Well, this was it - one of those 'once
in a lifetime' opportunities to ask questions of one of the founding fathers of
modern-day music, Ritchie Blackmore. The possibility actually presented itself,
following the recent release of the new Blackmore's Night DVD, 'Castles & Dreams',
which you should all be rushing out to buy right now if you do not already
possess it. Oh, and just in case you were labouring under the misapprehension
that Blackmore's Night is all about Mr Blackmore, this is definitely not the
case - his partner in crime, Candice Night, takes centre stage on many occasions,
as you can tell from her gracious responses below.
Forgive me for being a little Starstruck!!
The new Blackmore's Night DVD, 'Castles & Dreams', could be described as a
must-have for all lovers of good music. Did you enjoy recording it and how much
input did you have regarding the content, especially the extras?
Ritchie: Thank you. There was a lot of work put into the choice of footage for
this DVD. We filmed about 5 shows over the past 3 years and the night of the
show in Schloss Veldenstein in Neuhaus was the best of the lot. The castle was
great, the atmosphere and the medieval market that afternoon was a really nice
touch by the castle owner. So the feeling was very good that day. The worst part
about it was that a few days later when we were viewing the footage, the
engineer told us that they had forgotten to record the electric guitar! Luckily
our producer Pat Regan was able to find another microphone- the hurdy gurdy mic
was actually left on by accident, and Pat was able to enhance the sound of that
microphone and that's how you can hear the electric guitar on the DVD. That was
a strange way to go about that process!
Candice: We were very hands on as far as choosing the material that ultimately
wound up on the DVD. I think this is the strongest band line up that we have had
so far and it was the right time to complete the filming. I went through home
video footage from the past few years and compiled it for the record company and
we worked very closely on every aspect of this project.
What is your opinion of the current promotion of the new DVD? Are you satisfied
with the interest it has generated?
Candice: We can only be pleased with the hard work that we put into it. When it
comes to the promotions, that is the record companies responsibility, although
we do interviews to support their efforts. Some territories have chosen to
promote the DVD well, some haven't and some haven't released it as of yet. Our
greatest response is when we hear from the fans how much they love it. That's
our reward.
Is the next Blackmore's Night album already in the making? If yes, will there be
any surprises on it?
Ritchie: Yes, we have completed the recording of 14 tracks and the final mixes
on 8 of those. We'll break from the process to do a tour of Germany and then
continue to work on the album when we return in August. There will be a few
surprises on it, but if I told you what they were, they wouldn't be surprises.
Your music is a mixture of classic Renaissance sounds, accomplished through the
use of instruments from that period, and more modern rock, which could lead one
to the conclusion that Blackmore's Night actually play 'Renaissance Rock'. Do
you believe that there is a logical link between these two styles of music?
Ritchie: I do think that there is a strong connection. I think that the
pageantry music of the renaissance times was actually the rock music of its day.
The music that was played on the bombastic renaissance woodwinds had very strong
riffs that would translate well to electric guitar today. I have incorporated
the medieval harmonic structures of the 4ths and 5th that were used so often in
those days, into my songs since 1971- like the riff from Smoke On The Water.
That is why the riff sounds so dark and ominous, because of those harmonic
structures.
How did you meet the rest of the musicians in Blackmore's Night? What are your
criteria when choosing musicians with whom you wish to play?
Candice: We have met them through a wide variety of ways. Bard David came to us
through a mutual friend who also played in the band at one point. Our manager
found Sir Robert. Squire Malcom was a stand in for a drummer we were using that
had to rush home at one point, and we liked the good Squire's percussion
elements better than what we had before him. Tudor Rose was introduced to us
through a woman who is the head of a recorded consort here in the USA. Her
background is much more traditional purist than the rest of us.
Ritchie: There is a long list of criteria: they must have long hair, or look the
part; they must be willing to wear tights; be able to leave their homes for a
month at a time without their other halves going crazy about it; they must be
generally good people that will get along with everyone - and occasionally they
must be able to play an instrument. Actually musicianship is very important-
this music has elements of so many varieties of music within it- you must be
very disciplined and remember a lot of material to be able to be in this band.
Do you have a vision for the future of the band or do you take each day as it
comes?
v Ritchie: We pretty much take each day as it comes. We are enjoying what we are
doing so much right now that we like to live in the moment.
Candice: Besides, each step has been very exciting and you never know what's
coming next around the corner. I think when you don't plan for it, when you are
surprised by the success you appreciate it more.
The feeling projected by Blackmore's Night when performing is that of a group of
friends or even family, playing for the audience, which is also accepted as part
of that 'family'. It is not often that a band can establish such a rapport with
the audience. What do you think is the secret of your success in this respect?
Candice: I think that because we are doing music that is so different, that
isn't hyped or commercialized, people seek us out. Those are the people that are
looking for something new, different and fresh- a sort of escape from what you
can hear on the radio or on MTV. Because they have found our music we feel that
they are like minded to us, they believe in the things that we do and there is a
strong unity or community sense at our shows. It is a wonderful sense of
belonging to people who don't follow fashion- those who brave their own paths
and have a strong sense of individuality. But they also appreciate the beauty of
nature, they believe in romance and in magic. Our music tends to be a beacon for
those people- usually if they listen to Eminem, you won't find them at our
shows. Plus we enjoy our fans. We try not to have boundaries between us.
Ritchie: Plus our fans befriend the other fans and it makes it like a family
reunion when we play and they come to our shows. It's an excuse for them all to
get together.
It is also apparent from the DVD that you are all living a dream, something that
most of us can only briefly immerse ourselves into. Do you feel privileged,
being able to live the life of a troubadour?
Candice: Everyday I think it's a dream. I can't believe that we are playing
music that we love to create with the support of companies that are able to get
it out for the rest of the world to hear- and these companies aren't dictating
to us what we should be playing. Our tours are to incredible places, playing in
front of fans in Renaissance garb and performing in some of the most beautiful
castles in the world. We have no boundaries and are able to play such a variety
of music: folk, rock, renaissance, whatever we want. It's a wonderful freedom.
What have your most memorable performances been to date with Blackmore's Night?
Ritchie: There are so many. We have some great memories to reflect upon. Schloss
Abenburg is a great castle that we played at, Schloss Rabenstein we did a fan
show there and had a great time.
Candice: I just love the strong identities of each of the places- I mean the
ancient amphitheatre in Bulgaria, the castle ruins in Turkey, the opera houses
of England, the castles in Germany or the historic salt mines outside of Krakow,
Poland. All so different- but each equally awe inspiring. It is hard to narrow
down the choices to a favourite.
What other countries, save Germany, where you are obviously very popular, would
you like to play? Does it have to be a country with medieval castles in order to
qualify?
Ritchie: No, it doesn't have to be- although we do choose the places that we
like to play at this stage. We enjoy going to many different countries. It's
just that castles have the right atmosphere, especially gothic castles or ruins,
but we will also play other historic places or old theatres. We just don't feel
that any venues with modern influences have much to do with our music and what
we are trying to get across.
Where do you find the Renaissance instruments that are used by the band? Are any
of the musicians skilled at making such instruments themselves? How difficult
are Renaissance instruments to play?
Candice: We usually get our woodwind instruments either over the Internet or
when we get to England we go to the Early Music Shop. Ritchie gets his hurdy
gurdy from a German maker. But it's not like you can walk into a normal music
shop and ask for the shawm section. They'll look at you like you're crazy.
Ritchie: Although we have been lucky to find some on the shelves in a shop in
Prague, Czech.
Candice: The instruments can be challenging to play- you have to find your own
way because it's impossible to find a teacher especially in America. But the
fingering varies and the reeds can be tricky too. Then of course add the fact
that these instruments were made to pitch to themselves and go out of tune when
outside, and that you're layering them with perfect pitch electrical instruments
like keyboards and things can get pretty crazy!
From some of the extras present on your new DVD, as well as from your stage
presence, it seems apparent that both you and Candice are equally active in the
creative process. Do you feel that you inspire each other?
Ritchie: Yes, Candice is always around try out new ideas. That's one of the good
points about living together is that if you are somewhat inspired you can try
the ideas out immediately. You don't have to wait for rehearsals.
Candice: In our creative process Ritchie usually starts out with writing the
music, and then his music is so visual and inspiring, it sort of makes my job
easy. The melody lines tell me what they want to be about. Then I just fit that
into rhyming schemes and words and the story goes from there. Before you know it
you have a completed song.
Both you and Candice gel perfectly on stage; your presence could be described as
'yin' and 'yang'. Do you feel that you have met your perfect musical partner in
Candice?
Ritchie: Yes, but it's more like yang and yin- I'm yang and she's yin.
How do you think your musical career and your life would have progressed, had
you not met Candice?
Ritchie: I'd probably be totally miserable playing in a hard rock band.
In musical terms, how do you see your career has progressed over the years? Do
you see each stage as a step forward or do you think that there has been
cross-referencing throughout the years?
Ritchie: Both, you can't get to where you're going without knowing where you've
been. Each step in my musical career has been a learning process that led me up
to this point. Without any of those steps I wouldn't have made it here. You use
what you learn along the way.
What originally inspired you to write music and did you have to struggle at the
beginning of your musical career?
Ritchie: Yes, I did. It took me forever to learn the first couple of chords. The
music teacher was not too impressed. I never practiced at the beginning. I was
inspired to write music because I didn't want to work for a living. A friend of
mine brought a guitar to school. I immediately fell in love with the look and
feel of the guitar. I had to have one. So I pestered my parents to get me a
guitar. Then I would watch people like Tommy Steele sing and play and I joined a
skiffle group. I played the dog box as well as the guitar. We played tunes like
It Takes a Worried Man and Tom Dooley. We played down at Chiselhurst Caves at
first and also at various pubs in the area when I was 15.
When you started writing music, would you have thought that you would end up
playing in a band, such as Blackmore's Night?
Ritchie: No, I was just happy to play anything I could then.
Do you sometimes believe that you were born in the wrong epoch? Would you have
liked to have been a troubadour and to have actually lived in a period where the
comforts of modern life would not have been available to you?
Ritchie: No, I like to play Renaissance music but I like air conditioning too
much as well.
Describe your ideal day to us, please...
Candice: We get up around 12pm and play music. The I go into the garden and sit
amongst the flowers and Ritchie usually goes for his walk into the forest. Then
we write some new songs, play with our cats and have friends over for a bonfire
and a drum circle. At midnight we go into the woods in search of owls.
What other 'Renaissance' artists, past or present, would you recommend to fans
of your music?
Ritchie: Freiberger Speilleut, Des Geyers, Terra Nova Consort, anything by David
Munrow and the Early Music consort of London who was my 1st inspiration.
Do you have a message to give to the ever-increasing Blackmore's Night fanbase
and the readers of getreadytorock ?
Ritchie: Hopefully we'll see them on the road and to boycott MTV. Don't be
disillusioned - there are so many good bands out there but they are never on
MTV!
Candice: Thanks for your support and for listening! We'll see you soon!
