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The Progressive Metal band that Ritchie Blackmore likes
Ritchie Blackmore grew up influenced by 1950s Rock and Roll, Blues, and Skiffle music in the United Kingdom. In the ’60s, he had the chance to achieve fame as a member of Deep Purple and later changed the course of Hard Rock with the classic albums released by the band, as well as with his own group, Rainbow.
Although musicians tend to be attached to the kind of music they grew up listening to and enjoy, Blackmore always paid attention to new bands. He even praised an American Progressive Metal band several times.
The Progressive Metal band that Ritchie Blackmore likes
The Progressive Metal band that the legendary guitarist likes is King's X, formed in Springfield, Missouri back in 1979, first being called The Edge and Sneak Preview. "I first heard them a few years ago and I was blown away with the complicated arrangement. But they didn't take away from the melody."
"The singer is a fantastic singer too. I think it was in Purple, when we were looking for a singer. We actually called him up and said: 'Would you like to join (the band)?' He said: 'No, thanks. I have my own thing going'. So we actually offered him the job. I don't think I would like to follow them (King's X) on stage. They are one hell of a band," Ritchie Blackmore told VH1 in 2000 (Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage).
The band's line-up continues the same since the early 80s with Jerry Gaskill on drums, Doug Pinnick on bass/vocals and Ty Tabor on guitar. Blackmore had already praised them in 1997, in an interview with Metal Edge, saying they were too good for what was happening in music at that time. "King’s X is very good. Probably too good for today’s market. I often see great bands who go nowhere and very bad bands who are all over TV."
Curiously, Doug Pinnick was not the only one invited by Deep Purple to join them after Ian Gillan left in 1989. They had also talked with the late Survivor vocalist Jimi Jamison, who also declined. They ended up hiring Joe Lynn Turner, who had previously worked with Blackmore in Rainbow.
What Doug Pinnick said about declining Deep Purple's offer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2SYPzKzD94&pp=ygUIa2luZydzIHg%3D
The band had already released an album as Sneak Preview in 1983 but it was in 1988 that King's X debut album came out. "Out of the Silent Planet" showed the music scene who they were and it was on the band's third record "Faith Hope Love" that they achieved a bigger commercial success. That record was released in 1990, when Pinnick could have been out of the band if he had accepted Purple's offer.
He recalled in an interview with Bass Magazine in 2020 why he said no to the British band. "Yeah (Deep Purple invited me). It was after the Gretchen album (1989). He (Blackmore) heard that record and called me up and says, 'Hey, this is Ritchie Blackmore, Deep Purple. We’re looking for a lead singer and wondering if you’d like to give it a shot?' And I go: 'Oh, man, our second record is just coming out. I can’t leave my band.' I said, 'I’m sorry, I might have to turn you down.' He says, 'Okay, mate.'
Asked if he regretted that choice, he said:
"Not at all. It’s just a part of the story, bro. I was asked to join Kansas, too, after Steve Walsh quit. And, I said, 'No, I could never fill his shoes.' The thing was, I wouldn’t have joined either. Because I don’t want that pressure. I’ve always been my own person. I can’t go into a situation and try to morph myself into someone else and take the heat. If you want to be in a band, let me write my lyrics and let me sing my melodies. Other than that, I don’t want to be a part of it. Get somebody else to do it. They’ll do a better job.
Another famous guitar player who was a big fan of King's X music was the late Mountain guitarist Leslie West. A musician who Blackmore also liked and praised over the decades.
As King's X the American power trio has released 13 studio albums. The most recent one is "Three Sides of One" (2022). Some of the most famous songs of their career are "Dogman", "It's Love" and "Black the Sky".
They are considered a musicians’ musicians band and one of the most important for the early evolution of Progressive Metal music. Although they have been together for decades, the members of the group also released many solo albums and worked with other artists.The post The Progressive Metal band that Ritchie Blackmore likes appeared first on Rock and Roll Garage.
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