There’s always a fair amount of fuss when bands refuse to reunite with former members for their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction performances, but DEEP PURPLE‘s Ian Gillan knows exactly where those groups are coming from, as reported by ultimateclassicrock.com.
Using Gene Simmons‘ and Paul Stanley‘s decision not to do a set with ex-bandmates Ace Frehley and Peter Criss following KISS‘ induction into the Hall as an example, Rolling Stone asked Gillan if, should Deep Purple be inducted, they’d be willing to play with former guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. “This is the longest that any lineup has ever been together in this band,” he responded simply. “And it would be unconscionable to think about bringing Ritchie in.”
Gillan’s stance regarding Blackmore, who left in 1993, is nothing new, but he stopped to note that his point of view has more to do with honoring the work done by the current version of the band — and the talent of Blackmore’s replacement, Steve Morse — than old grudges. “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.”
While he made a point of staying as diplomatic as possible about the Rock Hall in general, saying the band doesn’t “really understand it, but if I treat it with respect, we’ll see what happens,” Gillan made it clear that if Blackmore’s involvement in a ceremony set was required for their induction, he’d turn it down. “If that’s the stumbling block, fair enough,” he shrugged. “Never the twain shall meet.”
Of course, Deep Purple isn’t exactly crying out for the extra help — their most recent release, 2013′s ‘Now What?!,’ was well-received, and Gillan was speaking with Rolling Stone on the eve of the band’s biggest U.S. tour in years. But most importantly, he sees Blackmore’s departure as a crucial turning point in the group’s ongoing development.
“Let’s get the record straight: I was just as much of an a–hole as Ritchie was,” Gillan admitted. “But Ritchie carried it on for a little longer. Had Ritchie stayed with the band, it would have been all over. It would have just ended. Without any doubt in anyone’s mind — it was all over. So the day he walked out was the day we had to rebuild. … It’s good to go through those crises. It doesn’t do your heart any good, but that was the spirit of the band. So to go back to the question of ‘Would we do the show with Ritchie?’ I think that would be hugely disrespectful to what I call the living, breathing, Deep Purple. There’s always been a living, breathing, Deep Purple, good or bad at any stage of our evolution, and how it is now is particularly healthy and it wouldn’t be right.”
Daniel Liebl, Getty Images / YouTube
wuddn,t want ritchie to lower hiz standards again,,speccially for a singer who canna sing to hiz guitar,,,so in ure own words gillan ” ian go bile yer heed “
anjist remember who waz around you,,,and made you !!
Another bad decision. You get more than one song to play. And GILLAN, GLOVER, MORSE and AIREY are NOT the beginning and end of Deep Purple. There were people before them and people after them. Deep Purple would not be being nominated for the RRHoF if not for songs that were written/co-written by Ritchie. I don’t think Ritchie would have a problem playing on stage with Morse there. He has mellowed. I said it with KISS and I’ll say it with DP, get over your egos. Gene and Paul made a stupid mistake not playing with Peter & Ace, let’s not see that over again. Do you think the audience at the HoF is dying to hear “Hey Cisco” or “Smoke On The Water”? Which song do you think will get them in?
If Ian didn’t have such a big ego, we all would have been able to hear another great Purple song “Burn” with Ian singing for all those reunion years. But Ian said no Mk III songs.
And I also think Coverdale & Hughes should be included too to some degree.
But that’s just me.
Funny how no one ever speaks about Coverdale and Hughes when speaking about thing like this
I’ve been a fan of every incarnation of Deep Purple since they had their 1st U.S. hit with Hush. Gillan was not part of the band’s original success, nor their success in the Mark III version. Ritchie Blackmore has had far more of an influence on guitar players than Ian ever had on singers. In truth, I’d rather have Ritchie perform with D.P. one last time than for Ian Gillan to be there. But, that’s just me. In my opinion every single living member of that band should be included in the induction ceremony. (Although my all time favorite member, Jon Lord would only be there in spirit.)
All former and current members have their merits and David coverdale was a great Causing Deep purple in Years 70 and Ritchie Blackmore not touch it would be unfair to why steve morse is just a very faint shadow if compare with Ritchie Blackmore it only touches the Ritchie Blackmore created!