Ritchie Blackmore is one of the most famous guitarists in rock history. Best known for his work with Deep Purple and later Rainbow, Blackmore has always been someone who wanted to push boundaries. He never liked staying in one style for too long. If he felt something was missing, he searched for new sounds and ideas.
In the late 1960s, Deep Purple was still finding its identity. At first, they mixed rock with classical music. Keyboardist Jon Lord loved adding orchestral sounds, and Blackmore enjoyed it too—but deep down, he wanted something heavier. He once said that if their pure rock approach didn’t work, they could always go back to orchestral music. Luckily, that gamble paid off.
The Breakthrough of In Rock
In 1970, Deep Purple released In Rock. This album was loud, heavy, and full of energy. It helped the band stand out from other groups at the time and became a turning point in their career. Songs like “Speed King” and “Child in Time” showed that Deep Purple could be both powerful and musically adventurous.
Blackmore and drummer Ian Paice were proud of what they had created. But soon after, something happened that surprised them both and pushed Blackmore to think even bigger.
The Night Blackmore Heard Mississippi Queen
One night in 1970, Blackmore and Paice were in a bar in Germany. While they were sitting there, a new song started playing. It was loud, raw, and incredibly powerful. Both of them were shocked.
Blackmore asked the DJ what it was, and the answer came back: “Mississippi Queen” by Mountain.
Mountain was a band led by guitarist Leslie West. Their sound was heavy and direct, and Mississippi Queen quickly became one of the most famous hard rock songs of the era. Blackmore later admitted that he and Paice just looked at each other in disbelief. The song had such a massive sound that it left them stunned.
A Wake-Up Call
For Blackmore, hearing Mississippi Queen was a wake-up call. Deep Purple had just made their heavy breakthrough with In Rock, but Mountain showed him that rock could be even harder, even more raw. It wasn’t about complexity or classical arrangements—it was about pure power and energy.
This moment gave Blackmore extra motivation. If he wanted Deep Purple to stand among the best, he knew he had to keep pushing the sound further. Instead of being discouraged, he took it as inspiration to explore heavier riffs and more aggressive playing.
The Lasting Influence
Deep Purple went on to release more classic albums like Machine Head and Made in Japan, filled with legendary songs such as “Smoke on the Water.” Blackmore’s guitar style became louder, sharper, and more iconic with each record. While his classical roots never disappeared, the raw power of bands like Mountain helped shape his vision of what rock music could be.
Why This Story Matters
What makes this story special is that even great musicians can be inspired—or even shocked—by others. Blackmore was already one of the top guitarists of his time, but hearing Mississippi Queen reminded him that music is always growing. It pushed him to experiment more and helped Deep Purple cement their place as one of the biggest hard rock bands in history.
It’s a great reminder that creativity often comes from being open to new influences—even if they surprise you.