Are you a true fan of legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore? Dive into the fascinating world of one of rock’s most influential musicians with this quiz! Explore his iconic career with Deep Purple, Rainbow, and Blackmore’s Night, and uncover interesting facts about his music, gear, and unique style.
Test Your Ritchie Blackmore Knowledge Quiz
Question 1 |
What job did Blackmore take up at age 15 after leaving school?
Session guitarist | |
Electrician | |
Apprentice radio mechanic | |
Music teacher | |
Studio engineer |
Question 1 Explanation:
Blackmore left school at 15 and began working as an apprentice radio mechanic at Heathrow Airport.
Question 2 |
Which guitarist gave Ritchie Blackmore electric guitar lessons?
Eric Clapton | |
Big Jim Sullivan | |
Jimmy Page | |
Tony Iommi | |
George Harrison |
Question 2 Explanation:
Blackmore took lessons from session guitarist Big Jim Sullivan, which helped him refine his skills and develop as a guitarist.
Question 3 |
Who inspired Ritchie Blackmore to incorporate medieval and baroque elements into Rainbow’s music?
Ronnie James Dio | |
Hugh McDowell | |
Jon Lord | |
Steve Vai | |
Chris Curtis |
Question 3 Explanation:
Blackmore started incorporating medieval and baroque elements into Rainbow's music after taking cello lessons from Hugh McDowell of ELO.
Question 4 |
What was the name of Rainbow’s first major hit single?
Man on the Silver Mountain | |
Stargazer | |
Since You Been Gone | |
Street of Dreams | |
Kill the King |
Question 4 Explanation:
Since You Been Gone, penned by Russ Ballard, was Rainbow’s first major hit single, marking the band’s shift toward a more commercial sound.
Question 5 |
What did Ritchie Blackmore say about song construction during Deep Purple's Mark Two era?
"I focused on melody above all else." | |
"I didn't give a damn about song construction." | |
"It was all about technical perfection." | |
"Lyrics were my primary concern." | |
"We wrote songs for the masses." |
Question 5 Explanation:
Blackmore admitted he prioritized playing loud and fast over formal song construction during this era.
Question 6 |
Which Rainbow album introduced vocalist Joe Lynn Turner and featured an arrangement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony as the title track?
Difficult to Cure | |
Bent Out of Shape | |
Straight Between the Eyes | |
Finyl Vinyl | |
Stranger in Us All |
Question 6 Explanation:
Difficult to Cure (1981) marked Joe Lynn Turner's debut with Rainbow and featured a rock arrangement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony as the title track.
Question 7 |
Which Rainbow song became a hit single from the Straight Between the Eyes album?
Since You Been Gone | |
Stone Cold | |
Street of Dreams | |
Anybody There | |
Man on the Silver Mountain |
Question 7 Explanation:
"Stone Cold" was the hit single from Straight Between the Eyes (1982).
Question 8 |
Which Deep Purple album during the 1980s was influenced by Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow background?
Burn | |
Stormbringer | |
The House of Blue Light | |
Perfect Strangers | |
Machine Head |
Question 8 Explanation:
The House of Blue Light (1987) reflected a Rainbow-inspired sound and didn't perform as well as its predecessor.
Question 9 |
Who was the vocalist on Rainbow's Stranger in Us All album?
Ronnie James Dio | |
Joe Lynn Turner | |
Graham Bonnet | |
Doogie White | |
Ian Gillan |
Question 9 Explanation:
Doogie White was the vocalist on Stranger in Us All.
Question 10 |
Which Bob Dylan song was featured on the album Fires at Midnight (2001)?
Knockin' on Heaven's Door | |
The Times They Are a Changin' | |
Like a Rolling Stone | |
Blowin' in the Wind | |
All Along the Watchtower |
Question 10 Explanation:
This iconic Bob Dylan song was covered by Blackmore's Night in their album Fires at Midnight, showcasing their folk-rock adaptation.
Question 11 |
What type of pick-ups are used in Ritchie Blackmore's signature Stratocaster?
Fender Standard Pick-ups | |
Lace Sensor Gold Pick-ups | |
DiMarzio Humbuckers | |
Seymour Duncan SSL-4 | |
Velvet Hammer "Red Rhodes" |
Question 11 Explanation:
Blackmore's signature Stratocaster uses Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Flat SSL-4 pick-ups, designed to emulate the tone of his earlier pick-ups.
There are 11 questions to complete.
