Ritchie Blackmore

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

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

“The only way you can get good, unless you're a genius, is to copy. That's the best thing. Just steal.”

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

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

“Simplicity is the key.”

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

“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.”

“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 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 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.”

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

“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.”

“I criticize my own work pretty harshly.”

“When you're around someone good, your own standards are raised.”

“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.”

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

“Combing my hair doesn't make me a better musician.”

“I'm very moved by Renaissance music, but I still love to play hard rock - though only if it's sophisticated and has some thought behind it.”

“Session work makes you more strict. You can't hit notes all over the place. You've got to make each one really count.”