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
Lace wearing 46 year old gals from Manchester or Brighton who dig The Hobbit. It really is sad seeing Jimmy Page doing nothing, Blackmore doing stuff that could be used as soundtrack material for dark mystery films. Morse doing Smoke On The Water would be ridiculous at the HOF.
Lace-wearing 46 year old gals are pretty scrumptious …jus’ sayin’
“It really is sad seeing Jimmy Page doing nothing”, truer words were never spoken. PLEASE Jimmy, do something, call Paul Rogers, call David Coverdale, get back together with the Black Crowes, join Sammy Hagar’s new line up with Jason Bonham on drums, PLEASE do something before you drop dead!
If Deep Purple is inducted, as EVERY ROCK FAN IN THE UNIVERSE knows they should be, you know the Hall is gonna want a performance from the classic Mark II line-up, with Blackmore. Doubt that will happen, unfortunately. But I would be interested in what Ian would say if Ritchie said, “What the hell, we can do a song or two…” Hopefully, for everyone’s sake they could all take the high road and do it for the fans, instead of repeating the KISS debacle, where the fans got cheated out of ANY version performing. I’m mean one big “Smoke on the Water” jam with both Ritchie and Steve Morse and everybody wins.
In response to Harry’s comment of Blackmore’s Night being “crap”, if it’s not to your taste that’s fine. True it’s not in the tradition of the heavy sides Purple or Rainbow, but to just label it as crap is kind of narrow-minded, in my opinion. I saw them a few months back and they were really great; Blackmore mostlt plays acoustic, but threw on the old Stat for a few leads towards the end of the show and stilled killed on those. His wife has an awesome voice too. Let’s not forget that Blackmore always wove Medieval-Renaissance stylings into his previous bands, especially on the first few Rainbow albums with Dio. Listen to “Temple of the King” on the first one, which Blackmore’s Night has a current version of. They also do Purple’s “Soldier of Fortune” from the Blackmore-Coverdale-Hughes era.
I didn’t see any Hobbits in the audience Harry, but some folks did dress a bit goofy, like they were going to the Renaissance Fair in upstate New York. Hey, whatever puts wind in your sails, right?
One question–why should ANY band bend over backwards for this so-called RRHOF? Some bands break up because of irreconcilable differences. In some cases I would imagine it would be extremely uncomfortable. Let the RRHOF call the shots and pair them up with former members that can’t stand each other? Its not about not pleasing the fans–its about maintaining integrity and dignity. Everyone should do as the Sex Pistols and tell the RRHOF to get real or shut it down. If not for Tom Morello, Kiss would never have made it. I love Metallica and Guns N’ Roses, but how did THEY get in before Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Deep Purple, and so on…
You got it right Mike M. I like Blackmore’s Night. Certainly not metal, but Ritchie still plays great. Probably the closest thing they have out to rock music is the “Night in York” live cd/dvd. Great show and Blackmore plays the strat alot more than on previous releases.
I hadn’t realized Steve Morse has been in Deep Purple for that long. Great underrated guitar player.
I am betting that neither Steve Morse, nor David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes are included when Purple are finally inducted.
I say all but Turner and Bolin. Both not long enough and only one album and tour each.
Jann hates Deep Purple more than he hates Ronstadt and The Moody Blues.