![[hand]](/hs-pics/portraits/hands/glover7.jpg)
![[face]](/hs-pics/portraits/faces/mcbride4.jpg)
Zero pressure
Simon Mcbride recently spoke to the Guitar Interactive Magazine, and it wasn’t as much of an interview as a monologue. As the host quipped at one point, “go on, nobody wants to hear me anyway”. Writing for Splat!, gear talk, early influences, plans for the future — it’s all here.
Thanks to BraveWords for the heads-up.
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
Have to laugh at McBride’s comment regarding Ian Paice. If he doesn’t like it he will not join in, if he does he gets into it. Bloody drummers eh, temperamental lot aren’t they. Maybe it is Ian getting some back on those pesky guitarists, after all those years with his old mate Ritchie and possibly Steve Morse too. A bass guitarist would never do that and a keyboard player either. Such gentlemanly characters they are. What about the singer, hmmmmmmm. I bet they do at times. ‘I am not singing that, but I will sing that litle bit there’. Then they have the producer guy, forget his name. Fancy having him telling you ‘that is crap, but that bit is really good’. I cannot imagine Ritchie putting up with that at all. Go Ritchie! Cheers.
June 9th, 2026 at 22:49I have this pet theory that Simon (re)creates his hair style (I’m using the term loosely) every morning by plugging – first thing! – his fingers into the electric socket – zzzzzzzzz … and you’re done for the day, easy! Reinvigorating too, I believe.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/Tl-JqDxTpFNdfCm65k_zIy7-Euacx4vACrfexrpIqUV-0SFKWVBfov-WCRgDP-px7ngoCQIW8kYnE5CzvsOA
Good guitar nerd interview.
“I plug into a toaster and I sound like me.” Like I’ve always said!
Simon’s idol, the other Steve:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR_WaLv_nZs
PS: In case you wanna take a look at Keith Urban’s studio Simon raves so much about, here you are:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6-CvvRWdVg
PPS: What is a truss rod***-less guitar and how does it sound?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4D57-JpYbv0&t=9s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEqCKa7pMAQ&t=719s (@13.00)
***An adjustable steel bar under strain conventionally placed in a guitar or bass neck underneath the fretboard to counteract against the string pull which would otherwise bow the neck in a concave manner to an extent it would become unplayable.
https://www.electricherald.com/wp-content/uploads/Truss-Rod-Mechanics-Article.jpg
June 10th, 2026 at 02:53@2
“I have this pet theory that Simon (re)creates his hair style (I’m using the term loosely) every morning by plugging – first thing! – his fingers into the electric socket – zzzzzzzzz … and you’re done for the day, easy! Reinvigorating too, I believe.”
– 😁 well Uwe at least he has a lovely head of hair 😄
To me Simon, and the rest of Purple, look lovely!
June 10th, 2026 at 09:32@3
June 10th, 2026 at 13:17Hello Karin, did you ever watch some old videos of Simon on YT? He had lovely curls and looked a little like Gary Moore. He looked much more lovely then…(even with a few kilos too much ;-))
I apologize for this “girl-topic”, just take it as a personal answer to Karin!
@3 @4 ++
Karin,
You might as well check out Simon’s “One More Try” official videoclip: nice song, great melodies AND curly hair 🙂
Best, J.-
June 10th, 2026 at 15:29“He had lovely curls …”
… which did set him apart from his predecessor in DP whose hair my dear wife would unflatteringly refer to as “(spaghetti hair, the really thin ones, spaghettini/ capellini to be exact”. 😂
I was just quoting another woman!
June 10th, 2026 at 18:15Nonsense, Karin likes her men young and impressionable so she can still teach them a thing or two …
https://youtu.be/vwlWgYsyp1k
“Have a seat little Simon (Karin alluringly taps seat beside her), don’t be shy, I will tell you all about Uncle Gillan, who knows, one day you might even …”
https://youtu.be/-khXx1Y0WeU
June 10th, 2026 at 22:36Simon just needs to stop rebelling against gravity. As we all know, what goes up, must come down. Cheers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFEewD4EVwU
June 10th, 2026 at 22:48Hallo Beate 🤗
Wie gehts?
Yes have seen him, all curly and a bit chubby 😁
Re girltopic: do you have any jewellery of Steve’s strings?
June 11th, 2026 at 04:30They are nice, but a bit pricey 💸💸
Hello.
Well he´s talking all right..! I tried to watch the video, but had to stop after approx. 1/3.
The host of the podcast (whatever) should have kept somekind of pace with his questions.
Content? I don´t know. Nothing new, always the story of jamming, producing… For us grumpy old fans…boring. And that´s not Simon´s fault. I blame the host here. When you have the chance to ask – ask simple and most possible stupid questions, you get the most interesting answers. But you most conduct the thing!
And here they are talking about Simon´s looks. Yawn.
As so many times before, I´m with MacGregor. Cheers. The brilliance of DP? Mr. Paice.
Sorry, I really need my coffee now.
Kippis. There´s one familiar band approaching the stage…
June 11th, 2026 at 08:10I like Simon’s streams of consciousness. They are an endearing mix of being utterly down to earth and marveling at the fact that he is now with DP. I’m happy for him (and happy for Purple finding him). Even if DP comes to its natural conclusion sometime in the not too distant future,
https://youtu.be/QWV4pFV5nX4
his now achieved status will likely secure him a mid-level career as a touring musician. And he can always throw in two or three DP numbers he can sing himself to keep attending nostalgic Purple fans happy.
Simon is not an enigmatic guitar auteur like Ritchie, not a charismatic all round musician like Tommy and he’s not in the Satriani and Morse league as an innovative guitar player, but I think he fits the “senior citizens DP” just right at this stage of their career. I hear returned grit and joy in DP with him. That’s enough for me. At this point, any additional day of DP existing is a gift.
June 11th, 2026 at 14:38@7
12 yo 😳 I am impressed 😊
And Uwe what also impresses me is your wildly optimistic imagination 😁
Let me link to some proper rock!
June 11th, 2026 at 16:50https://youtu.be/lLs9tbtGx4s?is=EBu1NGfKAANmab8i
@11
Uwe, you are right:
“Simon is not an enigmatic guitar auteur like Ritchie, not a charismatic all round musician like Tommy and he’s not in the Satriani and Morse league as an innovative guitar player, but I think he fits the “senior citizens DP””
And:
June 11th, 2026 at 16:58“At this point, any additional day of DP existing is a gift.”
– yes indeed!
I‘ve got the new Dan Byrne CD!
Maybe Ritchie should have used him for Reunionbow.
June 11th, 2026 at 19:06Bloody drummers! Well it is Ian Paice !
June 11th, 2026 at 23:09Not just any drummer!
@14
He is impressive, isn’t he 😊
I was thinking maybe as a replacement for ….. no I cannot even think like that 😱
(Psst: but imagine that voice singing ‘Highway Star’…)
And because I’m always concerned about your music library: have you got a cd with Sort Sol?
June 12th, 2026 at 04:57@9
Hello Karin,
I’m fine, thank you. A little too much work at the moment, so I do not have much time to write here.
Yes, the “Steve Morse Jewellery” is wonderfully crafted by Katya. She’s a brilliant artist und I have to admit, with every new collection I’m tempted and later convinced that I have to get a piece of it (I didn’t count, but I possess about 12 now). Considering that she uses a lot of silver and the prices for silver in the past only knew one way: UP – it’s OK (although it hurts a little in my wallet)
BTW do you know that she runs a special page for Steve:
June 12th, 2026 at 07:54http://www.stevemorse.net
Check it out! There are much more informations than on his official one (which I don’t like so much after the change of the person(s) who run it). And of course there is a link to her store.
There’s been quite some complaining on these pages about how the remaining 4 Purple gentlemen treated or spoke of Steve Morse.
June 12th, 2026 at 09:34I see zero reason to blame them. He bowed out beccause of his personal/family situation. Very understandable and noble of course. The band had to move on and wanted to. Do you expect a company to close down because an employee takes time off to take extra care of his family?
I havn’t read one disrespectful sentence by anyone. Just read the german mag Good Times where IP tells the story. And he talks about playing with Simon is different because he’s different to SM. Different cultural background et al. More physical, less intellectual. And he days there’s nothing wrong with either style. And I agree.
The band’s statements are professional and respectful.
@17
Oh nice Beate 😃 I know of how to convince myself to something I really need, even though my ‘needs’ are in another direction ☺️
Thank you for the link, I will of course check that out immediately 🙏🏼
Sorry if this has slipped my memory, but are you also going to a Purple concert this year? Hope you are 🤗💜
June 12th, 2026 at 19:38@18
But Max, they are gentlemen aren’t they? 😊
IP said in a recent interview that IG had said at one point: if Steve is going at one point, we don’t have to look that far for his replacement, as in Simon.
And just like you never heard a bad word re Steve, neither have I!
Ritchie however…but that’s an old story and no need to stir anything up there ☺️
June 12th, 2026 at 19:42You go tell’em, Max!
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/35/0c/c5/350cc56f837ad0c193f607f8ff5ba12c.gif
We’re Krauts, none of this emotional pussy-footin’ crap with us, bitte schön!
https://media.tenor.com/t4wFNQuuEVEAAAAe/the-strain-richard-sammel.png
June 12th, 2026 at 22:04Karin, it’s close to impossible to get Sort Sol on CD in Germany, their albums are either deleted or priced at something like 200 Euros. Otherwise it’s just MP3s, and I don’t believe in MP3s, in fact most people over 16 shouldn’t, it was a vile invention.
June 13th, 2026 at 02:54@19
June 13th, 2026 at 08:21Hello Karin,
No DP live gig this year for me. They don‘t come to Stuttgart what is the only venue I can reach with bus and train and get home the same evening.
If my hubby had the same taste of music, the case would be different and perhaps the gig in Frankfurt would be possible. But with a fan of German Schlager you can‘t discuss about those things😉 I keep my mouth shut and try to close my ears when the „master of remote control of the tv“ looks for so-called music there.
I‘ m just glad he does not want to go to a open air Schlagerfestival!
@22
Aber doch Uwe!
That I cannot accept..
https://youtu.be/BV3QgDq2TGw?is=MrgtoH7B-pIvTSjB
June 13th, 2026 at 10:13@23
Ahh Beate, I remember the problems you have.
Can’t you ask your hubby to put cheese in his ears, like they did in Allo Allo every single time Madame Edith would entertain with her lovely voice 😄
He likes Schlagers? Ohhh no no no.. you have all my sympathy 😨 here is a warm sisterly hug 🤗
Well, I know what you’re going through since I live with a guy who likes Metallica 😜 I have threatened with divorce more than once, but it hadn’t helped one bit 😁
I will think of you when I’m going to Copenhagen in October and because of this heartaches you’ve told me, I will indeed record Ian and the rest of the gang when they are doing Smoke on the Water 😃
June 13th, 2026 at 10:30@ 22
Amazon Music has legal streaming in HD (better than CD) quality.
I put Sort Sol while driving my daughter to guitar lessons.
She said “interesting”, but she much prefers Rainbow’s “Temple of the King” or Michael Jackson’s hits!
Best, J.-
PS. MP3’s were/are atrocious.
June 13th, 2026 at 14:28Liebe Frau Flohr, ask your Helene Fischer- and Andrea Berg-loving hubby (I prefer Helene to Andrea by a mile btw, you can’t fault Helene’s professionalism) if he minds you staying over night at Edith’s and my place in Langen (basically a Frankfurt outskirt with a nine minute Regionalbahn connection to Frankfurt HBF), we have a guest room in our bungalow and the Australian monitor lizards are locked away at night. I also have a Steve Morse-related CD collection that will leave you elated and you can even wear a muscle shirt while admiring it.
I’m not joking. I’m gonna be at the Frankfurt gig in any case. Now go ask hubby. We all know it might be their last tour.
June 13th, 2026 at 16:05Hello.
What?!
Just wondering of Your pondering about DP´s touring schedule and dates…!? @23.
Deep Purple ALWAYS have Germany on their list. EVERY tour. And the amount of dates! Not just one or two gigs, but many. And this is the reality, on their EVERY tour. It has always been that way and always will be. Fact. It doesn´t require a fortuneteller to tell You that. So I´m very very sorry reminding You germans of this, but please, some fairness here!
The situation / actual fact right now as we speak: DP in Germany in 2026 : Five dates in the Summer and six in forthcoming Autumn/Winter! (Eight in Spain!)
And hold your horses. I´m not complaining or jealous in any way. Just telling the facts.
I guess there´s some countries full of fans who would like their heroes visit their neighbourhood as well… In Europe at least. If You want to see a concert, maybe you have to travel a bit, too!
Kippis.
June 13th, 2026 at 17:28I’ve always said that: Deutschland is DP’s spiritual home. You name me one other country ON EARTH where the Defense Minister is decommissioned with SOTW as a last salute!
https://youtu.be/LeNEu_Fsn2Q
June 14th, 2026 at 00:22How can we lure Herr Flohr hier her?
https://youtu.be/Xcv-HWSWUMI
I’d say that Helene, that immigrant girl from Siberia, is the only dance pop star von internationalem Format we have. This is not your mom’s and daddy’s Schlager, it’s a proper live extravaganza.
June 14th, 2026 at 00:34Karin @24: You merciful one!
https://d2ipgh48lxx565.cloudfront.net/uploads/resource_55a9d0309262f.jpg
June 14th, 2026 at 00:43#27: Australian Monitor Lizards? Are they like Komodo Dragons?
June 14th, 2026 at 00:58@26
“I put Sort Sol while driving my daughter to guitar lessons”
– awwwww ain’t you a dear dad!
Michael Jackson – ok then….
Rainbow – ….. hmmmmm
Haven’t you done your parental duty and educated her into the glory world of Deep Purple?
June 14th, 2026 at 08:23@27
“We all know it might be their last tour.”
– ohhh noo 😱😭
https://youtu.be/ONb28aPRmBI?is=PNOzfK_7uZL2r5_A
June 14th, 2026 at 08:32@29
WHAT!!
Uwe, it ought to be in Denmark that happened!
June 14th, 2026 at 11:24That’s it! It’s final, I move to Germany 🤓
Are they like Komodo Dragons?
Frater: Only in small, not more than 70-80 cm and that includes the tail which is two thirds of the overall length. Imagine a medium-sized lizard, but the shape is similar to a Komodo, yet sleeker.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/mkJshDr8E2Q
June 14th, 2026 at 14:38(That’s a one-and-half inch baby mouse, not a rat the monitor is eating there. And it was already dead/deep-frozen, I don’t feed live mammals. They get live insects though.)
Oh that’s fine, by tradition – Lebensborn – we always welcome Nordic blood!
June 14th, 2026 at 14:47@27
Wow, you surprise me, thank you! 🫶I will think about it and check the date.
Btw, I think Helene is the only one of that German popschlagersingers I can listen to without getting a ear-ache😉
June 14th, 2026 at 15:04@ 33
“– awwwww ain’t you a dear dad!”
Thanks Karin 🙂
I do not influence what my kids hear, but when they naturally gravitate to dad-rock/pop it does warm the heart. i.e. them naturally liking A-ha, Tears for Fears, The Police, The Clash, Yes or indeed certain songs they hear on the car like “Temple…” (she sings the guitar solo in perfect pitch).
Like Uwe, however, they are not particularly enthralled by “Rising” material.
A DP gateway for them would be the more melodic stuff, like “Soldier of Fortune”, mainly by cause of me often singing it while doing house chores!
Have a great Sunday,
June 14th, 2026 at 16:09J.-
Of all the Purple Family stuff, my son (born ‘94) as a teen (he played guitar) liked hair metal Whitesnake best (with no pushing from me), John Sykes and Doug Aldrich really impressed him and he always preferred DC to IG as a frontman (didn’t care much for Steve Vai as a guitarist though). Ritchie basically left him cold, he even liked Tommy Bolin better because he liked his flamboyant dress sense, androgynous moves and his hip-swaying swagger.
He was a great Guns & Roses fan, I guess in the Purple Universe late 80s WS came closest to that. One of his comments about Blackmore was once “smart player and technically refined, but sexless and no mojo”. 🤗
Rainbow Dio era never stood a chance with him because Dio to him was not a frontman in a Vince Neil, Mick Jagger, David Lee Roth or Stephen Pearcy sense.
June 14th, 2026 at 21:48Edith and I will be happy to have you, Beate!
June 14th, 2026 at 21:53@41
June 17th, 2026 at 06:56Hello Uwe,
I am still in the midst of very difficult negotiations with my hubby, I hope for a result this week 😉 – there are not so many tickets left, when I look at Eventim and Reservix (seats of course, front of stage and standing in the crowd is not my cup of coffee)
If the whole process is successful, how do we go on? Is there a possibility for a PM – perhaps the admin of this page can give the personal Emails to you and me?
Beate, I have front of stage tickets (but you can of course prefer seats), I like to see Roger’s hairy armpits when he wears a muscle shirt (apparently an American tradition introduced into the band …).
My email is no secret: Google Uwe Hornung and Clifford Chance and under Deutsche Anwaltsauskunft it will pop up, I don’t have another one.
June 18th, 2026 at 13:32@43
June 20th, 2026 at 09:12The ticket is ordered!
I‘ll keep you updated by E-mail (really not a problem to find)
Can I hire you as my lawyer in case of divorce?😉
That’s great to hear!
https://gifdb.com/images/high/i-m-so-excited-baby-in-car-1vx0f0gawja7z4jl.gif
Tell the Helene Fischer fan I don’t do marital law! 😂
The marriage counsel advice of course is: You join him on a few Schlagerkonzerte and he goes along to a few rock gigs. It’s all music. If someone gave me a Helene Fischer ticket, sure I’d go just to see what it’s like.
June 20th, 2026 at 15:41