Ritchie Blackmore slams the 'bloody awful crap' like Taylor Swift played on US radio

He's not a fan of contemporary pop music

Ritchie Blackmore on stage with Rainbow in 2019

Author: Scott ColothanPublished 5th Dec 2024
Last updated 5th Dec 2024

Deep Purple and Rainbow legend Ritchie Blackmore has shared a three-minute video in which he discusses his passion for old music and his loathing for contemporary popular acts played on mainstream American radio.

The 79-year-old guitarist, who has resided in America for decades, has kicked off December by posting a cantankerous yet humorous ‘Tales from his Tavern’ video to YouTube.

In the clip, Blackmore explains that his passion for music is ignited by “listening to old music from the 15(00s) and 1400s,” saying 600-year-old music “excites me” and he’s “obsessed” with it.

“I obviously don't listen to the radio in America where they're playing the latest, whatever it is,” Blackmore continued.

"I suppose as we progress and change generations, I cannot relate to what they would play on the radio. And I don't listen to rock and roll so much anymore. I listen to the old rock from the '50s, when it was fresh — Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore playing James Burton with Ricky Nelson, The Everly Brothers, I love all that stuff. Buddy Holly being my favourite at the time.”

Conceding that he’s perhaps the wrong market for new pop music, Ritchie continued: "I feel like an old granddad complaining about the music they're playing on the radio at the moment.

“I feel that back in the '70s, when Eric Clapton was playing Cream and that stuff, it was thoughtful music. You would listen to 'White Room' or something, you didn't need that (makes drum sound). You didn't have to hear that (drum beat). You could actually go, ‘Wow, that's a great song, 'White Room'. Fantastic.' We love Cream. Eric, of course, great. He started the whole thing.

"There are so many types of music that I like, but very rarely do I hear it on the radio. I'd rather hear talk radio about who's the latest president and stuff like that, that bores people to death.”

Concluding his video, Blackmore said: "I don't hear good music from my point of view. It might be good music, but it's not something I wanna hear. When the family all get into the truck and we go on a bit of a holiday, which probably is like 20 miles down the road, because I don't like to travel, all I hear is maybe Taylor Swift or something.

“I find it hard to relate to that. But it's not wrong. It's the new generation wanting to hear that. That's probably as great to them as The Beatles and Cream was and Jimi Hendrix was to me. So, I can't really complain, but I do like to complain, and I will complain. And I think the crap that they're playing on the radio today is bloody awful."

Ritchie Blackmore revived Rainbow for a one-off UK show at Birmingham Genting Arena and two concerts in Germany in June 2016.

The Ronnie Romero fronted Rainbow went on to play 12 further gigs between 2017 and 2019, and Blackmore has since returned to his renaissance music with Blackmore’s Night.