One of the reasons I took up the guitar was I didn't want to speak to anybody. I really felt uncomfortable speaking to people, so I took the guitar up so I could hide behind it. I'm not comfortable explaining… — Ritchie Blackmore Copy Share Image
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… — Ritchie Blackmore Copy Share Image
Ian Gillan, Roger Glover and I wanted to be a hard rock band - we wanted to play rock and roll only. — Ritchie Blackmore Copy Share Image
Stevie Ray Vaughan was very intense. Maybe that's what caught everybody's attention. As a player, he didn't do anything amazing. — Ritchie Blackmore Copy Share Image
I was impressed by Hendrix. Not so much by his playing, as his attitude - he wasn't a great player, but everything else about… — Ritchie Blackmore Copy Share Image
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… — Ritchie Blackmore Copy Share Image
Most guitar players get a name because the band that they're in has become popular. That doesn't mean that they're particularly good, whereas conversely,… — Ritchie Blackmore Copy Share Image
I had given up the guitar between '75 and '78. I completely lost interest. I was sick of hearing other guitar players and I… — Ritchie Blackmore Copy Share Image
... Jeff Beck is my idol .. sometimes he finds notes that I just do not have on my guitar. Frank Zappa's another one… — Ritchie Blackmore Copy Share Image
I'm not good enough, technically, to be a classic musician. I lack discipline. — Ritchie Blackmore Copy Share Image
Learning to play with a big amplifier is like trying to control an elephant. — Ritchie Blackmore Copy Share Image
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… — Ritchie Blackmore Copy Share Image
