![[hand]](/hs-pics/portraits/hands/gillan7.jpg)
![[face]](/hs-pics/portraits/faces/paice.jpg)
Clenching and unclenching
Louder Sound presents a lengthy and very well put together feature on the current Deep Purple lineup, arrival of Simon McBride, the new album, and tour. With input from Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, and Simon McBride. The article also sheds some new light on the circumstances of Steve Morse’s departure from the band.
Except Morse himself is no longer a member of Deep Purple. The reason is complicated and emotive, and while his former bandmates are respectful and sensitive about the circumstances, they’re honest too. According to Glover, Morse had never been happy with Purple’s touring schedule.
“Steve really wanted to end the band around the Infinity album: ‘We’re back on top, we’re doing something great, let’s end now with a bang,’” says the bassist. “That didn’t go down too well with me or anybody else, really. First of all, I don’t want to stop. Second of all, going out with a bang is not the way this band does things. [Adopts hokey showman’s voice] ‘The last, final gig of Deep Purple – where’s it gonna be?’”
On July 31, 2022, it was announced that Steve Morse was leaving Deep Purple to concentrate on caring for his wife, who was suffering from stage four cancer. Today, Glover admits that it was the band’s decision to part ways with him.
“It was really tough,” he says. “We talked about it, we discussed it back and forth: ‘What are we going to do?’ We couldn’t take no action, something had to happen. He got [the news that he was being let go] from the management, but I called him and we talked. He was not happy, either. It was hard and it was sad, and after twenty-eight years of making some great music with Steve, it was… for me it was a tough decision. But that’s life sometimes.”
Glover says he’s talked to Morse since he left the band. “I’ve spoken to Steve several times. He was my choice in the band in the first place. There’s a connection between us that the others don’t have. So yeah, it’s difficult. But we talk, and we laugh. He’s a survivor.”
Has [McBride] spoken to Morse about it?
“Only over email. He was lovely at the start – whatever I needed, gear-wise, he said to use his. I spoke to him recently over email when his wife passed away [Janine Morse died in February 2024]. I get on fine with Steve. There’s no sour grapes there. It just is what it is.”
Has he had any grief from the more dug-in factions of Purple’s fan base?
“Steve got grief, Satriani got grief, Tommy Bolin got grief,” he says. “But strangely, when I joined it was more positive than anything. I could see people slagging me off, but the management were going: ‘It’s very minimal – it’s ninety-nine per cent positive.’ You’re always going to get the hard-core Ritchie fans who stopped listening to Deep Purple after he left. But Ritchie hasn’t been in the band for thirty-odd years. Times move on.”
Go read the whole thing. Seriously. There’s a lot more to dig in.
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
I always thought it was the band that wanted to move on from Steve and Roger confirms this. It must have been brutal after 28 years to get a call from management telling you you’re done. Their only playing one Steve Morse song on this tour and at the very least they should be playing a couple. At this point it’s almost as if Steve didn’t exist. Don’t get me wrong I’m glad there still doing it and lucky enough to get to 2 shows on this tour but man that is sad. See them again on Monday, the last show in the USA.
September 6th, 2024 at 23:15Jon Lord said one of the reasons he left Deep Purple was because “the singer never wants to go home.” DP tours far less now than before, but for decades it seemed they were on the road for eight or nine months of the year. Yet, Gillan was among those who said in 1973 that one of the prime reasons he was leaving the band was because of the constant touring. There’s nothing wrong with having the traveling bone. That’s just the nature of his personality – and the rest of the band’s, quite frankly. Obviously, the whole situation was tricky: you have a great, super-friendly guitarist in Steve Morse whose wife is dying. You want to be respectful, but time is ticking away when you’re in your late 70s, at least for cranking out live music for 90 minutes night after night. The pandemic was taking place. Are you going to take, perhaps, a two- or three year hiatus when you may only have six or seven years left in the tank? Sometimes, situations just evolve the way they do and nobody’s in the wrong. Everyone still has the good memories and music on the platter, “Just a Touch Away.”
September 7th, 2024 at 01:20Sorry, meant to say the last show in the US on Sunday not Monday.
September 7th, 2024 at 01:33This obviously answers a lot of questions! Steve’s made his mark (no pun intended) with Purple but I totally get the bands decision. He was in a very difficult place in his life and the band had to make an extremely tough call. Thank you Steve Morse for your 28 years of Purple and good luck, please be happy! I’m also glad DP didn’t call it quits they seem reborn and were awesome when we saw them 2 weeks ago!! Thank you RG for the truth!
September 7th, 2024 at 10:33I agree with the other George M. I felt there was more to this decision, and now we know there was.
Happy that the band made a new LP, but as much as I want to like it, I now listen to just a handful of tracks: The much maligned Show Me, the three video singles, and I’ll Catch You, which belongs in the pantheon of great Purple songs. As Obama once said of Hillary, the album is “likable enough.” But I prefer all of the Morse albums over =1. No knock on Simon. He fits in well.
I think Steve, like Jon before him, would have preferred that they’d spend more time making albums and tour far less frequently, and I would have preferred that they’d taken that path.
September 7th, 2024 at 13:02Been this blog follower since 00’s but haven’t actively engaged in discussion by early 2010’s, I feel I should share my take on this.
Cheers to Purple fans here, I am a late Purple fan from the late 90’s. Make no mistake, I was first attached to Mark 2 music first. My first love was 30: Very Best of Deep Purple, spinning it very often, irritated my dormitory mates (until I purchased headset). So that was my introduction to Steve Morse era, through 2 last songs.
But I embraced Mark 2, 3, (and 4!!) so much for years until mid 2000’s where I got the Abandon Australia and RAH DVD, and then later Abandon + Bananas albums. Steve’s guitar playing blew me away, the riff-medley was one of my favorite plus later Well-Dressed Guitar. And he made many Mark 2 songs his own (this is really his strength) . Then I became more of Mark 7 and 8 fan as years went by, purchased all their studio albums. Still remember 2 years ago I quickly grabbed Turning to Crime CD from the shop’s shelf.
Now regarding this case, I must admit I am really disappointed. I am always big big fan of ‘family’ bands, where the members respected and even close friends’ to each other. I always see my favorite band as a life’s reflection to me.
Def Leppard are perfect example. The drummer’s accident story is legendary, but the they waited around 2 years for Steve Clark to recover from his alcoholic problems. And that was after the huge success of Hysteria, which logically should be quickly followed as the momentum was high. Who else would do that?
So, why couldn’t they wait around 6 months for Steve to clear his mind to decide? This is about his wife who was very sick (or dying, to be frank). Not about drug/alcohol or conflict issue.
Or even if their machine were too hot to break, why can’t one or two of them go visit Steve and tell their decision right-to-the-face? Which is also a friendly-act, visiting your friend’s sick wife.
I was little surprised they were not really great friends, but even if it’s not (most bands I realized are like that), then why not talk like growing men to a working partner more than 20 years?
It’s Rod and Nick story again, ‘getting helps’ from management to tell your bandmates they got fired! Guess my favorite band here are not a ‘family-band’ like I expect it to be.
Damn, even the bad-guy band, Jagger and Richards paid visit to Brian Jones home to tell him the truth. As hurt as Brian was, he heard it right in the 1st place from his bandmates
This affected me so much that I stopped listening to Deep Purple almost completely from 2022-2023 (didn’t notice Mark IX ever played Time for Bedlam or Throw my Bones). When they visited my country I didn’t even bother to come.
Would I be a big Purple fan again like from 2000 – 2021? I did not know, but I guess I won’t stop listening to them even just sometimes. Of course including their new album also, although I admit my reaction to it is relegated from just a music-fan perspective, not from a big fan anymore. I think Simon’s playing is great from what I’ve heard, not a virtuoso like Ritchie or Steve, but he will put his mark.
I respect Roger’s big heart, try to connect with Steve. He’ll always be one of my favorite human being along with beloved Jon.
Well that’s my take, can’t afford not to mix it with my Purple history. Sorry if it is too long but I can’t hide myself. Cheers
September 7th, 2024 at 14:06Sometimes you have to look around and feel the present
Sometimes you have to look back and appreciate how you got here
Sometimes you have to see the humanity of it all and sacrifice self interests
Sometimes you have to say thank you we are here for you in such troubling times
Sometimes I feel like screaming
September 7th, 2024 at 14:39Close my eyes
It’s times like this
My head goes down
@6 Who said they weren’t friends? They are still friends; they wouldn’t have kept Steve in the band for nearly three decades if they didn’t get along great with him. But it came down to a business decision: Purple wanted to keep going, not take an indefinite leave of absence while pushing the age of 80. As for the guy who said “Why couldn’t they wait six months for Steve to clear his head?”, that is silly. First of all, the health situation with Steve’s wife went on for a few years, not six months. And it wasn’t about Steve “clearing his head”: he wasn’t going to tour with the band until his wife passed away, and no one knew when that would be. That’s the bottom line. It wasn’t the uncertainty over how long Steve would be on leave. DP had no definite answer on that; what if Steve’s wife lived for several more years? Shannen Doherty lived with breast cancer for 14 years.
September 7th, 2024 at 15:53@5 I think the events took the course they did because Big Ian is effectively running the band these days. I have a sense that he regrets all the opportunities he had missed earlier in his career and all the money he had not earned. Now he tries to compensate for that with touring, because it brings the money and recording doesn’t. Plus, like it’s been said multiple times, he loves being on the road and messing around with colorful characters.
If that’s not been the case, and the touring hadn’t been so exhausting, we might have seen a different picture. The British part of the band would be happy doing gardening, recording another album once in a while, and playing an odd show at the Rainbow or Marquee. And Steve, being American would be doing multiple projects and working till he dropped dead.
September 7th, 2024 at 16:36let’s be honest. outside the fan base and the sensational fans of the most banal music magazines… there are people who think that the singer should return home at a certain time. and they’re not necessarily all die-hard Blackmore fans.
September 7th, 2024 at 16:52be clear. I love the great Ian.
This band always head 2 big problem.
this group has always had two problems. album covers and personal relationships.
they clearly can’t resolve either.
For me Purple stopped in 2022.
Well, I guess they couldn’t invite SMcB in and then let him go when SM was ready to go with them again, they seem to be very decent people ☺️
September 7th, 2024 at 18:31I loved SM way of playing but SMcB is certainly very very good too 🥳
So the band fired Steve when he needed to care care of his gravely ill wife.
Their decision to make, obviously.
But now they rub salt in the wound by blabbing to the world that oh no, he didn’t quit, we fired him? Not too classy.
Blackmore seems to have been the most reprehensible ever member of the group, with his dangerous pranks that could have left someone dead.
But as Andre @6 says, Purple have never been a “family” band. It seems to have usually prioritised: business first, music second, friendship last.
Can’t argue with their success. Still, one wonders if they would have achieved Zeppelin-level status had they demonstrated similar loyalty to one another.
September 7th, 2024 at 18:34@9 Didn’t know the Rainbow or the Marquee were still going concerns… 😉
September 7th, 2024 at 18:41@6 Andre
Well said. That concept of growing up with Purple as a family band and being part your individual fabric is so true. For me it started at the age of 15 (1972) hearing the power of Highway Star coming through my stereo speakers.
You would think a bunch of almost 80 year olds would have some sort of life perspective or emotional empathy under these circumstances regarding a fellow band member’s pain and difficulties – a member who breathed new life into the band. Ironically, this same band member also gave them the opportunity to turn around and have him fired by management. This concept of =1 should really be =4 (5-1)
I can hear Marlon Brando: “ Steve it’s business nothing personal”. At least the Godfather had the courtesy to say it to his face before he shot him.
Beyond disappointing. Incredibly callous and disrespectful. Mind blowing at this stage of their lives and musical career.
Shame on them.
As someone said reminiscent of Rod Evans and Nicky Simper but at least you can attest that to youthful immaturity.
Glover / Paice/ Gillan/ Airey said we had no choice. There are always choices and you live with the consequences of your choices. Morse is EXTREMELY well respected as a musician and probably more so as a person in the music business. Firing a person like Steve Morse second hand through management at a time of personal tragedy for Morse is almost unforgivable.
How Morse got treated by the other members of DP will not go unnoticed and that will include the likes of Ritchie Blackmore. Satriani must be saying – ‘Thank God’. One thing Morse brought back to Deep Purple was gravitas and respectability along with his musical connections expanding Purple’s inclusion into the world of other fellow musicians. I’m afraid that has taken a big hit.
To paraphrase Glover ‘They said they wanted to move on , this is not the end. We don’t know how it’s going to end but it’s not going to end this way’.
It’s interesting that Steve Morse encouraged the band to go out on a high note after Infinite. According to Glover that didn’t go down well – ‘that’s not how we do things’ despite teasing fans with the deceitful marketing of the Long Goodbye tour and playing Purple’s 1st ever recorded song ‘And the Address’ as the last song on Whoosh at the behest of Bob Ezrin ( very Lennon-like / Beatleish – “Paul is dead” – don’t you think🙄). I didn’t realize there was a blueprint on this, but it certainly was clear that ‘We’ didn’t include Morse or his perspective. Interestingly, in a post Infinite group interview, Gillan said this band would continue until one of “us” calls it a day. I guess having a band member’s wife suffering from stage 4 cancer and eventual death wasn’t enough for them to call it a day. But then I realized Morse was the only one missing from that interview.
For them it’s not the end. Good for them. They can go on and produce another Highway Star (they won’t) and I won’t blink an eye (some things are more important to me at this stage of my life) and it can be written on their tombstones that they persevered through tough and troubling times but they kept touring and continued to produce great music.
Up until now it’s been interesting and fun. After all these years some things transcend just another album or another tour. Purple has been more than just a machine or a song for me – it’s been a cultural relationship. Too bad it’s over. At least we have a catalogue of great music
September 7th, 2024 at 19:21Deep Purple are left in 3, Gillan, Paice & Glover, when one of them is gone the band will end.
They themselves will never admit it, but in their heads their only true guitarist remains Ritchie Blackmore.
I think that even without Don the band would still go on.
Deep Purple are a live band, their dimension is the stage, it was no longer Steve’s dimension (for understandable reasons), and for me it was right that they went on without him.
they made the best choice, then I just hope it wasn’t a cold and ugly dismissal by management, and that it was an amicable separation anyway.
This is the first interview where something leaks out, I hope it was not reported accurately.
However, we will never fully know the dynamics within the MK VIII in the last few years
September 7th, 2024 at 22:44I have been a Deep Purple fan since 1969 when I got my hands on their 3rd self titled album. Still in my books one of my favourites and a hidden gem of a great album.
September 7th, 2024 at 23:17I have often wished with age all the still living members could occasionally do the odd guest appearance with each other.
Almost like a a roundabout.
Imagine if Blackmore would join DP on stage occasionally … or Coverdale showed up at a Blackmore’s Night concert …Ian Paice stops by to join Glenn Hughes etc etc …Glover joins Satch
I know just wishful thinking but this drawn out animosity is really needless as we all get closer to that final curtain ..
Morsecode, I agree with you 100%!! Yes, how Morse got treated by the band will not go unnoticed!! They are my favorite band of all time, but I am hugely disappointed by their treatment of Morse. I am not surprised though. Look at how they treated Evans and Simper in 1969, Glover in 1973 and Turner in 1992. Blackmore is my favorite guitarist of all time but, with Steve, who was BIG in the area I live in with the Dregs, they produced albums that, in my opinion, are up there with anything they made with Blackmore IMHO (if anyone doesn’t like my opinion, too bad!!) Glover’s statement that there’s a connection between him and Steve that the other’s don’t have says a lot!! Of course, the way they treated Coverdale and Hughes at the RNR HOF says a lot so Steve shouldn’t be surprised!! Yes, I’m bringing this up again!! They could have opened with Coverdale/Hughes opening with Burn, Glover and Gillan doing Hush, then all of them doing Smoke (with Steve doing a little bit of Getting Tighter before going into Smoke. Oh, well, they got a new guitar player and made the album they wanted to make, =1, which IMHO, sucks!! Will I buy any new album they make. Yes. Why? Because Simon is an excellent Guitar Player and I don’t want to take my bad feelings about the band out of him. He, just like Morse, seems to be a nice guy.
September 8th, 2024 at 00:01I wrote about this interview here a couple of weeks ago, it had been published in Classic Rock, even quoted Roger Glover verbatim, there was absolutely no reaction to it then, now everybody is distraught, go figure.
What happened to Steve is what would have happened to him at any job if he had said “I can’t do the work anymore, I need to care for my wife.” DP’s work is touring, that is where the money is, they only record for fun, to reassure themselves of their continuing relevance and to promote another tour. What Steve did was noble, what DP did without alternative if they want to tour until one of them drops dead.
Admittedly, he deserved to hear it from a band member, but Purple as an organization have never had a good dismissal culture. I’m not aware that anybody, not Rod nor Nicky, not Roger, not Tommy and Glenn, not Big Ian after Nobody’s Perfect, not JLT and now not Steve, ever got his papers other than via the management. Big Ian in 1973, Ritchie twice and Jon after the Millennium initiated their own departures, Jon, Little Ian and DC dissolved the band in 1976 without telling either Glenn or Tommy. Both heard it from the management months later.
September 8th, 2024 at 00:414/5=1
Life comes down to what you want to do and how you go about making that decision and put that decision into action.
Two men can decide that an individual needs to be executed, however, one wants to do it as painlessly as possible while the other wants the person to be drawn and quartered. Two very distinct ways to proceed and a window into the soul of each.
Gillan et al. had an integral member of their band of the last 28 years running into a personal struggle/ tragedy that was interfering with their typical way of business, of touring etc.
There were 4 choices:
1. Put the band on hiatus and support the band member for an allotted period of time
2. Try to create a tour that would suit and meet the needs of all members
3. Call an end to Deep Purple
4. Find a new guitarist and march on.
This entails deciding what to do and how to go about doing the what.
All these choices are not easy and painful in different ways. What is most important is how to go about making these decisions as painful and difficult as they are.
At the very least it should entail basic communication and discussion amongst all 5 band members. In this time of FaceTime there is no excuse to not have that discussion.
Roger Glover stated that WE discussed every which way and in the end a decision was made to have management let Steve Morse know he was being fired. It turns out the WE was 4/5th of the band.
Nobody is going to tell me that they didn’t think of getting rid of Steve Morse before this. Probably after Infinite when Morse spoke of closure etc their radar was up. They already knew they had at their disposal a very good guitarist who was willing and more importantly available. This made their decision easy. No calling around, no auditions. A safe easy choice. (If a safe easy choice wasn’t available the decision may have been different).
In the end 4 of the 5 members of Deep Purple had a discussion, that excluded Steve Morse, which led to the decision to replace him officially with Simon McBride. They also made the decision for management to communicate to Steve Morse that he was fired from the band.
A class act
That will forever be part of their legacy
September 8th, 2024 at 00:57@17 Get a life. All this whining about how Steve was treated is laughable. I’m sure he would say the same, in retrospect. The band is pushing 80. They want to continue to perform while they still have the energy. No one knew how long Janine would hang on; was Purple supposed to sit around for five or 10 years waiting for Steve’s situation to resolve itself? It would have been different if Steve had said, “Look, can I take a six- or eight-month break?” But he didn’t because he didn’t know how long Janine had. Deep Purple did what it had to do. And the album with McBride rocks.
September 8th, 2024 at 01:13As this particular topic has come into full bloom with the publication of Purple’s latest interview in Louder Sound, I am reposting something I wrote a couple of months ago…..
……It seems to me that Steve must now be feeling somewhat the same way Gillan himself felt at times when he was no longer part of the band. Here’s a quote from Gillan in a 2006 interview on KNAC.com, in relation to the Mark III vocalists (ie: Coverdale & Hughes)…..
“””But I wouldn’t classify them as friends because I didn’t develop any relationship with them because I was doing different things when they were in Deep Purple. And to be honest, that was a weird period anyway, because I take these things extremely personally and I get quite emotional about things. When I left the band I didn’t pay much attention to what Purple was doing—it’s like watching your ex-Missus making love to some other guy. That doesn’t turn me on.”””
September 8th, 2024 at 01:20Only a matter of time before Gillan gets the call from management. His current performances are painful to watch. The next Mark could take Purple forward for some years to come, the instrumental sections of the band remain at the top of their game. Just need to identify a suitable replacement vocalist.
September 8th, 2024 at 09:01@6 You describe exactly my feelings when Gillan und Glover left or were fired in 1973. One music magazin quoted Jon Lord: “We always wanted to have to singers.” (I don’t know if it was a true quote.) I immediatly stopped listening to Deep Purple, stopped buying their records and didn’t to it until 1993. And only in the late 90ies I bought the MK3 und 4 albums and began to learn about the true history of the band, It’s sad what happened to Steve (all good whishes to him), but nowadays I got used to things like that. And I am glad that Deep Purple is still around. Now with Steve McBride.
September 8th, 2024 at 10:02I agree with you Graham about the Third album!! Easily one of my favorite DP albums!!
September 8th, 2024 at 11:21Obviously emotions are running high here after reading the truth about Steve’s dismissal from DP. I totally get that being a “Yank” as I’ve been called here I am a huge fan of Steve. How he was let go was a business decision plain and simple, could it have been handled better especially with what he was going through – YES! The quote from Glover that says it all is “Steve wanted to end the band around the Infinity album”. That’s when it became a ‘band decision’ sad for sure but the guys didn’t agree obviously. Still my favorite band ALWAYS will be! Life isn’t always fair.
September 8th, 2024 at 12:27I bet if, for some reason, it just comes down to Gillan being the only one left in the band, they will still keep going.
And if for some reason Simon ever gets sacked, they will be saying the exact same things they said about Steve. “It was lovely working with him, but we’re glad he’s gone”, or whatever.
September 8th, 2024 at 13:09@8 Firing your working partner for 20 years + through third party (management) while he’s caring for his beloved family member is never a friendly act, let alone an act by real friends. It is an insult
@14 Well said
The bottom line is, Steve Morse is too nice, a wonderful human being, that he was willing to took the high road. No public complaints, no outcry, like in many other bands. Otherwise we would not see the end of it until today.
You must already know Joe Lynn Turner words in an interview after his firing from the band, “Deep Purple can go to hell! ”
I don’t know what others think, but the words by Steve after his exit “They were upset for … seconds, then moved on” and “it was bizarre..”, raised some suspicion in my head, that it might not as peaceful as we thought. Also “Simon is better fit for them. They’re now churning more gigs.”
The following farewell messages from 4 members kinda neutralized me for a while. But then more indications came to surface. The WTF moment for me was when Gillan said “Simon is the best thing happened to the band” in satisfaction. That rings the bell..
Earlier, I’m not on Coverdale and Hughes side, who strangely several years after RRHoF, still looked bitter, some strong words about the remaining Mark 2 members (Dave praised Don and Morse if I’m not mistaken). I was like, what happened to you guys?
But now I could step on their shoes and see from where they’re coming. Maybe they’re right..
Now if they were really close, why there is no invitation so far for Morse to guest on Purple show in USA, or even at least just met them backstage?? Esp. since the exit was abrupt
There are parallel stories from other bands similar to this:
1. Ace Frehley (ex-KISS) fired his longtime guitarist Ritchie Scarlet over the phone, while he was still caring for his dying wife in 2018. Ritchie hanged up. Ace felt really bad about it. And when Ritchie’s wife died, Ace quickly contacted Ritchie, offering some cash to help, and even attended the funeral. While weren’t as close as before, at least they’re not become enemies or got estranged. I think they reunited once or several times on stage in the following years.
2. The recent exit of Kiko, Megadeth former lead guitarist due to family reason replaced by Teemu. While asked by media, Dave Mustaine told he never really asked the details of Kiko’s family situation but he granted the exit anyway. Dave always explaining in sort of “My friend Kiko left because…” while praising the new guitarist.
What I could understand now, Steve Morse was fired from Deep Purple.
It’s not a group of friends do a band meeting (could even be through video), decide to part ways with one, followed by warm handshakes or gestures and saying good luck to each other. No.
Nothing wrong with choosing to move on with new member in the situation like that. But you know there are better ways to communicate it than what has happened. I guess personal relationship is this band’s weakness.
September 8th, 2024 at 15:04IMHO Purpendicular sits along side Machine Head and In Rock and the other 70s stuff. I think that since Steve was the new boy Jon Lord stepped up in the song writing and came up with stuff like Rosa’s Cantina. After Purpendicular Jon allowed the others to do the song writing.
September 8th, 2024 at 17:05There are some harsh judgments here. I see the decision as reflecting an acute awareness of mortality–which doesn’t necessarily justify the decision as right, but does make it easier to forgive. As one gets older, the years fly by incredibly fast, and while another ten years may seem like an age to someone in their forties or fifties, it doesn’t when you’re in your seventies, or even sixties. Gillan, Glover, and Paice could very easily become incapacitated or die in the next three years, and I bet they think about it a lot. It makes just one year very precious indeed.
We should also distinguish between the decision to let someone go and the way you tell them. I entirely understand feeling enormous reluctance to have a face-to-face conversation. But sometimes we have to turn to face the source of pain and then walk toward it.
September 8th, 2024 at 18:58One thing worth bearing in mind:
Generally speaking, musicians are often not very well-adjusted people.
September 8th, 2024 at 22:09The Obvious
As we have all reiterated, it was quite apparent when Deep Purple management announced on the morning of July 23, 2022 that Steve Morse would be officially leaving the band there was more to the story.
Knowing now that Gillan et al. decided to terminate Morse while he was taking a mutually agreed upon hiatus from touring (to care for his wife after coming out of remission for stage 4 ovarian cancer) you can easily piece together how events unfolded.
In July of 2022, DP was winding down a short European tour with Simon McBride as Steve Morse’s replacement. Another tour was scheduled to begin in September with Morse planning to return for that tour. He was taking the hiatus to make sure his wife was stable, cared for and preparing both of them for the September tour.
Gillan et al as a foursome had other plans.
Everything was going quite smoothly with McBride who was a very good guitarist and didn’t have the unfortunate emotional baggage that Steve Morse was carrying.
Despite the agreed upon hiatus and return of Steve Morse to the subsequent tour, a decision, without any discussion with Steve Morse, was reached by Gillan/Glover/Paice/Airey to fire Steve Morse and make McBride the official replacement. As McBride said, something was up while sitting in a bar with Airey and asked are we celebrating something? The next day while the band was “knocking down some beers” Ian Gillan turned to McBride and asked: “Are you in the band or what?” Word had just came down from management that it was official – Steve Morse was fired and would be officially announced the next morning. McBride said yes and as he said there was quite a celebration.
Meanwhile no celebration for Steve Morse. No contact no support from his band mates just management. 28 years of dedication over in a sterile minute.
As Glover said “that’s life”
I get that Gillan and co. didn’t want to deal with Morse’s personal baggage and future uncertainty regarding Morse’s availability if things again turned for the worse for his wife.
What I don’t get is the lack of humanity shown towards a band member of 28 years who helped revive a rudderless Deep Purple.
Wish them all the best.
September 8th, 2024 at 22:53Like sands through the hour glass, so are the days of our lives………………………..
September 8th, 2024 at 23:11@ 22- while I agree with Gillan struggling etc, it is an age related thing that happens to most. I don’t agree with him being replaced at all. An original singer & writer of a bands known & classic material is irreplaceable. Tribute lead vocalist they are, look at tother classic era bands that decide for whatever reason to march on, someone paying tribute to the original master of prose, timing, elegant vocal delivery & nuance etc etc.
The original vocalist is connected to the music like no other. The replacement vocalist is mimicking in a sad way. One of those bands is supporting DP currently. As Oscar Wilde said, “‘Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness”. Cheers.
#22 Andrew
Gillan will be the last singer of Deep Purple, just as Paice will be the last drummer and Glover the last bassist.
September 8th, 2024 at 23:14When one of them disappears, MK II will stop to exist, and with it Deep Purple as a band.
this is their current life until the end.
Steve wasn’t “fired”, he made a unilateral move to have DP’s cooperation agreement, which he signed up for, changed: indefinite gardening leave for him to care for Janine/suspension of his obligation to play live internationally OR, alternatively, termination of the band as a touring entity.
Does really anybody believe that this could have been acceptable to the others, that Steve gets to decide with which line-up DP tours internationally, but gets to switch back whenever DP play within driving distance of his farm at the local watering hole, OR how long Airey’s, Gillian’s, Glover’s and Paice’s professional careers as touring musicians are to continue?
DP wasn’t the Steve Morse Band lest you have forgotten.
And it’s not like they jumped at the chance to sever ties with him, there was a substantial period of grace for Steve to return to live playing, but he couldn’t commit. Understandably so, but DP is not an insurance company to enable home care for and by family members.
DP did not for one minute consider slowing down touring to accommodate Jon when he said it was becoming too much for him, he accepted that and took the hard decision himself. But they are supposed to do it for Steve? Why is no one asking the question why Steve didn’t take the bull by the horns and say: “Look you guys, it was great while it lasted, but Janine is now my number one priority. I can’t say when and how I will be able to tour internationally with you again. But DP, of all bands, needs a permanent guitarist on stage every night. Go find someone new for good, you have my blessings, and I hope I have your understanding. I need to do this.”
September 9th, 2024 at 02:13hi
September 9th, 2024 at 11:08just have to say typical ewe standing up for everything the old purple members do…wether its right or wrong……im a huge steve morse fan and glad hes out of purple…he was much to good a musician and person to put up with them…..ive left purple music behind years ago bout time they now retired …gillan cant sing and paiceys drumming boring…sorry guys but the old stalwarts of these messages must stop ignorantly championing everything the old purple guys do ….now i await the flack!!!
One final thought and No Need to Shout
Skippy O’Nasica @12 brought this up.
Why did Glover feel the need after 2 years to reveal that the four of them fired Morse?
Up until that time, everyone including Glover including Morse spoke as if Morse resigned. Glover interview after interview told the same story – consistent and respectful. It appears everyone had some verbal or tacit understanding- call it saving face, or avoiding embarrassment/humiliation , or making sure the optics were good as the band transitioned to avoid controversy and bad press.
Why the sudden change in story 2 years later? Did he feel the band was on a more secure footing that he felt safe and compelled to tell ‘the truth’ to the public? Does anybody know what time it is? Does anybody really care?
So Glover now says no no no truth be told it wasn’t really like that – we fired him blah blah blah / yada yada yada
On the surface it comes across as ‘honest’ Roger.
For what and whose purpose did this serve or was it just some slightly arrogant self indulgent unfiltered thought?
Was it necessary to reveal ‘the real story’ 2-3 months after the death of Steve Morse’s wife?
You know I think we – or at least I do – give these guys too much credit or hold them to a higher standard than they are capable when in fact they aren’t all that bright and insightful particularly when it comes to personal relationships and in the end quite dysfunctional with a little arrogance and self importance thrown in despite what comes out of their mouths.
The more I think about it the the dynamics are very strange – but that’s Deep Purple
September 9th, 2024 at 12:27Terrible how they let Steve go. And Gillan needs to retire.
September 9th, 2024 at 13:58Without going into the particulars of the relationship (and end of it) between Morse and DP, I find it interesting that so many fans seem to have a romantic picture of their favorite bands being best buddies travelling the world together, laughing and rooming with each other, and living in the same village with their wives looking after each other’s kids when the guys are on tour. Maybe that is the experience people have from their little non-professional bands playing around the neighbourhoods. I find that most professional bands, especially if they have been around for a while, doesn’t always need to be “best friends” just because they are making music together. It’s a job, it’s a buiness, there are a lot of people working for the band outside of the musicians actually playing the music.
Some band’s members only meet when they are on stage and they communicate through their managers. Does that mean they hate each other? Not always. Does that make the music worse? Not always. Do you even know when you see the band on stage? Not always.
Fans are surprised when they realise some bands travel in separate cars or buses, or live in separate hotels. Fans are surprised to find out their favorite band wasn’t in the studio together when they recorded their last album. Fans are surprised the newest member doesn’t really become a “member”, just a sideman on a monthly salary.
September 9th, 2024 at 14:12So my tongue in cheek comment about Gillan getting fired wasn’t recognised as such. I was spoofing ablut the way DP tend to treat band members so ruthlessly and pretty disrespectfully to be honest.
I agree with many of the comments above. All I can say is I have met Gillan, didn’t like him as an individual, arrogant and self important. I have also met Morse. Likeable, respectful and friendly. Glover also very friendly and happy to share a casual conversation. I always admired Gillan for his vocals in DP and Gillan particularly and still do but the old adage about not meeting your heroes certainly rings true with him. Morse is better off out of it. The current line up will stumble on for a while pretending to be reborn but will inevitably and quickly lose credibility and their right to a respectable legacy.
September 9th, 2024 at 14:54What Svante says.
Playing with your best friends or your wife in one band can be heaven or it can be hell, it’s rarely in between. Playing in a band with people you just appreciates for what they bring to the band as musicians avoids these highs and lows —> better for the longevity of the band, believe me.
Believing that the best bands consist of best buddies is a romantic fan projection like believing that Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman had an off-set romantic affair because they played a longing couple in Casablanca. Nope, they didn’t. She didn’t even find him attractive (never mind, he had Lauren Bacall to get over that).
Anybody who thinks that DP are an example of especially bad intra-band climate hasn’t seen what bands with a really poisonous situation look like. DP is a holiday camp, but a holiday camp with rules, and one of those rules at the entrance door in broad view reads: “You have to like to play live and tour with us – a lot.” It has been the mantra of the band ever since its existence. When Ian lost Bron, there was no let-up in band activity, touring is likely therapy to him, different strokes for different folks.
And another thing: It wasn’t selling records that has made Steve Morse an economically at the very least comfortable to affluent man after decades of living on a shoestring from music. It was touring the world, playing live night after night and putting bums on seats. That is how he earned money the last thirty years. All the treatment affordable could sadly not save Janine because the world is a cruel shithole sometimes, but it was thankfully not for lack of financial resources. For a lot of other people in the US, a cancer affliction of a family member breaks the bank real soon. Steve did altogether very well with Purple (as did the band with him), the end could have been nicer, but neither party has to have regrets. It was a good and lengthy chapter.
September 9th, 2024 at 17:12It’s not about a romantic situation. Its about “almost human”.
September 9th, 2024 at 17:26when a guy takes your band and carries it for 28 years, constantly criticized by people who think he doesn’t know how to play smoke on the water… then he even suggests the producer you like so much now, even though he cuts all the guitar parts .. and he tells you “I don’t want to give up, I’m just taking a break for family reasons”..well.. because ok, Steve would have liked to close with a boom… but he would have conformed to the majority. would have brought the band to an end, one way or another.. in my opinion, those who don’t understand this have the belief that purples are 3 + 2. Partly true. but that’s not entirely true. if you like to think in business terms then I would like to see what would happen if tomorrow Ian Pace had a stomach ache and they left him at home and replaced him with a shift worker… would you still like the business? to what extent is a band a band? where does the machine begin? for me the one now is a machine, and I have chosen to prefer a band.. then let me say that I see people who only now discover that the highway star solo is made with two guitar parts and they are amazed.. and then they come to me say how good McBride is.. people who complain about mitzy dupree’s intro but then listen to that childish thing that is “if I where you”..
Alas!, Lord Andrew, that clamorous harbinger of blood and death, opines on the ultimate downfall of the House of Purple!
“Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill.”
https://www.ric.edu/sites/default/files/styles/width_860/public/2023-10/macbeth_5x8_cover.jpg?itok=tPUpSZSc
Can we have it a little less dramatic? Something involving ping pong balls perhaps?
September 9th, 2024 at 17:28@35/@39
You guys are spot on.
Just a final comment:
* There are two bookcases of guitarists: the first one is huge with beautiful wood and it’s called JAGG (Just Another Great Guitarist) where you can find Simon under M. The other one is a smaller beautiful gold leaf lined bookcase under lock and key called The Select Section where sits Steve Morse comfortably along with Ritchie Blackmore, Jan Akkerman, Jeff Beck, Ronnie Montrose, Jimmy Page just to name a few.
Steve Morse had it right: go out on a high note – for you and the fans – it doesn’t have to be a circus as Glover likes to parody – but as professionals, as a celebration of your career and for your fans. The latter being the most important.
From an interview with Steve Morse in 2017 ( Interestingly at that time Purpendicular and Infinite were his favorite albums and he lauded Bob Ezrin)
Ritchie Blackmore has mentioned his interest in playing one last show with the band. How do you feel about that?
MORSE: Well, he’s one of the founding members of Deep Purple. Fans would love it. It would be nice, I think, to see closure with everybody involved, and the bad feelings put aside. I think they’d all get a kick out of it if they could get past the psychological barriers. I am a fan of music, I’m a musician. I am not a politician.
Now, a lot of people would feel intimidated, to have somebody come who’s likely to play over them, standing in front of them and stealing the spotlight or whatever. But I thought, a lot of people would love to see this.
…. at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I (some) thought Ritchie Blackmore was going to show up. He could’ve played three songs, but I ended up doing them, because he didn’t (show up). That was up in the air.
There have been a lot of bad things said and done amongst the guys, and anyhow, it is like the ice has to be broken. I think that once that’s done, they’d all have a great time. But I don’t know how to go about doing that. Anyway, as far as I am concerned, all members, past and present and future (laughs) of Deep Purple, are welcome.
The irony of that last sentence.
Steve Morse is a unicorn in the world of Rock.
September 9th, 2024 at 19:07Uwe you rascal! I couldn’t have said it better myself!
September 9th, 2024 at 19:24QCHR @41: But DP have performed with someone from the holy trinity calling in sick – when Roger has his knees done, Nick Fyffe deputized, I saw one of the gigs. Same with the gigs in India Don could not attend with the young Wakeman stepping in. That’s perfectly ok to do to save a commitment and not disappoint fans.
Should Purple dissolve when one of the Ians or Roger calls it a day or if Don or Simon drop out? Frankly, I’d leave that decision up to the then remaining band members and at least initially give any replacement the benefit of doubt. It’s not really a resolution for us to make. The Stones continue without Charlie who was essential for their groove. The band sounds different with the new guy, yes, but has it lost all musical merit because of it?
September 9th, 2024 at 20:25@ 39 – I knew what you meant @ 22 because that has already occurred before & look at the results, S & M. But good on you for highlighting it because there are a lot of ‘fans’ of many things in this life, that do stick through & through with a ‘brand’ rather than a band, if you know what I mean. Cheers.
September 9th, 2024 at 21:41if I have to think of deep friendships in Purple I would say Gillan & Glover for all the years they shared even from the beginning in episode six, and then Lord & Paice who were also married to the sisters Vickie & Jacky were more intimate with each other.
I think Little Ian doesn’t have the same relationship that Big Ian & Roger have with each other.
I also believe that if “the Maestro” was still alive, we would have seen a reunion with the Man in Black, the time would have been ripe, and some very esteemed words from Gillan towards Blackmore in recent interviews, make me think of this.
the reality is that Don will never be 100% in the group but is simply the best possible replacement for John on the face of the planet.
we really don’t know how much life the guys still have ahead of them, only they know, and I fear that the decision to continue to set all the stages of the world on fire is a Carpe Diem, and could hide some bad news.
If they fired Steve badly, I feel sorry for the golden boy, but in my opinion it will have been a separation as adults, a shock for all of them anyway.
#43 Morsecode:
Steve was very kind to say that he would have liked Ritchie to go to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but it’s easy to say that when you know he wasn’t going!
someone who wrote above that Gillan can’t sing and Paice can’t play should go to the ENT doctor and have his ears cleaned…
September 9th, 2024 at 22:53I’m not surprised. Gillan’s thriving megalomania makes it unacceptable that this “king” doesn’t like it. Life has shown that they really should have stopped after Infinity. Instead, they kept releasing albums, one worse than the other, and eventually hired a cover-band-level guitarist who, having found himself in such stellar company, would meekly endure all the king’s whims. This is not even business, this is the egoism of an individual, multiplied by age-related changes. It’s a shame it has come to this. History knows many examples when band members suspended their activities if one of them had to solve family problems. But these are families, and Deep Purple, obviously, has never been a family. It was a hypocritical act.
September 10th, 2024 at 08:21Uwe Hornung says:
… The band sounds different with the new guy, yes, but has it lost all musical merit because of it?
Yes. Band without guitarist is not rock band.
September 10th, 2024 at 08:24I don’t think that the Morse comment, which is a good one & deserves being repeated again, was in relation to the Hall induction, I could be wrong though. I thought it was probably for a get together anywhere & at everyones convenience. I wasn’t at all surprised by Morse saying that and applauded from far away. As he says, he isn’t a politician, he is a musician. It is easier for him to say that though as he isn’t connected in any way to the past baggage of the band Deep Purple.
September 10th, 2024 at 08:39I would imagine he would have cringed silently at the beginning of & throughout his tenure with DP, if there were certain negative things said about Ritchie. Maybe he never heard anything negative, who can tell. There was so much animosity at that time, especially around the 1994 era. So good on Morse for saying that, class he is & it would have been nice to see if that ever did happen back then sometime. However it IS all sand through the hourglass nowadays. Cheers.
@ 40 – “Believing that the best bands consist of best buddies is a romantic fan projection like believing that Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman had an off-set romantic affair because they played a longing couple in Casablanca. Nope, they didn’t. She didn’t even find him attractive (never mind, he had Lauren Bacall to get over that).” Come on Uwe, is that the best you can do (just joking)? What about Fleetwood Mac in the mid 1970’s. The perfect Love fest scenario band, major success with popular music & concerts & the ultimate lovey dovey band relationships. Christine & John McVie & also Nicks & Buckingham, the ideal rock ‘n roll love couples & also Nicks then allegedly with Fleetwood wasn’t it? Perfecto, touring the world & everything at their feet, the world truly was their oyster, what could possibly go wrong???????????? Cheers.
September 10th, 2024 at 09:20Buckingham/Nicks era Fleetwood Mac is a prime example of what wonderful music you can create as you hate and try to hurt each other. 😎
Dima, @49, errm … I was speaking about how the Stones sound different without Charlie Watts drumming (they also changed in sound when Bill Wyman no longer played bass for them).
Simon, “a cover-band-level guitarist”? Let’s agree to disagree. I’ve seen the man play intricate fusion pieces from Colosseum II in the Don Airey Band which would have frankly been beyond the technical grasp of either Ritchie or Tommy (I’m assuming that those two are not regarded as “cover-band-level” by you!):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gm7TKrV7OuU
You might not like that type of music but it is expertly (and energetically) played and way above “cover-band-level”.
September 10th, 2024 at 17:36Hi dima. After listening to their latest album, I would agree, YES, they have lost all musical merit.
September 10th, 2024 at 17:51Fremdom of thought und speech can be a tasking affair, sigh!
And intellectual accuracy isn’t the strong point of sweeping arguments.
September 10th, 2024 at 20:42What sets apart the elite guitarists from the rest of the pack is their musicality and ability to create. There are thousands of guitarists that can copy and shred – just go to YouTube.
September 10th, 2024 at 22:09So Ewe – what you’re saying is that McBride is a great technician and does a great cover/imitation of Gary Moore something Tommy Bolin or Ritchie Blackmore couldn’t do. I can possibly buy that but maybe not Bolin. I would refer you to Quadrant Billy Cobham/ Mind Transplant Alphonse Mouzon – oh wait that’s ORIGINAL creative guitar work – never mind. I’m sure McBride can handle it though.
September 10th, 2024 at 23:14Hi Uwe.
September 11th, 2024 at 11:38The Don Airey Band, with all due respect, is not an outstanding project. As was rightly noted above, there are many capable imitators in the world. McBright’s performance on stage with Deep Purple showed his very mediocre level both in improvisations (where he sometimes played regular scales forward and backwards or simply held one note for a long time) and in classical parts, which he performed in a technically simplified manner (although similar to the original in sound). This is not a personality for such a legendary group, this is an ordinary no-name imitator without the ability to improvise, which any Deep Purple guitarist should have by default.
Purple waren von Beginn an ein Kunstprodukt. Jon und Ritchie bauten das Projekt und Coletta u.a. sponsorten es.
September 11th, 2024 at 14:06Unabhängig davon hatte jeder Musiker zu seiner Zeit, die Berechtigung in Band zuspielen. Ritchie ging, Tommy trug seinen Teil zur Auflösung bei, Ritchie ging erneut und Steve kam, Jon ging und dann ging Steve.
Davids Projekt Whitesnake läuft gut, Rainbow und BN liefen/laufen gut, Jon’s Solokarriere lief gut und Steve’s Karriere wird weitergehen. Big Ian, wird immer nur an seiner Arbeit mit Purple gemessen werden und das ist gut so.
Ian Gillan Band 2.0 seit Bananas.
Whoa, look at this. Previously we have had the feuds between the fans of Blackmore and Bolin, Blackmore and Morse, and now Morse and McBride. Boys bring it on! Let the fur fly! This is rock’n’roll!
September 11th, 2024 at 14:10I bought Spectrum in 1976 because of Tommy’s playing and liked it from the start (it was my first Jazz Rock album unless you count Blood, Sweat & Tears of which I had three albums of as Jazz Rock), when did you get your copy, Mörsiecödie? 😘
Bolin was a natural with a highly individual style and original ideas, one of my favorite DP members, but technically he was neither a Ritchie nor a Joe nor a Steve nor a Simon. That doesn’t take away anything of his greatness and singularity, but he couldn’t replicate one Joe Walsh solo while in James Gang nor one Blackmore solo while in DP – that just wasn’t in him. But he was a wonderful Tommy Bolin with charm galore, I miss him.
Why not give a few Simon McBride solo albums a listen before dismissing him as devoid of any originality? When I hear =1, I hear him neither aping Ritchie nor Steve. I hear someone who, oh yes, obviously heard Gary Moore a lot (NOT one of my favorite guitarists for many reasons) and has a grasp of what his predecessors in DP did (as he should) plus a member of a new generation of post EvH Eruption guitarists. He has eclectic influences, what’s wrong with that? He’s not Adrian Belew in originality and the defying of convention, but then DP isn’t King Crimson either.
September 11th, 2024 at 16:22#56 Morsecode:
however keep in mind that nowadays any instrument a musician can play, the styles have already been defined by previous musicians (in no particular order Ritchie, Hendrix, Van Halen, Gary Moore, Steve Ray Vaughan, Jonny Winter, Chuck Berry, Al di Meola, Santana, Neal Schon, Lindsey Buckingham, Paco de Lucia, John Petrucci, Satriani, Steve Vai, Greg Howe, Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, and then those from Iron Maiden, all the thrash guitarists, the list is endless and there’s Steve Morse in it too of course).
but for a young or middle-aged guitarist there is nothing new to invent, there is only to make the paths of others your own, and create good music.
exactly what Simon does so well
September 11th, 2024 at 19:52I don’t want to turn this into a McBride bashing thread because he doesn’t deserve it and he seems like a nice guy, a victim of circumstances and a very good and nice sounding guitarist. Uwe I said I have his solo and Don Airey albums. His solo stuff is pretty much run of the mill blues rock – nothing special or imaginative. For comparison, I refer people to give Gary Hoey a listen who does it better and with more creativity in his playing. Plus he could easily cover the Deep Purple music with his eyes closed and yes he can shred (who doesn’t these days?) just in case people are wondering. “People came from miles around and said man who’s he”.
Some of the greatest guitarists are not the most technically gifted as UWE rightly points out with Tommy Bolin (even Jimi Hendrix) but rather it’s the whole package as a musician/artist. Uwe no need to be snarky about when either of else fell into Bolin. If it’s important I’ve been following Bolin since the early 70s and saw him live just before he died.
What Gillan wanted (and got) is a young buck who can tolerate the rigors of touring and play the live stuff very well. Someone without any emotional baggage to distract or drain him and his machine, someone who could carry them a little further towards the finish line so his baby Deep Purple and Roger can simply fade away (they are on that path) and rock ‘til they drop (unfortunately coming soon) making management and their egos very happy. No big bang or celebration – “we’ll know it when we see it” – no nod to or closure for fans (do we need it / want it?) – just over. “Thank you Simon for coming, but before you go can you grab my cane?”
“That’s how we do things” – Do I have that right Roger?i
September 11th, 2024 at 22:07Yo,
@61 said…
qt.”However, keep in mind that nowadays, any instrument a musician can play, the styles have already been defined by previous musicians…For a young or middle-aged guitarist, there is nothing new to invent, there is only to make the paths of others your own, and create good music”…
***I completely disagree. Are 2 x snowflakes the same ???…One’s inspiration may come from others, but the opportunity to create & deliver something new remains in the hands of the person writing / creating a new tune.
It will always be sadly, that people who may listen to “your” stuff, shall always compare you to someone else, & say “hey, this sounds like”…
Peace !
September 11th, 2024 at 23:52Much as I don’t like the =1 album, I am looking forward to next DP album. I have a feeling Simon, after a lengthy tour, just might surprise everyone. We shall see! I agree Morsecode, we shouldn’t turn this into a McBride bashing thread.
September 12th, 2024 at 07:17“Uwe no need to be snarky about when either of else fell into Bolin. If it’s important I’ve been following Bolin since the early 70s and saw him live just before he died.”
Agreed, that was a cheap shot from me. 😔 You saw him with the Tommy Bolin Band then? I’m devoured by jealousy. Which line-up (drummer and bassist)? How was it, SPEAK UP!!!
I just (re)listened to the Spectrum remaster today, this thread thankfully made me do it. Timeless music!
September 12th, 2024 at 07:30Well am I late to the party….
Wow. I *knew* there was bad blood between Steve and the band – and now I know why.
I understand that the band had to go on without him – Roger is correct, that’s life.
Steve wanting the be DP’s final guitarist and end things on a high note, was ultimately selfish I think, as was the band deciding to go on without him. He didn’t get to call the shots, and, he should have been included in discussions about the band’s future.
At the same time, firing Steve from the band after 28 years via management while Janine was dying was cruel, and lacked respect and humanity. They kicked him while he was down, and conspired against him behind his back in having secret talks without him present about a replacement. Roger tried to do the right thing by calling and explaining, and I respect him for that. It’s still not enough, I feel.
My issue with this whole thing – and others are right, it’s par for the course as far as firings from Purple go – is the lack of integrity and transparency and respect for Steve as the longest serving guitarist who saved the band from utter collapse.
Considering there would be no DP today without Steve Morse, he deserved far better treatment from the band whose careers he pretty much saved. Instead of honesty and transparency, he
got fired, second hand. If I were him, I’d feel betrayed by people I thought were my friends, and used.
This is not how you treat people, period. If it isn’t working out, honest and open conversations need to be had with everyone present. Transparency is key, as is integrity – I can understand making mistakes when you’re younger, but the guys are at the age where they know better.
This kind of behaviour doesn’t fly or sit well with many of us in the fanbase. We love and respect Steve – far more than the band did, apparently.
Am I surprised? Actually yeah, I am. I thought the band would have grown up and let go of disrespectful and dishonest behaviour by now, but I guess I was wrong, unfortunately.
I view this as a betrayal, honestly, and I feel totally disgusted at the band’s behavior and I’ve lost respect for them as a fan and am incredibly disappointed in this dishonest treatment of Steve.
Will I forgive them and move on, as a fan? Eventually, but right now I’m totally disgusted. Steve deserves far better, both as a band member and as a human being.
Simply put, this is not how you treat people, where I’m from. This is wrong.
To the band I say this: do better, your fans are watching, and a lot of us don’t like how you treated Steve.
To Steve Morse I say: I am so sorry you got stabbed in the back like that, you deserved far better treatment. Move on, and I hope one day you are at peace with it all. Thank you for everything – your fans love you for the wonderful man and musician you are, myself included. May you heal, and may you be happy.
September 12th, 2024 at 11:48@ 66
Not sure about that. It’s business after all. And I don’t know if there would have been no DP without Steve Morse. They could have found another one in 94 for sure. I mean…they are Deep Purple. A huge career step. And it was one for Steve Morse as well who had a great reputation but wasn’t selling truckloads of albums or filling football stadiums. I think DP made for a good living so sure it had his benefits for him. Let’s face it: It was never the music he dreamt of. He was always more of a hired hand, even if it may have been one of the best available. And he always acted professional and played top notch. Though not the way this band needed it IMHO. He is without a doubt a really nice guy and a fantastic musician – but it’s not about being buddies here, it’s about business and a big machine that needs to be kept on the rails. And I prefer to listen to him on his solo stuff.
September 12th, 2024 at 14:05well said Mike. I feel the same way and couldn’t have said it any better!!
September 12th, 2024 at 14:36Mike @66 perfectly put. Max @67, it’s not a machine a business by default- it’s a choice by band members. Gillan and Glover talk out both sides of their ass when they say we are free to do whatever they want but when it comes to firing Steve Morse it’s business. Even Morse said it was management that soured on the idea of going out on a high note. Glover/Gillan are a bit delusional/ sort of conceited arrogance self importance when they play pretend saying they call the shots but in reality it’s management.
What they did to Morse is unforgivable / no one will ever convince me otherwise. That’s just the way I feel. You don’t do that to someone who breathed new life into a dying band for 28 years. It has Gillan written all over it. You are now a burden and not worth my time anymore.
September 12th, 2024 at 15:19Unless you have a sadist streak, most people avoid a dismissal discussion at all costs. I had to force myself every time and kept procrastinating about it. I’ve seen grown men cry (and women take it like a man), you feel like a piece of shit delivering the news.
“Stabbed in the back” is an overstatement though I understand Steve’s hurt and wounded ego. BUT: He was the one to leave the table first by saying he would not be able to tour (or record) with them internationally for an indefinite time. Once you do that – for whatever valid and honorable personal reasons – you have to view your termination as at least a forced option to the other side.
All that said: If someone from the band would have called or visited him to bring the bad news first (leaving the fine print to the management notification), that would have been vastly preferable.
September 12th, 2024 at 15:22UWE: saw the Tommy Bolin Band in 1976 just after the release of Private Eyes in a small club out in Long Island, NY. Absolutely great show. I was so into his music and was devastated by his death. To this day Come Taste the Band is a top 5 DP album for me.
Tommy Bolin Band:
Tommy Bolin: vocals,guitar
Mark Stein: keyboards,vocals. One of my favorite vocalists (Vanilla Fudge) and underrated Hammond player
Norma Jean Bell – sax
Bobby Berge – drums (I believe)
He was a distinct treasure
September 12th, 2024 at 15:36https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l8kCaCYJMRIFoptIVhOIIJTOAaknYrwr0
This is possibly the show I went to. He did two shows that night or on two consecutive days (can’t rmember) but I’m not sure if this was the one that I attended. I got the drummer wrong. Great band
September 12th, 2024 at 17:27Uwe I’m not sure of what exactly were Steve Morse’s intentions. From what I read Morse had to abruptly leave in Feb/March ‘22. Simon McBride replaced him to complete the European tour through July. Morse’s intention as discussed with Purple was to return in September to begin another tour. Before the tour was ended with McBride Purple sans Morse and management made the decision to move on from Morse.
Management called Morse. You’re out McBride is in. Really not that complicated.
September 12th, 2024 at 20:40“I got the drummer wrong. Great band …”
Yes. Michael Narada Walden. But what is getting the name of a percussionist wrong – they’re a paradiddle a dozen – to NOT mentioning a bassist at all, Morsecode, I cry?! REGGIE McBRIDE for chrissakes – ex-Rare Earth and brilliant player on all of Private Eyes!!! Your blatant dereliction of duty sets my progress via therapeutic counseling as an unseen bassist smack-dab back a couple of years! 😂
That first (and best) incarnation of the Tommy Bolin Band was 50% black, quite unusual for the time (or even still today) for a band around a guy from the Midwest.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jm-XYjQPYpQ/hq720.jpg?sqp=-oaymwE7CK4FEIIDSFryq4qpAy0IARUAAAAAGAElAADIQj0AgKJD8AEB-AHGB4AC0AWKAgwIABABGH8gKygkMA8=&rs=AOn4CLCuerZVGc6QfLf_MvQjqsf89eljYw
Thanks for digging it all out. What a gig that must have been!
Both Reggie and Narada would hand in their papers not too much later. They couldn’t stand watching what Tommy was doing to himself.
September 12th, 2024 at 22:47Darn, my bad math. 60% black actually. 😎
September 12th, 2024 at 22:53Uwe:
Yes Steve left the table first – and he was under the impression that he’d be returning to the band. The problem is the band went back on their word that he was still part of the band.
.
If the band found this impractical, then they should have had some difficult discussions with him over the phone/face time and should have let him go to his face, not just deliver the news in person.
While these discussions are difficult to have, they still need to happen – how the band handled this was dishonest and lacked integrity and deeply hurt Steve and probably broke his trust in the band.
Steve was under the impression that he was a full member of the band for 28 years and expected to be treated as such. If he wasn’t a full member, and more of a hired gun, as others here have suggested, then that needed to be made clear to him from the get go in ’94.
If the band has been dishonest with him in terms of how they view him (as expendible, which is how they treated him during the firing) for 28 years and leaving him with the wrong impression regarding his role in the band, then that is really egregious in terms of ethics imo, and makes the situation worse.
Steve behaved, though selfishly, as if he were a full time band member and friend – the band behaved as if he were a hired gun, totally expendible and replaceable.
Ask yourself this, if they viewed him as a full band member and friend, would they have held meetings without him that he was not party to?
To me, it seems the lack of transparency and honest communication regarding Steve’s role in the band is the issue that caused the behaviors on the part of all parties. If the band has been honest with Steve and themselves that he was more of a hired gun (they appear to treat him as such, although I wonder if they themselves are not aware that they view him that way if that is indeed how they view him deep down? Insight can be a tricky thing), from the start in ’94, or at least when Steve went from full band member to hired gun in their minds, this whole situation could have been avoided (I’m not sure it started out that way, but somewhere along the way, how
the rest of the band viewed Steve changed, as seen through their actions – again, were they aware of this shift?).
If the band had been honest with Steve about how they viewed his role in the band, and they had the tough conversation, Steve would have understood when they let him go for Simon, or at least have been more likely to, and his feelings might not have been so badly bruised, and there’d be far less hard feelings all around and likely no bad blood.
Id say I hope they don’t make the same mistake to Simon, but honestly I’m not holding out much hope at this point. I hope he knows he’s expendable and can be replaced at any time should the other four decide it. If not, be prepared for a repeat.
September 13th, 2024 at 00:34I also noticed that the bass guitarist was not mentioned, (a prerequisite for being a drummer I suppose). And believe me, I KNEW that myself or anyone else here (bar one individual) wouldn’t have to or need to mention that at all. I do think Morsecode has probably done quite well there to get away with that ‘mistake’. It was a close thing though! Cheers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=br_awKg6bwI&t=2s
September 13th, 2024 at 07:19@76 Your post made me realize that we do not actually know who owns what in DP and whether Steve was formally a stakeholder or just a salaried employee. To us hardcore fans the creative and the personal sides of the story are more important, but from the corporate DP office the story might have looked very different and much more simple, too.
DP: The axeman doesn’t want to tour. We’re not sure about that.
Mgmt: he’s not part of the organization, you guys own it. You can do anything you want. Shall we fire him for you?
DP: Mmm…
Mgmt: Look, if you go on the next tour, you get to earn this much $$$, if you don’t you get to lose that much $$$.
DP: Okay, go ahead and axe the axeman. Just don’t be too tough on him.
That’s business for you. I also recall that Ron Wood wasn’t part of the Stones’ organization financially until like ten years into his time with them. They could fire the guy at their whim. They didn’t but that’s another story.
September 13th, 2024 at 09:23I think we’ve beaten this into the ground with some good conversations. Very cathartic. The reality is the Morse era of Deep Purple is over. As unfortunate in the way it ended I’m going to enjoy and celebrate the music Morse brought to Deep Purple. He brought his influences and in my opinion really stretched Purple’s musicality/virtuosity and created some great songs
Purplemorse
* Ted the Mechanic
* Rapture of The Deep
* ‘69
* Sun Goes Down
* Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming
* Seventh Heaven
* Uncommon Man
* Birds of Prey
* Throw My Bones
* Bananas
* Jack Ruby
* Man Alive
* Above and Beyond
* Wrong Man
* Apres Vous
* Things I Never Said
* Cascades: I’m Not Your Lover
* No Need to Shout
* Time for Bedlam
* Clearly Quite Absurd
* Never a Word (beautiful: Celtic Jethro Tull a hint of Gentle Giant meets Deep Purple)
* Nothing At All
* The Surprising
* The Aviator
* A Touch Away
* Somebody Stole My Guitar (a forgotten gem)
* Back to Back (great solos)
* Loosen My Strings
* I Got Your Number
* Weirdastan
* Rosa’s Cantina
* Silver Tongue
Just to name a few. Well done
Best album: Purpendicular
September 13th, 2024 at 12:52Most underrated: Bananas
Most under appreciated: ROTD
Album that continues to surprise: ABandOn
Uwe Hornung says:
…
Why not give a few Simon McBride solo albums a listen before dismissing him as devoid of any originality?
…
I did. Very boring and primitive stuff
September 13th, 2024 at 12:58…
Mike Nagoda, agree with your opinion about band’s behaviour to Steve.
Unfortunately, Gillan’s ego still prevails in the band, despite the fact that he is now its weakest member.
My understanding is:
– Janine’s lamentable condition had been ongoing for some time. Her treatment and Steve caring for her (or simply wishing to be there while his wife was battling cancer) had – due to the Pandemic, travel prohibitions and lockdowns – little impact on Purple’s then day-to-day operations. Turning To Crime was recorded remotely (remember how Steve wasn’t even featured in the Oh Well!-vid). So much so good (in bad times).
– When the Pandemic subsided, the proverbial thing began to hit the fan: Steve had to abort songwriting sessions in Hamburg for the next album when Janine relapsed to rush home, continuing those sessions without him (or with someone there who longed to be home with his wife) made no sense for the others who had set time aside for it.
– The Purple touring machine (this is essentially what the band does since the reunion and actually always has done even in the 70s) spluttered back into action, the first gigs being done in Steve’s home vicinity (we now know why), finally the pre-Pandemic album Whoosh! could be sensibly promoted (or the other way around), albeit belatedly.
– Or not. Steve was honest and said he could not commit to international touring. So then Don says: “I know this guy with rather short hair in my band, but other than that …”. Simon becomes the interim touring guitarist.
– They tour. Simon plays. He does a good job. He’s from a different generation and chuffed to be in a name band like Purple after only recently not having qualified for a job with a supermarket chain. You can bet he played his ass off every night and who would blame him? He also doesn’t have to worry how his wife is doing while, say, playing the SOTW introduction. That makes for relaxed tour companionship.
– The band experiences that there is life for Deep Purple even without Steve. It’s an experience they have made again and again, not one of the members foremost in the public eye ever proved definitely irreplaceable: Not Big Ian (DC worked, only JLT didn’t), not Ritchie (TB didn’t work, but SM did) and not even Jon (Don did).
– It transpires: Janine will never heal again, Steve will be with her whatever it takes until the end, whenever that will be (which just shows what a wonderful person he is). He can’t tour internationally with DP and can only record with them within driving distance of his Florida home, another guitarist having then to present the freshly created music to the wider public. That is not a tenable situation for Purple in even the midterm, much less long term, given the mortality of all other members. It is only then that they take the difficult decision to part ways with Steve and let Simon join. I don’t see how that decision could have been averted as long as you respect Steve’s decision to stay at Janine’s side on her last journey.
I also fail to recognize what was so terrible in the (foreseeable) development of the above scenario (except, of course, Janine’s horrible and fateful affliction). No one can be blamed for the tragic circumstances, Steve did what he had to do (commendably so) and so did rest-Purple (understandably so). Not communicating this directly to him once the decision was passed is an unfortunate stain though, granted. Could have been handled better, yes. People are people, but not having the balls to face Steve doesn’t turn the other band members into Deep Machiavelli (which is the impression I get reading some of the character assassinations of the remaining band members in this thread).
And it doesn’t make Steve a mere sideman in hindsight either (neither in actual status nor in treatment by the others). He’s written or co-written more than 8o songs for Purple and was featured prominently at every Mk VII or VIII gig I’ve seen (and I’ve seen something like between 30 and 40). Even he has said in interviews that he cannot complain about the writing input he had in Purple or his musical freedom there. What he could not do is change their outlook and identity as an endless touring behemoth – but that is something Ritchie or Jon, both founder members of Purple, could not achieve either.
But when you sign the dotted line with Purple, that is something you irrevocably buy into, following the never-ending path of the celestial highway star for the rest of your musician life. Steve was promised freedom from leather trousers when he joined, not from endless touring.
September 13th, 2024 at 16:19Once you have decided that you do not want to touch a gun anymore, you can’t stay in the French Foreign Legion anymore either, however meritorious your previous service for La France may have been.
Holy crap, what an insight everyone has, from small snippets of interviews, into both management and the artists’ thoughts and actions in relation to Steve’s departure and Simon’s arrival.
September 13th, 2024 at 18:01I wanted to stay out of this.. no good way out.
September 13th, 2024 at 19:57Steve was treated badly, he would have deserved much better.
The new album is good, but I hope for a much better one next with really memorable songs. Otherwise, I will have to accept, that is just business.
Personally, I think that the best thing that could have happened was that Purple got a temporary replacement, maybe Satriani or whoever to come in and tour, until Steve could rejoin the band. 28 years of being a member is a long time, and also Purple came to their decision very quickly. A bit too quickly if you ask me.
September 13th, 2024 at 22:23Now, after enjoying this site for over ten years, this thread has finally motivated me to write my very first comment.
September 14th, 2024 at 06:33I just want to extend a big thank you to all contributors for making this discussion so much more interesting and insightful than all the hundreds of published magazine title stories of the past two months put together.
One starts to wonder when the details of Steve‘s dismissal will spill over into the public conscience, i.e. Wikipedia and the mainstream media.
My late mom used to say when a widower or a widow remarried not too long after their respective loss and gossip would mount in our smallish town: “No one has come back yet!”
I don‘t see what the point of a prolonged mourning period for DP should have been. They stuck it out with Steve for almost a year, leaving the band in limbo, before taking the tough decision. He himself wrote in July 2024 at the advent of his permanent departure:
“Last Autumn, I suddenly left the Purple writing session in Germany because my wife was having a real medical crisis. Almost a year later, we are learning to accept stage 4 aggressive cancer and chemo treatment for the rest of her life. We both miss being at shows, but I simply couldn’t commit to long, or far away tours, since things can change quickly at home. I suggested lining up a substitute guitarist last Autumn, hoping we could see the miraculous cancer cure all of us have heard about. As time went by, I could see the way things were heading though, after 28 years of being in the band.
I’ve already played my last show with Purple back in Florida on the Rock Legends Cruise. I wish to thank the listeners who so strongly supported live music and turned every show from a dress rehearsal to a thundering, exciting experience. I’ll miss everybody in the band and crew but being Janine’s helper and advocate has made a real difference at many key points.”
“The show must go on!” is a core rule of the entertainment industry.
I’m also surprised that so many people seemed genuinely surprised when Steve’s departure became permanent. I’m no clairvoyant, but the combination of “stage 4 cancer of Janine + no touring availability of Steve for an indefinite amount of time + DP’s ‘we tour the world all the time’-mantra + new youngish touring guitarist” pretty much laid out for me what the future would bring unless Simon would mess up badly. And I knew he wouldn’t after having seen him twice with the Don Airey Band, he caught my attention already back then, I had spent a whole gig standing at his side of the stage upfront (the benefit of club gigs!) watching him play. He had a touch of Bernie Tormé, just not as sloppy!
Speaking of: Once Don does solo shows again, will Simon continue to be part of the line-up? If I were the Purple management, I’d possibly have a word with the two about that, preservation of brand image/value and suchlike … You don’t want 2/5 of an arena-filling act playing the club circuit. Somewhere, there is already a gifted young (wo)man playing who will only be too happy to take Simon’s place in Don’s band.
September 14th, 2024 at 14:15Yes Uwe, the show must go on, even if it means treating a 28 year member of the band like crap! Yes Uwe, the show must go on, even if it means putting out an album, =1, that to me sucks (I know most on this forum won’t agree). Hopefully Simon, who seems like a nice guy, won’t get a bad cold and have to be off the road for 6 weeks because, as you state, the show must go on so the aging rockers would have to find a replacement!! As for Simon continuing to be part of Don’s solo shows, the Purple management should stay out of it. Don should talk with Simon one to one, unlike the band, cowards they are, who had management tell Steve he was no longer part of the band!!
September 14th, 2024 at 23:17I happened to talk with guy at the Scranton show, who saw Steve solo since his departure from Purple. He told me he asked Steve what happened between him and Purple, and Steve politely told him he didn’t want to talk about it. He said Steve acted like a true gentleman when that question was brought up and didn’t bad mouth his former bandmates.
September 15th, 2024 at 00:14Calm down, Leslie, I liked Steve with Purple too. Showbiz can be merciless.
I was with my law firm for 36 years, 29 of them as a partner and reasonably popular with most people. If I had fallen seriously sick, being unable to work, the firm would have continued paying my distributions as a partner for another six months by our partnership agreement and likely for another six months more even after that because we were mostly made up of nice people. But not long after that someone would have sat down with me and asked: “Uwe, how is this supposed to go forward?” And if I had then answered: “I don’t know whether and when I will be able to contribute again.”, consequences would have occurred. I fail to see what was so different in the “Purple & Steve”-scenario, call me heartless.
Steve was the lead guitarist in a heritage band that makes its living by playing concerts – lots of them and mostly in markets outside of the US. He knew that he wasn’t joining Lynyrd Skynyrd or Molly Hatchet and be touring only the South of the US for the rest of his life. When he could no longer perform his part of the deal (for, I repeat, the most honorable reasons imaginable), the clock was ticking, anything else was delusional.
PS: Now I feel like that ruthless (but efficient) German U-Boat Captain in the (very good) Allied WW II propaganda movie “Lifeboat” by Alfred Hitchcock where the incognito German U-Boat captain (his sub also sunk, but he doesn’t reveal his rank when saved) eventually explains to the survivors of the merchant ship he torpedoed that he pushed their wounded out of the lifeboat at night (while all the others were sleeping, drained from exhaustion and exposure) for the collective good because “they would have died anyway from their wounds and it saves our limited freshwater supplies so we all now have a better chance of surviving”. And then smiles maliciously.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKYPN8ACx20
The film wasn’t widely screened at the time because there were concerns by Allied censor boards that Hitchcock portrayed the U-Boat Kapitän’s behavior for all his social Darwinism in a still too understandable, sympathetic light (it is his incessant rowing of the lifeboat – made possible by extra freshwater he has hidden only for himself – that eventually leads the boat to another ship for the survivors to be saved) .
https://the.hitchcock.zone/1000/30/0680.jpg
It’s worth watching.
September 15th, 2024 at 01:06If McBride doesn’t start to improvise soon, maybe they should start consider looking into the jazz circuit for someone who will? A less busy player, big on improvisation, would hopefully wake the rest of the band up as well. Paicey is sounding more lively as of lately, which is a good sign.
September 15th, 2024 at 10:03You are correct Uwe. Showbiz, and big corporations can be merciless. Funny you mentioned Subs. I served on them in the Navy. By the way, my favorite Submarine Movie is “Das Boat” One of the best movies ever made IMHO. As for the band known as Deep Purple. They’ve been my favorite band since 1973. to be a DP fan means putting up with many “Highs” and a few “Lows”. Hopefully they will put out another album that will be a “Big High”!! 🙂
September 15th, 2024 at 11:48The weakest member of the band should now be asked. “When will you be able to perform effectively and consistently so as to maintain the integrity and legacy of this great band whilst on tour and do right by the ticket paying public” if he answers “I can’t give you any guarantees about that” maybe the others should proceed to identify and invite a suitable replacement to join. Management could then tell him the bad news.
That’s never going to happen of course but the same principles apply in Steve’s case and any cursory look at YouTube videos from the current tour confirms that Gillan is mostly not anywhere near up to the job he is being paid for. You can tell from the body language and expressions on his bandmates faces that they know the game is up. Good luck to Simon however, he is a very competent guitarist.
Steve should have been afforded a great deal more respect from the others and I am now done with Deep Purple.
September 15th, 2024 at 14:59Ian Gillan is an 80-year-old man singing songs that were written for a 25 year old. I have no complaints, he’s holding up fine given the circumstances and nature’s merciless toll on all of us. I’m 63 and there are lots of things I can’t do as well anymore as when I was an adolescent, wet dreams among them.
Leslie, how long did you serve on subs? ‘Das Boot’ continues to have many fans, I guess it caught the atmosphere on a German U-Boot in WW II quite well, it’s sort of seen as the benchmark in submarine films. With the exception of Jürgen Prochnow as the Kaleu, the cast was largely unknown at the time, but nearly all of them enjoyed reputable careers in German movies and TV after ‘Das Boot’.
September 15th, 2024 at 23:26Hi Uwe. Thanks for asking. I served on Submarines for 2 years until I became a Corpsman. I made 2 patrols under Artic Circle. How about yourself Uwe? I believe I read in other posts that you play musical instruments.
September 16th, 2024 at 06:54Yes, the Cast of Das Boat was largely unknown but they sure did a Great job! I am glad they had good careers in German movies and TV!!