STEVE MORSE

Every month we get inside the mind of one of the biggest names in music. This issue it’s Steve Morse. Since emerging from the University of Miami in the mid-1970s, the guitarist has enjoyed a storied and multifaceted career spanning six decades. Having come to prominence initially with the Dixie Dregs, Morse then led his own Steve Morse Band before stepping into the ranks of American prog icons Kansas. Later he would spend 28 years within Deep Purple and has also been part of prog supergroup Flying Colors. Here the affable and unassuming guitarist reflects on his extraordinary musical journey.

Words: Nick Shilton

An October morning finds Steve Morse – arguably the guitarist’s guitarist par excellence – at home in Ocala, central Florida. He’s promoting Triangulation, the first Steve Morse Band album in 16 years and his first release since leaving Deep Purple – the iconic band with whom he initially committed to four shows but ended up staying with for 28 years – in 2022.

New album Triangulation is out now.

MICHAEL OCHS ARCHIVES/GETTY IMAGES

Having stood down from Purple to care for his late wife Janine, Morse has teamed up with his regular crack team of bassist Dave LaRue and drummer Van Romaine for Triangulation.

“With the Dregs, everybody’s scattered to the winds,” he explains. “The most manageable project was the trio stuff, and Van or Dave said we should do something. I have been playing with them for close to 40 years, so it’s an extremely comfortable situation musically and personally.”

Typically diverse stylistically, Triangulation contains the beautiful Taken By An Angel as a tribute to Janine as well as eye-and ear-catching collaborations with fellow virtuoso guitarists John Petrucci (Dream Theater) and fusion player Eric Johnson.

“I hate asking for favours,” says Morse of their appearances. “These guys are my friends, and they get people asking them all the time, ‘Will you play on this?’ When you call somebody, you’re interrupting their home time. And I hate piggybacking on other people’s energy and hard work. So I was extremely sensitive about that.

“But I realised it’s been 16 years since the last record and I don’t know how many more albums there’s going to be with my name on it. So I called them and the guys played fantastic. I still feel guilty that imposing on them has made the record more valuable. But we’ve been friends for a long time and this was something that they did out of love and mutual respect.”

[Kansas] were putting together the band again with Steve Walsh, which was exciting news, and asked if I had any song ideas. I was really just hoping to co-write a tune or two.