Deep Purple Guitarists

It seems that you guys missed the point: did you not notice that Purple with Tommy Bolin (in fact, to a certain extent, since Coverdale and Hughes joined them)were a different kettle of fish?

I mean, the band assumed a more funky and R&B(i.e. as Rhythm and Blues) edge from Burn onwards. Therefore Bolin was the dog's bollocks for that musical direction.

No matter how technical Blackmore and Morse are, they lack the funk which clearly Bolin had in abundance, bearing in mind that Bolin had learned his funk/jazz chops while playing on Billy Cobham and others' work.

So Deep Purple had their lead guitarists according to their direction, and on 'Come Taste the Band' no other guitarist would have done a better job than the late great Tommy Bolin, for the same reason that no other guitarist could have played on stuff like In Rock, Machine Head.

So there.




MORE BALLS, LESS BOLLOCKS!

Sean Trane wrote: I really have a problem with anyone else than Blackmore or Morse >> Blackmorse That Bolin album is awful (no matter how good a guitarist Bolin was) Come And Puke over the band

- harsh!!

I loved 'Come Taste The Band' to be fair, and Bolin's playing was so excellent that he carved out his own identity- he put far more effort in than Blackmore's lacklustre show on 'Stormbringer'.

Yet, it's hard to separate Deep Purple from Ritchie Blackmore- he will always be their pivotal guitarist for me. No matter how good Steve Morse is or Tommy Bolin was, they'll never match Blackmore in the context of the band.

Blackmore is one of the greatest guitarists ever

Morse is great, I even like Morse era more than Blackmore from Perfect Strangers - Battle Rages On.

Slaves and Masters and BRO are VERY weak albums

Bolin is good also, but he only played on one album (and I love Come Taste The Band!)

Blackmore is the guitarist, with whom they made their best works, so my vote goes to him. Two years ago I attended a great show of them with Stevie Morse and it was great too... But even then, the best moments were when he was playing old Blackmore pieces (which he made great).

Purpendicular is a remarkable album ... but Blackmore is THE Deep Purple guitarist.

Blackmore.  Without him there wouldn't have been a Deep Purple.

Kudos for Snowie!

Morse it is!

Ritchie Blackmore of course, although Morse is an excellent guitarist!!!

Ritchie, no doubt about it. Morse is great, but he's not the Man in Black...

Is this a joke? Ritchie Blackmore IS Deep Purple.