Of course, it bears mention (since we're on this site!) that the Dixie Dregs were a Capricorn band.
Morse's playing on "The Bash" here is stunning:
@jimsheridan It almost here and there sounded as if Highway Star was going to emerge. So yes I can see how the guys in Deep Purple could see potential with Steve.
Steve is another of the great technicians on the electric guitar. Advanced technically to the point no flurry of notes is too fast or tricky for Steve to go there with ease. And play passages that remind one of a trained concert violinist negotiating a tricky passage from a piece by Bach or Beethoven.
I first saw Steve Morse with the Dixie Dregs. Being a huge Allman Brothers Band fan since early 1970, I read everything I could find to read about the band and the Macon/Capricorn scene. So I discovered info on the Dixie Dregs. They were signed to Capricorn Records and Twiggs Lyndon was their road manager. So that was all I needed to immediately go see the Dregs when they played close by. (When I was younger close by was anything 100 miles or closer)
But it wasn't what I expected. It was a different sound merging different genres played by musicians who played like they all graduated from the music school at Harvard with some classical training. Completely different than seeing Marshall Tucker, Wet Willie, Sea Level or the ABB.
Some southern boogie boys I knew didn't like it. But people who were dazzled with top shelf musicianship sat in amazement.
Hope Steve's wife finds the treatments that heal.
Morse goes on to talk about guitarist Simon McBride, who has been filling in for Morse.
"I know Simon has the gig nailed already," he says. "But I'm now handing over the keys to the vault which holds the secret of how Ritchie's Smoke on the Water intro was recorded. I guess you have to jiggle the key just right because I never got it open."
“Full respect to the guy,” McBride told Classic Rock earlier this year. “I already knew the Purple thing might or might not happen. And then, in March, when they told me it was definitely going ahead, I was like: ‘That’s great! But that means that Steve...
“Y’know, it was a bitter-sweet emotion. My heart goes out to Steve and his wife."
Why all the speculation about who is going to replace Steve in Purple, or that Ritchie would be coming back? That seems to suggest that Simon McBride went from subbing for Steve to getting the gig permanently (whatever "permanent" means in Deep Purple timelines).
Its natural to speculate, especially this is a pretty significant group in the context of rock and its slot and who played there in the past. I am a HUGE fan of them and Blackmore, one of my top favorites for sure. Very important band to me.
I took it out of context or assumed it was just temporary. Steve said " Simon has the gig nailed already" . But does the "gig " just mean finishing the tour, carrying on for future shows and releases, permanent? Dunno , have to wait and see. The band has not released a statement regarding the guitar slot,unless they are referring to Steve's comment or I am not paying attention. Simon seems to be a really good guitar player from what I have heard of his DP stuff and I have a live release of him playing with Ian backed by Don's solo band.
Like I mentioned before, I don't see the band carrying on at this point. It has nothing to do with Simon or whoever, but they have been hinting at calling it a day for a few, but we see how that has been going. They keep churning along which is fine with me. Steve did say he left a Purple writing session last fall in Germany. So they were doing something.
They have released a a lot of live cd/dvd/blu ray stuff during Steve's tenure in the band. The last few years that have put out The Sound Board Series, which I highly recommend.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NRJTVPG/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_7?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YTCX38D/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_4?smid=A1IGK84HO0J6U1&psc=1
Everyone has a plan, till you get punched in the face,
Of course, it bears mention (since we're on this site!) that the Dixie Dregs were a Capricorn band.
Morse's playing on "The Bash" here is stunning:
There are 132 notes on a guitar fretboard (assuming 22 frets) - Steve hits most of 'em in this tune! The amazing Dr. Allen Sloan on the violin!
