Quotes from Ritchie Blackmore

But you have to give your whole life to a cello. When I realized that, I went back to the guitar and just turned the volume up a bit louder.

When something is not good, it's bad. Period.

When you've toured for about 10 years like me, you end up feeling like you're always waiting for somebody or something. The whole day is a drag.

Jimi... He was the gov'nor and that's it. He was brilliant, wasn't he?

I'm very moved by Renaissance music, but I still love to play hard rock - though only if it's sophisticated and has some thought behind it.

I'm not good enough, technically, to be a classic musician. I lack discipline.

I've always played every amp I've ever had full up, because rock and roll is supposed to be played loud. Also, that's how you get your sustain.

I don't use the twang bar anymore. It's become too popular.

Learning to play with a big amplifier is like trying to control an elephant.

I was impressed by Hendrix. Not so much by his playing, as his attitude - he wasn't a great player, but everything else about him was brilliant.

Learning to play with a big amplifier is like trying to control an elephant.

I don't put myself on Jeff Beck's level, but I can relate to him when he says he'd rather be working on his car collection than playing the guitar.

The only way you can get good, unless you're a genius, is to copy. That's the best thing. Just steal.

I was impressed by Hendrix. His attitude was brilliant. Even the way he walked was amazing.

Stevie Ray Vaughan was very intense. Maybe that's what caught everybody's attention. As a player, he didn't do anything amazing.

I found the blues too limiting, and classical was too disciplined.

I can imagine that Rod Stewart likes giving autographs because he's pure showbusiness.

They used to complain at school that I looked out of the window for long periods of time - that sums up my life. I like to look out the window, do nothing, daydream.

Johnny Winter is one of the best blues players in the world. He's very underrated.

I don't see myself as such an important guitarist.

I never work out my leads. Everything I do is usually totally spontaneous. If someone says, 'That was good; play that again,' I'm not able to do it.

Those record companies don't know what's happening at all.

Ian Gillan, Roger Glover and I wanted to be a hard rock band - we wanted to play rock and roll only.

Everything I do is usually totally spontaneous.