Pilot Lounge - Steve Morse, Deep Purple lead guitarist

Steve Morse, lead guitarist for Deep Purple, Dixie Dregs and other bands, has been flying since he was a teenager. He has an incredible stable of aircraft and flys off his own grass strip in Florida.

[@johndonato3638]

After a Dregs concert in NYC the band accommodated a meet-n-greet for autographs. When I asked Steve to autograph my pilot license, the rest of the band said "OH YEAH!!" and he was really excited to do it. He is such a neat guy on so many levels.

[@reidmcclure1438]

If my memory is correct, Steve recorded his masterpiece album, “High Tension Wires” during his commercial aviation career. He recorded during his down-time (Hours of Service requirements). I can only imagine him writing the compositions in his head while soaring above the beautiful landscapes, tunes such as “Country Colors” and “Highland Wedding”. Thanks for this terrific interview. Thanks for shining a spotlight on this world-class human being!

[@headfirstonly]

This is the first time I've seen Steve interviewed where he doesn't have a guitar in his hands. One of the greatest guitarists in the history of rock music, and yet back in the 80s he had to make a living as a pilot...

[@tracyeaves4847]

For a short period yes, flew commercial out of ATL.

[@walterpriori9589]

NEVER NEW THAT LEGEND STEVE MORSE OF DEEP PURPLE WAS SUCH AN EXPERENCED AVIATOR, THANKS FOR THAT GREAT INTERVIEW AOPA

[@steveb7310]

He’s a great example of a Rock & Roll life done right.

[@MrUltraworld]

As a fan of his music all these years, it makes perfect sense that he's a capable pilot. I never pass up a chance to hear him speak.

[@daffidavit]

I woke up late and tuned in to this interview. I couldn't leave my desk. Steve Morse learned to fly about the same time as I and about the same age but he's had a unique flying career .

[@mariovuksanovic5077]

Steve is super human....he is a regular guy when you see him in interviews....but his actions speak much louder than his words...

[@MartinRuferOfficial]

What a wonderful human being. Forever young 😊😊😊

[@challenger2ultralightadventure]

Kind of brings it all into perspective, I had no idea Steve Morse was such a capable aviator. Great interview, and maybe you can have him back for a 1 hr fireside chat, telling stories that inspire, educate, and entertain. Story telling is one of the oldest forms of entertainment and learning, that go back thousands of years. It would be a shame for all his lifes experiences to simply be gone without ever sharing. That's true of dozens of other aviation personalities, like Burt Rutan, or the more recent Mike Patey (Draco). It could be another AOPA weekly or monthly 1 hr sit down presentation. Those videos would last forever, and keep aviation history alive and exciting. In fact, it would be even more dynamic if you had two guests at the same time, from different backgrounds. Like Steve Morse from the band Deep Purple and Joel Swager, winner of the 2018 Reno Air Races Unlimited Class. That type of combination would make for interesting interaction as well as great stories and learning opportunities. Cheers from Winnipeg.

[@julienlepilote]

That is one of the best video for me! I am a french pilot and a fan of DP and Steve since I'm a teenage! Thank you thank you thank you a thousand times! Merci beaucoup ! (I was hoping a tour of his planes though). Let's do John Travolta and Harrison Ford.... Keep going!

[@Jackson12438]

Me too! In near future going to learn on PPL.

[@AGDinCA]

Aviation isn't really my thing, but Deep Purple is... and so I clicked. Not only did I enjoy listening to Steve, I also gained a new appreciation for piloting. 🙂💜

[@MarijeEssink]

Steve just is an amazing guy who usually has lot of interesting things to say and stories to tell! I've posted this great conversation on his official Facebook-page (I'm on Steve's webteam). Thanks AOPA for doing this!

[@patrickmcguire9663]

It's not often you see a New Holland? wind-rower and an airplane in the same building. Been a fan for about 40 years Steve, thank you for your wonderful music.

[@tonyspada2744]

I started Flying cuz my Dad used to take us to the airport to sit behind the fence and watch little Cessnas land.Also SKY KING was my hero . I fell in love with the 310 too.I told my dad I finally made it over that fence :) I wanted to buy a Tri Pacer Milking Stool a few years ago.I remember talking to you at several shows we did together about our Love for Flying -

[@scatcatcnut]

Interviewing Steve this week for Guitar Player magazine re new Deep Purple album - came here for a bit of background info for his non-guitar life - great interview even though I didn't know way more than half of what he was describing!

[@davidjfoster2133]

LOVE the Dregs. I didn't know he was a pilot.

[@Jackson12438]

Steave Morse greate guy and guitar player! I'm happy,that I met hi two times in Moscow after concert!

[@Jackson12438]

I' m also flying on airplane big models with gas engines!

[@aerialimagesbydoug5733]

Great interview , Steve Morse has great flying stories !

[@lancomedic]

I wasn't expecting much from this but it turned out to be great.

[@Dtulis]

Thanks for the great insight into Steve's aviation and his music. That was super cool! The Dixie Dregs were an Atlanta staple but I didn't know about his aviation skills.

[@bowhuntinoh]

great interview.

[@ktmlifer]

Great interview with The Aviator... I've known about his flying career but not to this detail. Was great hearing him name off all the planes he's owned and flown, even gliders which I love. The really great part is how he explained the similarities between flying and playing guitar. They go hand in hand. Thanks for the post AOPA. See The Aviator video commemorating Steve's love for airplanes: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHjEdZluj76rjbM

[@thinkcivil1627]

In the 1980s he was an airline pilot for a while when he was trying to decide what to do in life. He was winning all of these awards as a guitarist, but he wasn't making very much money at that time. I'm glad that he picked the career as a guitarist.

[@philvalade2437]

Really cool. Thanks

[@JonMulveyGuitar]

Made my Day!! Thanks AOPALive

[@FusionMonkey847]

I've been envious of Steve for years for his guitar playing and piloting abilities. If I find out he is also a good golfer, I may start to hate him!

[@MarijeEssink]

He's into dirtbiking ;-)

[@FusionMonkey847]

@@MarijeEssink Whew! At least I don't do that anymore.

[@N412BE]

What a super nice and down to earth person. Tom, you seemed like you didn’t prep well for the interview or maybe were star struck...like me.

[@GEMSGuy]

I never realized Steve has owned more airplanes than guitars

[@genecalkins4555]

Hi Steve if you use a commercial fertilizer on your runway the critters will not live there.. we apply fertilizer every two years and it keeps the critters to a minimum. Happy flying and stay safe. Gene

[@pb12661]

he's that guy who, if shit hit the fan and the food supply etc. got screwed, he'd make it. lol

[@adamlewis917]

For all you young'uns out there this is the type of thing that we used to go do when I was a kid. Run, jump and PLAY outside.

[@EatPezzzz]

I met Steve about 20 years ago. Super nice guy and went out of his way to take time for his fans. In contrast, I met Yngwie a couple weeks after that. What a douche!! lol.

[@beeps123]

Maybe Yngwie felt that u looked like a douche. There’s no reason why he should be nice to u. And just what he wasn’t, for whatever reasons, ur now here trashing him??!! 🤡

[@pb12661]

@@beeps123 when stories like the op keeps repeating itself, it's probably true. It's not hard to imagine. Have you ever heard the saying; "never meet your idols." lol

[@jhaedtler]

Sky Kings first plane was a twin Cessna but it was a T-50 Bobcat! Better know as a Bamboo Bomber!

[@bernardc2553]

Great story,Aopa, Steve,major fan of DP, I learn by building my own, U/C no money for kits,, sat on A/P fence until 1 Day a rancher took me for a ride, I Swallowed that hook !!

[@ronnybaize]

Notice the Kitfox airplane in the back and hay rake

[@jsemashko]

Special thanks for this funny stories about Russian aviation ) Steve, we love you, and waiting next time you come to Moscow!

[@froggyziffle]

Ha, I was a Sky King kid too.

[@peterkraus2249]

Member of the band Kansas for awhile!

[@acangial1]

No surprise his parents were well educated.

[@reidmcclure1438]

His father was/is a Presbyterian minister I believe.

[@Zyworski]

You can see that Steve has a real passion for aviation, should have just stuck with that topic for the whole interview and forget about the your a famous guitarist angle.

[@dennisharrington6055]

Thanks. I guess, no time for a haircut

[@MarijeEssink]

Haircut? His hair used to be way longer ;-)

[@dennisharrington6055]

Marije Essink This lockdown goes on much longer, I’m gonna look like him

[@JeffMileyGuitar]

He's a rock and roll star. He's had long hair his whole life

[@MarijeEssink]

@@JeffMileyGuitar Actually he cut his hair in 1987 for a job as a commercial airline pilot, but the next year he left that job and grew his hair back out 😉

[@JeffMileyGuitar]

@@MarijeEssink Marije, yes you're right I forgot about that! That was when the High Tension Wires album came out.