Introduced by Alexis Korner
Although he had been playing professionally for seven years, Blackmore didn't begin to make a name for himself until the launch in 1968 of Deep Purple. With Purple he made 11 albums before leaving in 1975 to form his own band.
Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow is still very much in existence, although much changed over the years. Rumours abound as to its future line-up, which indicates a healthy continuing interest in the guitar playing of one of rock music's naughty boys.