# In 1993, Ritchie Blackmore left Deep Purple for a second time. His replacement couldn’t bring himself to join

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/in-1993-ritchie-blackmore-left-deep-purple-for-a-second-time-his-replacement-couldnt-bring-himself-to-join/
- Published: 2026-11-14T18:30:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-14T19:23:30+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/1993-ritchie-blackmore-left-deep-purple-for-a-second-time/
- Topics: Music

## Key points

- Blackmore left Deep Purple in 1993.
- Michael Schenker turned down the guitarist role.
- He chose to focus on his own music.

## Summary

Ritchie Blackmore left Deep Purple in 1993, saying he would not return, so the band sought a new lead guitarist. Their first choice was Michael Schenker, but he declined, believing he needed to pursue his own musical ideas and would not have had the freedom to do so in the group.

Schenker told Wiki Metal in 2012 that Deep Purple approached him before Joe Satriani and that he was tempted by the offer. He had also turned down approaches from Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy and Motörhead; Satriani eventually joined Deep Purple for a year.

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