The Man In Black has always been a mysterious individual and this doc looks to uncover and dig deep into the man known as Ritchie Blackmore. Interviews were conducted with old bandmates David Coverdale, Glenn Hughes, Graham Bonnet, Joe Lynn Turner, as well as guitar heroes like Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Steve Lukather, and others like Lars Ulrich, and Gene Simmons of all characters. 

The doc details Blackmore’s early life and penchant for stubbornness and always doing what he wanted, like refusing to smile for pictures as a child. Blackmore explains how he was a poor student, but loved music and set out to be a great musician. He says with a laugh that he always wanted his teachers to say “he was a bad student, but man, he could really play the guitar.”

The film goes on to detail the formation of Deep Purple, their switch to hard-hitting rock (thanks in part to Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath) and finding Ian Gillan. The making of the famous Machine Head album is talked about and then the rift with Gillan begins with Ritchie thinking it all began when coming back from touring Japan when he told Gillan he didn’t like the way he sang.

Ritchie is very forthcoming with information and details of the events of the infamous California Jam when he busted an expensive camera and exploded the amps, his unhappiness with Stormbringer, playing practical jokes (a couple very funny stories recounted), formation of Rainbow (including the real reason why Dio was fired), the reformation of Purple, and that it should have ended after Perfect Strangers. I was a bit disappointed they quickly glossed over the Turner era and plus there no comments about the importance/significance of the monumental track “Stargazer”.

It’s funny how Ritchie’s career winds up as the film takes a complete turnaround when we go from hard hitting rock ‘n’ roll to Renaissance music and Blackmore’s Night. Ritchie clearly explains his love for medieval times and he feels like he’s in another world. Ritchie sees it as the ultimate compliment when someone says “I don’t like Renaissance music, but I love your music.” Vocalist and wife Candice Night laughs at the notion that she turned Ritchie into a medieval man by stating just how Ritchie is: no one tells him to do anything, Ritchie does what Ritchie wants to do. Long live Mr. Blackmore!