QUOTES


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There was some talk about Rainbow reunion at some point. Do you see that ever happening?

Ronnie James Dio: Never... never again.

What about the Elf reunion?

Ronnie James Dio: I don't think so... I just don't think so. That's such a long time ago and the songs are so much different than what this band is about, what Sabbath was about, and what Rainbow was about - and what Dio is about. I think because it was included in the Anthology, at least some people got a chance to hear a couple of the songs. But that was a different time and I don't think it's fair to put these people through what those songs were; they were a band based around a honky-tonk piano and that's just not what we are anymore, so I'd say no. It was a good idea because it'd have been fun to do with my cousin Dave ("Rock") Feinstein (the Rods), but I don't think that will happen.

Finland, July 2005




And then, rainbow, what does it mean to you? You used this image before while still in ELF...

Ronnie James Dio: A rainbow is a natural phenomenon that is so awesome and so seldom seen, that it never fails to draw a response from us all. Rainbows have always made me realize how insignificant we can be in the grand scheme of things.

Let It Rock, February 2005







You were never ashamed to call Ritchie Blackmore the idol of yours, but didn't you feel a little bit strange knowing that Ritchie's younger than yourself?

Ronnie James Dio: Mozart would have been a hero of mine even though he might have been a twelve-year old prodigy. After all, Ritchie's not that much younger than I, and it's really the talent that counts, isn't it?

Let It Rock, February 2005







David Coverdale on quitting DEEP PURPLE in 1977 to form WHITESNAKE

David Coverdale: I will be eternally grateful to DEEP PURPLE for the incredibly brave decision they made to give such an extraordinary opportunity to an unknown singer. I left Dee Purple because it was "rudderless" after the band's founding guitarist, Ritchie Blackmore, quit to form a new group, Rainbow. Ritchie was the pivotal, driving force and creative leader and once he left, there was like a collective sigh of relief, but it didn't have the drive.

Toledo Blade, June 2005






Deep Purple, who have gone through various lineup shuffles over the years, were supposed to be
part of 1985's Live Aid via satellite from a stop in Switzerland. But it didn't occur.


Ian Gillan: It didn't happen because we had a certain banjo player (Ritchie Blackmore) who, when he found out, said 'No!'. He's history now, so things are different these days. But he'd say no to everything.

The Toronto Sun, July 1, 2005








So who does all the housework?

Ritchie Blackmore: I do all the hoovering. I remember an old story in Rainbow: Bobby Rondinelli came to my house when I was living in Huntington, New York. He knocked at the door and asked 'What are you doing?' And I was there hoovering. And he said 'You're hoovering?!' thinking that I should have a maid or something, and I said 'Yeah.' So he came in and we talked a bit, and he left and I carried on hoovering. And he was quite perplexed that I had been vacuuming. And then we got to this hotel in Denmark, and I couldn't sleep because the guy next door was making a racket. So I decided to move the bed, and then I had to move the gigantic wardrobe. And of course, underneath the bed and wardrobe was all this caked gunk from years of not cleaning underneath. So I went outside and got the maid's hoover, and I was hoovering, and of course who knocks on the door other than Bobby and he says 'What are you doing?' And he saw the hoover in my hand and says 'You're not vacuuming in an hotel?!' and I went 'Yeah.' And he said 'You're weird,' and he just went down the corridor shaking his head, [thinking] all I ever did was to hoover things.

Fireworks Magazine, February 2005




The story behind the recording of 'Once In A Million Years'

Candice Night: It is a funny story about 'Once In A Million Years' and how we found it. Ritchie and I have a satellite dish at our home so that we can watch DW (German television) every day. Imagine me, not understanding a word but just looking at the pictures while he tries to translate for me! :) But they sometimes show the castles and the fields and it is all so beautiful. Anyway, about 5 years ago we were watching 'Boulevard Germany' and a blonde singer came on and sang this beautiful song . We didn't know who she was or what the name of the song was since we caught the performance in the middle. So, we spent the next 5 years asking every German person we knew if they had any idea who this was. We asked friends, fans, record company, I even wrote to the station and no one knew. But this year, we were watching DW again and there was a made-for-TV movie about a lounge singer. And there she was!!! This time we taped the show, slowed it down and got the credits and found her name. Then plugged her name into Amazon.de and came up with Angelika Milster's 'Sehnsucht'. We bought it and the song we had been searching for was on that album. Pretty good investigative work, huh? So, since we were putting out the romantic compilation, and since that song sounds so romantic and like a grand fairy tale, like the moment that Prince Charming rides upon horseback.... I came up with the words to fit the feeling in the song — not even knowing what the German original text was about. And 'Once In A Million Years' was born — BLACKMORE'S NIGHT style.

Between Us, CandiceNight.com November 2004




Blackmore's Night was in the middle of a 6.8 earthquake while playing Tokyo (oct 2004). What happened?

Ritchie Blackmore: You know, I drink before I go on stage. I have a few, you know? So, I had no idea there was an earthquake going on at all. To me it was, 'Hey, this is good Johnny Walker black!' It was doing the trick for me. It wasn't until the soundguy came screaming out from the wings, 'Stop the show! Stop the show!,' and he's pointing to our lights above our head and all the lights were kind of going back and forth, so I knew something was afoot. Well I thought about to stop the show for a second and I went, 'Nah. We'll play on.' And then we got applause for that from the audience. I think the audience was more afraid of us stopping the show than the place coming down and them all being killed.

Artisan News Service 9 November 2004




What were you doing before Black Sabbath?

Ray Gillan: I was with Bobby Rondinelli from RAINBOW. We had a band, just called RONDINELLI. Good band. Bobby and his brother Teddy. We were getting near a deal, a lot of interest, but Black Sabbath came along and so, ... sorry Bobby!

Garry Sharpe-Young, Rock Detector 1986







Who is your favourite ex-Black Sabbath singer?

Ray Gillan: Can't choose. Ian has all those great, great DEEP PURPLE songs. Just stack them up. It's a hell of an achievement. The guy has just sang on so many amazing songs. There's some cool stuff on 'Born Again', that album had a nice groove to it. Some of his vocals on that record are incredible. Glenn too with Purple but I love his soulful style, he has a lot of R&B in him. Really gives himself to a song. Amazing singer with a great gift. Glenn makes everything look just so easy.
And Ronnie? He's a vocal God for sure. A very small vocal God but still a God! In RAINBOW he was awesome. You kinda look at him and wonder where this huge voice is coming from and that's very cool. Love Ronnie's voice, love his songs. Singing these songs is an experience I tell you. Huge respect to Ronnie.

Garry Sharpe-Young, Rock Detector 1986