The Belfast music scene of the 1980s and 1990s was, admittedly, a period of sonic transition; the popularity of punk and new wave artists was phasing out as the city embraced alternative acts, hip-hop beats, and hair-metal bands.

“It was a bit of a wasteland for a guy like me, to be honest” laughs guitarist Simon McBride over a Zoom call with Celtic Life International. “I grew up listening to classic rock; Led Zeppelin, Def Leppard, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Guns ‘n’ Roses, and such. If you weren’t a fan of U2 or Sinead O’Conner or Enya or the Cranberries, there wasn’t a lot going on musically in Ireland.”

While the Emerald Isle has produced its fair share of classic rockers over the years, McBride found inspiration across the water.

“Rory (Gallagher) was never really on my radar, but I did listen to Gary Moore (Thin Lizzy), who was Belfast man. And there is no denying the impact that The Edge has had on the instrument. For me, though, it was Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhoads – rock and metal players. And then there were the shredders – Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen, and the like. I didn’t get into grunge when it first came out, but I’ve become a big Nirvana fan since then and guys like Kurt Cobain and Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine) have done their bit to keep the guitar in the spotlight. And I love Joe Bonamassa, who – in my mind – has single-handedly kept the art of blues guitar alive.”

At a time when everyone with a laptop can create music, McBride believes there is still room for old-school talent.

“There is so much new music being released these days on so many different platforms that it is sometimes challenging to find the really good stuff – the stuff with soul, played by real musicians. I can’t imagine starting my musical career now…it would be very tough to make a go of it financially.”

After stints as a solo artist and performing with Belfast bands Sweet Savage and Blind Friday – as well as a six-year gig with former Commitments frontman Andrew Strong – McBride joined British rock legends Deep Purple in 2022.

“It’s been brilliant – a fantastic experience. These guys are veteran performers and still put on an old-school rock concert every night. And the fans are fantastic – I love seeing older folks with their kids and their grandkids out in the crowd. That is a true testament to the timelessness of this music.”

Deep Purple is currently on tour, promoting their latest recording (titled “= 1”).

“We released a couple of singles over the past few months and the response so far has been really strong. The new album, these new songs, are a bit of a departure of sorts for us – I don’t think any of us are content with sitting still and stagnating as players – and yet there is that instantly recognizable sound that only Deep Purple can make.”

A huge part of that sonic moniker comes from the guitar.

“Talk about big shoes to fill,” laughs McBride. “Ritchie Blackmore is a legend, and anyone who knows anything about the guitar knows how brilliant and important he is in the history of rock music. And then Steve Morse was with the band for almost 30 years, and he is, arguably, one of the finest guitar players on the planet.”

Still, McBride is honoured to stand on the shoulders of giants.

“On the one hand, I am playing these tried-and-true parts that have been written and performed by these legendary musicians, while on the other hand I bring my own sound to the material. So, really, it is the best of both worlds.”

Similarly, he notes that his hometown of Belfast now embraces two traditionally differing elements.

“It’s changed a lot since I was a youngster,” he notes. “I grew up during The Troubles, a very divisive time, and the guitar was one way for me to escape the insanity of it all. It’s not like that anymore. Sure, there are still idiots about, and I suppose there always will be, but young people in Belfast have moved on for the most part. They’re more interested in culture or school or getting a good job than in any sort of political sectarianism. They’re so much more aware than we were at that age, with a greater sense of the wider world.

“And, really, when you think about it, that’s great news for the city’s music scene…”

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