Simon McBride: What It’s Like Replacing Steve Morse in Deep Purple

What does it take to step into one of the most legendary bands in rock history — and make it your own? 🎸🔥 In this episode, Rob Cass sits down with Simon McBride, the guitarist who took on the massive challenge of joining Deep Purple and stepping into the shoes of Steve Morse and Ritchie Blackmore. Simon opens up about the moment that changed his life, the pressure of his first show with Deep Purple, and why the “easy” songs can actually be the hardest to play. One of the most compelling parts of the conversation is his honest take on replacing a legend — and how he approached it with respect, but also with confidence in his own voice. From picking up the guitar at just nine years old to winning Young Guitarist of the Year, his journey has been driven by pure passion for music. Along the way, he shares stories about touring with heroes like Joe Satriani and evolving across genres, from hard rock to soul and R&B 🎶 Beyond Deep Purple, Simon reflects on his early days with Sweet Savage, forming his own band Blind Friday, and building a career that blends technical mastery with feel. The episode wraps up with Simon playing his top five favorite guitar riffs, giving you a glimpse into the influences behind his sound. Honest, powerful, and full of guitar wisdom — this is a must-watch for any rock fan 🎥✨ -------------------------------------------------------------------- ⏱️ CHAPTERS: 00:00 How one person changed my life 06:38 Biggest challenge of joining Deep Purple 12:15 My first show with Deep Purple 14:09 The hardest songs are the ‘easy’ ones” 16:48 What was it like to replace Steve Morse 24:06 First time I picked up a guitar 32:39 Learning to play by ear 38:31 My ‘Young Guitarist of the Year’ moment 41:02 I need nine guitars 44:50 Sweet Savage was the starting point of my career 47:55 My move into soul & R&B with Andrew Strong 51:02 Starting my own band, Blind Friday 57:30 Best & worst show 59:36 There are only two types of music: Good and Bad 01:02:45 Next tour with Deep Purple 01:04:42 Simon McBride’s top 5 guitar riffs ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 🎧 Don’t forget to: 👍 Like 🔔 Subscribe 💬 Comment 📲 Share STAY TUNED ON SOCIALS: Instagram: dopeyeah.talk https://www.tiktok.com/@dopeyeahtalk?... https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?... https://x.com/dopeYEAHtalk