In a recently released video on X, Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan explains hiring Simon McBride after Steve Morse’s departure from the band.
“I first worked with Simon [McBride] when he was the banjo player in the Don Airey Orchestra,” he said. “We were doing a tour and I was mightily impressed. So when the time came to look for somebody new, Simon was the first one in my mind for sure.”
Gillan mentioned the energy McBride brought to the band: “He brought with him not only his skills but his energy as well. I don’t mean that jumping up and down kind of energy but the sort of soul and spirit, all that sort of thing.”
Morse decided to leave Deep Purple in 2022 to focus on his wife Janine’s cancer treatment. He had already taken a temporary break from live shows before deciding to leave the band for good. McBride stepped in as Deep Purple’s new guitarist.
“I’ve already played my last show with Purple in Florida on the Rock Legends Cruise,” Morse said in his statement about his departure. “I wish to thank the listeners who so strongly supported live music and turned every performance from a dress rehearsal to a thundering, exciting experience. I’ll miss everybody in the band and crew, but being Janine’s helper and advocate has made a real difference at many key points.”
After leaving Deep Purple, the musician focused on solo projects and put his Steve Morse Band back together. His first gig after Deep Purple was Joe Satriani’s G4 Experience in Las Vegas, where Morse taught a masterclass and played a concert.
How to pick the right guitar player for Deep Purple, with Ian Gillan and Don Airey.
//DP WebCrew#DeepPurple #EqualsOne #DeepPurpleEqualsOne #NewAlbum pic.twitter.com/5fc79RhDrr
— Deep Purple (@_DeepPurple) August 10, 2024
