Deep Purple’s Simon McBride dismissed negative comments about Ritchie Blackmore’s guest spot with the band last week.
Blackmore — whose second and final stint with the band he co-founded was in 1993 — took to the stage with his former colleagues at Jones Beach near New York City to jam classic track “Smoke on the Water.”
He later told Guitar Player that his first appearance with Purple in 33 years had been “to heal any wounds,” but added, “There weren’t any wounds,” and noted that it might be the last time the former colleagues would see each other.
McBride told Guitar World singer Ian Gillan received an email from Blackmore roughly a week before the gig.
“Gillan asked us if we’d mind, and there were no objections,” he said. “Ritchie was a big part of the band’s legacy,” he continued. I know they’ve had their differences, so it was nice to see them put that aside.”
There was an additional bonus for the 47-year-old Irishman. “It’s not every day you get to appear on stage beside one of the greatest icons in guitar history,” he said. “I just said to Ritchie, ‘I’ll be your rhythm guitar player today. Just do your thing.’”
He described Blackmore’s performance as “pretty cool,” noting, “I got to stand onstage beside the guy who started this whole thing. I was a little curious as to what he was gonna think of me. But he was a super-cool, nice guy.
“He was really complimentary, which was a shock to me. It’s very bizarre when these legends admire my playing. My head starts to explode!”
McBride posted about experience on Facebook afterward, saying, “My absolute pleasure to share the stage with this legend, such a great guy and an inspiration to all.”
Regardless of the emotions surrounding the reunion, some online comments criticized Blackmore’s performance, ignoring the fact that he’s 81 and dealing with the aftermath of a heart attack, vertigo, hand pain and back issues.
Blackmore — who played a Fender Stratocaster for the gig — told Guitar Player, “I couldn’t warm up, but I wasn’t there to be playing correct notes. I was there to see old friends. I didn’t play anything too technical — I felt I should stick to the rudiments of being simple.”
McBride took his own viewpoint about the negativity: “People will always say stupid things. Ritchie is in his 80s and plays great. If I can play that well when I’m that age, I’ll be happy. People should look at it for what it was: a magical night.”
He was able to tick a personal box too: “I just wanted Ritchie to be happy and do his thing, which he did.”
