Few rock riffs have carved themselves into the DNA of music like Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water.” It’s the first riff countless players ever learn, the universal language of guitar shops, and the very definition of heavy, minimalist power. But according to Ritchie Blackmore, the man who wrote it, one of the greatest riffs in rock history may never have existed without… a novelty act.
Yes, a novelty act.
And in Blackmore’s view, their approach to music “made much more sense than Chuck Berry playing ‘Sweet Little Sixteen.’”
The Surprising Source Behind The Iconic Riff
In various interviews throughout the years, Blackmore has pointed to a quirky, comedic, but musically clever band as a major influence: The Graham Bond Organisation—but more specifically the satirical rock-infused comedy troupe The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band.
While the Bonzos were never meant to be taken entirely seriously, their ability to twist jazz, blues, and rock tropes into punchy, stripped-down motifs fascinated Blackmore. They played riffs that were intentionally wrong, deliberately simplistic, or humorously punchy—and that creative looseness inspired him.
“It made much more sense than Chuck Berry playing ‘Sweet Little Sixteen,’” Blackmore said, contrasting the Bonzos’ tongue-in-cheek approach with the standard blues-rock formula most guitarists relied on at the time.
In other words: Blackmore admired how they broke the rules.
How That Influence Became “Smoke On The Water”
By the early ’70s, Deep Purple were already experimenting with heavier, more focused riff-driven writing. But Blackmore wanted a riff that was:
- direct
- unfancy
- built on intervals instead of chords
- almost primitive
- instantly recognizable
The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band’s ability to craft melodies that were both simple and distinct gave Blackmore a model. If a comedic act could do it for humor, he could do it for power.
That thinking led him to the famous parallel-fourths pattern: a riff built not from blues licks, but from pure, stripped-down architecture.
He once joked that if he’d played the riff as straight barre chords, it would’ve sounded like “every other blues song on earth.” The real magic came from breaking that mold, leaning into simplicity the same way the Bonzos did.
A Novelty Band’s Serious Impact
It sounds improbable, but that’s entirely the point. “Smoke on the Water” wasn’t born from a desire to be flashy—it came from Blackmore’s fascination with anti-flash. The Bonzos showed him that sometimes the most direct, unembellished musical ideas hit hardest.
And he took that lesson to heart. The resulting riff became:
- one of the most played guitar parts in history
- an entry point for millions of new guitarists
- a blueprint for hard rock and heavy metal riff writing
All because a band known for jokes, costumes, and musical satire demonstrated that simplicity, when used intentionally, can be more compelling than virtuosity.
Blackmore’s Genius: Knowing Where To Look
If anything, this story cements Ritchie Blackmore’s reputation as one of rock’s most inventive musicians. He wasn’t just absorbing influences from guitar heroes or blues legends. He was watching a novelty act, noticing their structural creativity, and using that inspiration to redefine rock guitar.
It’s the kind of insight only a truly original thinker has.
And in that sense, perhaps the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band really did make “Smoke on the Water” possible. Not by giving Blackmore a riff, but by giving him permission to write something so boldly simple.
Because sometimes the greatest ideas don’t come from the giants, but from the unexpected oddballs playing just off to the side.
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