Jerry Bloom Interview
Jerry Bloom as a famed archivist of Richie Blackmore and anything related to the crazy world of Deep Purple. His critically acclaimed biography of the man in black, Black Knight, is out now in hardback via Omnibus Press. He has also recently self-published a collection of interviews from his fanzine More Black Than Purple. Jerry also edits the Mostly Autumn fanzine. For more information, visit http://moreblackthanpurple.co.uk.
Can you give me a brief history of your fanzine More Black Than Purple?
It was started in 1996, along with fellow fan Mark Welch. We were both hacked off that Ritchie Blackmore wasn’t getting the level of press coverage that we felt he deserved at the time. Even the fan magazines seemed to have turned their back on him, as many fans clearly felt strongly about his departure from Deep Purple three years earlier.
What is it about Richie Blackmore that interests you so much?
That’s a difficult one to answer. I’m more into the music than the person. That’s’ what first drew me to him, although clearly he is not your average kind of guy, so there are aspects of his character that over time I became interested in, but it really is the guitar playing that I just adore. Everyone has their favourites and for whatever reasons. I’m not saying he is necessarily the best. Technically, there are many better I am sure but I know of no other guitarist who combines excellent technique, with great feel, plus a phenomenal ability to improvise. I think that to find all three in one is quite rare. I mean classical players have great technique but can’t improvise for toffees! Blues guitarists play with feeling but often lack the skill required to play complex stuff. Blackmore just seems to have it all.
How long did it take you to write and research your biography of him, Black Knight?
Not as long as I would have liked! Initially the publishers told me it would be a year but when the contract came through they required the finished manuscript within eight months! I didn’t feel I could complete such a task and do justice to it in that length of time, so they graciously extended it by one month! Fortunately because I had a wealth of info already through ten years of the magazine I had a lot to call on, but was still keen to get lots of new info as well, which I feel I achieved to a reasonable degree.
Do you know if he has read it?
This is a man who doesn’t listen to his own music once he has finished recording it, so I would doubt that he would bother to sit through a book about himself. I wouldn’t be surprised if his partner Candice has read it though!
You’ve recently self-published a selection of interviews from More Black Than Purple; can you tell me about this book? Will there be others similar to it?
Well needless to say after more than a decade of the magazine there have been quite a number of interviews, and I just thought it would be a nice idea to compile the best into one volume for those fans that particularly enjoy reading interviews. Sadly sales haven’t eclipsed J K Rowling yet, but I’m still hoping! I have other books in the pipeline but for the time being there aren’t plans for another interviews book.
Aside from you own; what other Deep Purple related books would you recommend?
The first book ever written on the band by Chris Charlesworth is still a good read although it has been out of print for about twenty years! There haven’t been many others produced that I can think of, but Dave Thompson’s Smoke On The Water is probably the pick of the bunch.
What is your favourite Deep Purple album and why?
That is something that has changed over the years. I always used to say Fireball, probably because I thought it was the most varied and original that they did. However in recent times I have come to the conclusion that In Rock is probably the most definitive studio statement, for its sheer power and dynamism. I also love the ’93 album The Battle Rages On that many fans are not so keen on. But I believe it to be far and away the best album the band did following the ‘84 reunion: The production is superb.
Of all the people you have interviewed who has given you the most memorable interview?
Gosh! That’s a tricky one. Blackmore was thoroughly entertaining, but in general I have enjoyed the interviews with musicians who were harshly treated by him, but now look back at it with a degree of light heartedness. Tony Carey particularly springs to mind, as he was very forthcoming about the antics that were bestowed upon him, and brought the matter up before I had plucked up the courage to go there myself!
You also edit the Mostly Autumn fanzine; how did that come about?
I picked up on the band eight years ago. It was through the Blackmore connection when a stripped down version of the band supported Blackmore’s Night on its first UK tour. I fell in love with the music, and also got to know the band well. They are great people and dear friends. Simon Musk, one of their biggest fans at the time got the bands blessings to start a fanzine. After a few years he was forced to stop due to personal issues. I thought it would have been sad if it folded. The band knew me well enough by then, and had seen More Black Than Purple, so they were happy for me to take it over. It’s another labour of love!
Who are your other favourite artists?
I have a pretty wide and eclectic taste in music. You have to understand that although my family wasn’t hugely into music like I am, there was a very broad mix when I grew up. Dad would listen to classical, mum liked Jim Reeves and Perry Como and my eldest brother bombarded me with the likes of Black Sabbath and Frank Zappa! So when other six year old kids in the late sixties were listening to bubblegum and the usual radio sounds, my musical education was much more diverse!
Although I don’t listen to Perry Como that often, Frank Zappa certainly established himself as one of my favourites! My other favourite solo artist is Bob Dylan, but in the main it’s British rock from the seventies: Pink Floyd, Genesis (up to Hackett’s departure), Free, Slade, and The Kinks: I consider Ray Davies to be one of England’s finest writers. Although I love Purple and early Sabbath, strangely enough, a lot of the genre known as heavy rock leaves me cold. I tend to be drawn to specific artists as opposed to genres; hence my favourites also include J.S Bach, The Stranglers and Abba, and of course Mostly Autumn! That said I also enjoy a lot of blues, especially authentic Negro blues such as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Elmore James. Quite a diverse bunch I think you will agree?
Do you have any other book projects in mind?
Yes loads, but finding the time to complete them all is the tricky part. I am currently working on several projects. One is documenting all the gigs played in my hometown of Bedford, from the mid fifties through to the nineties. The idea to do it came when I was researching for the Blackmore bio. I looked through papers in the local library and found gigs that Blackmore played at in the early sixties before he was famous. I soon noticed that others such as Jimmy Page and David Bowie had also played in the sleepy little market town before finding fame and fortune. The research I have done to date is fascinating. The Beatles played three shows in Bedford, two of them being amongst the most unique performances they ever gave. Pink Floyd did a show that people walked out on, and the Rolling Stones nearly didn’t make it as they almost got killed on the way to the gig! These are just some examples, so I think it will make for a fascinating read when it’s complete. I also recently discovered that the Nice did a gig for a local engineering company’s Christmas party! There have also been bands that played their last ever gigs in the town, such as the Purple spin off band Warhorse.
Apart from that I am also looking to publish CD size books that take in depth looks at various classic rock albums. The first one I am working on is Rainbow’s Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll that I hope to get completed fairly soon.
Anything else?
Can’t think of too much to say, which is unlike me because I normally have an opinion on most things! I would however suggest that any rock fans reading this should definitely check out Mostly Autumn. There aren’t many bands today writings songs as good as them- in my humble opinion!
Interview by Neil Daniels 2008
