Deep Purple
Joins Deep Purple as guitarist, bringing a hard rock and classical influence that defines the band's early sound.
Role range: 1968-1975
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Ritchie Blackmore Biography and Timeline
Follow Ritchie Blackmore through 8 dated historical records for Great Britain.
Ritchie Blackmore, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
8Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1968–1984Years on this page
1968
Deep Purple
Founder member of Deep Purple.
Shades of Deep Purple
Records the debut album Shades of Deep Purple, helping establish the band's early psychedelic and hard rock sound.
Role range: 1968-1975
1970
Deep Purple in Rock
Helps drive the heavier guitar-led sound of Deep Purple in Rock, moving the band beyond its psychedelic beginnings.
Role range: 1968-1975
1972
Machine Head
Releases Machine Head with Deep Purple, featuring Highway Star, Smoke on the Water, Lazy and Space Truckin.
Role range: 1968-1975
1974
Burn
Records Burn with the Mark III line-up, combining hard rock guitar with Coverdale and Hughes vocals.
Role range: 1968-1975
1975
Deep Purple
Leaves Deep Purple after the Stormbringer period and later forms Rainbow.
Role range: 1968-1975
1984
Perfect Strangers
Returns to Deep Purple for Perfect Strangers, reviving the classic Mark II line-up.
Role range: 1984-1993
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.