Ritchie Blackmore, the guitarist behind Deep Purple and Rainbow, is remembered in this retrospective piece for a handful of career-defining guitar moments that helped shape the sound of rock music. The article argues that his riffs were never mere backing instrumentation but the defining feature of each track, showcasing both his blistering technical flair and his ability to hold down a song with grounded, bluesy melody.

The piece highlights five standout moments: the runaway-train riff on Deep Purple's "Burn", the anthemic drum-and-guitar opening of "Stargazer", the rhythmic, bluesy playing on "Man On The Silver Mountain", and the instantly recognisable riff from "Smoke On The Water", often cited as one of the most iconic and widely learned guitar parts in rock history. Together, these examples are presented as evidence of Blackmore's versatility and lasting influence on generations of guitarists.