spot on. It’s such a great sound too.
April 23rd, 2022 at 14:00When Steve Morse joined Deep Purple I said to my self…..Noe don’t judge , just wait and listen to what they do, Purpendicular was released not long after that and I loved it, Live at the Olympia followed and man what a revelation that was, Steve Morse could play live ( remember this was a long time ago and never heard of him before he joined the band) he could the recognizable song parts and improvise and keep things exiting, and I think that’s the challenge/test for Mr. McBride, lets give him the chance and listen to what he does
April 23rd, 2022 at 14:46I would say to Simon, embrace it, listen to some of the shows where Satriani played with Deep Purple to realise that replicating a solo note for note isn’t the answer. Suggest listen to Deep Purple Bayreuth 1994 with Joe Satriani, last concert of the tour to realise something special can occur (and I expect will).
April 24th, 2022 at 07:17I say, bring Steve Morris!
April 24th, 2022 at 11:30That is such a great sound Simon has. I think he will do really well with Purple.
My prayers are with Steve and his wife.
April 24th, 2022 at 11:39If talks started last year, that might be the reason this year tour started in Florida. They wanted to play a few shows with the official line up while allowing Steve to be driving distance from his wife
April 25th, 2022 at 15:34I got the album at he beginning of this month and just saw the video. Very emotional for me as I just had a below knee amputation on my right leg. Naturally you think the fighter is someone in a fight, not someone who has to overcome a difficulty. I love Simon’s work on the tour and on the CD. Wish his earlier CDs could be re-released.
June 21st, 2022 at 15:59