Swedish guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen recently opened up about his long-standing connection with Deep Purple and explained why, despite speculation and friendly ties with the band, he never officially became a member.
Malmsteen has always been transparent about the massive influence Ritchie Blackmore had on his musical development. Both guitarists are known for blending classical — particularly baroque — elements with hard rock, creating a signature sound that shaped generations of guitar players. Their bold personalities are also often compared. While fans have speculated on what a Malmsteen-led version of Deep Purple might have sounded like, it remains a fascinating “what if.”
During a recent conversation with Eddie Trunk, Malmsteen addressed whether there had ever been a real possibility of him joining Deep Purple. As transcribed by Ultimate Guitar, he said:
“Yeah, there were talks here and there. I was hanging out with Ian Gillan, years and years and years when he was actually out of the band for a minute and then back again. And Roger Glover was always a really cool guy.”
Malmsteen also recalled a memorable moment when he shared the stage with several iconic Deep Purple members:
“I did have a really good picture from Japan, actually, where I’m on stage with… It’s me, Roger Glover, Ian Paice, and Jon Lord. Because Jon Lord came on stage that night, it was long after he left.”
Despite the camaraderie, Malmsteen said the collaboration simply never materialized:
“So, yeah, it’s always been a good vibe. And it just, I don’t know… It just didn’t happen, you know?”
Later in the interview, Malmsteen spoke about his long-standing appreciation for live albums and how they hold a special place in his musical preferences. He expressed a consistent admiration for the raw energy and authenticity that live recordings capture—something he believes often surpasses studio work. Referring to Deep Purple’s legendary 1972 live album Made in Japan, he noted:
“The funny thing is that, out of all the bands that I thought were great, it was always the live albums I like the most. Could have been UFO or Thin Lizzy or Judas Priest or whoever. Their live thing was always the one I like the best.”
He also gave a nod to another Deep Purple classic:
“And not to mention Made in Japan, of course. Made in Europe is good as well.”
Malmsteen explained why he finds live albums so captivating:
“So, yeah, I used to think that there was a different thing about the live album. You get the taste of what the show is like. It’s a little different sound and playing and feel and all that stuff. I always liked it.”
While Malmsteen never joined Deep Purple, his respect for the band and their legacy remains clear, as does his ongoing love for the vibrant, spontaneous spirit of live music.
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