If you like Deep Purple, then chances are you listen to Rainbow. In this Rainbow “Black Masquerade” DVD review, I’ll tell you why Ritchie Blackmore music rules!
Black Masquerade showcases Ritchie at his very best and visually demonstrates why he is considered one of the best guitar players in Rock N’Roll history.
Keep on reading to learn why this Rainbow concert is an absolute “must-see!”
Black Masquerade DVD Snapshot
- Recorded: October 9, 1995
- Release Date: 2013
- Concert Length: 1 Hour 43 Minutes
- Video Format: Fullscreen (NTSC 4:3 aspect ratio)
- Audio: Stereo, Dolby Digital Stereo (2.0), Dolby Digital Surround Sound 5.1, DTS Surround Sound 5.1
- Starring:Ritchie Blackmore, Doogie White, Candice Knight, Paul Morris, Greg Smith, and Chuck Burgi
- Executive Producer: Peter Ruechel
- Director: Gerd F. Scultze
Main DVD Disk Menu:
Play
Song Selection
Audio Options: Dolby Digital Stereo (2.0), Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS Surround Sound 5.1
Subtitles: None
Bonus Features: None
DVD Packaging: Standard single disk plastic packaging with an informational booklet.
Concert Backstory
Ritchie Blackmore reformed Rainbow after he departed from Deep Purple in 1993. He put together a new line-up of musicians and singers and recorded the “Stranger In Us All” album.
Rainbow recorded Black Masquerade at Rockpalast in 1995, during their world tour in support of their new album.
Rockpalast was a top-rated TV show in Dusseldorf, Germany, which featured various famous bands recorded live in concert.
The band played a combination of songs from the “Stranger In Us All,” classic Rainbow, and Deep Purple.
DVD Packaging
This DVD comes as a single disk with standard plastic packaging. The artwork consists of a picture of Ritchie Blackmore playing his guitar on the front cover with photos of the band on the rear cover, along with a short description of the concert and a tracklist of the show.
The disk I am reviewing is NTSC, playable on DVD players in North America.
This concert is also available as a two-CD package from Eagle Records.
Songs And Artists
Track List
| Song | Title | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction | 2:20 |
| 2 | Spotlight Kid | 4:54 |
| 3 | Too Late For Tears | 5:10 |
| 4 | Long Live Rock ‘N’ Roll / Black Night | 8:24 |
| 5 | Hunting Humans | 6:49 |
| 6 | Wolf To The Moon / Difficult To Cure | 6:24 |
| 7 | Keyboard Solo | 5:56 |
| 8 | Still I’m Sad | 6:12 |
| 9 | Man On The Silver Mountain | 5:12 |
| 10 | Temple Of The King | 6:04 |
| 11 | Black Masquerade | 6:05 |
| 12 | Ariel | 8:23 |
| 13 | Since You’ve Been Gone | 1:11 |
| 14 | Perfect Strangers | 6:38 |
| 15 | Greensleeves | 1:56 |
| 16 | Hall Of The Mountain King | 6:29 |
| 17 | Burn | 4:40 |
| 18 | Smoke On The Water | 8:11 |
Artist List
- Ritchie Blackmore -Guitar
- Greg Smith – Bass Guitar & Vocals
- Paul Morris – Keyboards
- Chuck Burgi – Drums
- Doogie White – Lead Vocals
- Candice Knight Vocals
A Word About Ritchie Blackmore
What can I say about the man that has been called “The Prince Of Darkness,” “The Black Knight,” and the powerhouse behind Deep Purple?
To call Ritchie Blackmore a guitar wizard is a huge understatement!
Watching his fingers fly over the scalloped fingerboard of his white Stratocaster is a totally mesmerizing treat and a humbling experience, even for the best guitar players.
He adds diatonic scales and arpeggios to his pentatonic riffs with the finesse and mastery of the renaissance master that he truly is.
Ritchie has influenced such guitarists as Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai and has set the standard of how to play guitar for generations of players yet to come.
Musical Performance Highlights
Here are some short comments that sum up my thoughts on the following tracks.
Introduction
From: N/A
The concert begins with a short audio clip from the classic “Pomp and Circumstance,” followed by Dorothy from the “Wizard Of OZ,” proclaiming that they must be over the rainbow. Ritchie obliges the audience by playing the opening lines to “Over The Rainbow.”
Too Late For Tears
From (album): Stranger In Us All
This is pretty much your classic ’80s “arena-rocker,” laced with Ritchie’s fancy licks and a great guitar solo. Ritchie has a bit of a musical duel with Paul Morris on keyboards.
Man On The Silver Mountain
From: Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow
This iconic Rainbow-rocker has that “Deep Purple” feel. If you like guitar solos with wide bends, then be sure to check out this tune!
Black Masquerade
From: Stranger In Us All
This is another great tune, and the title tune of the show, with a guitar solo that has a bit of a “gypsy feel.” I love the big intervallic licks that Ritchie uses to end the song.
Since You’ve Been Gone
From: Down To Earth (Russ Ballard cover)
This is a significantly shortened version of the well-known “radio-rocker,” weighing in at just over one minute.
Perfect Strangers
From: Perfect Strangers
A musical offering in the key of D from the darker side of Deep Purple. I love the feel of this song, especially the bridge. Turn it up, and it’ll rock your world!
Greensleeves
From: Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow
This is a shortened version of the traditional English folk song, reimagined as a drinking song by singer Doogie White. It shows up from time to time in concert, usually as a Blackmore solo piece.
Hall Of The Mountain King
From: Stranger In Us All
This is another well-known Rainbow piece. It’s a fast-paced rock-ballad that picks up tempo as it progresses.
Burn
From: Burn
Burn is a song from a Deep Purple album that influenced a generation of rockers. It could be thought of as the beginning of the band’s “encore” (followed by “Smoke On The Water).
It features an iconic repetitive riff and Ritchie’s fantastic guitar work with his trademark hammer-ons and pull-offs.
Band Interviews And Backstage Footage
Unfortunately, no video of band interviews or backstage footage is included on this Rainbow DVD.
The DVD does include a nicely put-together booklet with photos of the band and a narrative by Jeff Katz, which summarizes his view of the concert and gives a short analysis of many of the songs.
Stage Appearance
The stage setup follows the standard “Rockpalast” configuration. It is well-lit and straightforward, with standard-definition video cameras placed out of the viewer’s sight. There are no special effects. The focus is always on what’s happening musically.
Musical Equipment Used On The Black Masquerade DVD
This is a listing of the guitars, amplifiers, and effects that various band members used during the show. I obtained this information visually while watching the video and through Internet research. I always strive to make this list as accurate as possible.
If you disagree or have something to add that makes it more accurate or complete, I would appreciate it if you put that info in the comment section at the end of this article. I will correct and/or update it immediately!?
Black Masquerade DVD – Equipment Summary
| Artist | Guitars | Amplifiers | Effects (stomp boxes & pedalboards) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ritchie Blackmore | ’70s Strat with Roland GK-1 Pickup | 2 ENGL – Ritch Blackmore E650 Heads With ENGL 4×12 & 2×12 Cabinets | [Unknown – See Below For More Info] |
| Greg Smith | [Unknown – See Below For More Info] | Hartke amps with four Hartke 4×12 cabinets | [Unknown – See Below For More Info] |
Ritchie Blackmore
Guitar
In this concert, Ritchie uses his ’70s Olympic White Strat with a scalloped rosewood neck. It has two standard Fender pickups in the bridge and neck position. It looks like the middle pickup has been removed or lowered below the pickguard. Ritchie never uses the middle pickup on a Strat.
The guitar is also equipped with a Roland GK-1 Hexaphonic synthesizer pickup between the bridge pickup and the bridge. The control box for the synth pickup can be seen just below the bridge.
Ritchie also has a Fender Signature Strat, which he didn’t use in the concert. It has a 7.25”-radius rosewood fingerboard with graduated scalloping and 21 vintage-style frets.
Seymour Duncan® Quarter Pound Flat™ SSL-4 single-coil pickups are installed in the bridge (reverse wound/reverse polarity) and neck position. there is a non-active (dummy) pickup in the middle position.
He typically uses 0.010 or 0.011 gauge strings on his electric guitars and various heavy-gauge guitar picks, including Dunlop Tortex picks.
Amplifier
Ritchie is using two signature ENGL E650 100 Watt heads with two 4×13 ENGL cabinets and one 2×12 ENGL cabinet, all loaded with 12″ Celestion Vintage 30 speakers.
The ENGL head has four ECC83/12AX7 preamp tubes and four 6L6GC output tubes. It features four channels: clean, crunch, soft lead, and heavy lead.
Ritchie has favored 100 Watt Marshall Super Lead heads and small combo amps in the past.
Effects
I could not identify the effects (if any) that Ritchie was using on stage. Here is a list of some of the effects he has been known to use in the past.
Treble Booster
- Hornby Skewes Treble Booster
- Sola Sound Pro MK II Tone Bender
- Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face
- WEM Watkins Copycat Tape Echo
- AIWA TP-1011 Tape Machine (modified as analog echo machine)
- EMS Synthi Hi-Fli
- Moog Taurus bass pedal synthesizer
- Vox 847 Wah-Wah Pedal
For more info on guitar effects, see What Is A Guitar Stomp Box – Attractive, Little, Tantalizing.
Greg Smith
Bass Guitar
I could not identify the bass guitar that Greg used for this concert. Does anyone know? Would you please put it in the comment section? Some of the guitars he has used in the past include an ’82 Fender Fullerton, ’57 Fender Precision Reissue, Music Man StingRay, and Gibson EB-3.
Bass Amps
Unable to determine with certainty from the concert video, but probably Hartke amps with four Hartke 4×12 cabinets.
Effects
None seen.
Audio Specs And Sound Quality
The concert is recorded in:
- Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0
- Dolby Digital Surround Sound 5.1
- DTS Surround Sound 5.1
The audio quality is professionally recorded, with fair to good audio imaging, depending on your sound system.
Audio restoration and mastering were done by Mazen Murad at Metropolis.
Television speakers sound best using the stereo channel.
If you have a soundbar with a dedicated subwoofer, try both the Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound channels to see which work best.
The DTS audio channel will most likely give you the best sound imaging if you have a home theater (5.1, 7.1, or 7.1.4 Atmos) setup.
Video Specs And Camera-Shot Quality
The video is recorded in Fullscreen (4:3 NTSC)
The concert was pro-shot, as you might expect it to be. Overall, video brightness and contrast are suitable for standard definition resolution, with occasional graininess. The stage lighting makes it difficult to clearly see what’s happening on stage during certain songs.
All of Ritchie Blackmore’s solos and Paul Morris’s keyboard solos are captured in their entirety, without inappropriate break-away to other musicians. Ritchie’s hands are filmed to clearly show his technique, which is what guitar players really want to see.
My Favorite Songs And Musical Moments
These are the songs I enjoyed most in the show for various reasons. The entire setlist is fantastic, as is always the case at any concert featuring Ritchie Blackmore.
Spotlight Kid
From (album): Difficult To Cure
This tune, played in B, features very staccato intro chords the give it a lot of attitude. Check out Ritchie’s lightning-fast arpeggios played with phenomenal precision and the excellent keyboard part.
Long Live Rock ‘N’ Roll/Black Knight
From: Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll / Black Knight released as a single
The song begins with Doogie White assuring the audience that “Rock ‘N’ Roll is not dead.”
Ritchie breaks out some guitar work that takes a chromatic ascending passage into an infectious opening lick that really makes you sit up and take notice. All the typical Blackmore Deep-Purple-Style runs are present and accounted for.
The song breaks into the “Black Knight” lick, and the audience quickly obliges by humming it back, after which the band moves on to finish Long Live Rock ‘N’ Roll.
Hunting Humans
From: Stranger In Us All
Doogie begins by announcing that the audience is being recorded for an upcoming Rockpalast episode and “welcome your mothers now.”
This song has an oddly staggered staccato harmony that works great with the lyrics. Ritchie plays sustained notes that really sing out when bent up and terminate with silky smooth vibrato. The guitar solo is truly amazing!
Wolf To The Moon/Difficult To Cure
From: Stranger In Us All / Difficult To Cure (Beethoven’s 9th)
The opening guitar line of this tune begins with a short “German-style” melody that features flurries of open-note hammer-ons.
Paul Morris adds organ parts that double Ritchie’s guitar runs, which fit together wonderfully.
Without warning, Ritchie breaks into a guitar slide rendition of the motif to Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, which segways into Blackmore-style licks that will simply blow you away!
Keyboard Solo
From: N/A
This tune is a keyboard masterpiece by Paul Morris that begins with a medley of many classical pieces punctuated by a series of chromatic passages. It eventually changes to blues-scale oriented runs.
Paul takes an interesting detour on a Moog synthesizer for an Eastern-flavored jam before circling back to classical arpeggios to finish the solo.
If you enjoy keyboard pieces, then this will really make your day!
Still I’m Sad
From: Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow (Yardbirds Cover)
This Blackmore riff-driven rocker in B features crazy guitar runs with melodic arpeggios that mimic the lyrics beautifully!
There is an extended drum solo from “Doctor” Chuck Burgi, which you can almost see coming!
Temple Of The King
From: Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow
This song begins with a lovely finger-picked melody that never loses its folksy-ballad feel, even when Ritchie plays an incredibly fast and complex solo with lots of vibrato.
An impeccably written tune that you’ll really enjoy.
Ariel
From: Stranger In Us All
Ariel is a slow rocker in E minor that features a very intricate guitar solo with string bends that will stir your soul.
Ritchie’s wife, Candice Knight, finishes the tune with some haunting background vocals. If you’ve never seen her perform in the renaissance band “Blackmore’s Knight,” then you’re in for a real treat.
Smoke On The Water
From: Machine Head
Rainbow closes the show with a song that lays stake to one of the most famous rock riffs of all time! Ritchie begins by jamming out on the lyrics.
Greg smith doubles on vocals with Doogie White.
The audience begins chanting, “Smoke on the water, fire in the sky,” and Ritchie adds a vicious-sounding solo that will make you press the rewind button once or twice.
It’s really a fitting end to a fabulous concert!
What You Might Not Like
There’s not much to dislike about this concert video, but here are a few things you might consider.
No Backstage Footage
I like watching backstage concert footage. It really adds to the enjoyment of the video and can give you a better idea of what particular equipment was used in the show.
No Band Interviews
Band interviews can offer insight into problems that occurred during the concert’s production, performance, and filming. It’s great to get inside info directly from your favorite players, and it’s one of the first things any true fan looks for in a music video.
Video Intermittently Out Of Focus And Grainy
The video was pro-shot using the standard definition recording technology of the’90s. However, the video is not in focus in certain frames, probably due to stage light interference.
There are also scenes where the video appears grainy, but only very briefly, and it does not significantly detract from the film’s overall quality.
Surround Sound Suboptimal
The Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 Surround Sound channels do not consistently distribute the guitar, bass, and keyboards accurately in the sound field.
On my Bose 5.1 surround system, the rear channels lack depth from the audience sounds, which are barely noticeable at times.
Playing the video on my 7.2.4 Dolby Atmos/DTS-X theater system using a 5.1 simulation made the video sound better, but the subwoofer base density was somewhat lacking.
Beware Of Black Masquerade Poorly Recorded Copies
There are a fair number of pirated or bootleg copies of this video available for purchase on various websites.
The video and audio are typically substandard, and in some cases, too poorly done to be worth a look and listen.
Also, it is illegal to purchase these copies, and it could cheat the performers out of well-deserved income.
Is This Concert Worth Purchasing Or Streaming?
All things considered, this is one of the best pro-shot examples of Ritchie Blackmore playing in a rock format. If you like Ritchie (and who doesn’t?), then you’ll love watching him play close-up.
Although individual songs are sometimes available to view on cloud streaming services like YouTube, it isn’t easy to find a high-quality video of the entire concert.
At $12, the commercially available video by Eagle Vision is an absolute steal and will quickly become one of the most-watched concerts in your collection!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most popular questions and facts about Ritchie Blackmore and Rainbow.
How Many The Rainbow Lineups Are There?
There have been twelve Rainbow lineups over the years, probably more than any other rock band. Ritchie was the only guitar player in each of them (table created from Wikipedia).
| Lineup | Releases | Time Period |
|---|---|---|
| Craig Gruber – Bass Micky Lee Soule – Keyboards Gary Driscoll – Drums Ronnie James Dio – Lead Vocals | Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow (1975) | Feb – July 1975 |
| Jimmy Bain – Bass, Vocals Tony Carey – Keyboards Cozy Powell – Drums Ronnie James Dio – Lead Vocals | Rising (1976) On Stage (1977) | Sept 1975 – Jan 1977 |
| Mark Clarke – Bass, vocals Tony Carey – Keyboards Cozy Powell – drums Ronnie James Dio – Lead Vocals | None | Feb – May 1977 |
| Bob Daisley – Bass David Stone – Keyboards Cozy Powell – Drums Ronnie James Dio – Lead Vocals | Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll (1978) Live in Munich 1977 (2006) | Aug 1977 – Feb 1979 |
| Roger Glover – Bass, Vocals Don Airey – Keyboards, Vocals Cozy Powell – Drums Graham Bonnet – Lead Vocals | Down to Earth (1979) Down to Earth Tour (2015) Down to Earth Tour 2015 (Box set) | Mar 1979 – Aug 1980 |
| Roger Glover – Bass, Vocals Don Airey – Keyboards, Vocals Bobby Rondinelli – Drums Joe Lynn Turner – Lead Vocals | Difficult to Cure (1981) Jealous Lover (1981) Boston 1981 (Live 2016) | Oct 1980 – Sept 1981 |
| Roger Glover – Bass, Vocals David Rosenthal – keyboards Bobby Rondinelli – Drums Joe Lynn Turner – Lead Vocals | Straight Between the Eyes (1982) | Oct 1981 – June 1983 |
| Roger Glover – Bass, Vocals David Rosenthal – Keyboards Chuck Burgi – Drums Joe Lynn Turner – Lead Vocals | Bent Out of Shape (1983) Live in Japan (2015) | Aug 1983 – Mar 1984 |
| Greg Smith – Bass, Vocals Paul Morris – Keyboards John O’Reilly – Drums Doogie White – Lead Vocals Candice Night – Backing Vocals | Stranger in Us All (1995) | Aug 1994 – Sept 1995 |
| Greg Smith – Bass, Vocals Paul Morris – Keyboards John O’Reilly – Drums Doogie White – Lead Vocals Candice Night – Backing Vocals | Black Masquerade (2013) | Sept 1995 – Dec 1996 |
| Greg Smith – Bass, Vocals Paul Morris – Keyboards John Miceli – Drums Doogie White – Lead Vocals Candice Night – Backing Vocals | None | Jan – May 1997 |
| Bob Nouveau – Bass, Vocals Jens Johansson – Keyboards David Keith – Drums Ronnie Romero – Lead Vocals Candice Night – Backing Vocals | Memories in Rock: Live in Germany (2016) Land of Hope and Glory (2017) I Surrender (2017) Live in Birmingham 2016 (2017) Memories in Rock II Live (2018) Black Sheep of the Family (2019) The Storm (2019) | Nov 2015 – Present |
How Do You Get The Ritchie Blackmore Sound?
Ritchie has used a variety of electric guitars, but the Blackmore “Rock/Heavy Metal” sound is predominantly linked to the 70’s Stratocasters with scalloped necks. Ritchie has played these guitars through various stack and combo amps, but mainly Marshal Super Lead and ENGL amps.
His acoustic sound comes from a variety of 6 and 12 string guitars.
Ritchie has also used a variety of effects over the years, including experimenting with analog echo early on by modifying reel-to-reel tape recorders. He also has used various guitar synthesizers.
The most essential ingredient of the Blackmore sound is Ritchie! He is a true virtuoso that developed his unique brand of playing, which many players have attempted to duplicate, but none sound like Ritchie.
How Did Ritchie Blackmore Learn Guitar?
Ritchie’s father bought him his first guitar at 11 years old and arranged for him to take classical guitars lessons for one year.
After his formal training, Ritchie learned by listening to records of influential guitar players and by experimenting with a wide variety of techniques.
Does Ritchie Blackmore Have A Signature Stratocaster?
Ritchie worked with Fender to develop his own Signature Series Stratocaster, which incorporates many of the things that are unique to his instruments.
The Fender Ritchie Blackmore guitar has a 7.25”-radius rosewood fingerboard with graduated scalloping and 21 vintage-style frets.
Seymour Duncan® Quarter Pound Flat™ SSL-4 single-coil pickups are installed in the bridge (reverse wound/reverse polarity) and neck position. There is a non-active (dummy) pickup in the middle position.
The Ritchie Blackmore Signature Series guitar is pictured above in the “Musical Equipment Used On The Black Masquerade DVD” section.
Why Does Ritchie Blackmore Scallop His Fretboard?
Ritchie scallops his fretboards to have more control over bending the strings and manual string vibrato. Scalloping the fretboard does not make it easier to play. If anything, a scalloped fretboard is more challenging to play with good note pitch and intonation.
What Pickups Does Ritchie Blackmore Use?
Ritchie predominantly uses stock Fender Stratocaster pickups in his guitars’ bridge and neck positions. He does not use the middle pickup on a Strat and screws the pickup height down flush to the level to the pickguard to get it out of the way of his pick.
He has also used Seymour Duncan Hot Rail pickups in his earlier guitars and Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound SSL-4 single-coil pickups in his Signature Strat. These pickups give him a higher output while retaining the “single-coil” sound.
What Is Ritchie Blackmore Currently Doing?
Ritchie is currently playing in Blackmore’s Knight, with his wife, Candice Knight as lead vocalist. If you enjoy renaissance music, then check out this band, which is exceptional! There are numerous recordings and videos available, and the band makes live concert appearances.
Rainbow Discography And Related Videos
Here are some of the commercial recordings and videos that Rainbow did over the years.
Studio Albums
| Title | Release Date |
|---|---|
| Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow | 1975 |
| Rising | 1976 |
| Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll | 1978 |
| Down to Earth | 1979 |
| Difficult to Cure | 1981 |
| Straight Between the Eyes | 1982 |
| Bent Out of Shape | 1983 |
| Stranger in Us All | 1995 |
Live Albums (Select Titles)
| Title | Release Date |
|---|---|
| On Stage | 1977 |
| Finyl Vinyl | 1986 |
| Live in Germany 1976 | 1990 |
| Live in Munich 1977 | 2006 |
| Black Masquerade – Rockpalast ’95 | 2013 |
| Live in Japan 1984 | 2015 |
| Monsters of Rock – Live at Donington 1980 | 2016 |
| Live in Birmingham 2016 | 2017 |
| Memories in Rock II | 2018 |
Videos
| Title | Release Date |
|---|---|
| Monsters Of Rock: Live At Donington | 1980 |
| Black Masquerade – Rockpalast ’95 | 2013 |
| Live in Munich 1977 | 2006 |
| Live In Germany At Monsters Of Rock | 2016 |
Final Thoughts On The Rainbow Black Masquerade DVD
This DVD is an excellent example of Ritchie Blackmore Music, being one of the best available videos of a Rainbow concert. If you have never seen Rainbow in concert, then this video will demonstrate this band’s raw power and musical versatility. It is a must-have for all Ritchie Blackmore fans!
The audio and video are professionally done, but both have some minor quality issues, which really don’t detract from the overall enjoyment of the concert to any significant extent.
Band member interviews and backstage footage would have been a welcome addition for Rainbow fans and will perhaps be available as bonus features in a future high definition release.
Do not hesitate to purchase this DVD, which is a steal for $12.
Tell Me What You Think
Please leave a comment below if you enjoyed this article, have any questions about this video, or want to give your own critique of the concert. I will be happy to help you.
- Have you seen this video before? What do you think of the setlist and audio/video quality?
- Which musician do you like best?
- Do you have a favorite Ritchie Blackmore video? Which one and why?
- Would you buy this Ritchie Blackmore Rainbow video after reading this review?
This is a great subject for those who play or our a fan of the music you talk about. My sister plays guitar and love to be able to read this. While reading the song since you been gone really caught my eye. It’s a great song. Since you wrote about guitars it had me wonder do you play? If so how long and what’s your favorite song to play.
Hi, Kiersti
Thank You for your comments!
Yes, “Since You’ve Been Gone” is a great song, but it’s a Russ Ballard cover, not a Rainbow original. You should consider giving the guitar a try. 😊
I have been playing the guitar for over 40 years. My favorite Ritchie Blackmore song to play is the Deep Purple hit “Smoke On The Water” because it has such an iconic opening riff.
Happy Holidays!
Frank
A really in depth review which I loved browsing through, I particularly liked how you have thought what questions your readers may ask and have provided relevant answers within the article.
I can see that you have been playing guitar for over 40 years, what would you class as the most difficult song (from this concert) to play?
Hi, Danny
Thank You for your comments! I’m thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the article.
Ritchie Blackmore is an absolutely amazing guitar player. His technique is stunning and extremely difficult to copy accurately. If you have not seen this concert and play guitar or like its sound, be sure to watch it from start to finish!
Many of the songs listed in the “My Favorite Songs And Musical Moments” section feature very challenging guitar parts. “Temple Of The King” is one of the most difficult solos, in my opinion.
Please come back and visit my site often.
Have A Great New Year,
Frank