Music, as an ever-evolving art form, draws inspiration from many sources. Legendary songs often owe their genesis to a blend of past influences, innovative creativity, and, sometimes, a nod to the classics. This web of inspiration holds true even for the most famous bands, like Deep Purple, as revealed by Ritchie Blackmore.
In a 2007 interview with CNN, a video features Blackmore discussing the band’s iconic song, ‘Smoke on the Water’ and the classical roots behind the band’s success. He delves into the technicalities of the song’s famous riff, drawing a parallel to classical music, specifically the works of Ludwig van Beethoven. The rocker explained, showing the connection to Beethoven’s compositions:
“People play it this way [playing ‘Smoke on the Water’], which is not correct. It is played in fourths, rigid fourths, which is going back to the Medieval Times. That’s how they played. A lot of parts were parallel fourths. So now you have [playing his guitar] Beethoven. Bomb bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb bomb bomb. And I thought, ‘Play that backwards. Put something into it, and you’ve got bom, bom, bom. Bom, bompa, bom. That’s how I came up with it.”
Further Unveiling ‘Smoke On The Water’s’ Secret
Then, the host stepped in and asked:
“Are you telling that the famous riff of ‘Smoke on the Water’ is from Beethoven?”
Ritchie humorously added:
“It is an interpretation of inversion. You turn it back and play it back and forth. It’s actually Beethoven’s Fifth. So I owe him a lot of money.”
Roger Glover Discusses The Riff
‘Smoke on the Water’ is not just a song; it’s a cultural phenomenon. Its signature riff is one of the most recognizable in rock history, often serving as an initiation rite for budding guitarists. In a 2022 chat with Classic Rock, Roger Glover also talked about the story behind the song and the riff, noting:
“The riff is so simple and yet so different to anything else. And I know, Ritchie himself has said it’s like Beethoven in a way – Beethoven’s fifth. What Beethoven does with just very few notes, that riff does it with very few notes, too. But it’s got a hint of Eastern mysticism in it, just by the semitone lift. Instantly recognizable and yet nothing like anything else. In retrospect, ‘Smoke on the Water’ is pretty hilarious. It’s like writing a song about any mundane daily activity: ‘I went to the grocery store / To buy some cheeeese.'”
Blackmore also disclosed in a February 1991 chat that people often play the riff of ‘Smoke on the Water’ incorrectly, which changes its sound. He believes the song’s lasting popularity, like the famous opening of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, is due to its simplicity. Blackmore also shared that hearing straightforward riffs in songs like ‘I Can’t Explain’ and ‘My Generation’ gave him the confidence to write similarly simple but effective music.
You can watch his CNN video here and listen to ‘Smoke on the Water’ below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUwEIt9ez7M
