Video: Yngwie Malmsteen Performs Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water" in 1992
While doing a bit of research on an upcoming story about noteworthy Deep Purple covers, we were reminded of this live 1992 performance of "Smoke on the Water" by Yngwie Malmsteen.
Note that Malmsteen also sings on this version, doing double duty by handling the original roles of both Ian Gillan and Ritchie Blackmore.
It's absolutely no secret that Blackmore had a profound influence on Malmsteen's playing, so it's cool to hear Malmsteen cover one of the elder guitarist's best-known recordings.
"Hendrix is godlike to me, but for a kid who wants to play guitar, the early Ritchie Blackmore solos were more challenging to play," Malmsteen told Guitar World.
"There's no question Blackmore was a big part of my development. I learned how to play the blues from studying him. He has a unique sound a look, and there's a cool mystique about him. There's no one like him."
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!

Damian is Editor-in-Chief of Guitar World magazine. In past lives, he was GW’s managing editor and online managing editor. He's written liner notes for major-label releases, including Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'The Complete Epic Recordings Collection' (Sony Legacy) and has interviewed everyone from Yngwie Malmsteen to Kevin Bacon (with a few memorable Eric Clapton chats thrown into the mix). Damian, a former member of Brooklyn's The Gas House Gorillas, was the sole guitarist in Mister Neutron, a trio that toured the U.S. and released three albums. He now plays in two NYC-area bands.
“This particular way of concluding Bohemian Rhapsody will be hard to beat!” Brian May with Benson Boone, Green Day with the Go-Gos, and Lady Gaga rocking a Suhr – Coachella’s first weekend delivered the guitar goods
“A virtuoso beyond virtuosos”: Matteo Mancuso has become one of the hottest guitar talents on the planet – now he’s finally announced his first headline US tour