Ritchie Blackmore praises guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen

Ritchie Blackmore, the former Deep Purple guitarist, has expressed high praise for Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen. In a 2018 interview with Guitar World, Blackmore described Malmsteen as an ‘excellent guitarist’ and a ‘very nice guy.’

Blackmore noted that Malmsteen stands out from similar musicians because he does not rely on typical blues patterns, stating, ‘He knows his scales, he is more interesting.’ He further characterized Malmsteen as potentially the fastest in his field. Malmsteen has previously acknowledged Blackmore's influence, noting he memorized the solos from Deep Purple's 1972 live album, ‘Made in Japan.’

Separately, Blackmore recently made a rare appearance with Deep Purple during a performance in Wantagh, New York, to play ‘Smoke on the Water.’ This marked his first time performing with the band since 1993.