Recently, we learned that guitar legend Ritchie Blackmore -- the co-founding member of Deep Purple responsible for the world's most famous rock and roll riff -- would not be attending the 2016 Hall of Fame ceremony at Brooklyn's Barclays Center on April 8, 2016. Rumor had it that Blackmore, who will be inducted with the band, had been banned. While that might not be entirely true, it seems the current touring configuration of Deep Purple refuses to perform with him at the ceremony. Blackmore, who would have then been reduced to sitting in the audience watching his songs performed without him, thanked the Induction Committee for the invitation and opted to skip the evening altogether.
Hall of Fame finds this unfortunate but with three inductees in the touring band and only one Ritchie -- well, majority wins.
A complex group, Deep Purple might be considered more of an extended jam session than a traditional band. They have had a changing line-up of musicians since they first charted in 1968 -- so many, in fact, that each incarnation of the band had to be labeled, almost like volumes of an encyclopedia set. Only one member of its original cast has remained throughout -- drummer, Ian Paice -- and two of its current members are not being inducted. Paice has criticized the Induction Committee, for its inclusion of some members and not others. Rod Evans, for instance, who was lead vocalist for the band's first year only is being inducted. No one has seen him in thirty-five years.
Ritchie Blackmore was co-founder with organist Jon Lord (d. 2012), and one of the band's longest running and most influential members. It is Blackmore's heart-blasting and unforgettable riffs that identify the band and its legendary status in the Holy Trinity of Hard Rock and Metal. It seems apropos that Blackmore would perform with the group at April's ceremony, but Purple's current manager, Bruce Payne, responded with a resounding, "No!"
Blackmore pissed some members off before his 1993 departure, and they don't plan on getting over it. Original and current lead singer, Ian Gillan, once commented that a dark cloud lifted the moment Blackmore walked out the door, and added that they didn't plan on looking back, ever. This is a man whom, we now see, keeps his word.
Certainly the Hall of Fame has encountered these situations many times before. A band has had to have been in formation at least fifteen years before they can even be considered for induction. A lot can (and will in the world of Rock & Roll!) happen in a decade and a half -- especially for a group like Deep Purple, that has entertained fourteen members over nearly fifty years. Most can manage to get over their conflicts, however, for the sake of this one career-climactic evening.
"We've had many situations like this in the past and many times these things get worked out for one night, and then they go back to their neutral corners the next day," Hall of Fame President, Joel Peresman told Rolling Stone.
For those rare few who are too childish, heartbroken, or unprofessional to set their differences aside for one glorious moment of long-overdue praise, I suggest the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame institute a new rule: Get Over It or Nobody Gets Nothin'!
"We can't wrestle people to the ground and make them perform together," Peresman added.
Actually with this one simple formula, yes, you can.
Let's say it all together now: "Get Over It or Nobody Gets Nothin'!"
Deep Purple, classic Mark II line-up, 1969-1973: Ian Paice, Ritchie Blackmore, Roger Glover, Jon Lord, Ian Gillan. The band rose to fame during this line-up.
Smoke on the Water, performed by its original singer, Ian Gillan, who is vocalist for the current line-up and has a 40+ year career with the band.
A 1974 U.S. performance of Smoke on the Water.
By this time, they're having to introduce two new members: David Coverdale as lead singer and Glenn Hughes, also on vocals. Both will go to the Hall of Fame, despite the fact that they were only with the band three years. Current members, Steve Morse and Don Airey, who have been with Purple for its last twenty-two and fourteen years respectively, have been excluded.
With multiple vocalists inducted, no performing guitar player, and no living keyboardist, how the Ceremony performance will pan out is a mystery.
Deep Purple has sold over 100 million albums and (thanks to Blackmore) earned the 1975 Guinness World Record for the World's Loudest Band. Beneath the giant shadow of Smoke on the Water, the band enjoyed many U.S. hits, including a cover of Joe South's Hush, Child in Time, Highway Star, Woman from Tokyo, Lazy and more. They will share the 2016 Induction with Cheap Trick, Chicago, NWA, and Steve Miller. The 31st Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony airs on HBO on April 30th.