Deep Purple erases original guitarist from T-shirt

The never-ending drama between Deep Purple and original guitarist Ritchie Blackmore has reached a new level. According to the Purple fan site thehighwaystar.com, the band is selling a T-shirt with the cover of their 1972 album Machine Head, but Blackmore's image has been removed from the picture. Under the title "Most Ridiculous Item Of The Day," a post on the official blackmoresnight.com website reads, "We were shocked and appalled to learn in the last few days that someone has removed Ritchie's image from the Machine Head T-shirts. Apparently, this was done just because someone doesn't want Ritchie to receive any money from their sales." But people on thehighwaystar.com are wondering if Blackmore, who's been out of Deep Purple since 1992, didn't demand that his likeness be removed in a dispute over money.

Blackmore and his long-time girlfriend Candice Night have devoted themselves to playing Renaissance-inspired music as Blackmore's Night, and he's shown no interest in rejoining his old mates.

Dixie Dregs guitarist Steve Morse has been with Deep Purple since 1994, giving him the longest run at the position in the band's history.
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