![[hand]](/hs-pics/portraits/hands/morse9.jpg)
![[face]](/hs-pics/portraits/faces/airey.jpg)
Running a bulldozer and cutting hay
Steve Morse was featured on the latest (July 25, 2024) instalment of the Ernie Ball String Theory web series. Here it is — the story of Steve’s life as told by the man himself in 20 minutes.
Thanks to Guitar World for the heads-up.
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
Yo,
This is a cool video of Steve’s life story & his attachment to music, with a little-bit-of-help from Ernie Ball & friends once-in-a-while…
It would have made an excellent “bonus material” segment for the current DP DVD “AAA” with a little editing.
Keep on Rocking Steve !
Peace !
July 27th, 2024 at 06:49The aviator, what a guy ! Hope to drink a beer with him at Rosa’s Cantina .
All the best for mister nice guy !
July 27th, 2024 at 07:32He doesn’t talk at all about his time with Purple
July 27th, 2024 at 08:03Is it a gentleman’s agreement not to discuss anything or what.
29 years is at purple is amazing achievement.
Peace ✌️
But..can he play smoke on the water ???
July 27th, 2024 at 12:26@3
Adele, it still might be a touchy subject for Steve to take on – if he feels the things didn’t turn out as they should. So, when having 20 minutes, he focused on other things. The same was in his interview with Rick Beato. I sense, he’s still a bit confused with all this, but I understand him – he came through extremely rough Hiob-like life experience. You can’t expect a man after something of that caliber being jolly joker about things in life that didn’t go as one hoped for.
July 27th, 2024 at 13:03Yo,
@3 said…
qt.”He doesn’t talk at all about his time with Purple…Is it a gentleman’s agreement not to discuss anything or what”?…
I’d suggest what he had to say was edited out, but not for negative reasons at all. Though the video is full of his music history, he has moved on, & so have DP. It’s actually a complimentary commercial for Ernie Ball where it’s a win-win for the Company & Steve. And Steve may even get some financial reward from them apart from free strings.
The possible issue with Steve now from his own comments in other short videos, is that a lot of his friends / band-mates & contacts etc have passed-on into the after-life. And throw in the fact that he’s so good at playing, it would be hard for any lesser people to approach him for work here & there. He’d likely have to pick that ball up himself, which is what he’s doing by all accounts.
He’ll be fine I’m sure, & even the wrist-band has been removed. And gauging from what he was playing on the above video, he could do the one-man-band thing quite successfully I’d think.
Peace !
July 27th, 2024 at 13:22Nice Video! Only complaint: could have been three times longer.
@ Adel #3:
“Is it a gentleman’s agreement not to discuss anything or what.
29 years is at purple is amazing achievement.”
Seems a bit odd, right? At least his tenure with the Purps would be a good occasion to talk about the Y2D guitar (since it’s an Ernie Ball clip).
July 27th, 2024 at 15:27On the other hand, nothing wrong about learning a bit more about his life before Purple. 🙂
I didn’t know that Steve’s performance with a reassembled Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987 at the Omni in Atlanta was as pivotal and triggering a moment for him as Big Ian’s return to stage in 1975 guesting at Roger’s Butterfly Ball at RAH. I have the recording (of course), but I never thought it more than a chance guest appearance.
You can hear him here at 03:05 with a scorching solo that admittedly has very little to do with Southern Rock lead guitar, but is impressive nonetheless for someone who just stepped on stage from a long day as an airline pilot. Also a testament to how Steve could play before his wrists started acting up from the strain of decades.
https://youtu.be/MATOh5vgwaU
July 27th, 2024 at 21:43Great. It’s still amazing to re-hear the story how he came back into music by playing with Skynyrd. Such a killer solo!
July 27th, 2024 at 22:22Steve Morse was still in Kansas at that point I would have thought. However he was probably becoming disillusioned by that time, as we can see in this interview. The old ‘band dynamics’ thing. Below is a link to a pre Deep Purple interview with Morse in regards to that 1980’s period. Cheers.
https://www.innerviews.org/inner/morse-2
July 27th, 2024 at 23:30According to the concertarchives.org site, Kansas performed approximately 41 concerts in the first half 0f 1987, only five in 1988, three at the beginning of the year & two at the end of it. Then another 30 in early 1989. So the late 1987 Lynyrd Skynyrd appearance would have been when Steve Morse was flying we could surmise. Damn all these statistics & research, I am starting to wish Uwe had never nailed me for that Tucky Buzzard comment. All this research is starting to takes it’s toll. Cheers.
July 28th, 2024 at 04:20Only time will tell if Steve Morse will ever open up about his time in Purple.
July 28th, 2024 at 07:54And considering How Glenn, David and JLT did milk it to the max to maximise publicity and profit it for playing DP songs in their concerts.
Steve Morse has not done that and was in the band for 29 years which more than the combined time of the three together.
Hence why I go back to my assumption that it might me a gentleman’s agreement with the guys from Purple
Adel, you might be right, the more I look at the things unfolding.
I watched the material yesterday in peace and it was so good to see him smile and tell his life. Loved it. He’sa joy to listen too, his aura is always so soothing.
And he played “Name Dropping” in the background, which I love, great rocking scorcher of his. The album “Out Standing in Their Field” is very good, lots of inspired tunes churned out there (“Flight of the Osprey”, “Baroque ‘n’ Dreams”) – right in the period, when Purple were clearly pissing on the aspect of coming up with RotD successor.
July 28th, 2024 at 10:55That was a really nice interview!! He gave more time to Skynyrd which tells me something didn’t end quite right with Purple. He wasn’t Ezrin’s favorite, I don’t think, or maybe we will never know? I wish him nothing but the best, Purple made some wonderful music with him which we’ll have forever. I hope to see him live again someday!
July 28th, 2024 at 12:14Herr MacGregor, I marvel at your betterment (under my benevolent supervision, but still …)! Keep going like that and I’ll personally see to it that you receive a nice plot of land to farm once you have done your time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aYZB5pHdm4
Kansas were struggling in the mid-80ies. When Steve joined them, they were playing US Armed Forces military bases in the US, Japan, Okinawa, the Philippines, Singapore, Iceland, and most of Europe – paid by the government. It wasn’t badly remunerated, but a far cry from the status they had once enjoyed.
Before DP, Steve never did anything musically that really earned him money in a consistent way. I’m sure he had offers from bands (his Dregs band buddy Rod Morgenstein didn’t do too bad with these guys here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn7rSQCHoKc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PnDcjtYGzI )
and he could have of course also moved to California and become a session crack, but for some reason he wanted none of these things. Outside of Purple, he’s back to a cottage industry music life (with occasional excursions away from it when Flying Colors do something), but it is his own choice and he’s apparently happy with it.
I mean his legendary reaction to DP showing interest in him (“Do I have to wear leather?) kinda says it all. Most other gutarists in his position would have said “Where is the shop where I can get the necessary leather outfits?” 😁
July 28th, 2024 at 14:50#12
July 28th, 2024 at 17:42David, Glenn and certainly JLT are just a small chapter in the Purple history. Steve was there for 28 years. Only the way how DP introduced Simon, exactly what they needed, I think was somewhat disrespectful to Steve. But that wasn’t the first time they weren’t diplomatic or respectful to (past) members.
Yo,
@12, There’s nothing really to say, as everything is well documented, & there’s plenty of videos over the years that reveal genuine smiles from all concerned. I think what you also need to consider however, is the possibility of Steve thinking (& making his decision on the basis), “Oh-well, the band has to be over now, Ian Gillan’s wife is very ill too, I’m going to stay home & spend as much time with her as possible”.
Perhaps Steve jumped-the-gun to his own detriment, but who was to know when these ladies were to move on ?…He did the right thing for himself, the band, & his wife…In fact he led-the-way to calling-it-a-day.
And also, we must remember at that time the bollox that remains COrona VIrus Disease 2019, with the uncertainty of further lock-downs. I’m sure he didn’t want to be stuck in India for 6-8 weeks (as a hypothetical example) whilst on tour, whilst his wife needed him around at home.
At the end-of-the-day, it’s their business, & the right decisions were made under those circumstances. Both the band & Steve are doing fine ! There’s no hard feelings or disappointments as far as most people can tell. The pendulum could have just as easily swung the other way, & we have no band, only Steve’s output & news to learn about.
Peace !
July 28th, 2024 at 23:59@ 15 – thanks Uwe, Devil’s Island indeed. I can ‘escape’ to the mainland if needed, but all is good on the Apple Isle at present. Regarding Kansas & yes Steve Walsh & his Peruvian addiction was embarrassing indeed & that alone would have made it impossible for many musicians to put up with. Kansas did plummet in popularity in the 1980’s, as did other 1970’s acts. That happened in the early 80’s with Walsh leaving & then Livgren (their main songwriter) who was already getting out & into his choice of ‘enlightenment’ & religion. Kansas did sort of ok initially re the ‘AOR’ thing, but it wasn’t to their liking one would think. They never looked comfortable with that as some other acts didn’t either. I would imagine Morse’s ‘revelation’ for want of a better description when he jammed with Skynyrd, would have been the back to the roots of it all scenario. A reminder of playing music for enjoyment & doing your own thing etc. At least with going ‘commercial’ for a period, that validated him not liking to being forced into a genre or style that goes against his grain. Probably easier for Morgenstein to go with Winger & he did ok there. They had the leather outfits didn’t they, or most probably not Rod perhaps. Cheers.
July 29th, 2024 at 01:15I’ve seen DP live with Ritchie & Tommy yet the best DP gig I saw was in Melbourne 1999…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id6OyLCjBeA
Steve blew me away then and still does…
July 29th, 2024 at 05:00Well that is nice to hear from someone who saw so many “historic” DP line-ups, Robert! I agree that Steve’s live playing with DP peaked in the 90s and early Noughties. He was breathtaking then.
July 29th, 2024 at 15:05Poppy Kansas always sounded forced to me. You either are Journey, REO, Styx, Loverboy, Foreigner etc or you aren’t. Good AOR is an art in itself too.
Starcastle (a band Herr MacGregor is probably aware of, ole YES-nut he is …)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb0dLrSvd94&list=PLH4xxtEMLOpCxO7nkuoKV71w8peQM8pfr
attempted the same thing in their later career
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncSzaanlb-o&list=PLqOgvUqJzUlwYIACke7QqxWH-9kOHLPra&index=2
and though they could always write a catchy tune or two, it didn’t work either.
July 29th, 2024 at 15:30Yes the bands that usually try to sound like or are heavily influenced by other bands have never appealed to me. That is also why I loath ‘tribute’ bands. The 1980’s Kansas is interesting in one aspect because it has Steve Morse writing & performing with a rock band. It was his first attempt at that & it worked well for their ‘original’ material. But the live playing of the 1970’s Kansas songs I cannot listen to with Morse. No violin in the band & his technique etc isn’t what suited that band at all for their progressive classics. Styx & Starcastle I didn’t go for. Very good musicians but I couldn’t get into it, I tried. The guy who introduced me to Kansas also had those bands albums. Kansas from the 70’s era stood out miles higher to me than any other USA band & still do. Journey were rather good back then & as we know were progressive early on, however it sort of didn’t work for them to my ears. That cross over to AOR suited them much better. Cheers.
July 29th, 2024 at 22:15RIP Mick Underwood!!
July 30th, 2024 at 01:32Saw Kansas Point if Know Return tou.
All was great until the end – music was still playing and the band were all dancing on Stage!
Never have figured that one out!
Uwe – thought I was the only person to have a Starcastle album !
July 30th, 2024 at 15:41Haven’t listened in years but do remember it being very Yes like.
Infant-Porphyrophile @24: I take an avid interest in US bands and artists that never quite made it: Starcastle, Starz (criminally underrated), Angel, Legs Diamond, Big Star, The Hollywood Stars (Kim Fowley’s creation), Jobriath … Starcastle’s Fountains Of Light is a really strong album if you can imagine YES having been raised in the Midwest with a stronger pop sentiment and more guitar raunch.
A1, yes, Mick Underwood. I really liked his understated stage presence, sort of a hard rock Charlie Watts. He played extremely well and tight with John McCoy in GILLAN, a bit like Ian Paice sans the frills. Without Mick, this site wouldn’t be existing: It was his (selfless) recommendation as an Episode Six member to Ritchie to check out Ian Gillan …
I’m not going to post something from GILLAN to commemorate him, but rather from the wonderful and once Roger Glover-produced Strapps, the band he was in before:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFYl14fMAo4
I loved that (even more obscure than Starcastle) group with Ross Stagg’s (an Aussie, would you believe?) arrogant vocals, sort of a hard rock-Roxy Music/David Bowie/glammy affair. Just listen to how the pastoral organ intro merges at 00:55 into a hard rock explosion with Mick’s lithe drumming!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoFyC-8Mc4k
RIP(ercussive bliss), Mick!
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/licensed-image?q=tbn:ANd9GcRxXPrcjCY-NdbBBR41BmyvOaBLP0acc_7w43IzDe6YCqx2x-6xlKx1A5zd3da8QggnILuqAO4qCSN5qJY
July 30th, 2024 at 17:19Steve not really mentioning much more than being in DP for almost three decades is one thing. But what really disgusts me a lot is how much he’s getting bashed on the internet at the moment (not here but on Youtube for instance). It’s as if a lot of people had just waited such a long time for him to finally leave the band. For someone who’s always felt like the “new guy” (something we can all agree was completely unnecessary) that’s quite heartbreaking. He’s of course just as unique a guitarist as Ritchie and brought a lot of great energy to the band. The only thing that worried me during the last years was the he was obviously in pain when he played and needed some rest. That missing whrist protection is something I haven’t seen in many years and that says a lot.
July 30th, 2024 at 20:03There is no reason to knock Steve for anything. He was a role model citizen at all times, broadened DP’s musical horizons, made the whole band function again, was an excellent instrumentalist, put his stamp on the music for decades, yet let everyone breathe, and then did what loving husbands do for their ailing wives. Discharge with full honors.
The wrist pain was an athlete’s curse brought about by his own merciless practice regimen and a hand positioning that, while giving him great control, never looked ergonomic to me. If you watched him live in the 90s and Noughties, his whole left arm was always stiff with extreme tension, muscles bulging and his wrist unnaturally angled, his pinkie welded to the volume control. He also hit the strings extremely hard, whenever he played one of his electric guitars unplugged he was really loud, I always marvelled about the intensity of his attack, he really tore the notes from the fretboard. (Ritchie’s pick and finger attack is one of a fencing ballet dancer in comparison.)
Purple’s long tours can’t have helped with Steve’s ailment, but they weren’t the cause.
July 30th, 2024 at 21:26Re Mick Underwood, I hadn’t been aware of his illness (from Wikipedia):
QUOTE
In August 2023, his wife Sue posted the following message on Mick’s Facebook:
For those that don’t know already, Mick is no longer using Facebook. Very sadly, he has been battling a mixed Dementia diagnosis for some time. He is unable to do many of the things he had previously enjoyed, one of which was chatting with you all and I know he certainly appreciated your support over the years.
On behalf of the family, we also appreciate the enthusiasm you have shown for Mick and his music, it is lovely to know how appreciated his talent is. Thank you.
All the best, Sue”
UNQUOTE
Dementia is a bitch. Unchain your brain wherever you are now, Mick.
July 30th, 2024 at 22:03CORRECTION @27 para 2, sentence 2: “Left arm” only from my audience point of view, Steve’s afflicted strumming arm is of course HIS right arm!
July 31st, 2024 at 13:13@ 29 – yes I was wondering about that. Left right & right left. A spill over from the comments recently regarding the drumming &being ambidextrous perhaps. I refrained from an instant rebuttal, I can show a little compassion at times Uwe. Cheers.
July 31st, 2024 at 22:23You always take good care of me, Brother MacGregor, I appreciate that.
August 1st, 2024 at 14:02O.K., I have more to life and long winded postings here with plenty of time retired.
It is overload on each and every subject and tumeni (!:>) posts with countless YouTube’s included.
Cut To The Chase, a Maestro Steve composition…. :>
So flipping tired of banjo player comparisons!!
SM sounds like SM, RB sounds like RB, TB sounds like TB, JS sounds like JS, SM (Simon!) sounds like S(Simon)M and so on and so forth….
Meanwhile, =1 is stupendous!!
Finally, All of the thanks on the sleeve, IMHO, should have included at the very least Steve, if not the other Purple banjo contributors.
Just my insignificant thought/opinion.
Peace!
August 1st, 2024 at 23:46Ted
SiM sounds not only like himself, but also like GM, Teddy!
https://youtu.be/k3AuNcBUjZg
Longwinded Regards 💕
Uwe
August 3rd, 2024 at 13:48@32 – My sentiments also about the banjo players!
August 4th, 2024 at 00:15Not this is worth much but Thanks Steve !!
For all who miss him: Simon’s predecessor still wears airbrush design muscle shirts + is articulate on guitar. Bassist is no slouch either.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWQnhm3v9X4
August 4th, 2024 at 02:49Ah, vintage Stevie! With mandolin and double-bass virtuosos. I did like the sound he had with that Frankenstein Telecaster, but I believe he had to give up on it after he had exhausted all room for further pick-ups! 🤣
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLYzPqdDVpk
August 4th, 2024 at 03:02@ 36 – that was superb, love that Tele, the good old days of the Dixie Dregs. Three wonderful musicians here plying their trade. No hiding behind anything there, nice & raw & live & inspiring. Thanks for that, brilliant. Cheers.
August 4th, 2024 at 11:30