A very gentle, satisfying evening
Part 2 of Ritchie Blackmore’s 2026 birthday livestream continues from his in-house bar.
Thanks to Candice for making this happen, to Igor’s Rock Universe for posting it, and to Uwe for bringing it to your attention.
![[hand]](/hs-pics/portraits/hands/morse9.jpg)
![[face]](/hs-pics/portraits/faces/morse2.jpg)
Part 2 of Ritchie Blackmore’s 2026 birthday livestream continues from his in-house bar.
Thanks to Candice for making this happen, to Igor’s Rock Universe for posting it, and to Uwe for bringing it to your attention.
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
Ritchie and Candy: My favorite comedy duo. I wish they would do one of these ever months.
April 18th, 2026 at 02:23Ritchie could have always explained the creation of the SOTW riff to the journalist with the strikingly simple fact that it consists of the first four notes of the G minor blues scale (mostly played in sequence), namely root (G) as the first note, minor third (Bb) as the second note, perfect fourth (C) as the third note and flat fifth/blue note (Db) as the fourth note:
1 – 2 – 3
1 – 2 – 4 – 3
1 – 2 – 3
2 – 1
Roll over Beethoven! 🤣
April 18th, 2026 at 04:09That gout-afflicted finger joint looks awful and debilitating. 😞
April 18th, 2026 at 05:00Surprised that Ritchie doesn’t like “Sail Away.” I think it’s among the best tracks on “Burn.” Then again, they never played it live, so that should’ve been an indication that RB didn’t like it. Also, Ritchie was clearly taking the piss during that CNN interview years ago when he claimed he borrowed the Smoke riff from the opening notes of Ludwig’s fifth symphony. He fooled some folks on the internet, though.
April 18th, 2026 at 10:58Always nice to hear Ritchie talking about the past, not so nice him talking about the present day situation, makes me feel sad.
Strange he didnt mention the incident with the camera man when they played at the California Jam show…
Here´s to you Ritchie – Cheers!!
April 18th, 2026 at 11:07@5 His comment in part one about being friends with Greg Gutfeld, a rightwing nut bag from Fox news in the ‘states told me all I need to know about his present day thoughts. Adios Ritch, we had a good run.
April 18th, 2026 at 13:06@6 Rick, I remember years ago that he liked Margaret Thatcher, so I always knew he was politically on the Right…unfortunately.
April 18th, 2026 at 13:29Rick, Ritchie’s political views have long been of incendiary nature to more liberal minds – not a great fan of fair taxation the man either. Yes, mention of Greg Gutfeld had me swallow too. The guy is simply inane, count me in the Jessica Tarlov team. Unlike him she regularly knows what she is talking about.
But then Nick Simper’s wearing of a guitar strap with – brace yourself – Alex Jones’ corporate news empire human abyss emblazoned on it wasn’t proof of great political enlightenment either:
https://share.google/14Byol0hCBvgXogvo
Nick brandished that for years (always uncommented here, I almost fell off my seat when I first noticed it, rubbing my eyes in disbelief, maybe that is why they never invited him to the RRHoF 🤣) and only Sandy Hook and the deplorable depths Alex Jones plunged there apparently got him to discard it in more recent years. Better late than never.
For the avoidance of doubt: I don’t mind Alice Cooper, Rick Springfield, Jack Blades (of Night Ranger) or the guys from Lynyrd Skynyrd all being card-carrying GOP guys, that’s perfectly fine, but rooting for Greg Gutfeld or Alex Jones is another thing. At least Ritchie and Nick weren’t as loudmouth about it as Ted Nugent though (a man whose guitar skills I rate very highly, but who is despicable otherwise).
April 18th, 2026 at 14:30@6: He seems to think Medvedev is a good guy as well, unlike the current DP lineup which criticized Russia after its invasion of Ukraine. Ritchie was born with a gift and worked hard to perfect said gift, but I don’t believe he’s as smart, intellectually curious, or aware of what’s going on in the world as the other Mark II members.
April 18th, 2026 at 15:56Nice interview!! To number 6, do you always call someone you disagree with a nut bag? So you’ve given up on someone like Ritchie, who is one of the Greats, and who’s music you apparently like, because you disagree with his politics? Sad again.
April 18th, 2026 at 17:12Of course he’s right-wing, otherwise he wouldn’t be with Candice… What a “beautiful” couple…
April 18th, 2026 at 22:35RB has long been one of my rock music heroes/idols, but since long ago I’ve admired Ritchie the artist and not necessarily Ritchie the person. These revelations that he’s fond of the smug Gutfeld and Putin sycophant Medvedev, while very disappointing, are not shocking.
April 18th, 2026 at 23:43great political enlightenment?????????????????????????????? Political Crap…………………..Is there anything more negative?
April 19th, 2026 at 01:11The comments posted here I find despicable.
April 19th, 2026 at 09:14Ritchie Blackmore has accomplished more in life than most of you.
I think we’ve known for years where Ritchie is politically with his reference to Thatcher back in the 80s and tried to ignore it. I’d never heard of Greg Gutfield til he mentioned him in the interview and that’s really disappointing. They do say never meet your heroes…….
April 19th, 2026 at 09:42@13: Yes, and? Does that mean you’re not allowed to criticize him? It’s funny how some people always creep out of the bushes to worship RB as soon as something remotely critical is posted about him.
It’s strange these days where a less than 100% positive opinion about someone automatically becomes “hate”, or when one of your heroes suddenly expose a more unsympathetic side and some people just dump their heroes instantly. Isn’t anyone able to keep two thoughts in the head at the same time anymore? No wonder the world looks at it does these days
April 19th, 2026 at 10:10Timur, no one is denying Ritchie’s musical talent and achievements. Ted Nugent is a great guitarist too and some of the albums of his original band with Derek St. Holmes are American hard rock classics. That Salvador Dalí was a glowing fan of Francisco Franco and Spanish fascism doesn’t diminish Dalí’s art (which I like), but it doesn’t make the artist’s political views sacrosanct either.
So if in a streamed interview/Q&A you praise Greg Gutfeld of all people as America’s top comedian and as smart, then you also need to tolerate people raising an eyebrow about it.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rTiO929c3fg
April 19th, 2026 at 10:36UNBELIEVEABLE that anyone would bail on Blackmore because of his politics!! so sad 🙁
April 19th, 2026 at 11:58@10 Yep, that’s it in a nutshell dude. For me, hard right wing politics are a BIG NO. Did the same with Buck Dharma of BOC when i saw a yt clip of a concert with him wearing a “lets go brandon” t shirt.
@14 Yes RB has accomplished more then me. Your point being?
@16 I don’t “hate” RB just do not care at ALL for this revelation. I was unaware of any Thatcher love back in the 80’s as some have pointed out or anything else, except maybe the “shoeshine music” remark from the Stormbringer days. Not interested in anything further from him musically or otherwise.
April 19th, 2026 at 12:41Personally I dont give a shit about Ritchies political thoughts..when I think of Ritchie I think about the musician Ritchie thats giving us so much great music for over more than 5 decades. Here´s to you Ritchie!!!
April 19th, 2026 at 13:23@13: You and your islander nihilism against any form of more developed social organisation fabric, Herr MacGregor! 🤣
https://media.tenor.com/xzvxBPqsYioAAAAM/campfire-bonfire.gif
April 19th, 2026 at 14:44@6 Not so quick, Rick. Blackmore is a Democrat. He just likes Gutfeld’s humor, friendship … not his politics.
April 19th, 2026 at 17:41Since when has heavy rock aligned itself with left leaning causes solely?
April 19th, 2026 at 17:50Listen to Black Sabbath.
I checked, Greg Gutfeld wasn’t there:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/QxiW41fX24E
April 20th, 2026 at 00:30@ 16 – I know absolutely nothing of Blackmore’s so called ‘political views’ so anyone going on about them, well is it relevant at all. The only musician I have ever had privy to waffling on politically is good ole Roger the dodger Waters. Maybe Neil Young too and we all know how much he can go on about certain things. So yes, politics is usually negative, no matter who wants to make comments about it, either way. What does it have to do with music though? Well in Waters case it does permeate the music at times as it can with Neil Young too, but with Ritchie? Cheers.
April 20th, 2026 at 08:36Waitaminnit: It was Ritchie who – unprompted – mentioned and recommended Gutfeld twice in his birthday bash interview (of which a third part exists, I already passed it on to Nick), it’s not like some mudraker dragged it out of his privacy. So if Ritchie advocates the man (and upon his second mentioning reveals that he “watches all of his shows”, which means Gutfeld’s political commentator slots on FOX NEWS as well), it is fair game to scrutinize that advocacy a bit more. I watch Gutfeld quite a bit because I don’t spend all my time in lefty echo chambers but make a point of checking what the opposite end of the spectrum thinks, ie people like Tucker Carlson, Ben Shapiro, Nick Fuentes and Megyn Kelly, it sharpens my senses in the political discourse.
James, I don’t know where that info “Blackmore is a Democrat” comes from, but I’d be surprised if you found him registered as one in Long Island (has he even ever adopted US citizenship?)! I’m not aware that Ritchie ever held views you could even remotely regard as center-left, he has a disdain for Big Government, a track record of let’s say “tax efficient” conduct all through his life, thought it funny when his personal assistant wore a T-shirt captioned “slave to Mr Blackmore”, there is the notorious shoeshine comment as well as David Stone’s memories on what he thought of Blackmore’s acceptance of non-white players in Rainbow (while at the same time idolizing Hendrix and moonlighting with Phil Lynott, Ritchie is an enigma). Lastly, Ritchie’s passionate adoration for a time of feudal and theocratic rule, entrenched class societies centuries removed from any form of democratic participation, sometimes lets me scratch my head more than a little. It’s not like Blackmore’s Night are known for playing Bella Ciao or Sacco & Vanzetti at their gigs if you know what I mean.
https://youtu.be/4CI3lhyNKfo
https://youtu.be/R4xWbRBLj2I
I believe Ritchie is (and has been for a long time) inherently conservative with a libertarian slant. That doesn’t let me burn my vast Deep Puple & Family Collection in some self-cleansing ritual nor do I think that Ritchie minds my small but steady contribution to his personal wealth over half a century just because I’m more on the social justice warrior side. He hasn’t sent any money back yet.
I don’t think that liking or playing heavy rock/heavy metal automatically lumps you in the lefty political field, in fact some valid arguments to the contrary could be made. But it’s generally not an issue for me, there is a bandwidth of acceptable political views both to the left and right for me, and if Ritchie had stated “I would have preferred Mitt Romney over Obama” then I wouldn’t have batted an eyelid; lauding an escalating loudmouth like Greg Gutfeld of all people had me raise an eyebrow though. If you have followed Gutfeld on The Five
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Five_(talk_show)
as I have for some years, he will not strike you as a man with measured opinions or as someone willing to give a political opponent the benefit of doubt.
April 20th, 2026 at 14:15For me it’s beyond silly to mix up art with personal views. A lot of artists have very strange points of view for my liking…so what? You wanna check everyone’s biography and read every interview he’s ever done to decide if you will listen to his music or look at his paintings? Kindergarten…
April 20th, 2026 at 15:16Didnt the Touringband incl Morse not visit Medvedev but later said to regret it?
People are imho paradoxal and very often a spectrum of ideas.
I still think I m an old Lefty but am pro Trump.
That being said,I was very much in favour of Obama s election, he seemed wise, eloquent etc after the imho semi retard GWB.
Didnt age well, that stance,could happen again.
Btw, how does a 80 year old work that hard, do with 4 hours of sleep , MacDonalds every day and just some golf?
Yeah, he doesnt smoke or drink and young women tend to extend your life if chosen wisely.
April 20th, 2026 at 18:14@17
Uwe, Greg Gutfield he’s a very funny man whether you like his political views or not. You guys should stay awash from what really Ritchie likes in terms of “ right or left”. Yeah, I understand that he grew up in the 50s. Which was a different time from now.
April 20th, 2026 at 18:16I agree MacGregor. I could care less about a Musicians political views. What matters I’s their music!! Same goes for my friends. Some of my very best friends have completely opposite political views as mine but, who cares!!?? Not me. They are my friends. Their is so much hatred today because people are consumed with politics!!!! Cheers!!!!
April 20th, 2026 at 19:24I think Gutfeld is great, he is funny and has common sense. Ritchie can like who he wants to. at least he does not get in your face about politics like Bruce S, Rodger W, Neil Y, Ted N, and to a lesser extent Robert P. just play your music, not bla bla BS.
April 20th, 2026 at 19:48@30 Thank you. Leslie, I couldn’t agree more.
I just listened to Van Morrison, the ‘What’s it gonna take’ album. Disagree with his views on the covid subject but like the music and the fact that I live in a part of the world where Van the man can sing his mind.
April 20th, 2026 at 20:20Candice has a lovely voice, Ritchie has a subtle sense of humor, I could listen to them for hours!
The memory of the California Jam once again highlights how the band over the years totally despised their managers who squeezed them like lemons and oranges.
I’m sorry that Ritchie only considers In Rock, Machine Head and Burn worthy, and does not consider the masterpiece that is Perfect Strangers of which he was the main composer.
We discovered that part of the solo in Highway Star was inspired by a guitar lick from an Elvis Presley song!
April 20th, 2026 at 21:59Your politics are better than my politics – get a grip!
RB – a legendary guitarist that has entertained the masses for decades
Maybe he roasts kittens in his spare time, that’s up to him.
April 21st, 2026 at 06:46I salute you fine people who can actually bring in some political comments here without straying too far from the subject – and most important, without resorting to name calling! DP fans are the best!
April 21st, 2026 at 07:57@35
Yes we are!
Opinions differ as the weather changes, at least in my hood.
April 21st, 2026 at 07:59Thank you, Björn!
April 21st, 2026 at 09:44But the weather – if you want to call it that – in Denmark is always the same!
April 21st, 2026 at 12:34Svante is right, our little political excursion was civil and decorum kept. Hell, I have caught more flak here for once innocently revealing (under duress!) that Rainbow’s Rising might perhaps not be the 70s reincarnation of The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper everyone seems to think it is. 😂
April 21st, 2026 at 15:07@38
Why do you think I love Purple so much Uwe?
April 22nd, 2026 at 13:02At the moment we have freezing temperatures at night, and almost 17 C at day. Purple help me keeping warm, at least in my little purple heart 😃
@ 40 – Anton would be enjoying 17C days, wouldn’t he Karin? Time for a walk or three. I presume Anton has survived all that IGB noise. No doubt you would have been tempted to use him as a sounding board of sorts. The poor little thing. 17C is about our maximum temperature here at present, no wind and it is a nice day. Not as cold as up your way at night though. Hope you enjoy your summer when it arrives. Cheers.
April 22nd, 2026 at 23:00@41
MacGregor Anton is freezing very much! All the time..
At winter when I heat up the oven in the living room, he loves to be placed right in front of it 😳 I don’t let him of course, because it really gets hot and apparently he cannot feel the warmth.
So these days he is freezing like his momma 😄
IGB? Oh he and I are agreeing that Ian’s voice is nice, but Anton actually leaves me whenever I listen to that music 🤭
At night we’re still below zero C. So yes, I look forward to summer time, all three days 😄
April 23rd, 2026 at 12:42@ 42- “IGB? Oh he and I are agreeing that Ian’s voice is nice, but Anton actually leaves me whenever I listen to that music.” Just as I thought. Doggies have very sensitive hearing. Cheers.
April 23rd, 2026 at 22:28@43
Yeah you’re right MacGregor! 😃
The things I’ll go through to get a drumstick 😁
April 24th, 2026 at 23:46The things we do for love, Karin!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hi3zCWAN00
April 30th, 2026 at 22:31@45
Yeah Uwe …..
Gets our hearts broken, search for a meaning of life, listening to 10cc….
You know I’m into Carl Jung, right? Well, what is remarkable about this late gentleman is, that he somehow had grasp of quantum physics!
And he was ahead of his time!
Would he have loved to listen to 10cc?
Maybe this one:
https://youtu.be/0e0qYP_PTlY?is=Qiw53VlY0SwWxWFV
Yes. I know! You linked it to me before!
Well, that was a little bit of topic!
May 2nd, 2026 at 13:50