Ritchie Blackmore

Ritchie Blackmore.

Born:- Richard Hugh Blackmore on 14th April 1945 in Weston Super Mare, UK. When he was 2 years old his parents moved to Heston, Middlesex (West London) where he grew up. His Father bought him his first Guitar when he was 9 years old and at that time he studied Classical Guitar. His Father had threatened to smash the Guitar over the young Ritchie's head if he didn't take proper Lessons!

The Early Years

Although there's not too much documentation what follows is a list of Bands and their members from Ritchie's long and illustrious career!!

Circa 1960-61:- 2 I's Coffee Bar Junior Skiffle Group. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Glen Stoner (gtr); David Cox (?); David Rodham (gtr); Victor Hare (gtr); "Knobby" (dgb); plus "washboard, tea chest bass and two chick singers"

The Dominators. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Mick Underwood (drm); Bob Danks (gtr/vcl); Alan Dunklin (bss).

The Satellites. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Bob Danks (gtr); Alan Dunklin (bss); Roger Mingay (gtr); Mick Underwood (drm).

(The name of this group could have been something else.) During May 1961, both Blackmore and Mingay went to audition for Screaming Lord Sutch. Mingay was deemed the more experienced and got the job, so Blackmore joined Mike Dee's band instead (see below). It's also entirely possible that the Satellites had disbanded before the Screaming Lord Sutch audition, perhaps as early as 1960. From May 1961 to April 1962 Mike Dee & the Jaywalkers. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Mike Dee (vcl); and others.

April/May 1962 The Condors. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Mike Dee (vcl); and whoever else.

Mike Dee & the Jaywalkers renamed themselves as the Condors and acted as backing group during a short tour for the Kestrels and Danny Rivers.

May to October 1962 Screaming Lord Sutch & the Savages. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Ricky Fensen Brown (bss); Carlo Little (drm); David Sutch (vcl); Dave Wendells (gtr); Andy Wren (pno).

Finally, Blackmore joined Screaming Lord Sutch. Unfortunately there are no known recordings from this period.

October 1962 to April 1964 The Outlaws. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Chas Hodges (bss); Ken Lundgren (gtr); Mick Underwood (drm); plus Nicky Hopkins (pno) and Paul Goddard (pno) who also played with the Outlaws from time to time, as did various other people.

Besides releasing a few singles under their real name, the Outlaws also did recordings under other names, e.g. the Rally Rounders, and the Six Shooters. They also provided studio backing for a number of Joe Meek artists, such as Heinz (who toured with the Saints), Burr Bailey (Dave Adams) (as the Six Shooters), Gunilla Thorne, Glenda Collins, Michael Cox (apparently on several singles and EPs), Houston Wells (Andy Smith), John Leyton, Dave Kaye, Jess Conrad, Deke Arlon, Freddie Star, Silas Dooley Jr (Dave Adams), Ronnie Jones, Andy Cavell, Mike Berry, and others. The Outlaws also toured with Heinz (during late '63 and/or early '64?), Jerry Lee Lewis (a UK tour during July '63), Gene Vincent (2 tours during July and September '63, incl. UK, Germany and France) and probably others.

May to December 1964 Heinz & the Wild Boys. People involved:- Burr Bailey [Dave Adams] (kbr); Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Heinz Burt (vcl); Ian Broad (drm); John Davies (bss); Brian Woods (bss).

January/February 1965 Neil Christian & the Crusaders. People involved:- Avid Andersen (bss); Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Neil Christian (vcl); Jim 'Tornado' Evans (drm).

February 1965 The Outlaws. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Chas Hodges (bss); Ken Lundgren (gtr); Mick Underwood (drm).

Producer Derek Lawrence reassembled the Outlaws in order to record the B side on a US single.

February 1965 The Outlaws / Ritchie Blackmore Orchestra / The Lancasters. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Chas Hodges (bss); Nicky Hopkins (pno); Reg Price (sxp); Mick Underwood (drm).

Again at the initiative of Derek Lawrence, Blackmore and Co. were asked to tape a few singles for the US market. As the Outlaws, they provided some backing for a girl trio called the Murmaids, and as The Lancasters, they recorded a cover of Edvard Grieg's "In The Hall Of The Mountain King". As the Outlaws, they also recorded a single called "Getaway", which was issued in Europe with the label stating Ritchie Blackmore Orchestra as the Artist.

March 1965 The Sessions. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Mikki Dallon (vcl); Jimmy 'Tornado' Evans (drm); Chas Hodges (bss); Nicky Hopkins (pno).

Another session thing for a US release initiated by Derek Lawrence.

March to May 1965 Screaming Lord Sutch & the Savages. People involved:- Avid Andersen (bss); Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Jim 'Tornado' Evans (drm); David Sutch (vcl); and the Four Saxes (sxp).

Blackmore re-joined Lord Sutch. They released only 1 single which, it is rumoured, could well have been recorded earlier with a completely different line-up.

May 1965 till later the same year Jerry Lee Lewis [& the Savages]. People involved:- Avid Andersen (bss); Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Jim 'Tornado' Evans (drm); Jerry Lee Lewis (vcl/pno).

The Savages backed Jerry Lee Lewis on one or two tours.

December 1965 to January 1966 The Three Musketeers. People involved:- Avid Andersen (bss); Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Jim 'Tornado' Evans (drm).

The Three Musketeers did one gig at the Star Club in Munich before disbanding.

January to April 1966 Blackmore earned money during this time by doing sporadic session work on some German Polydor singles.

April 1966 till later the same year Ronnie Jones. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Chas Hodges (bss); Nicky Hopkins (pno); Ronnie Jones (vcl); Drummer unknown.

Yet another session initiated by Derek Lawrence for US release only.

April to September 1966 Neil Christian & the Crusaders. People involved:- Avid Andersen (bss); Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Neil Christian (vcl); Jim 'Tornado' Evans (drm); Tony Marsh (pno).

This line-up only ever did one UK/Europe-tour.

October 1966 (and later?) Ricky Maiocchi & the Trip. People involved Avid Andersen (bss); Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Ian Broad (drm); Billy Gray (kbr?); Ricky Maiocchi (vcl).

Started on a tour of Italy, but Blackmore & Co. left before it was finished. (Maybe setting a trend for future behaviour!!!) Maiocchi also cut some records during this time but it seems unlikely that Blackmore played on any of those.

November/December 1966 The Trip. People involved:- Avid Andersen (bss); Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Ian Broad (drm); Billy Gray (kbr?).

The Trip continued on their own with some gigs (or perhaps the entire tour?) of Italy after they had left Maiocchi.

December 1966 to April 1967 Lord Caesar Sutch & the Roman Empire. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Tony Dangerfield (bss); Matthew Fisher (kbr); Joel James (sxp); Carlo Little (drm); David Sutch (vcl); plus possibly Johnny Bedder (gtr) during a few gigs.

Toured the UK and Germany dressed up in Roman Gladiator costumes!! (Another future trend??)

April/May 1967 Neil Christian & the Crusaders. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Neil Christian (vcl); Tony Dangerfield (bss); Carlo Little (drm); Matt Smith (pno).

Recorded and released 1 single and did a German tour.

May 1967 to January 1968 During this period, according to Ritchie himself, he spent about a year in Germany doing virtually nothing but living off immoral earnings and practicing his Guitar. That is, except for starting the below-mentioned short-lived Mandrake Root which, however, never did any gigs. Blackmore was eventually called to Britain by Chris Curtis to help him form a new group (Roundabout), but he didn't like it so he returned to Germany. Blackmore did, however, come back to Britain once more, got in touch with Screaming Lord Sutch and this time he stayed!

September/October 1967 Mandrake Root. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Ricky Munro (drm); Matt Smith (pno/vcl); Kurt Vile (bss).

Gig-wise, these guys apparently did nothing!

November 1967 to March 1968 Boz. People involved:- Boz Burrell (vcl), with back-up: Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Chas Hodges (bss); Jon Lord (kbr); Ian Paice (drm).

Blackmore did sporadic session work during late 67/early 68, this being one of them.

February/March 1968 Roundabout. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Chris Curtis (vcl); Dave Curtis (vcl); Jon Lord (kbr); Nick Simper (bss); Bobby Woodman (drm).

The embryonic Deep Purple!! Chris Curtis soon disappeared, as did Dave Curtis and Bobby Woodman and in came Rod Evans and Ian Paice.

March/April 1968 Roundabout. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Rod Evans (vcl); Jon Lord (kbr); Nick Simper (bss); Ian Paice (drm).

Roundabout toured Scandinavia in April before changing their name to Deep Purple. A long and involved history was about to begin!!

April 1968 to July 1969 Deep Purple. (Mk I) People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Rod Evans (vcl); Jon Lord (kbr); Ian Paice (drm); Nick Simper (bss).

July 1969 to June 1973 Deep Purple. (Mk II.a) People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Ian Gillan (vcl); Roger Glover (bss); Jon Lord (kbr); Ian Paice (drm).

In comes a new singer and a new bass player, and the classic line-up is born.

September 1969 Concerto For Group And Orchestra. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Ian Gillan (vcl); Roger Glover (bss); Jon Lord (org/pno/kbr); Ian Paice (drm); and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Malcolm Arnold.

Lord's Concerto was performed live at the Royal Albert Hall on 24 September 1969, by Deep Purple (with two brand new members, Gillan and Glover) and the RPO conducted by Malcolm Arnold. The event was televised (in the UK and Denmark), recorded and released on both album and video (slightly edited). It exposed Deep Purple to a huge new market.

March/April 1970 Green Bullfrog. People involved:- Bevy = Tony Ashton (kbr); Boots = Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Boss = Big Jim Sullivan (gtr); Jordan = Earl Jordan (vcl); Pinta = Albert Lee (gtr); Sleepy = Chas Hodges (bss); Sorry = Matthew Fisher (kbr); Speedy = Ian Paice (drm); Vicar = Rod Alexander (kbr).

A session initiated by producer Derek Lawrence, who hereby brought together pretty much the cream of the crop of British rock. For legal reasons, the participants were given nick names!

Note that Roger Glover does *not* appear on this recording, simply because he wasn't there.

June 1971 Lord Sutch & Heavy Friends. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Anette Brox (vcl); Victor Brox (vcl); Matthew Fisher (kbr); Brian Keith (vcl/trm); Carlo Little (drm); Keith Moon (drm); Sid Phillips (sxp); Noel Redding (bss); Nick Simper (bss); David Sutch (vcl).

Screaming Lord Sutch assembled a bunch of British rock celebrities for some event at the Carlsharlton Park Rock 'n' Roll Festival. The entire thing was recorded (though only Sutch knew), and after some quick editing, cutting and pasting it was released - much to everyone's surprise.

Late 1972 to early 1973 Baby Face. After Gillan had made his decision to leave Deep Purple during late 1972, Blackmore decided to do the same thing. He had loose plans to form a band with Phil Lynott, Paul Rodgers and Ian Paice, which was later to become known as Baby Face. Rodgers dumped the project even before it had begun. Some people claim that recordings exist (with Lynott handling vocals), while others disagree with their existance. At any rate, it never materialized into anything concrete.

June 1973 to May 1975 Deep Purple. (Mk III) People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); David Coverdale (vcl); Glenn Hughes (bss/vcl); Jon Lord (kbr); Ian Paice (drm).

Two more new members (Coverdale and Hughes). This line up released 2 studio Albums but Blackmore's dislike with the new musical direction was evident in the second of the two albums and made him feel that he had done his part in Deep Purple.

Sometime during 1973 Randy Pie and Family. People involved:- Randy Pie and Family together with Ritchie Blackmore (gtr).

Blackmore guests on one track, viz. "Hurry To The City".

Sometime during 1974 Adam Faith. People involved:- Adam Faith (vcl); together with Russ Ballard (gtr/pno); Martin Birch (gtr); Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Dave Courtney (pno); Bob Henritt (drm); Mim (acc); Roystion Willock (sxp); Dave Wintour (bss).

Blackmore guesting on one track, viz. "I Survived" in which he is trying to simulate a car collision!

May to September 1975 Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Ronnie James Dio (vcl); Gary Driscoll (drm); Craig Gruber (bss); Mickey Lee Soule (kbr); plus Shoshana (bvc).

Disappointed with the musical developments in Deep Purple, Blackmore left to pursue his own ideas; thus he recruited most of ELF and formed Rainbow. They actually started recording before Blackmore had finally split from Deep Purple and since it seemed to work well he made his final decision to leave. However, Rainbow's first line-up didn't last long. They had disbanded before the album was released.

September 1975 to January 1977 Rainbow. People involved:- Jimmy Bain (bss); Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Ronnie James Dio (vcl); Tony Carey (kbr); Cozy Powell (drm); plus various keyboard replacements on some live dates, for instance, Tony Kerry (kbr).

The classic Rainbow line-up. Live, these guys were phenomenal. For various reasons, Tony Carey was replaced on some live gigs.

Sometime during 1976 Sweet & Blackmore. People involved:- Brian Connolly (vcl); Steve Priest (bss/vcl); Andy Scott (gtr); Mick Tucker (drm); plus Ritchie Blackmore (gtr).

During a Sweet gig in Santa Monica, California, Blackmore got up on stage and jammed "All Right Now" with Sweet during one of their encores. They dedicated the song to Paul Kossoff from the band Free who had died earlier that year.

January to July 1977 Rainbow. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Ronnie James Dio (vcl); Tony Carey (kbr); Mark Clarke (bss); Cozy Powell (drm).

This line-up tried to record an album, but personal problems eventually led to Carey and Clarke leaving.

August 1977 to November 1978 Rainbow. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr/bss); Ronnie James Dio (vcl); Bob Daisley (bss); Cozy Powell (drm); David Stone (kbr).

Another line-up, another producer, another album. Probably one of their best.

November/December 1978 Rainbow. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Ronnie James Dio (vcl); Roger Glover (bss); Jack Green (bss); Cozy Powell (drm); David Stone (kbr).

More personnel changes. Daisley left, in came Green. Before they had a chance to record, however, Green left and Glover, who had originally been recruited to produce the Long Live Rock'n'roll album, took over the bass. Also Dio and Stone left before the new recordings were resumed.

January 1979 to August 1980 Rainbow. People involved:- Don Airey (kbr); Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Graham Bonnet (vcl); Roger Glover (bss); Cozy Powell (drm).

Prior to Bonnets appearance, Blackmore had spent four days over Christmas 1978 in England trying to persuade Gillan to do vocals; an offer Gillan politely declined. Apparently Coverdale was also asked, but Blackmore subsequently chose Bonnet. With Airey on keyboards, Rainbow was reborn again. This is a heavily underrated line-up among diehard Rainbow-fans. They earned world-wide commercial success with "Since You Been Gone".

April/May 1980 Jack Green. People involved:- Jack Green (vcl/msc); together with: Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Brian Chatton (kbr); Andy Dalby (gtr); Ian Ellis (bss); Mac Poole (drm); Pete Tolson (gtr).

Jack Green had earlier played bass with Rainbow (he doesn't appear on any recordings though), during which time Blackmore and he became friends. Thus as a friendly favour, Blackmore laid down some guitar work on Green's solo album, on a track called "I Call, No Answer".

November 1980 to December 1981 Rainbow. People involved:- Don Airey (kbr); Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Roger Glover (bss); Bob Rondinelli (drm); Joe Lynn Turner (vcl); plus Lin Robinson (bvc) during live tours.

Out goes Bonnet. In comes Joe Lynn Turner.

December 1981 to June 1983 Rainbow. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Roger Glover (bss); Bob Rondinelli (drm); David Rosenthal (kbr); Joe Lynn Turner (vcl); plus Dee Beale (bvc); and Lin Robinson (bvc) during live tours.

June 1983 to March 1984 Rainbow. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Chuck Burgi (drm); Roger Glover (bss); David Rosenthal (kbr); Joe Lynn Turner (vcl); plus Lin Robinson (bvc) during live tours.

April 1984 to April 1989 Deep Purple. (Mk II) People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Ian Gillan (vcl); Roger Glover (bss); Jon Lord (kbr); Ian Paice (drm).

Reformation of the classic line-up.

January 1990 to August 1992 Deep Purple. (Mk V) People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Roger Glover (bss); Jon Lord (kbr); Ian Paice (drm); Joe Lynn Turner (vcl).

Out goes Ian Gillan. In comes Joe Lynn Turner.

Sometime during 1990 Rock Aid Armenia. People involved:- Bryan Adams; Geoff Beauchamp; Ritchie Blackmore; Bruce Dickinson; Geoff Downes; Keith Emerson; Ian Gillan; David Gilmour; John Paul Jones; Tony Iommi; Alex Lifeson; Jon Lord; Brian May; Paul Rodgers; Chris Squire; Roger Taylor.

A whole bunch of rock veterans gathered to record THE classic hardrock track ever. This was done as an aid-collector for the victims of an earthquake that took place in Armenia on 7 December 1988. Besides the one re-recorded track, the album contains plain reissues of old tracks by Free, Rush, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Genesis, Yes, ELP, Whitesnake, Asia, Starship, Foreigner, Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, Mike & The Mechanics and Boston.

Sometime during 1992 Laurent Voulzy. People involved:- Laurent Voulzy, with some others incl. Ritchie Blackmore (gtr).

Blackmore guests on one track, viz. "Guitare héraut".

August 1992 to November 1993 Deep Purple. (Mk II.c) People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Ian Gillan (vcl); Roger Glover (bss); Jon Lord (kbr); Ian Paice (drm).

Out goes Joe Lynn Turner. In comes Ian Gillan. Before the world tour ended, Blackmore tore up his passport and left Deep Purple.

November 1993 to 1994 Blackmore popped up sporadically and unexpectedly at various New York City clubs doing surprise jams with local bands, apparently in search of new people to form a band with.

1994 to September 1995 Rainbow. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Paul Morris (kbr); John O'Reilly (drm); Greg Smith (bss); Doogie White (vcl); together with Candice Night (bvc) and Mitch Weiss (hrm).

Rainbow reborn.

September 1995 to late 1996 Rainbow. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Chuck Bürgi (drm); Paul Morris (kbr); Greg Smith (bss); Doogie White (vcl); together with Candice Night (bvc).

Rainbow started touring in October 1995, at which time O'Reilly had broken a rib - thus Bürgi stepped in and took his place.

Late 1996 Shadows Tribute. People involved:- Various celebrities, suich as, Don Airey (kbr); Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Tony Iommi (gtr); Brian May (gtr); Mark Knopfler (gtr); Peter Green (gtr); Candice Night (bvc); Pat Regan (drm/kbr) and others.

Ritchie does a tribute version of "Apache".

Sometime during 1996/1997 Pat Boone. People involved:- Pat Boone (vcl), together with (on "Smoke on the Water"): Maxie Anderson (vcl); Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); Wayne Bergeron (trp); Oliver Brown (prc); Lenny Castro (prc); Merry Clayton (vcl); Charlie Davis (trp); Mitch Holder (gtr); Dana Hughes (trm); Dick 'Slide' Hyde (trm); Clydene Jackson Edwards (vcl); Plaz Johnson (wdw); Alan Kaplan (trm); Steve Madaio (trp); Myrna Matthews (vcl); Lew McCreary (trm); Don Menza (wdw); Michito Sanchez (prc); Tom Scott (wdw); Dave Siebels (kbr); Alfie Silas (vcl); Andy Simpkins (bss); Paul Smith (pno); Frank Szabo (trp); Carmen Twillie (vcl); Yvonne Williams (vcl); Mona Lisa Young (vcl); Dweezil Zappa (gtr); plus many more.

Blackmore makes a guest appearance on Pat Boone's heavy metal mood CD, soloing on "Smoke On The Water". He heard a tape with Boone's recording, and liking what he heard, layed down six different solos for Boone to chose from.

Late 1996 to April 1997 Rainbow. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr); John Micelli (drm); Paul Morris (kbr); Greg Smith (bss); Doogie White (vcl); together with Candice Night (bvc).

Bürgi was replaced with Micelli for the European tour. Rainbow's last(?) gig was at the Esjberg Festival in Denmark, April 1997. From then on, Blackmore decided to focus on Blackmore's Night.

Spring and summer of 1997 Blackmore's Night. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr/bss/mnd/drm/tmb) & Candice Night (vcl); together with Ian Anderson (flt); Scott Hazell (bvc); Pat Regan (kbr); and the Minstrel Hall Consort = Tom Brown (cll); Gerald Flashman (rcr/trp/fhr); Lady Green (vla/vln).

Ritchie's & Candice's medieval album was released to very mixed reviews.

During 1997/1998 Blackmore's Night. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr/mnd/bss/prc) & Candice Night (vcl/pnw), plus: John Ford (vcl/bss); Miri Ben-Ari (vln); Mick Cervino (bss); Adam Forgione (kbr); Kevin Dunne (drm); Peter Rooth (bss); Jens Johansson (kbr); Jeff Glixman (kbr); Roy McDonald (kbr); Jason Chapman (trp/flg); Scott Hazell (bvc); Sue Goehringer (bvc); John Gould (bvc); Trich (bvc); Mike "Metal" Goldberg (drm); Thomas Roth (bgp); Albert Dannemann (bgp); Albrecht Schmidt (hrp); Jost Pogrzeba (prc); Christof Heus (trp); Adolf Lehnberger (trm); Gell Spitz (trp); Rolf Spitz (trm); Mark Pender (trp); Mr & Mrs Heller (hrd); and the Minstrel Hall Consort.

During 2000 Blackmore's Night. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr/msc) & Candice Night (vcl/msc), plus: Sir Robert of Normandie (bss/bvc); Carmine Giglio (kbr); Pat Regan (kbr); Chris Devine (vln/vla/rcr/flt); Mike Sorrentino (drm); Albert Dannemann (bgp); Richard Wiedermann (trp); John Passanante (trm); and Ruby's Choir (bvc).

May 2002 Blackmore's Night. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr/msc) & Candice Night (vcl/msc), plus a touring band.

Blackmore's Night has toured extensively throughout the past couple of years. A live concert from Groningen, in the Netherlands, was recorded in May 2002.

During 2002/2003 Blackmore's Night. People involved:- Ritchie Blackmore (gtr/msc) & Candice Night (vcl/msc), plus back-up.

During 2003 Die Geyers. People involved:- Albert Dannenmann; Jost Pogrzeba; Thomas Roth; George Hesse; with Ritchie Blackmore (gtr) guesting.

Blackmore in one of his rare guest appeareances, doing a guitar solo on the track "Shepherd's Walk" for Die Geyers.

2003 to present Blackmore's Night. Ritchie Blackmore (gtr/msc), Candice Night (vcl/msc), Bard David of Larchmont (kbr/pno/msc), Gypsy Rose (vln), Earl Grey of Chamay (bss/mdlngtr), Squire Malcolm (pcsn)

Deep Purple Discography. (Not including Compilations)

Mk I. Shades of Deep Purple (USA: Tetragrammaton 1968 ; Europe: EMI Parlaphone 1968 ; Japan: Polydor 1968) The Book of Taliesyn (USA: Tetragrammaton 1968 ; Europe: EMI Harvest 1969 ; Japan: Polydor 1969) Deep Purple (USA Tetragrammaton 1969 ; Europe: EMI Harvest 1969 : Japan: Polydor 1969)

Mk II. Concerto for Group and Orchestra : Deep Purple Recorded Live at the Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Malcolm Arnold (USA: Tetragrammaton1969 ; USA: Warner 1970 ; Europe: EMI Harvest 1970 ; Japan: Polydor? 1970) Deep Purple in Rock (Europe: EMI Harvest1970 ; USA: Warner 1970 ; Japan: Warner? 1970) Fireball (USA: Warner 1971 ; Europe: EMI Harvest 1971 ; Japan: Warner 1971) Machine Head (Europe: EMI Purple 1972 ; USA: Warner 1972 ; Japan: Warner 1972) Made in Japan (Japan: Warner 1972 ; Europe: EMI Purple 1972 ; USA: Warner 1973) Who do We think We are! (Europe: EMI Purple1973 ; USA: Warner 1973 ; Japan: Warner 1973) Powerhouse (Europe: EMI Purple 1977 ; Japan: Warner 1977) Deep Purple in Concert 1970-1972 (Europe: EMI Harvest1980 ; Japan: Warner 1980 ; USA: CBS Portrait 1980) (CD: Japanese version copies the LP, the European EMI set has bonus material.)

Scandinavian Nights (UK: Connoisseur 1988 ; USA: Relativity 1992* : Japan: Teichiki (sp?) (2CD)

   *(Released as "Live and Rare" in the USA)

Gemini Suite Live (UK: RPM 1993) Live in Japan (Europe: EMI 1993 ; Japan: Warner Pioneer 1993)

Mk III. Burn (Europe: EMI Purple1974 ; USA: Warner 1974 ; Japan: Warner 1974) (CD) Stormbringer (Europe: EMI Purple 1974 ; USA Warner 1974 ; Japan Warner 1974) Made in Europe (Europe: EMI Purple 1977 ; USA: Warner 1977 ; Japan: Warner 1977) Live in London (Europe: EMI Harvest 1982 ; Japan: Warner 1982)

Mk IV. Come taste the Band (Europe: EMI Purple 1975 ; USA Warner: 1975 ; Japan: Warner 1975) Last Concert in Japan (Japan: Warner 1977 ; Europe: EMI Purple 1977)

Mk V. Perfect Strangers (Europe: Polydor 1984 ; USA: Mercury 1984 ; Japan: Polydor 1984) The House of Blue Light (Europe: Polydor 1987 ; USA: Polydor 1987 ; Japan: Polydor1987) Nobody's Perfect (Europe: Polydor 1988 ; USA: Polydor 1988 ; Japan: Polydor 1988) Knebworth 85 - In the abscence of Pink (UK: Connoisseur 1991 ; Japan: ? ?)

Mk VI. Slaves and Masters (Europe: RCA 1990 ; USA: RCA 1990 ; Japan: RCA? 1990)

Mk VII. The Battle Rages on... (1993) Come Hell or High Water (Europe: RCA 1994 ; Japan: RCA 1994)

Gear.

In the 60's Ritchie used a Gibson ES-335 but switched to his trademark Fender Stratocaster after he bought one from Eric Claptons Roadie!! Since then he has used them almost exclusively with the odd exception of a Thinline Telecaster for Recording. The middle Pickup on his Strats is usually screwed all the way down in the Pickguard and not used. He is also known to play with a scalloped Fretboard. His Amps originally consisted mainly of Marshall 200W Heads which were custom wired by Marshall with an additional Output Stage giving 278W to make them sound more like his favourite Vox AC-30 at full volume!! These days he uses Engl Valve Amps exclusively. Blackmore frequently used effects during his time with Deep Purple and Rainbow, (despite claims to the opposite). He used a Hornby Skewes Treble Booster in the early days. Around the time of the Burn sessions he experimented with an EMS Synthi Hi Fli guitar synthesizer. He would sometimes use a wah-wah pedal and a variable control treble-booster for sustain. Moog "Taurus" bass pedals were used during solo parts of concerts. He also had a modified Aiwa TP-1011 tape machine built to supply echo and delay effects. The tape deck was also used as a pre-amp. Other effects that Blackmore used were a Schulte Compact Phasing A, a Unicord Univibe, and an Octave Divider. In the mid 80s he also experimented with Roland guitar synths. A Roland GR-700 was seen on stage as late as 1995-96, later replaced with the GR-50. Guitar synths are also used quite a bit in Blackmore's Night. As an example, Blackmore plays with a slide over what is probably an organ patch in the beginning of Way to Mandalay.

His strings used during his tenures with Deep Purple and Rainbow were Picato brand (.010, .011, .014, .026, .038, .048) Blackmore has experimented with many different pickups in his Strats. In the early Rainbow era they were still stock Fenders, later Dawk installed overwound, dipped, Fender pickups. He has also used Schecter F-500-Ts, Velvet Hammer "Red Rhodes", DiMarzio "HS-2", OBL "Black Label", Bill Lawrence L-450, XL-250 (bridge), L-250 (neck) and since the late 80s he has used Lace Sensor (Gold) "noiseless" pickups. Blackmore's gear was modified by John "Dawk" Stillwell of Dawk Sound Limited. Dawk modified his Marshall Majors as well as his Fender Stratocasters. Dawk designed the Master Tone Circuit that was installed in all the guitarist's guitars. Dawk worked for Elf with Ronnie James Dio when Elf toured with Deep Purple.