Richie's Bio:Richard Hugh Blackmore, 14 April 1945, Weston-Super-Mare, Avon, England. Guitarist Blackmore spent his early career in Mike Dee And The Jaywalkers before joining Screaming Lord Sutch And His Savages in May 1962. Within months he had switched to the Outlaws, a popular, principally instrumental, group that also served as the studio house band for producer Joe Meek. Blackmore's exciting style was already apparent on the group's releases, notably "Keep A Knockin'"/"Shake With Me", and on sessions for Heinz and Mike Berry. The guitarist briefly joined the former singer's group, the Wild Boys, in 1964, and completed a suitably idiosyncratic solo single, "Little Brown Jug"/"Getaway", before forging an erratic path as a member of Neil Christian's Crusaders, the Savages (again) and the Roman Empire. When a short-lived act, Mandrake Root, broke up in October 1967, Blackmore opted to live in Hamburg, but the following year was invited back to London to join organist Jon Lord in the embryonic Deep Purple. Although initially envisaged as an "English Vanilla Fudge",
the group quickly became a leading heavy metal act, with Blackmore's powerful,
urgent runs an integral part of their attraction. He left the group in
1975, unhappy with their increasingly funk-based sound, and joined forces
with the USA-based Elf to form Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. This powerful
band became a highly popular hard rock attraction, but was blighted by
its leader's autocratic demands. Multiple sackings ensued as the guitarist
searched for the ideal combination, but such behaviour simply enhanced
his temperamental reputation. He was, nevertheless, involved in the Deep
Purple reunion, undertaken in 1984, although animosity between the guitarist
and vocalist Ian Gillan resulted in the latter's departure. Blackmore
finally quit the band in 1994. He has subsequently recorded several albums
with his new outfit, Blackmore's Night. Blackmore now explores the fringes
of medieval music with his own distinctive heavy edge. Blackmore's prowess
as a guitar "hero" is undisputed, while his outstanding technique
has influenced everyone from the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal bands
to conventional modern rock outfits. |
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