By Steve Newton
On April 6, 1985, A.D.–Deep Purple played Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum on its Perfect Strangers tour.
Obviously I went, because the year before Ritchie Blackmore and Roger Glover had reunited with Ian Gillan, Jon Lord, and Ian Paice to get the Mark II lineup back in action.
“Highway Star”, motherfvckers!
Anyway, in advance of the Vancouver show I did a phone interview with Glover, who you may recall played bass on “Smoke on the Water”.
He had some interesting things to say, especially about the elusive Blackmore, whose amazing guitarwork has always left me in awe.
So here, for the first time ever on the Interweb, is our conversation.
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What prevented Deep Purple from reuniting before? I read somewhere that it was mainly Ritchie who was opposed to it.
Well Ritchie and I were in the same band (Rainbow), so we were of a single mind. There’s been a lot of rumours of a reunion over the last six or seven years, but none of it really came from us. It wasn’t a quantum leap for any little brain inside an entrepreneur or agent or manager or record company to figure out that if you put us five back together again you could make a lot of money.
We had been offered enormous amounts of money, but we all–for different reasons–turned it down. Because money isn’t the prime motivating force. We had a lot of money back in ’72, but it didn’t keep us happy. This time it came from within the band, from just a real desire to be together again.
Rumour has it that each member was paid a million dollars to reunite.
We were offered that ages ago. I remember being offered two million dollars, between the five of us, to do one concert, if you can believe that. But no, we weren’t paid a million dollars each to do it. There’s a legitimate, ordinary kind of record deal which is worth up in the millions somewhere. But that’s between the five of us, not each.
So do you see the reunion as being a long-term thing?
Oh yes. There’s no point in doing it unless it’s long-term. At least I hope it’s long-term. One never really knows, especially with a band as volatile as Deep Purple.
Did you have any trouble learning the old Purple songs again?
Yeah. We had to get someone to go out and buy the records so we could figure out what the chord changes were. I mean “Smoke On the Water” we didn’t have much trouble with, but “Highway Star” we had pretty well forgotten.
As a matter of fact, we started doing “Lazy” on this tour, and we thought we’d remembered it pretty well. But just the other day I was in a car, going to a gig, and “Lazy” came on the radio. And I realized that there were two whole verses–an integral part of the song–that we’ve been leaving out for the last three months. Not one of us had noticed!
Do you remember what it was like at the first jam that you had with the reunited lineup?
Yes. We’d all been out to a restaurant, and we came back around ten-thirty and just sort of wandered down to the basement. And I can’t remember who started playing first–it was just a blues jam, not a special song or anything–but we all just kinda joined in. And I do remember, within about two or three minutes of starting, looking around and seeing everyone grinning from ear to ear. I mean it was a fantastic feeling.
When you and Ian Gillan first left Deep Purple, after the Who Do We Think We Are album, what did you think of your replacements, David Coverdale (now in Whitesnake) and Glenn Hughes (the Hughes/Thrall Band)?
I was very resentful. I didn’t leave Deep Purple in a nice frame of mind; it was a bitter breakup for me. And later in 1973, when we got the Billboard Award for selling more albums than anyone else–even more than Frank Sinatra or the Beatles–the new band got credit for it. So understandably I felt very, very bitter towards them.
Did you ever hear Deep Purple when they had Tommy Bolin on guitar, in place of Ritchie Blackmore?
Yeah.
Well, what did you think of it?
Not much. I liked Tommy Bolin actually, he was a lovely chap. But I saw them at Wembley in 1976, just before they all split up, and I was disgusted. And I’m sure Jon Lord and Ian Paice would agree with me. In fact they were the ones who finally said, “This is not going to go on anymore. It’s not good enough.”
Having been in Rainbow with Ritchie for so many years, have you found that he lives up to the reputation the music press has given him of being very moody and hard to deal with?
Well, we’re all moody. I don’t think he’s any more moody than anyone else–it’s just that he shows it more. I find myself facing these questions a lot, and I find myself defending Ritchie because I think he comes in for some unfair attacks. At the same time, he does do things that annoy the hell out of me.
Like?
Oh, things like walking off and refusing to do an encore. I’ll ask, “Why?!” and he’ll say “I don’t feel like it. The audience didn’t deserve it.” And I’ll disagree with him. I think that’s wrong.
Has he done that on this tour?
Yes, sometimes. Not often. I mean he’s a man who commands his own way–regardless of anyone’s feelings. That I find annoying. But then again when you talk to him about it, he’s so disarmingly honest about it that you can’t dislike him for it!
So Ritchie’s an uncompromising person, but it all comes from this musical thing that he’s got. He’s an incredible talent, and he works very very hard. He cares deeply about his music. And if he thinks that someone else is not caring and not working, that’s when he gets annoyed.
There’s his famous reputation about sacking Rainbow’s musicians, but no one ever got sacked for doing a good job, you know what I mean? He’s only trying to make sure that the band is always one hundred percent.
To hear the full audio of my 1985 interview with Roger Glover subscribe to my Patreon page, where you can eavesdrop on over 350 of my uncut, one-on-one conversations with:
Dave Martone, 2020
Ian Gillan of Deep Purple, 2006
Joss Stone, 2012
Glenn Tipton of Judas Priest, 2005
Jack Blades of Night Ranger, 1984
Vivian Campbell of Def Leppard, 1992
Colin James, 1995
Kim Simmonds of Savoy Brown, 1998
Tom Cochrane of Red Rider, 1983
Ed Roland of Collective Soul, 1995
Taj Mahal, 2001
Tom Wilson of Junkhouse, 1995
Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, 2003
David Lindley, 2002
Marty Friedman of Megadeth, 1991
John Hiatt, 2010
Nancy Wilson of Heart, 2006
Jeff Golub, 1989
Moe Berg of the Pursuit of Happiness, 1990
Todd Rundgren, 2006
Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, 2001
Steve Earle, 1987
Gabby Gaborno of the Cadillac Tramps, 1991
Terry Bozzio, 2003
Roger Glover, 1985
Matthew Sweet, 1995
Jim McCarty of the Yardbirds, 2003
Luther Dickinson of North Mississippi Allstars, 2001
John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls, 1995
Steve Hackett from Genesis, 1993
Grace Potter, 2008
Buddy Guy, 1993
Steve Lynch of Autograph, 1985
Don Wilson of the Ventures, 1997
Gordie Johnson of Big Sugar, 1998
Trevor Rabin of Yes, 1984
Albert Lee, 1986
Yngwie Malmsteen, 1985
Robert Cray, 1996
Tony Carey, 1984
Ian Hunter, 1988
Kate Bush, 1985
David Gilmour from Pink Floyd, 1984
Jeff Healey, 1988
Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip, 1996
Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, 1993
Colin Linden, 1993
Kenny Wayne Shepherd, 1995
Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues, 1986
Elliot Easton from the Cars, 1996
Wayne Kramer from the MC5, 2004
Bob Rock, 1992
Nick Gilder, 1985
Klaus Meine of Scorpions, 1988
Jason Bonham, 1989
Tom Johnston of the Doobie Brothers, 1991
Joey Spampinato of NRBQ, 1985
Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers, 2003
Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash, 2003
Steve Kilbey of the Church, 1990
Edgar Winter, 2005
Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde, 1990
Randy Hansen, 2001
Dan McCafferty of Nazareth, 1984
Davy Knowles of Back Door Slam, 2007
Jimmy Barnes from Cold Chisel, 1986
Steve Stevens of Atomic Playboys, 1989
Billy Idol, 1984
Stuart Adamson of Big Country, 1993
Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, 1992
Warren Haynes of Gov’t Mule, 1998
John Bell of Widespread Panic, 1992
Robben Ford, 1993
Barry Hay of Golden Earring, 1984
Jason Isbell, 2007
Joey Belladonna of Anthrax, 1991
Joe Satriani, 1990
Vernon Reid of Living Colour, 1988
Brad Delp of Boston, 1988
Zakk Wylde of Pride & Glory, 1994
John Sykes of Blue Murder, 1989
Alice Cooper, 1986
Lars Ulrich of Metallica, 1985
John Doe, 1990
Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon, 1992
Myles Goodwyn of April Wine, 2001
John Mellencamp, 1999
Mike Campbell of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, 1999
Kenny Aronoff, 1999
Doyle Bramhall II, 2001
Jon Bon Jovi, 1986
Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers, 1992
Randy Bachman, 2001
Little Steven, 1987
Stevie Salas, 1990
J.J. Cale, 2009
Joe Bonamassa, 2011
Tommy Emmanuel, 1994
Rob Baker of the Tragically Hip, 1997
John Petrucci of Dream Theater, 2010
Eric Johnson, 2001
Stu Hamm, 1991
Gene Simmons of Kiss, 1992
Ace Frehley from Kiss, 2008
David Lee Roth, 1994
Allan Holdsworth, 1983
John Mayall of the Bluesbreakers, 1988
Steve Vai, 1990
Tony Iommi of Heaven and Hell, 2007
Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, 1996
Geoff Tate of Queensryche, 1991
James Hetfield of Metallica, 1986
Stevie Ray Vaughan, 1990
Rick Richards of the Georgia Satellites, 1988
Andy McCoy and Sam Yaffa of Hanoi Rocks, 1984
Steve Morse, 1991
Slash of Guns N’ Roses, 1994
Brian May from Queen, 1993
Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers, 1991
Jake E. Lee of Badlands, 1992
Rickey Medlocke of Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1997
John Fogerty, 1997
Joe Perry of Aerosmith, 1987
Rick Derringer, 1999
Robin Trower, 1990
Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, 1994
Mick Ronson, 1988
Geddy Lee of Rush, 2002
Buck Dharma of Blue Oyster Cult, 1997
Michael Schenker, 1992
Vince Neil of Motley Crue, 1991
Vinnie Paul of Pantera, 1992
Joan Jett, 1992
Steve Harris of Iron Maiden, 1988
Sebastian Bach of Skid Row, 1989
Rob Halford of Judas Priest, 1984
Bill Henderson of Chilliwack, 1999
Paul Rodgers, 1997
R.L. Burnside, 1999
Guthrie Govan of the Aristocrats, 2015
Mick Mars of Mötley Crüe, 1985
Carlos Santana, 2011
Walter Trout, 2003
Rudy Sarzo of Quiet Riot, 1983
Rob Hirst of Midnight Oil, 2001
Tommy Aldridge, 2001
Donald “Duck” Dunn, 1985
Mark Farner of Grand Funk, 1991
Chris Robinson of Black Crowes, 1990
Jennifer Batten, 2002
Mike Fraser, 2014
Leo Kottke, 2002
Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead, 2002
David Gogo, 1991
Booker T. Jones, 2016
Link Wray, 1997
James Reyne from Australian Crawl, 1988
Mike Rutherford of Genesis, 1983
Buddy Guy, 1991
Country Dick Montana of the Beat Farmers, 1990
Mike Cooley of the Drive-By Truckers, 2016
Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1986
Lindsay Mitchell of Prism, 1988
Buddy Miles, 2001
Eddie Money, 1988
Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith, 1983
Gaye Delorme, 1990
Dave Murray of Iron Maiden, 1984
Graham Bonnet of Alcatrazz, 1984
Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac, 2016
Doc Neeson of Angel City, 1985
Rik Emmett of Triumph, 1985
Sonny Landreth, 2016
Tosin Abasi of Animals as Leaders, 2016
Jeff Beck, 2001
Albert King, 1990
Johnny Ramone of the Ramones, 1992
Peter Frampton, 1987
Otis Rush, 1997
Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip, 1989
Leslie West of Mountain, 2002
Steve Howe of Yes, 2017
Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden, 1983
Uli Jon Roth, 2016
Poison Ivy of the Cramps, 1990
Stevie Ray Vaughan, 1985
Greg Lake of ELP, 1992
Robert Plant, 1993
Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson of AC/DC, 1983
Warren Zevon, 1992
Tal Wilkenfeld, 2016
Steve Clark of Def Leppard, 1988
Ronnie Montrose, 1994
Danny Gatton, 1993
Alex Lifeson of Rush, 1992
Ann Wilson of Heart, 1985
J.J. Cale, 1990
Yngwie Malmsteen, 2014
Chris Cornell, 2008
Long John Baldry, 1985
Allan Holdsworth, 1983
Kim Mitchell, 1984
Warren Haynes of the Allman Brothers, 1994
Derek Trucks, 1998
Susan Tedeschi, 1998
Joe Satriani, 2018
B.B. King, 1984
Albert Collins, 1985
Ronnie James Dio, 1985
Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, 1984
Dick Dale, 2000
Greg Allman, 1998
Dickey Betts, 2001
….with hundreds more to come