Why Ritchie Blackmore and Steve Luongo didn't click!

[@WKelleyLucas_KustomScatterguns]

Classy telling of the story with a level-headed perspective.

[@robertjohnson1681]

_"Nah, he's a song writer from Greenwich Village."_ 😃😂 Perfect comeback!

[@lilmoe4364]

The name sounds familiar..

[@isaiahmarquez9717]

“Robert Dylon, you say? Does he spit hot fire?”

[@richard623]

Always interesting to hear stories about Ritchie 👍

[@Romulus980]

Yeah but now he is a pussy cat who never stops talking on youtube ; a very different Ritchie to the old moody difficult persona of the past...

[@deepzepp4176]

Great story, told with grace as well. Nice 👌

[@ohno2112]

That’s great he started off with laughter. Beautiful sums it up.

[@VincePalamaraJFK]

***MYSTERY SOLVED*** This must be the always unnamed drummer I have read about in numerous accounts after they let Bobby Rondinelli go and BEFORE Chuck Burgi was hired on (early 1983, between STRAIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES and BENT OUT OF SHAPE). He actually went to the studio and recorded at least one song (which, with his drums erased, ended up on BENT OUT OF SHAPE) and the story goes that the others were just not happy with the time signatures.

[@garymoore2535]

As soon as I heard the term "Lead Drummer", I knew it wasn't going to end well 😂😂😂 When Ritchie auditioned Cozy Powell he asked Cosy to sustain a basic drum pattern for 15 minutes. Cozy said yes and started playing. Whilst Cozy was playing Ritchie actually left the room and didn't return for several minutes. When Ritchie did return Cozy was still playing, right on the beat. Many drummers would have said WTF and stopped playing when Ritchie left.....not Cozy, Cozy did exactly what he had been asked to do, without fuss or drama. Ritchie already knew Cozy had the ability otherwise he would never asked him to audition.......what Ritchie established was that Cozy could be relied upon to do what he said he would do......and would therefore be a good fit for the band !

[@jimilove7773]

Cozy!

[@stevem-h3562]

Cozy was one of the greatest drummers England has produced. I remember seeing him playing with Whitesnake in 1981. One of the two greatest drummers I've ever seen live.

[@lilmoe4364]

Cozy Powell was so damn good

[@dnx112]

Cozy stuck Dio in the back.

[@Frip36]

@@dnx112 As long as you realize you could be wrong.

[@Bigchet1223]

I think Ritchies current wife is the only person that has been able to stay with Ritchie in any musical capacity for any length of time. She has to be a saint.

[@loucontino4804]

I think she is a sort of a soothing force for him.

[@amakrid]

Hahahaha!!!

[@2500BC]

The power of poon tang. A friend of his told me of a conversation very early in the blackmores night formation that went like this: Friend: “she cant really sing though” Ritchie: “do YOU want to tell her that?”

[@cameronlewis1218]

I saw Steve Luongo with John Entwistle. He’s good. Very good. If anyone is interested, there’s plenty to see right here on KZbin of that collaboration…

[@richardperusse4299]

incredible, Ritchie change his mind as often he change clothes each day ....but i respect him as a guitrarist and his work with Purple and Rainbow i adore all that stuff he made ....

[@ExileOnMyStreet]

Ritchie and his wife were playing a Christmas party here on Long Island for someone I know this past Christmas (2022). My friend attempted to introduce me to Ritchie during the intermission by saying, "Hey Ritchie, I want you to meet a friend of mine"...etc..etc..Ritchie just gave a dismissive shrug with a "Who cares" look on his face, turned his back and walked away without even so much as looking in my direction.

[@Losrandir]

Well, not all artists are that people friendly... he might have meant you no harm....

[@andrewkaiser7203]

That was his version of polite! ;)

[@PlayerToBeNamedLater1973]

I don't blame him. Why would he want to meet you? Was he supposed to pretend to be impressed and excited? That would be disingenuous and phony. If in fact the story is true ( which I doubt) , you are an idiot for expecting any other reaction.

[@ExileOnMyStreet]

@@PlayerToBeNamedLater1973 100% true. I'm not bothered by it, just felt it was rude. Common human decency and all that.

[@ExileOnMyStreet]

@@andrewkaiser7203 Yeah, it is what it is. His wife appears to be a sweetheart.

[@ericcampbell6370]

I'm sure we've all been in Rainbow for a week.

[@jonvee7014]

A great story, Thanks for sharing…

[@warthogA10]

The thing about Ritchie is... You never know. You never know if he's joking You never know if he's serious You never know anything The only thing you ever know is that he amuses himself by keeping people guessing/uncertain.

[@CB-xr1eg]

It's known as being an enigma.

[@brianshaffneraclc]

Speaking as a bassist here, I think I'd rather just be in a band with an amiable goof ball, like Alex Lifeson or Ace Frehley. ;)

[@warthogA10]

@@brianshaffneraclc same here. As much as I'd like to sit with Ritchie and just talk, (well listen) it just seems like id walk away not knowing if anything was serious. And being in a band w him sounds very stresseful and potentially dangerous 🤣

[@michaelolz]

That photo in the thumbnail had me laughing out loud. 😆

[@harrisfrankou2368]

"Why Ritchie Blackmore and Planet Earth's entire Rock Community didn't click."

[@kaikenlaistamukavaako5787]

Now I want to hear a blackmores story of this drummer😂

[@EvilEyeGypsy]

Steve played in John Entwistle’s band for years, so he’s obviously a talented drummer. My guess is it may have just been a personality thing.

[@VesaGuardian]

You won't.

[@dnx112]

Easy to figure, Richie has always been a creep.

[@VIDEOHEREBOB]

Steve is a Class Act going all the back to his days with Rat Race Choir. That was a band that deserved to make it.

[@AlexAlexon3897]

Interesting. There was also a bass-player who was in Rainbow for around a week in 1994, at the start of the Doogie White era. Oh, and Jack Green in '78. You could make a great band out of Rainbow nearly-men, with Eddie Jobson, Ian Lloyd, Chris Glen, etc. Chris Glen actually said to Ritchie Blackmore: "I'd rather keep you as a friend than be in the band and have a fall-out." Seems sensible!

[@graemeyetts3465]

Also MARK CLARKE on bass.

[@andrewcowie9344]

Chris glen is a so sensible no nonsense. Well respected Glasgow guy.keep rockin to all.

[@metacosmos]

Other people were never considered by RB such robert plant, byron, neil murray, chris squire, roger waters, carl palmer, greg lake, john enwistle, john paul jones, emerson, Paul macartney, ...and many bass players and drummers playing for jetrho tull, genesis, yes, ...

[@robchell9196]

Rat Race at RCC……made me the keyboard player I am today. When I play “Time”, I think of them and those great days in the late’70’s.

[@isaiahmarquez9717]

That story is hilarious. 😂

[@deadsimpleband6922]

So glad he didn't take any crap from that AH. I used to chat with Steve all the time in the Long Island clubs when he was with RRC, he was always a good guy.

[@jamesfriend481]

There was a guitar player mag interview with Richie Blackmore a few years back and he actually said a couple of things that I thought were hilarious, and Candice Night seems like a really nice lady and she puts up with him so he can’t be all bad.

[@jeffbauer3425]

Well she's fine , and Ritchie's old . So .....

[@rap3208]

@@dashriprock5720 He probably is just not a people person, doesn't socialize if not needed, doesn't make small talk, does not make any effort to be polite or nice just for politeness sake, etc....and that is the antithesis of a public figure.

[@MartinMaat]

Let's say he has an awkward sense of humor which is virtually indistinguishable from being an asshole.

[@KnockAndAskToday]

He's an introvert privately and on stage. There's only flashes of extroverted behaviour when the crowd call for it. Introverts don't really like endless introductions to people they don't know or being expected to act happy all the time. Thats all the excuses I can think of.....some of the other behaviour was uncalled for.

[@careful...Icarus]

I dont think 25 yr old Ritchie and Candace would've gotten on.

[@loucontino4804]

Ritchie was into supernatural stuff that I think screwed with his demeanor a great deal. Candace is the only one I’ve seen soothe the savage beast.

[@JRan67]

Tells a great story

[@laurenzgraffilpenstein8117]

Never heard him before.. Very interesting

[@insidethemusicalmind7207]

Interesting. I interviewed Mark Hitt of Rat Race Choir a few years ago. Talented guys for sure.

[@taproom113]

Steve's a Great guy. He'd be welcome in my band any day ... oh, wait ... I'm the drummer ... never mind ;-) ^v^

[@barryrammer7906]

What I love about this guy is that he has the New Jersey grit. You said f*** y** I'm playing this I'm a d*** good drummer you're not going to put me down.

[@WilliamsDad1989]

Didn't make the cut though did he? He did some alright playing with Entwistle.

[@barryrammer7906]

@WilliamsDad1989 he's a good drummer. Just personality differences with Ritchie. He's a well-respected drummer. Not s slouch. Just did not work out. Life lol 😆

[@williamcharlton3836]

And he missed out cos of attitude well done...

[@barryrammer7906]

@William Charlton he was already out he knew it. He left with his pride. I love Purple and Rainbow. It is what it is, but he left with his pride. My favorite rainbow drummer is and always be Cozy Powell rip. Blacker should have kept him at all cost.

[@bertbecker7532]

Probably could have played in The Who. I had a live Rat Race Choir tape with Entwistle from the mid 80s and they played the Who stuff very well.

[@kevinkhoy7171]

Blackmore set the standard for Primadonna lead guitarist! He was a living legend at that time. From Van Halen, Yngwie, & even Randy Rhoads. They all learn from the Master 🎸

[@VesaGuardian]

@@dashriprock5720 Can be both: primadonna to the band members and creative genius to the audience.

[@kevinkhoy7171]

@@dashriprock5720 Vesa Vartiainen reply sum's it up quite Clearly. 🤔

[@muhammadnoorrohani1690]

Master Lead Guitarist.

[@MerkinMuffly]

@@dashriprock5720 Ok, let's call him a twat, now go look up the definition for that Hermione.

[@rickcook7308]

Say what you want about this guy being a little douchy but he is a mind blowing drummer who in the 70s and early 80s was way ahead of his time. Rat Race Choir was the undisputed king of the bands in the tri-state era. Untouchable. Mark Hitt was a genius guitarist’s guitarist. Saw them 100 times.

[@greatunz67]

That's why they are such a household name now right? Lol

[@PlayerToBeNamedLater1973]

You know what is ironic? People who would use a term like 'douchy' are the prime example of what they're trying to describe by using the term 😆

[@PlayerToBeNamedLater1973]

@@chrislambert5571 'Karen' is another example. If you have the intellect to think for yourself, you'll find you don't need to use idiotic slang words just because you've heard other people doing it. Those of us who are able to form original thoughts have sympathy for people who have to depend upon moronic social trends to communicate with one another. Sympathy ... and contempt.

[@PlayerToBeNamedLater1973]

@@chrislambert5571 be sure to see what is trending so you'll know what to say next. Cretin

[@Frip36]

@@PlayerToBeNamedLater1973 Tell us more Karen.

[@wjatube]

The fact is you either want an assertive drummer with big fuckin balls or you want a glorified roadie-boy who will play what you tell him. Amazing Cozy made it 5 years.

[@plantagenant]

If Blackmore didn't have the redeeming feature of being a pretty good guitarist...would there be anything nice to say about him?

[@pablomalaga4676]

his wife

[@PlayerToBeNamedLater1973]

Does it matter? If you judge entertainers by their personalities, you are probably going to have a very short list of people to listen to. They are artists. Not role models . It's nobody's business what they do or how they act when they're not making music

[@plantagenant]

@@PlayerToBeNamedLater1973 Does it matter? No. Am I free to express my opinion? Yes.

[@PlayerToBeNamedLater1973]

@@plantagenant I am also free to to explain why his personality is not something you should be concerned about. It has nothing to do with his music , which is the only reason you even know who he is .

[@jhutt8002]

​@Greg Peterson Yeah. I mean he was great guitarist, but 70's Rainbow was pretty much the best band of all time through first three albums despite all the lineup changes. While Dio did more than his share on that, calling Blackmore just a great guitarist is very much underration of his talent.

[@jaixaphoto]

Why am I not surprised he could not stay in the band?

[@williamcharlton3836]

Seems a bit of a dick to me

[@whynottalklikeapirat]

Yeah why?

[@jonblackers4339]

It reminded me of the moment Eddie Jobsen wasnt hired by Ritchie.

[@robertmaynard4265]

Ritchie really good 👍 saw the fair well tour without em

[@davetisch574]

I know someone who was able to convince Ritchie to sign his Purple and Rainbow-vinyls! .

[@harrynewiss4630]

My uncle knocked about with Blackmore before he was famous. He has a few stories. A very strange man.

[@robsco1249]

So let US know them...

[@noahmichael2213]

I've never heard a good story about Ritchie Blackmore

[@PlayerToBeNamedLater1973]

Yet you spend your time watching videos featuring stories about him. .

[@noahmichael2213]

@@PlayerToBeNamedLater1973 what? this video is about Steve's career

[@PlayerToBeNamedLater1973]

@@noahmichael2213 this video is about his experience with Blackmore. One week in Steve's career, which was spent with Blackmore and his band . Hence the title

[@CB-xr1eg]

@@noahmichael2213 Oh dear, did you actually watch the video?

[@CKS64]

Being one of the best guitar players is not a free pass to be a jerk.

[@Frip36]

It allows you to be a jerk. So, yeah, kind of a free pass.

[@davidbennett6786]

Back in the early 80's drove about 5 hours to see Rainbow.....he literally played with his back to the crowd almost the whole night.....so yeah agree no free pass

[@Frip36]

@@davidbennett6786 So who paid for his mansion and 18 cars?

[@davidbennett6786]

@@Frip36 not sure that has anything to do with being a jerk....even at the RnR Hall of Fame.....Glover,Paice,Gillian didn't; want to play with Ritchie....maybe they know a whole lot more than all of us.

[@Bigchet1223]

Yngwie, Ritchie, Michael Schenker, Jeff beck. Ted nugent would disagree.

[@rushmore3927]

You could click and still not last with RB. He roll that way.

[@dallassukerkin6878]

The guy couldn't get along with Dio, so there you go :D Mind you I have heard that professionally Ronnie took no BS so maybe it was a case of trying to mix oil and water?

[@timrobinson100]

Seems a really nice guy/ sometimes I don’t understand Ritchie

[@ROOM-zq7du]

Woa what a story!sounds like the Pete Best experience but he just last longer tho

[@soeffingwhat]

Difference is Pete Best was considered not good enough, Steve Luongo was good enough but was a "lead" drummer.

[@ROOM-zq7du]

@@soeffingwhat Really!I didn't know, i thought it was different/personal reasons other than technical issues,anyway thanks

[@EvilEyeGypsy]

Steve played in John Entwistle’s band for years, so I doubt it was an issue of not being good enough. Probably a personality or stylistic difference.

[@robseibertgulfcoastrealest3243]

Good dude and beast of a drummer!

[@richardwarfordjr.5622]

Richie Blackmore is great! He's been the greatest guitarists that nobody understands is all

[@dbert5963111]

i can now understand why the band captain beyond was formed.

[@TheGravygun]

i'm digging that green hair

[@Bigchet1223]

Don't know who Steve luongo is. But very few people click with Ritchie. Most bands he's been a part of there has been a revolving door of members. That's no coincidence. Ritchie is a strange bird. Great talent and player no doubt.

[@sblack48]

Nobody clicked with Ritchie

[@scifiordie]

But is there someone who did click with Ritchie?

[@jamesfriend481]

Candice Night

[@paulsteezo1772]

Rainbow....RITCHIE BLACKMORE'S EMPLOYMENT AGENCY

[@ianmackenzie686]

Wow. One of the great mysteries of our time solved.

[@OrieCipollaro]

He’s from my area. He was in Rat Race Choir with friends of mine.

[@skullfoot]

RAT RACE CHOIR. Should have been huge!!!!!!! R.I.P. Mark Hitt. greatest ever.

[@misfit2022]

Still longer than the great Anton Fig was in Kiss which was one day according to Ace Frehley

[@careful...Icarus]

Did he take down any Tie Fighters during the interview?

[@batphink2655]

It's very simple Blackmore is a 'General Arsehole' who is a bit of an expert in the 'Art Of Arseholery', just saying lol!

[@Digibeatle09]

This one is a variation on an old joke that, in its original form, centers on a certain personage from 1930s/1940s Germany and who "had designs" on certain other countries' territories: Three years from now Deep Purple members Ian Paice, Roger Glover, Don Airey - and a singer who has replaced Ian Gillan (on the latter's having "finally packed it in") - approach Ritchie about rejoining the band as their lead guitarist. Ritchie thinks about it for a few days - and then gets back to them, saying :"Yes - but on one condition - no more Mr. Nice Guy..........."

[@xiaoguan1143]

Ritchie hated his fans,,,and hated everyone else.

[@christineayres7199]

Hence why he literally lives in a castle 🏰 with a Moat around it 😂oh and I forgot a Dragon 🐉 too to eat the Peasants lol 😂

[@vincegedeon6583]

​@@christineayres7199 😂

[@jimilove7773]

Blackmore!

[@Bigchet1223]

Ritchie is a strange bird. Didn't get his driver's license until he was 39 years old. During the perfect strangers reunion tour. Although he owned a slew of expensive classic cars.

[@Mark_J_on_guitar]

Here's abit of wisdom... people who act terribly towards other people.... are terrible people. Period... the end. Roll the credits.

[@jonathonjubb6626]

I bought Rainbow LP as a result and was slightly disappointed...

[@LarryFleetwood8675]

Yes, it's certainly the poppiest or slickest album they ever did.

[@barryrammer7906]

Try rainbow rising you'll never listen to anything else

[@harrynewiss4630]

@@LarryFleetwood8675 Yes horrible record

[@jhutt8002]

Huh? What? Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow is glorious! Snake Charmer, Sixteenth century greensleeves, Man on the Silver Mountain, Temple of the King, Self Portrait... Couple of ok average rock'n'roll pieces in the middle of so many classics don't make album bad... They crafted the sound on that album that was perfected in Rising with way more capable band, creating whole genre of european power metal in the process.

[@AlmostReady504]

It's pretty cool and interesting his honesty. You never hear a drummer say I play a massive kit AND "I'm an over- player. I'm a lead drummer". Ha! Blackmore sounds like a bit of a knob. Wonder what was up his arse!

[@johnmcminn9455]

I have heard Blackmore hates talking about the music business and bands, and will talk about everything the weather or local grocery store, but music is off limits

[@usa91787]

From what I gather Ritchie Blackmore is a fairly difficult person.

[@itnaklipse1669]

Disgruntled ex-employee of the month :D So Ritchie wasn't impressed with his playing or style, but obviously he knew what Ritchie needed for his own band... and Ritchie of course is the jerk.. right-o!

[@theklaus7436]

I stood in an elevator in 81. And Ritchie came in. Apparently introvert so no nothing and no autographs.

[@krotart]

I think Ritchie Blackmore is on the spectrum

[@mrski749]

​@@krotart yeah I've always said as well I think Buckethead is also

[@paulvon2378]

let it go, Steve.

[@VRPRocks]

Strange comment. I literally asked him about it 😂

[@michaelhiggs8657]

Mark Clarke didn't last long either.

[@Unsung_Earth]

Somewhere over the rainbow 🌈😂

[@frankieboy8414]

He looks like Andrew Dice Clay

[@Johnny-oy9fh]

Nobody ever clicks with Blackmore lol

[@MrGrand2000]

Rat Race Choir,the biggest bar band that never went anywhere..

[@robbiegarnz7732]

It sounds like the band wasn’t big enough for both their egos!

[@davidrothenberg5455]

According to Ronnie James Dio, Blackmore actually spat on fans. I believe that to be true. Blackmore is a truly gifted musician, but a horrible person. In the end which is more important 😮

[@Frip36]

It was metaphorical. He did not actually spit. (Unless a fan was being abusive.)

[@pensnut08]

Who's stint WASN'T??? LOL Besides Blackmore..

[@tomslick2058]

Ritchie is a perfectionist. In his own mind. Kind of BRITISH think.

[@craigdamage]

Blackmore once fired a bassist for being "too funky" which to me is like breaking up with a girlfriend for being too sexy.

[@jhutt8002]

If you want to play good rock... Yea, it's really bad to have too funky bassist.

[@craigdamage]

@@jhutt8002 this happened back in the 70s so it wasn't like all the obnoxious Claypool/Flea wannabe type "slap-crackle-pop" style bassists that are a dime a dozen these days. Indeed if you are guitarist driving some mean minor key riffage and the bass player keeps slapping the bass with his thumb then by all means...fire him. However, funky basslines like Geezer Butler and John Paul Jones played can really compliment a great rock song.

[@jhutt8002]

@@craigdamage I wouldn't call Geezer Butler or John Paul Jones funky... :D I was thinking actual funk, wasn't 70's the golden age of that?

[@craigdamage]

@@jhutt8002 Yikes. Geezer and JPJ are extremely funky bassists. Period. FUNK as a genre certainly had a golden age in the 70s but not every "funky" musician necessarily operated within that genre. Using the term "funk" or "funky" is pretty much like using the term HEAVY. King Crimson was often described as a "heavy band" but they were never labeled as "heavy metal".....etc.

[@jhutt8002]

@@craigdamage Ok. I don't use that term that way.

[@casinosnoopy9900]

Does Ritchie click with anybody?

[@Bigchet1223]

Ritchie Blackmore was notorious terrible to rainbow keyboardist tony Carey. Same guy that play with planet p and had a few solo hits in 1980s. Carey was a 20 year old kid when he joined rainbow. Ritchie bullied and terrorized him.

[@bartrobinson2103]

Richie is just a total jerk

[@archaicroger]

Rainbow...... really? Only band out there with more former members is Whitesnake. I'm hardcore R&R but Ritchie and David can shove it.

[@vincegedeon6583]

Seems like nobody liked Ritchie all i ever hear is the guys a duche 😂

[@IslandDigital]

Total nobody who knows it all and never heard of him.

[@termsofusepolice]

Steve played on some members of major bands' solo and side projects. A very talented drummer.

[@markw9512]

I’ve heard of Richie

[@oopsydaizi3s824]

He wrote smoke on the water if that rings a bell

[@WhiteyMcCracker]

I never understood the appeal of Steve Luongo. He has no business being in a band with Blackmore.

[@rocknjbindad3707]

Rat Race Choir is an awful name.

[@stefanwendholt6910]

Wer zum Teufel ist Steve Luongo?

[@lionelalias4561]

Teufel

[@lionelalias4561]

He should live in Longueau in France

[@whynottalklikeapirat]

He lives in Der Mist just outside Donnerwetter

[@harrynewiss4630]

keine ahnung

[@flashy5150]

I never thought Ritchie was even close to being great anyway, he’s no Jimmy Page or Eddie Van Halen or Randy Rhoads or Tony Iommi. Ritchie is just the meaning of being “over-rated”. 👎👎👎

[@jfender8023]

Slew of 80's shredders put Blackmore out of business. He never played chords much using the keyboardist a a crutch and his repetitive motifs and same repetitive lines eventually exposed him.

[@SteeeeveC]

Richie had good riffs and rhythm but his solos weren’t anything to remember

[@СергейПрол-ч7ф]

НЕ ВРИ-РИЧИ ХОРОШИЙ!!!😮‍💨

[@markmarsh27]

Blackmore has never 'clicked' with ANYONE. He's rude, stuck up and anti-social like no other Artist that's ever lived.

[@jonblackers4339]

weird so many write this.I think many would disagree. From Rondinelli and Jon Lord to Bob Daisley

[@mben-david2064]

Anyone who auditions a drummer with a drum solo is out to lunch, even if he is Blackers.Drumming is complex and nuanced and needs to be measured within a context of other instruments. That's what is happening during 99.9% of a drummer's time on stage and in studio.Drum solos are usually too long and too complicated. Neil Peart, John Bonham and Don Brewer are among the few rock drummers that can make a solo intersting and appropriate.