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Gillan vs. Blackmore: Deathmatch 1993

The year is 1993 and relations between Ian Gillan and Ritchie Blackmore have hit the all time low. Even discounting for the very dry, very British sense of humour, you can tell. This in from the interviews given to Swedish TV Metal Magazinet some time in late 1993:

Thanks to many people who’ve sent in the link.



18 Comments to “Gillan vs. Blackmore: Deathmatch 1993”:

  1. 1
    Matt Love says:

    ian was just an ale cart 🙂

  2. 2
    Vesinokkaelaein says:

    Hahaa, that was funny. Great guys these brothers. They haven’t taken the alledged antagonisms too seriously themselves, so what’s the big hassle about it among the fans?

  3. 3
    Rascal says:

    Ritchie who?

  4. 4
    Henrik Maymann says:

    – it is hilariously childish.

  5. 5
    69 says:

    Haha, I knew the beating up in a back alley thing, but Gillan´s “I didn´t say that…yes I did” is just as funny. Always nice to remember it wasn´t quite as bad afterall as the fans always make it out to be.

  6. 6
    steffen says:

    Really great! Funny guys!

  7. 7
    Jerry Bloom says:

    Ritchie’s comments were definitely tongue in cheek, although he even denied saying them when published in a magazine and confronted the interviewer, Anders Tegner about it. When Anders told him he had the film to prove, Ritchie backed down! Ian’s comments are probably a bit more heartfelt. Still the friction made for a great tour. Incidentally these are two of the best interviews I’ve seen with both men. The full unedited interviews are great. The Ritchie one is about an hour long.

  8. 8
    Mark Bee says:

    The music has been boring since Ritchie left.

  9. 9
    Cranberry says:

    Children!! Children!! Please!!

    Are these grown men??

  10. 10
    Eugene says:

    Wanna bet that these two gentlemen never could without each other?

  11. 11
    Strangeman says:

    Egos can be ugly things.

    If one considers the lyrical meaning of ‘Knocking At Your Back Door’, Ritchie’s threat takes on a most unsavory character.

    *cue banjo*

  12. 12
    alina says:

    Could anyone please tell me wha’t IG is calling Ritchie? Intellectual …. what? I’m not a native English speaker therefore I couldn’t understand what he said although I listened it more than once. Thanks

  13. 13
    Svante Pettersson says:

    “Intellectual dwarf”

  14. 14
    Dennis Hanna says:

    Alina: Ian called Ritchie “an intellectual dwarf”……meaning he’s not very smart. Personally I think they were both very tongue in cheek, especially Ritchie talking about beating up Ian Gillan in a back alley! To be serious though, Ritchie and Ian both achieved their greatest success while working together and perhaps that’s half the problem. They both needed the spark of tension to induce their optimum performances. Trouble is that in the close confines of a band that spark turns into all out war. I wish both of them well and thank them for some monumental gigs that for me started in September 1972 at Sheffield City Hall, England. Since then I’ve seen them many times including Knebworth 85 (my clothes are still in the drier). Great times, great memories. God bless all Purple people especially Ian and Ritchie…..time may heal…..time to forgive?

  15. 15
    alina says:

    Thanks a lot

  16. 16
    aditya says:

    i think that’s un usuall event.Consider these guys are the masters

  17. 17
    Bruno says:

    Gillan e Blackmore, a melhor dupla de voz e guitarra do Rock ‘n’ Roll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  18. 18
    BMRB says:

    damn you Gillan!

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