Steve Morse

Longtime Deep Purple guitarist Steve Morse is officially leaving the band after announcing in March that he was taking a temporary hiatus from the Rock ...

I’ll miss everybody in the band and crew but being Janine’s helper and advocate has made a real difference at many key points.” Steve’s personal circumstances have made it impossible for him to commit to the band’s schedule throughout 2022 and beyond.” We both miss being at shows, but I simply couldn’t commit to long, or far away tours, since things can change quickly at home.”

Deep Purple guitarist Steve Morse has announced his departure from the band to take care of his wife, Janine, who is battling cancer.

Singer Ian Gillan said in a tribute to the guitarist, “Steve has a legacy with Deep Purple that can never be forgotten, and that smile will be missed. “Almost a year later, we are learning to accept stage 4 aggressive cancer and chemo treatment for the rest of her life.” I guess you have to jiggle the key just right because I never got it open.”

The 67-year-old will not be returning to the rock band after his wife Janine was diagnosed with stage four cancer.

All I can do is wish you and Janine the best for the future, in the new course that life has taken you. We kindly ask that Steve and Janine’s privacy is respected and to keep them in your thoughts at this time.’ Deep Purple formed in 1968 and are widely regarded as pioneers of hard rock and heavy metal. Don Airey said of his beloved bandmate: ‘Thanks Steve for being such a shining light both musically and personally to me over the last few (20!) years. But I’m now handing over the keys to the vault which holds the secret of how Ritchie’s Smoke on the Water intro was recorded. I suggested lining up a substitute guitarist last Autumn, hoping we could see the miraculous cancer cure all of us have heard about.

Guitarist Steve Morse has officially quit Deep Purple in order to take care of his wife during her ongoing battle with cancer.

“Deep Purple announces that Steve Morse will be stepping back from the band, having been its guitarist for more than a quarter of a century. I’ll miss everybody in the band and crew but being Janine’s helper and advocate has made a real difference at many key points. “Last Autumn, I suddenly left the Purple writing session in Germany because my wife was having a real medical crisis.

"Last autumn, I suddenly left the Purple writing session in Germany because my wife was having a real medical crisis," Morse explained in a statement shared by ...

Morse isn't completely closing the book on his live performing career. "Almost a year later, we are learning to accept stage 4 aggressive cancer and chemo treatment for the rest of her life." He was replaced in the interim by guitarist Simon McBride. Morse's announcement ended his 28-year career with Deep Purple, which included eight studio albums and near-constant touring since 1994.

Deep Purple guitarist Steve Morse has announced his departure from the band as he looks over his wife as she battles cancer.

After playing a series of summer shows, Deep Purple will return to the road for a Fall UK/European outing that runs from late September through early November. Steve has a legacy with Deep Purple that can never be forgotten, and that smile will be missed. I got to know him as a very kind man, full of ideas and the patience to see them developed. I didn’t realise at the time that one day I would be lucky enough to stand on stage with Steve and enjoy his consummate skills up close and dangerous. “I guess you have to jiggle the key just right because I never got it open.” “Almost a year later, we are learning to accept stage four aggressive cancer and chemo treatment for the rest of her life.”