
(Omnibus Press). Ritchie Blackmore's early days saw him mixing with colorful characters like Screaming Lord Sutch, Joe Meek, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Then he became a defining member of Seventies legends Deep Purple, creating the rock anthems "Black Knight" and "Smoke on the Water."...


Dubbed the 'man in black', guitarist Ritchie Blackmore found fame with Seventies rock giants Deep Purple, then walked away from them to create Rainbow, only to abandon them and form another band in 1997 Blackmore's Night.