Deep Purple’s Steve Morse on Ritchie Blackmore reunion: 'It would be nice to see closure'
After Ritchie Blackmore recently expressed an interest in one-off reunion with Deep Purple, his replacement Steve Morse has now backed the idea.
Speaking to Germany's Rock N Roll Reporter in July, co-founding member Ritchie said “I would be available for one show, for nostalgic reasons” but added that “I don't think Deep Purple have any interest in that.”
His doubts about Deep Purple seemed well-founded as Ian Paice said back in April he wouldn’t consider reuniting with Ritchie as you “can’t guarantee every day with him is gonna be fun.”
Now, in a highly promising new development, guitarist Steve Morse has told Billboard “fans would love” a one-off reunion and he wouldn’t stand in Ritchie’s way as “I’m a musician… not a politician.”
“Well, he's one of the founding members of Deep Purple,” Steve said of Ritchie. “Fans would love it. It would be nice, I think, to see closure with everybody involved, and the bad feelings put aside.
“I think they'd all get a kick out of it if they could get past the psychological barriers. I am a fan of music, I'm a musician. I am not a politician.”
Explaining that he has no issue with the idea, Steve continued: “Now, a lot of people would feel intimidated, to have somebody come who's likely to play over them, standing in front of them and stealing the spotlight or whatever.
“But I thought, a lot of people would love to see this. And at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I thought Ritchie Blackmore was going to show up. He could've played three songs, but I ended up doing them, because he didn't. That was up in the air.”
He added: “There have been a lot of bad things said and done amongst the guys, and anyhow, it is like the ice has to be broken. I think that once that's done, they'd all have a great time.
“But I don't know how to go about doing that. Anyway, as far as I am concerned, all members, past and present and future (laughs) of Deep Purple, are welcome.”
Deep Purple head out on a five-date UK tour in November with support from Sweden’s prodigal sons Europe. Tickets are on sale from Planet Rock Tickets now.
It calls in at the following dates:
NOVEMBER 2017
Birmingham Barclaycard Arena – Fri 17th
Manchester Arena – Sat 18th
Cardiff Motorpoint Arena – Mon 20th
Glasgow SSE Hydro – Wed 22nd
London The O2 – Thu 23rd