Few musicians have shaped rock music as profoundly as its greatest guitarists. These players gave rock its edge, energy, and identity, pushing the genre in bold new directions. Among them, Ritchie Blackmore played a crucial role, blending blues, rock, and classical influences to help define the sound of Deep Purple. But while he made his own mark, there was one guitarist he believed stood far above the rest.
Throughout his career, Blackmore embraced different styles, constantly evolving Deep Purple’s sound. From blistering hard rock to softer, more classical-inspired compositions, his approach was always open-minded. That appreciation for musical versatility made him keenly aware of other groundbreaking musicians, and in his mind, no one pushed the boundaries further than Jimi Hendrix.
“Hendrix came out in 1966, and he was probably 20 years ahead of his time,” Blackmore once said. “What makes him a genius is his phrasing and his originality; his construction of songs, his very innovative riffs, like those of ‘Purple Haze’ and ‘Manic Depression’; his presence on stage.”
Hendrix’s impact went far beyond his guitar playing. His explosive performances changed the way rock musicians approached the stage, but for Blackmore, one of the most underrated aspects of Hendrix’s artistry was his voice. “Oddly enough, one of the things that I think made him so special was his voice, since he never wanted to be a vocalist,” Blackmore noted.
While Hendrix was primarily recognized as a guitarist, he took great pride in his songwriting. His lyrics, often overlooked in favor of his instrumental genius, carried poetic depth. Patti Smith once remarked on this, recalling a conversation she had with him: “He often spoke not in the most favorable way about his poetry. He didn’t think he was the greatest writer. He really admired Bob Dylan, but he was a wonderful poet.”
Hendrix wasn’t the only artist Blackmore considered ahead of his time. He also credited Vanilla Fudge as a major influence on Deep Purple’s early sound, admitting, “We loved Vanilla Fudge – they were our heroes […] The group was ahead of its time. So, initially, we wanted to be a Vanilla Fudge clone.”
But when it came to sheer innovation, Hendrix stood alone in Blackmore’s eyes. His ability to shape music, his groundbreaking riffs, and his untamed creativity placed him leagues ahead of his peers. For Blackmore, Hendrix wasn’t just a great guitarist—he was a visionary, one whose influence would resonate for generations.
