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
F the RRHOF. At best this is a ploy to get people to write about what Gillan has to say about the RRHOF. F the RRHOF! An institution created by writers to sell magazines and web ads. I’d bet Ritchie would tell the RRHOF to f off and not even show up. Good for him!
Bands should do what the Van Halen’s and David Lee Roth did… stay home. It is a farce!
At least Jimmy Page wants what the people want…Blackmore knows few care about Hobbit music. He’s a Rat Fink.
The problem is any fan of rock music putting any importance into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Why?
To those that think it’s some big honor then you’ve bought into exactly everything Jann Wenner wants you to buy into. In other words…he owns your opinions.
Regardless on anyone’s opinion on Gene or Paul or even Johnny Rotten…they all completely understand what a joke it is. I hated the Sex Pistols but someone tell me whats more Rock n Roll…kissing their ass or telling them to kiss off. Truly wished Kiss would have done the same thing.
All Ian’s saying is he won’t perform if Steve isn’t included. And that’s more then fair. NO where in his statement is there any mention that he refuses to play with Ritchie! Yellow journalism at it’s peak!!
Who the hell is Deep Purple? Never heard of them. Oh wait. Didn’t they open for Color Me Badd many years ago?