![[hand]](/hs-pics/portraits/hands/gillan3.jpg)
![[face]](/hs-pics/portraits/faces/airey2.jpg)
Ritchie Blackmore through the viewfinder of Ross Halfin
Another very expensive book is being prepared for publication by Rufus — this one is on Ritchie Blackmore with pictures by Ross Halfin.
This new book is an intimate portrait of Blackmore both on and off stage and captures the brilliance and madness of Rainbow during those years. Ross had unparalleled access for several years and the images in this book often show Ritchie as you’ve never seen him before. It finishes with shots of early Blackmore’s Night in action. With an introduction by Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen who first saw Blackmore on stage at the age of 14 (and features in a photograph on the legendary Made in Japan cover) and words by Ross and journalist Pete Makowski who knew and worked with Ritchie and Rainbow at the time.
As Ross remembers…”Around this time I met writer Peter Makowski who Geoff Barton (the features editor at Sounds) introduced us with the prophetic words “You two will be bad for each other”. Never has a truer word been spoken. Now the one thing I knew about Pete was he knew Blackmore – and I don’t mean “knew” him in a music industry sense – he really did know Ritchie and was a friend of his and as Pete said one day – “let’s go and do Blackmore”. I actually can’t remember where I finally met him but I was pleasantly surprised. Ritchie, who I expected to be off and aloof, was completely the opposite. Once I’d met him he was funny, liked a drink and was fantastic company. Pete and I for the period around this book – I suppose you could say were in his inner circle. We travelled with him, we hung out with him. As you can see from some of the pictures in this book, Ritchie once you knew him was very accessible and as a photographer I could shoot with
him more or less anything I wanted – he would never say no – or I would have to give him a funny, twisted reason to want to do it.”The book also includes contributions from Billy Corgan and Colin Hart.
At 304 pages, this deluxe hardback book measuring 245mm x 345mm is signed by Ross and comes in two very limited editions. The main edition, bound in white leather with a black sleeve, is just 350 numbered copies worldwide and sells for £199 plus delivery and a super limited, large format A3 edition at just 50 copies will sell for £599 worldwide. Both editions feature an animated 3D lenticular on the cover of Ritchie throwing his guitar into the air.
The book will go on pre-sale at 3pm UK time on Wednesday September 29th and will ship in mid-December.
Thanks to Mike Whiteley and Gary Poronovich for the heads up.
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
The CalJam (2012) and Jon Lord (2014 ) books were out of reach when I was earning a decent wage. In 2021, I’m retired and on a fixed income. So……not a hope in hell of cracking the cover of this one !
September 28th, 2021 at 21:48Sigh, do I really need another overpriced DP-related coffee table book? I guess I do. ; – )
If those notorious pics with Ritchie in garter belt and stockings aren’t in there, I’ll demand a refund!!!
September 29th, 2021 at 11:50Hi Uwe
It definitely does. Some of the pics will make you smile.
Best
Mark – Rufus
September 29th, 2021 at 18:00Ordered the standard version today $280 US in case anybody is interested. The deluxe version is $900 US I contacted them the only difference is it has a leather and metal case in a larger format
September 29th, 2021 at 20:41In that case, I’m relieved, Mark, and I will honor my order! Next to Cherie Currie,
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ienCA_pQxo8/XHbS1hlIbkI/AAAAAAADcqw/7AATaQM2ntUDBoxSOSEnzlXIw-yBcVAZgCLcBGAs/s640/cherie-currie-1970s-1.jpg
Ritchie always looked best in stockings. I hasn’t been the same for me ever since he moved on to those – more comfortable I guess – tights.
September 29th, 2021 at 21:13mike whiteley@1
September 29th, 2021 at 21:34Have you thought about equity release 😂
We all going to join you soon my friend its a matter of time.
Time means nothing but time is all we have 🤔
Happy retirement
Peace
Just retired too, this is out of my reach in terms of what I choose to spend my much more limited income on. Surely it would make sense to release a £25 paperback version for the masses?
September 30th, 2021 at 09:53Would love to get a copy of that book but with foreign exchange rate calculated in, international shipping costs for an item of that size & weight, and customs duties & miscellaneous taxes added onto the value of it all, we’re looking at an overall very sizeable sum of money (in the neighbourhood of $500 CAD or more).
As some have stated here, old time Purple fans may not have the resources they once did to purchase something with such a hefty price tag. I am hoping the publisher realizes there is a viable market / fan base who would willingly pony up their cash for a reduced price paperback edition of this photo book at a future juncture.
September 30th, 2021 at 18:32When you include the shipping it’s about $300.00 U.S. If this was autographed by Ritchie, I would buy it but it’s a little to much at this time.
September 30th, 2021 at 20:14@Mark, are you able to supply from an EU-based vendor to help Europeans avoid the additional costs of customs and tax on UK imports? Thanks.
October 5th, 2021 at 23:12Hi Rasmus
I’m just going through the IOSS registration now so I hope (I really hope) that EU orders will be pain free and will just be the cost you pay at checkout.
October 6th, 2021 at 13:44I am only 57 years old, so I am still like a teenager, really.
October 7th, 2021 at 00:15If Deep Purple can keep on going and not retire, I will do the same.
I have decades to go.
Keep on bringing in money, spend it on fun stuff, fill the house with it, enjoy life, then die.
See how easy it is?
I bought the book.
I will continue to listen to the music.
It keeps me young.
Onward!
Good for you BreisHeim i’m the same age as you and i feel like shi!. If Deep Purple keeps you young that’s awsome.
October 12th, 2021 at 12:26