Что же до Блекмора нынешнего, точнее его выступления на минувшем фесте "Монстры Рока", то вот вам мнение Тома Хэмилтона (c 1970 щиплет басовые струны в Aerosmith). Том в те же дни в качестве приглашенного басиста отыграл на том же фесте в составе очередного трибюта Thin Lizzy. Т.с. свидетельство очевидца (надеюсь, с англицким у читателей все ОК):
Aerosmith's Tom Hamilton describes Ritchie Blackmore Rainbow shows as 'flat'
Hamilton played with Thin Lizzy when they opened for Rainbow in June and says guitarist Ritchie Blackmore wasn't looking or sounding his best.
Aerosmith's Tom Hamilton says Ritchie Blackmore has been looking "pudgy" and was "a little flat" when performing with Rainbow last month.
The bassist has been playing with the reunited Thin Lizzy on their tour to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the death of their frontman Phil Lynott and to celebrate 40 years since the release of their iconic Jailbreak album. The tour included two shows opening for Rainbow in Germany.
Hamilton claims that the former Deep Purple guitarist cordoned off the stage while Rainbow were performing. He tells his Aerosmith bandmate Joey Kramer on WZLX: "Right before they went on, they booted everyone off the stage. They had to watch from the side. And then they put up this tape across the walkway, like ‘do not cross’ red-and-white striped tape."
Hamilton adds: “Everybody’s just kind of standing there staring at them, like , 'Oh my God, who’s ever seen a band do that?’ But he really did not want anybody on the stage while he was playing."
When asked how Blackmore looked, Hamilton says, "a little pudgy," adding: "He was playing lead – it sort of sounded, just like, right off the record, and not in a real passionate way. A little flat."
