by Chris Willow
— Guest Columnist —
Exclusive interview with Doogie White – ex-Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow vocalist
Doogie White is one of the best classic heavy rock vocalists in the world. The range, flexibility, melodic and characteristic strong voice with a cracking bottom and sharp high note place him in the finest line of hard rock singers like Ronnie Dio, Bon Scott, David Coverdale, Graham Bonnet and Ian Gillan just to name a few. He started his career with his own Band ‘La Paz and after he joined melodic Rock band Midnight Blue and Praying Mantis and finally was noticed by Ritchie Blackmore and recorded the last ever Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow studio album called ‘ Stranger In Us All’ in 1995.
He was doing very well and manage to sing properly and within his heart many Deep Purple songs and previous Rainbow songs. This Scottish vocalist sings with passion, sings truly, sings like a Scotsman in the battlefield, brave and loud and his characteristic voice cuts like a knife. After leaving Blackmore’s Rainbow in 1997. He was taking part in numerous live and studio projects with many iconic artists like Jon Lord (R.I.P), Yngwie Malmsteen and Michael Schenker.
He was appreciated as a very expressive straightforward live performer and thanks to his voice we keep the hard rock tunes in our hearts forever…
Chris: Hi Doogie! It is Chris Willow for Hardrock Haven On-Line Magazine. How are you doing? Would you like to answer a few questions?
Doogie: Hi Chris! I am OK. We can go with the interview right now.
Chris: You have made your name famous thanks to the stint with Ritchie Blackmore’ s Rainbow in the mid-nineties. How do you recall your work with him and why it was ended in 1997?
Doogie: Despite recent silliness on his part and past comments he has made about me, we always got on rather well. You have to remember that everyone writes their own narrative to either make themselves look better or to show the other person in a less favorable light. He is a master of the latter. He would rather put down former bandmates than take credit for the great work he has done and the wonderful music he has created. Thanks, I am OK. We can go with the interview now
That said I used to go and watch football or videos at his house at his invitation. We would have dinner or beers. I showed him the respect I show anyone who invites me into their house or to be in their band. I would voice my opinions and sometimes I would be listened to, sometimes not. We did spend months snowed in writing and recording so you do build a bond as much as anyone like Ritchie will allow.
Chris: Did you have any serious issues while working with him?
Doogie: He shared his aspirations and some fears or concerns with me at times. He always gave encouragement and praise if he felt it was due and I only ever had 3 real run-ins with him in all the time we worked together. One after I swore at him and he walked out (I talked my way out of that one) One when he turned my monitors off and grabbed me by the throat and said I was a monkey. (He talked his way out of that one) The last one was when I quit after the last show. (Neither of us has spoken to the other since then). But to his credit, he did honor all his commitments to me when his management was being…..evasive maybe is the polite way to put it.
Chris: Why didn’t you carry on and found your own band like David Coverdale did for example? You had a good start with Blackmore. Did you feel disappointed he split his Rainbow whilst the group was doing well on the worldwide tours throughout 1995 – 1997?
Doogie: It was a different world back then. Grunge was the flavor at the time and no one was remotely interested in anything I was doing. There was not the abundance of record companies there are now.
I recorded and sent material to different people in the same companies and got the replies that it was “NOT Rainbow enough” or that it was “TOO MUCH like Rainbow” from different A&R men from the same labels. Where was I to go then? So I joined up with some mates and played in bars. That was great fun but the fun stopped and I joined Yngwie.
Chris: Did Blackmore connection develop you and after stopped you in some way or something else?
Doogie: None of the above. Well, maybe some. A little perhaps. I avoided many of the Blackmore “clones” who wanted to work with me soon after I quit Rainbow but it later became apparent that I was being silly and I openly embraced my past and offers and dived into my future. I have worked with many great musicians in the 20 something years since I told Ritchie that I could no longer be in the band But it was all a long time ago and I think I have trodden my own path and I stand by what I do with some pride and some trepidation.
Chris: How come you didn’t join Iron Maiden when they were auditioning after splitting with Bruce Dickinson?
Doogie: They chose someone else
Chris: You had a hell better voice than that guy. And you had that kind of driving twist that Bruce had.
Doogie: Blaze had massive shoes to fill and he did a great job but normal service has been resumed and that would have happened no matter who stepped up to sing in the greatest metal band in the world
Chris: We met at Jon Lord’s Memorial thing last October 2017 and had a brief chat over some booze. Did you enjoy that event? Whose idea was it to get you to that concert?
Doogie: One of the organizers asked me. I was happy to do it.
Chris: Was it easy to perform with all those perfect strangers guys whom you didn’t sing with before?
Doogie: Yes. The songs remain the same, only the way they are played varies. The musicianship was high so it was not difficult and we all had fun.
Chris: What is your opinion about that VI Jon Lord’s Memorial thing and about the musical climate there?
Doogie: As I said I had fun. I know nothing about the “musical climate” here, there or anywhere else. I live in my own little bubble unconcerned about what others do. I am not a man who has his finger on the pulse of today’s rock music. The last band I heard that I bought an album of was Avatarium. I bought it because I liked the band and hope that despite sites where you can hear music for free that enough people will buy albums to keep the band making interesting music.
Chris: What would you like to say about that Polish guitarist Piotr Brzychcy of Kruk you performed with there
Doogie: He came, he knew his parts. He played well. Nice lad. Music crossed the language barrier yet again.
Chris: You recorded one studio song with Kruk a long time ago. Are you in touch?
Doogie: No.
Chris: Are you guys going to record anything else in the nearest future?
Doogie: No.
Chris: You recorded some fine albums with Yngwie Malmsteen and Michael Schenker who is the better song man for you? Who is the easier one to cope with?
Doogie: I had 6 years of fun with Yngwie and I am enjoying my time with Michael.
The latest release from me was with the Michael Schenker Fest’s album “Resurrection” on Nuclear Blast Records out in early March 2018.
It’s Graham Bonnet, Gary Barden, Robin McAuley and myself on vocals.
It was a very interesting move for Michael and the album will satisfy those who love the singers he worked with in the past with MSG and also those who enjoyed my work with him in TEMPLE OF ROCK.
It was fun for me and challenging as they all wrote amazing songs with Schenker in the past and it was interesting to see how the fans reacted to the new album and to the live performances at the shows. We have more touring coming up that will take us through till spring 2019 and beyond.
That why working with Schenker on this new venture is so exciting for me. I get to play with brilliant musicians like Chris Glen, Ted McKenna, and Steve Mann, write outstanding songs with Michael and share the stage with those other great singers. Whats not to love?.
Chris: You released your studio album ‘As Yet Untitled’ in 2012. It was very much AC/DC influenced, strictly hard rock record, wasn’t it?
Doogie: I don’t agree with you about AS YET UNTITLED. It had two songs that were in that mold but it was a very varied album. It starts with Tony Carey revisiting the style of intro he put on Tarot Woman which runs into a song called Come Taste the Band that I wrote when Ritchie asked for some new songs from me for my audition in 94. It’s an interesting album and I am pleased with most of it. There is always the odd song that one wishes had been different or better or left off in favor of another but no one else seems to mind so that’s cool.
Chris: What is your opinion about that album?
Doogie: Every home should have one. I think it is still available on Metal Mind Productions.
Chris: How do you remember recording it?
Doogie: It was a long process as I asked all my friends whom I had met over the years to be on it and to a man, apart from Ritchie, they all gave of their time and talent and I am forever grateful to them.
Chris: Do you currently think about the next one, strictly Doogie White’s album?
Doogie: I have enough songs for a new album or 2 but I am busy doing other things. I thought about doing a limited EP type CD stepping out from the genre that I am deep in just to see if there is interest in me exploring other avenues as a solo artist. But who knows the doors are open I just need to decide which one I want to go through.
Chris: ”Doogie White’s White Noise” is it your regular band now?
Doogie: The band is called Doogie White’s WHITE NOISE (Italian Chapter). WHITE NOISE is the name of my band. The “Chapter” part gives recognition to the place the musicians come from. When I am in Finland it is the (Finnish Chapter). In Argentina, it’s the (Argentine Chapter). It keeps the name the same but gives recognition to the great musicians I get to play with all over the world but does not tie me to any particular line up. It keeps the songs fresh as the performances change as the musicians change.
Chris: What is that band about?
Doogie: Good music and great live performances.
Chris: What are your current plans if it is about live performances and other new projects? Could you reveal something about that?
Doogie: I did an album called “Everything or Nothing” under the name John Steel with Doogie White. It’s a more metal album musically and I do my own thing over the top. You should check it out. And coming out in July is the second Schubert in Rock album “Commander of Pain”. Then I am back on the road with Schenker Fest.
Chris: Could I have a big request for you? Could you say ‘Hello ! ”or any ‘Greetings’ to your big fan Violette?
Doogie: Hello Violette. I think he misses you…
Chris: Thanks Doogie for your time and patience to answer my nosy questions. Cheers! And long live Rock ‘n’ Roll!
Doogie: Cheers Chris!
Stay connected with Christopher Willow’s Projects and Interviews:
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