RITCHIE BLACKMORE & CANDICE NIGHT
INTERVIEW
Man In Black to Tights!
One of my all-time heroes, the
legendary Ritchie Blackmore, has re-emerged in the most unusual and bewildering
of fashions. The icon ofthose heady rock days back in the 70's and 80's of
Deep Purple and then Rainbow - the flashing axe, the menacing eyes, the dark
somber,expressionless face, guitar smashing - man in black - has returned
in a pointy hat and tights and some say, with a smile!!
Ritchie Blackmore has resurfaced,
with an enchanting and beautiful young lady with an undeniable stunning and
incredible voice, in a new venture namely Blackmore's Night. Blackmore's Night
is a renaissance, mystical, magical, minstrel affair, that you may even interpret
as folk! I was not as surprised as I should have been when I heard the first
album 'Shadow Of The Moon'. Being a huge fan of the early Rainbow, and having
listened to tracks such as 'Sixteenth Century Greensleeves, Rising, Stargazer,
Gates Of Babylon, 'Lady Of The Lake', etc, I felt this album would emerge
at sometime. Mystique and medieval themes, if you like, were always a part
of the 'Rainbow' theme in the early days and with the immense talent that
Ritchie possesses anything was possible for him to achieve, and I'm so pleased
he has. 'Shadow Of The Moon' and the latest venture 'Under A Violet Moon'
are without doubt two of my favourite albums, pretty close to 'Rising', 'Live
On Stage' and 'Long Live Rock and Roll'. The only comparable resemblance
between these albums is the magical scenarios and Ritchie's uncompromising
performances and with the introduction of Candice to the vocal frontline,
the albums take you a wondrous and bewildering musical voyage.
KEEP IT LIVE! was incredibly
fortunate to be allowed to fax questions to Ritchie and Candice while on tour,
courtesy of Carole Stevens, their wonderful manager. So we've taken the opportunity
to briefly touch on Ritchie's past, but more importantly - what does the
future hold for Ritchie and Candice with Blackmore's Night……..
Col: Who,
or what, inspired Ritchie Blackmore to take up guitar?
RITCHIE: Tommy
Steele inspired me to take up the guitar. On atelevision show called "6-5
Special".
Col: Who
were your icons while learning the guitar?
RITCHIE: It
started with Tommy Steele, Hank B. Marvin, Duane Eddy,Jim Sullivan, Tony Harvey,
Django Rheinhardt, Les Paul, Chet Atkins,
Jimmy Bryant, Judd Procter, Scotty
Moore, James Burton...
Col: To
briefly touch on history, Blackmore's Night is very mystical andmagical, is
this a throwback to the 'Rising' era in a different format?
RITCHIE: No,
it has no connection to the Rainbow days.
Col: I
got so excited when I heard rumours of a Rainbow 'Rising' re-union just before
Cozy was killed. Was there any truth in the rumour?
RITCHIE: No,
there was a rumour.
Col: It
must have been a terrible moment when you heard about his untimely death.
RITCHIE: Yes,
obviously any person that dies that young- it is a tragedy. And Cozy had
a lot to offer the music industry. He always made sure that people got their
money's worth and his drum solo was one of the highlights of the evening in
the Rainbow act.
Col: Will
Rainbow reform in any shape or form?
RITCHIE: Not
that I know of. I am having too much fun and enjoying what I am playing too
much now to think about Rainbow reforming.
Col: How
much satisfaction do you gain from writing such an anthem as 'Smoke On The
Water'.
RITCHIE: I
thought that Smoke was a good tune- I still do- however there are many songs
that I have been involved with that are as worthy as Smoke On The Water.
Col: Obviously
you're very happy with your music now, and it generates new highs in your
career, how does it compare to those days of Deep Purple and Rainbow.
RITCHIE: My
music now is on a much more intimate level and it is very natural. I found
Purple excellent musicians but we became unfocused as a unit after '74.
Rainbow was a release for me until that too, as a project, lost its way.
Col: I
notice Candice was a singer and co-writer of some of the songs on 'Stranger
In Us All', how did you meet?
RITCHIE: We
met in the most romantic place... a football field! Candice was working for
a rock radio station out here on Long Island and DP had a game against them.
Of course, I rigged the team with ringers so we beat their team terribly!
She reluctantly went over to congratulate me on my win and as she walked away
I asked my roadies to find out who she was. They did and we set up a meeting
later on at a local pub. We talked for hours. We hit it off on so many levels
that we became friends very quickly. It's been 10 years now. The romantic
moment was 6 months after we first met when we got to really know each other.
Then I knew she was the only one for me.
Col: Was
Blackmore's Night planned, or did it just happen?
RITCHIE: It
just happened, again, in a very natural way. One of my criticisms of a lot
of groups today is that they can be contrived and put together for the wrong
reasons.
Col: Would
Blackmore's Night, under a different guise, have happened if you had not
met Candice?
RITCHIE: No.
Col: Is
Blackmore's Night a brief encounter or do you hope to progress it further?
RITCHIE: I
will answer that in 50 years; check back with me then.
Col: Candice,
you're lyrical aptitude, and voice, is sublime, apart from Deep Purple, Hank
Marvin and Rainbow where you sang backing vocals and co-wrote material, are
there any albums where you sing outright that fans may buy?
CANDICE: Well
first off, thank you very much for the kind words. Actually, our South American
record company, NEMS, has just approached me with a project that they want
me to sing on so I may be doing that for them in the very near future. It
is called Infinity. As for other albums currently out there, I am embarrassed
to say that no- I was not involved musically from the creative point of view
before I met Ritchie. I have quite a number of original songs written though,
so perhaps I may put out something of my own at some point. But right
now Blackmore's Night is the first priority for me so any songs that I have
already written Ritchie can use in this project if he wishes. Like
"Now and Then". I will be letting fans know, if they are interested, about
up an coming projects and news on our website at www.ritchieblackmore.com
so if the Infinity project comes out we will post it on there to keep people
updated.
Col: Gold
Record status and massive success in the US, Japan, Brazil and Germany of
Blackmore's Night isincredible, do you think that success can be repeated
in the UK?
RITCHIE:Yes,
I think so, once the media decides to play our music to the people. Fortunately,
there seems to be a movement against the radio force feeding the public in
England.
Col:The
UK record buying public are fickle, (I bought 'Shadow Of The Moon in 1997
in the UK as an import) is this why it took so long to release 'Shadow Of
The Moon' in the UK?
RITCHIE: It
is not the record buying public that are fickle. It is the record companies
and radio stations that are fickle. People can not buy it if it is not stocked
in the shops and England has a habit of only stocking that Top 30 and the
latest dance hits.
CANDICE: If
people choose not to listen to a certain type of music because they don't
like it...fair enough. But the fact that they don't know that it is out there
because a handful of people at the top of the media totem pole choose not
to allow that music to be heard or exposed is incredibly unfair. We call it
musical communism.
Col: How
much did you enjoy your UK tour?
CANDICE:I
was very nervous at first when I hear that we were going to play the UK. I
had heard that the people were very cynical- and of course, living with Ritchie
confirmed that viewpoint! I had heard that they would "never dress up on
costume". That the audiences there would be the hardest that we'd have to
play to. I was basically ready to say- "All right then, why don't I go out
wearing a target so when they throw things at me at least we can have some
fun of it?" But , in all honesty, I think that the English audiences were
the best that we have played to in the 3 years that we have been touring.
They did understand what we were trying to get across, they did dress up ,
they were wonderful. And , boy, am I glad I didn't wear a target onstage!
I thoroughly enjoyed every show, every moment. And I can't wait to return
again!
Col: Best
moment of the UK tour?
RITCHIE: Saying
goodbye at the airport... seriously, seeing how well the English people took
to our music. Wewere also very pleased that a lot of them partook in dressing
up in Renaissance outfits and enjoying themselves... living the fairy tale.
Col: The
on-stage presence is so remarkable and the camaraderie between Candice and
yourself is so relaxing
and bright, you appear to be
ultimately very content at the moment?
RITCHIE: Obviously
that won't last knowing me, knowing you... (great song by Abba). Our objective
on stage is to incorporate the audience almost into the band. And our music
is like being the minstrels playing to royalty. We feel very honored that
the audience actually turns up and is brave enough to come to a show that
is not just your routine clichéd popular act.
Col: Candice,
a lot of your on-stage remarks are aimed at Ritchie, have you ever been in
trouble for them?
CANDICE: Oh,
no, Ritchie has a wonderful sense of humor. He's usually the one that takes
jabs at me so when I am on stage I am going to take full advantage of the
fact that I have the microphone! Besides, I'd have to do something a lot
worse than make jokes if I was going to be in trouble!
Col: Will
you be returning soon?
CANDICE: I
hope to be returning to the UK as soon as possible. The people are so wonderful,
the castles and the fields. I think that Ritchie is seeing more of England
touristing with me than he did when he lived there! We have gone so many incredible
places: Avebury, Tintagel, Hampton Court, Tower of London, Stonehenge,
Glastonbury- straight up to the tour! We even went back at midnight and brought
the guitar and the penny whistle and sat at the base of the Tor singing and
playing to the stars and the moon. Magic! England has so many magical places-
I hope that the people who live there appreciate it and don't take it for
granted. I can see that many of them are very much into the magic of England
and it amazes me to see those who aren't.
Col: 'Black
Night' at Newcastle was incredible, was this planned or was it spur of the
moment?
RITCHIE: You
should have heard it at York! (only joking...) Black Night is a tune we never
rehearse and the band never has any idea of what I am going to play or do...
nor do I.
Col: Performing
in medieval castles, churches and synagogues must be an invigorating experience?
CANDICE: It
is amazing. It really transports you back to the time when these places were
1st built. To immerse yourself in all of the history and the energy that
passed through there. And when you see the first few rows of fans dressed
up in Renaissance period garb- you are immediately back in the day. It is
so easy to let yourself slip back in time.
Col: What
has been the highlight of Blackmore's Night so far?
RITCHIE: Firing
all of the musicians in the band. Actually, the fact that we can play 100%
of the music we like to play and not what the record company dictates.
Col: What
has been the ultimate moment in your career?
RITCHIE: Getting
some sleep in a hotel on the road. Beating Bayern Munich 3-2. I am thrown
by the magnitude of the question. There are far too many highlights in my
career to actually chose one particular moment. And being a true Englishman
I would rather complain anyway.
Col: What's
Ritchie like to work and live with?
CANDICE: It's
easier to work with him than to live with him! When we work together we really
respect the other persons domain. There are no egos involved. Everything that
we do musically is for the sake of the music. There is no self indulgence.
And there is no clocking in or out because we are around each other 24 hours
a day so if he comes up with an idea I am right there to try it out with him.
And as far as living together- you have to understand that he is a guitarist.
It isn't what he does- it is who he is. So he is working and wearing that
hat all of the time. But it has worked for us for over 10 years so far so
we must be doing something right! I think that we have a good balance. The
quintessential yin-yang theory. He is very dark, pessimistic, serious, mysterious-
I am light and airy! I want to believe in magic! He is the magician. It all
works out pretty well in the end.
Col: What
do you listen to when your relaxing at home?
CANDICE: Ritchie
listens to Renaissance music constantly. David Munrow, Des Geyers Schwazer
Haufen, Frieberger Speillaut, Calamus. Sometimes the Albion Band or Jethro
Tull. Even the Royal Guardsmen. I am more into listening to Sarah Brightman,
Fleetwood Mac, rock music. I have diverse tastes- from Maggie Reilly , Michael
Oldfield - with Back to France and Moonlight Shadow to Alanis Morissette
and early Tori Amos- just not while Ritchie's in the room!
Col: Which
contemporary guitarist do you rate currently?
RITCHIE: Eric
Johnson, Monte Montgomery, acoustically Leo Koptke, Gordon Giltrap
Col: Where
do the inspirations arise for tracks such as 'Wish You Were Here', 'Now and
Then', 'Spanish Nights, 'Writing On The Wall', 'The Clock Ticks On'.
RITCHIE: Wish
You Were Here we didn't write. And we wanted to call it "Wish You Had Beer"
anyway. 'Now and Then' Candy wrote, I just pinched a bit of Bach's Prelude
in C for the beginning. 'Spanish Nights' was an old riff I used to play when
I was 13 called Malaguena. I just thought that it would be fun to extemporize
on that particular riff. I originally wrote the song in the key of E to have
the open notes. However, Candy's range in actually in the key of A so we
compromised and went to F sharp with a capodastro. 'Writing on the Wall'
is really a rock song incorporating Tzchikovski's Swan Lake. I have always
liked that tune. 'The Clock Ticks On' was the very first tune that Candice
and I wrote together. I am obsessed by melodies that were written by Tielman
Susatto in the 1500's and that is the main theme in the song.
Col: What
is your reaction to people who don't understand Blackmore's Night's moons
and castles, mystical and dreams element?
RITCHIE: Bless
them. Everybody has their problems.
CANDICE: Everyone
also has their escape. Be it football, cars, whatever. We choose to open
the doorway to our path of escapism to anyone who wants to take a stroll
down that path. It's not for everybody. Just a special , sensitive few.
Col: Will
you ever return to the UK to live?
RITCHIE: The
way America's going, probably very shortly.
Col: Blackmore's
Night have given a lot of time to charity, with concerts in aid of underprivileged
children, and abused and homeless animals. Your involvement will generate
interest in these causes but you are limited in what can you do. What do
you feel is the best course of action to continue aid for these causes?
RITCHIE: Animals
are very dear to Candice and I. It is always a nice feeling to be able to
give to someone who is not so well off. Those who are not so fortunate as
ourselves.
CANDICE: The
best course of action about these causes is to do what music does best. To
make people feel about them. Feel enough to want to learn more, get involved
and help.
Col: Given
the choice, would you rather have lived in the 16th century, or now?
RITCHIE: Both.
I would like to have lived in a 16th century castle with air conditioning,
a satellite dish and a bottle of meade
CANDICE: We
are very luck to be able to pick and choose the best parts of each time period
and mesh them with the modern day amenities that we enjoy. Running water,
heat, sanitary conditions.
Col: From
the 1500's who do you both most admire?
RITCHIE: Tielman
Susatto, Pierre Attaignment, Michael Praettorious, Pierre Phalese, Peter
Breughal the younger and the peasants of the day.
CANDICE: Yes,
anyone who could just survive in that time period deserves to be admired!
Col: How
important is it for you to keep playing?
RITCHIE: If
I didn't play music I would probably turn to crime.
Col: What's
next for Blackmore's Night?
CANDICE: To
play magical music for as long as people want to hear it. When they don't
want to hear it well go back to playing it just for ourselves! We have the
3rd album already written. Now we just want to finish out touring this year
and then begin the search for a producer who can understand this type of music.
We hope to have the next album finished early next year.
Col: Would
you like to pop round to our tea room and play an acoustic set. We'll supply
cream scones and bags of English tea??????
CANDICE: You're
on! Is you're place haunted? Do you have a ghost? Speaking of castles, we
have rated Lumley Castle as the finest castle we have ever been to! Funnily
enough, Heather and I are pretty convinced there is something supernatural
loitering in the vicinity of the tea room. See you soon then!!!!!!!
So there you have it, the incredible Ritchie Blackmore featured within our
little blue book and website. An absolute high for me, my sincerest thanks
to all who helped in making this possible. And watch this space for details
of the next UK tour. We are in constant touch with Carole Stevens and we'll
let you know first when the dates are finalised, and who knows he may just
be appearing in the neighborhood.
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