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
Wish Bolin did a real great album totally clean with Deep Purple…saw him twice in ’76 he was a train wreck.
??? Bolin has been dead since 1976!, so what should he play, drums with his bones?
Richie Blackmore could get in by himself too…he’s been an icon for guitar and has overshadowed both Deep Purple and Rainbow…the bands could conceivably not get in, while he does…I would certainly agree that the band Deep Purple should be in, not Rainbow as a band, but his work with both makes him very influential in rock…
The first riff 99% of all aspiring rock guitarists learn is Smoke On The Water. That should tell you all you need to know about Purple’s viability for entrance not the R&R Hall. The hall is a joke.Its nothing more than a popularity contest for Jan and his music snob friends. Iron Maiden has sold almost 60 million records worldwide,and plays to 75,000 people a night in stadiums around the globe. Never been so much as nominated……
Sure, some may say that Deep Purple has become more Shallow Turquoise since Ritchie departed, but man, their music has stood the test of time and influenced many. RRHOF? pfffft. what a joke that keeps getting worse with the gross oversight of many worthy bands. I wish artists wouldn’t say I won’t go cuz so and so will be there, I wish they’d just unite and say no thanks cuz the RRHOF is a farce.
You’re absolutely right. I wish more RnR guys would call for a boycott of this farcical marketing ploy.
Back to the hobbit comment. I’ve heard blackmores night does some covers of rainbow songs but mixes it up a little. Hobbits on the water. Man on the hobbit mountain. Catch the hobbit. Hobbit gazer. The stage show is amazing. Lights, pyro, and hobbits running around. Thanks Harry, my day was made too.
Perhaps a little too close to Spinal Tap’s “Stonehenge” for my taste….
Hobbit-henge