He pursued a nomadic career until 1967, when he met organist Jon Lord. The following year saw the birth of Deep Purple, which, along with Led Zeppelin, laid the foundations of hard rock. The adventure lasted until 1975, when Ritchie Blackmore, known for his terrible temper, left the band. He joined a second-rate American heavy metal gang, Elf, replaced all its members except the singer (Ronnie James Dio), and renamed it Rainbow, making it one of the leading bands on the hard rock scene until the mid-80s. Rainbow didn't survive the temporary reconstitution of Deep Purple, who recorded the album Perfect Strangers in 1984. A veritable myth, with his baroque, sparkling playing, Ritchie Blackmore influenced many guitarists. But his career seems doomed to a roller-coaster ride.
