Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan is planning to take a cue from KISS should Deep Purple ever get inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – because he refuses to play with former guitarist Ritchie Blackmore.
KISS founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons pulled out of a Hall of Fame set in April (14) after they were informed that current bandmates Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer would not be honored alongside former colleagues Ace Frehley and Peter Criss, and singer Gillan insists he’ll follow their example if Blackmore’s replacement, Steve Morse, isn’t included in what many fans think is a long overdue induction.
Gillan says, “It would be unconscionable to think about bringing Ritchie in. I don’t have an issue with Ritchie, nor does anyone. I’ve been in touch with Ritchie recently and everything’s cool, so there’s no bitter, personal problem. We’re too old for that and everything’s in the past, but no. That would be out of the question. This is the longest that any lineup has ever been together in this band.”
Blackmore left Deep Purple in 1993 and Morse has been the band’s guitarist ever since.
source: WENN via Contactmusic
66 Responses
Have you seen that awful [crap] Ritchie is doing now? Blackmore’s Night or some s? Wow, it’s absolutely terrible. Who goes to their shows? Hobbits?
Dude that is the funniest reply I have ever seen! Hobbits is hilarious!!!!!!!!
Yeah, it’s realllllly bizarre. What’s even more bizarre is that the shows sell out!
I like Ritchie’s Hobbit Music.
He can’t rest on the laurels of “Smoke…” forever.
Ritchie’s Hobbit Music.
LOL
Hmm, okay but his wife (the singer) is cool–she sang on a Helloween song with Andi Deris. Good song (light the universe). I recommend to everyone any Helloween album with Andi Deris on vocals. Awesome band!
Listen to the first three Rainbow albums, the influence of that music was always there.
Blackmore’s Night is producing GREAT music. Just cos you’re not into other
stuff besides rock, you shouldn’t knock what he’s doing. Personally, I love
Blackmore Night, but I have an open mind.
Sorry about the profanities Dana, will be better next time.
Harry,
No worries, my friend 🙂
D 🙂
Honestly! Rock bands should already come to the conclusion that they should not go to that event, period. It is not about only Rock and Roll anymore. Have some decency, and ban that so called “institution”. Show the finger, and tell them to F”#$@ Off!
RRHOF it’s a joke, they do not care about the real tock bands, id they did, KISS and Deep Purple would have been inducted a long LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG time ago (Among so many others). I guess, the older bands, and any band to that matter, have nothing to loose if they just do not show up and not accept the “award”. It’s not like the RRHOF is a turning point in anyones career.
I agree! I TOTALLY AGREE! I will never go to the RRHOF even though KISS were inducted. What we need is a VH1 hall of fame for true rock bands. Screw the RR hall of fame. The whole thing is screwed up. There are so many bands that will never make it in because its an elitist club. I bet Kings X (which is an awesome band) will never make it in. There are so many artists that are already in before other more deserving artists. It makes me angry just talking about it.
Funny you say that Mike B. I believeRichie Blackmore said he wouldn’t want to follow kings X on stage, on some vh1 or mtv show about great rock bands. Agreed, kings X is an incredibly underrated band. Seen them many times. Always awsome!
I’ve never seen them but I have all their albums. I had no idea RB said that about Kings X. Cool!
As much of a fan of what they did with Ritchie as I am and as bummed as I was about what happened with Kiss at their RRHOF induction, I have to say that I agree with Ian. Everyone knows Ritchie has turned his back on rock music and on his own history. In interviews, he won’t talk about Deep Purple or Rainbow. I will be very surprised if Ritchie even shows up when Deep Purple are inducted. Steve Morse has been their guitarist for over 20 years and is a very big reason the band has been able to continue and he deserves to be inducted along with the rest of the iconic musicians that have helped make DP what it is. A bigger question for Ian would be how he’d feel about David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes being inducted, because I believe 100% that they deserve to be inducted along with the other Deep Purple members. All we can do is keep our fingers crossed and hope that the morons that are in charge of the RRHOF don’t screw up Deep Purple’s induction any more than they already have. After all, they’ve kept this incredible, influential, iconic band out of the RRHOF even though DP has been eligible for over 20 years and in doing that, now one of the band’s founding fathers is no longer able to walk up on stage and get the recognition he and his band deserves so much. Of course, I’m talking about the late, great Jon Lord.
The Glenn Hughes and Coverdale issues is that they should try too all play together. Steve Morse is a great guitarist. I remember seeing him with the Dixie Dregs. But let’s not kid ourselves he plays mostly Richie’s music for the last twenty years. The RRHOF should always be a celebration with all members. All are invited and whoever shows plays, period. What Heart did was perfect bring I the old guys and jam with the currents.
The bad thing is it doesn’t look like it’s the choice of the bands being inducted on which members are inducted. Deep Purple has had many key members and eras and I hope they all get included in the induction and then EVERYONE can get onstage and jam. Can you imagine the endless, badass solos and improvisation that would happen? That would be incredible to witness.
However it goes down, who plays or doesn’t, which members get inducted or don’t, this is LONG overdue! Deep Purple should have already been inducted a LONG time ago. Kiss is finally in, and even though the HOF only recognized the original 4, we the FANS recognize & acknowledge all the past AND present members, just as we will do with Deep Purple, no matter which members the HOF only “selects”. 😉