In a new interview with host Darren Paltrowitz , Ian Paice was asked if there was ever a period when Deep Purple Ritchie Blackmore 's definitive departure in 1994.
“The only time we were worried was near the end of Ritchie's time with the band. He was losing interest and our performances weren't as good because we need everyone to help each other; you can't be a passenger. We saw the audiences getting smaller and less impressed, and that was worrying,” he says.
Paice described Blackmore's departure as "traumatic" and admitted that Deep Purple "didn't know what to do" at that moment. What saved them, according to him, was the tour in Japan, which featured Joe Satriani in Ritchie Blackmore's place.
“We had to go to Japan with the wonderful Joe Satriani, and that proved that there is life after someone as great as Ritchie. He didn't want to be there, but it was our band as much as it was his, and we were still having fun. We started having fun again when Joe showed up and became a fifth member of the band. That was the light at the end of the tunnel.”
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