Quotes By Ritchie Blackmore

Stevie Ray Vaughan was very intense. Maybe that's what caught everybody's attention. As a player, he didn't do anything amazing.

I don't see myself as such an important guitarist.

I can imagine that Rod Stewart likes giving autographs because he's pure showbusiness.

I never work out my leads. Everything I do is usually totally spontaneous. If someone says, 'That was good; play that again,' I'm not able to do it.

I criticize my own work pretty harshly.

Ian Gillan, Roger Glover and I wanted to be a hard rock band - we wanted to play rock and roll only.

Jimi... He was the gov'nor and that's it. He was brilliant, wasn't he?

I don't use the twang bar anymore. It's become too popular.

Learning to play with a big amplifier is like trying to control an elephant.

I can never remember what I do even in the studio.

I feel like I own the stage.

When you've toured for about 10 years like me, you end up feeling like you're always waiting for somebody or something. The whole day is a drag.

In my early days, I never used finger vibrato at all. I originally carved my reputation as one of the 'fast' guitar players.

I had given up the guitar between '75 and '78. I completely lost interest. I was sick of hearing other guitar players and I was tired of my tunes.

If a ballet dancer falls over, it's knowing how to get out looking clumsy that counts.

I've always played every amp I've ever had full up, because rock and roll is supposed to be played loud. Also, that's how you get your sustain.

Hendrix inspired me, but I was still more into Wes Montgomery. I was also into the Allman Brothers around the time of those albums.

Playing a Fender is an art itself. They're always going out of tune.

Those record companies don't know what's happening at all.

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.

When something is not good, it's bad. Period.

Pete Townshend used to crash chords and let the guitar feed back. He's overrated.

If you can play well in the studio, you can play well on stage.

I like leaping around on stage as long as it's done with class. None of this jumping up in the air and doing the splits.

Johnny Winter is one of the best blues players in the world. He's very underrated.

I have never met one person who likes Grand Funk.

I can do the old hand vibrato just fine, but I like attacking the strings.

I'm not into that Keith Richard trip of having all those guitars in different tunings. I never liked the Rolling Stones much anyway.

I found the blues too limiting, and classical was too disciplined.

I'm not good enough, technically, to be a classic musician. I lack discipline.