What's the point of re-releasing an album? The original sounded good, why change something about it? Ritchie Blackmore More Quotes by Ritchie Blackmore More Quotes From Ritchie Blackmore I don't see myself as such an important guitarist. Ritchie Blackmore guitarist guitar important A lot of blues guitarists play with only three fingers, and they can't figure out certain runs that require the use of their little fingers. Classical training is good for that. Ritchie Blackmore training play running I however don't go to clubs to show off and to be seen, and certainly not to make statements. I just want to be able to quietly watch a band. Ritchie Blackmore clubs band watches When I was 20, I didn't give a damn about song construction. I just wanted to make as much noise and play as fast and as loud as possible. Ritchie Blackmore umpires play song I don't use the twang bar anymore. It's become too popular. Ritchie Blackmore bars use Hendrix inspired me, but I was still more into Wes Montgomery. I was also into the Allman Brothers around the time of those albums. Ritchie Blackmore inspired albums brother Learning to play with a big amplifier is like trying to control an elephant. Ritchie Blackmore elephants play trying I was impressed by Hendrix. Not so much by his playing, as his attitude - he wasn't a great player, but everything else about him was brilliant. Ritchie Blackmore brilliant player attitude Jimi... He was the gov'nor and that's it. He was brilliant, wasn't he? Ritchie Blackmore brilliant-ideas brilliant If a ballet dancer falls over, it's knowing how to get out looking clumsy that counts. Ritchie Blackmore dancer knowing fall The cello is such a melancholy instrument, such an isolated, miserable instrument. Ritchie Blackmore melancholy instruments miserable I'm not one for sitting around listening to my own music, because I tend to cringe and think that I could have done better. I also suffer from red light syndrome quite a lot. I tend to narrow my thinking when the red light goes on to record. Instead of just relaxing and playing and emoting, I think of time being wasted so I won't take a chance on something. Consequently, when I hear it back, I think, "Why the hell did I play it so safe on that piece of music when I could have really opened up?" Well, it's because of not wanting to make a mistake. Ritchie Blackmore listening mistake thinking I'm definitely not a guy that comes in the dressing room saying, "Hey, everybody, what a wonderful life." I'm usually brooding about something I think is wrong. I care so much about getting the music right, and if I think someone's slacking I get very upset about that. I just can't go on stage and say, "Another day, another dollar," which I've heard a few people say: I can't go along with that at all. It's got to be as good as you can do - to my own detriment. Ritchie Blackmore guy people thinking Sometimes if I'm not playing well on stage, I'll purposely play even worse; I'll tear it apart, because I'm so disgusted with what I'm playing that I'll go the wrong route: instead of trying to make it better, I'll go the other way and really make myself sound bad. Which is a kind of a strange outlook I suppose, really. Ritchie Blackmore strange tears trying I've always thought that I'm not really a guitar player, but I just practised so much that I developed into a kind of a bit of a musician, but I've often doubted my musical ear. If someone sings me a melody, I have to improvise on that melody, because I can't retain the information they've given me. That's why I still practise today, I suppose, because I still feel inadequate. Ritchie Blackmore musician musical player I can turn on some jazz guitarist, and he won't do a thing for me, if he's not playing electrically. But Jeff Beck's great to listen to. Ritchie Blackmore turns jazz guitar Simplicity is the key. Ritchie Blackmore simplicity keys I was impressed by Hendrix. His attitude was brilliant. Even the way he walked was amazing. Ritchie Blackmore brilliant attitude way I can imagine that Rod Stewart likes giving autographs because he's pure showbusiness. Ritchie Blackmore imagine likes giving In my early days, I never used finger vibrato at all. I originally carved my reputation as one of the 'fast' guitar players. Ritchie Blackmore reputation guitar player