The Resume

(April 14, 1945- )
Former lead guitarist of Deep Purple (1968-75, 1984-93)
Guitarist of Rainbow (1975-84, 1995-97)
Current Guitarist of Blackmore's Night (1997- )

Why he might be annoying:

He's been know to be extremely difficult to work with.
He was once arrested after a concert for kicking a security guard.
At the end of his shows, he would smash his guitar and toss it into the audience.
During the 1974 California Jam, he smashed his guitar against a camera and nearly set the stage on fire.
During the filming of a concert, he threw water at a cameraman when he was in a position, he didn't like and walked off the stage in the middle of the opening song.
He quit Deep Purple during the middle of a tour (1993).
His hair is thicker now than when he was younger.

Why he might not be annoying:

He came up with one of the most memorable riffs in rock history, 'Smoke on the Water.'
He was a founding member of two of the most influential hard rock bands in history (Deep Purple and Rainbow).
He has the rare talent of being able to create a guitar solo that totally captures the mood and feel of the respective song.

Credit: HSAC2003

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Black and White
• Deep Purple
• Guitar World's 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists of All Time [March 2004] (Ranked: 16)
• Guitar World's 100 Most Greatest Guitar Solos (Ranked: 74)
• Guitar World's 100 Most Greatest Guitar Solos (Ranked: 19)
• HSAC2000's Profiles
• Profiles 8501-8750 (Ranked: 8520)
• Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists (Ranked: 55)
• WatchMojo’s Top 10 Guitar Solos [2013] (Ranked: 10)

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 77 Votes: 68.83% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 125 Votes: 65.60% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 127 Votes: 53.54% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 94 Votes: 53.19% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 95 Votes: 61.05% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 125 Votes: 49.60% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 4 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 9 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 6 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 18 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 20 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 17 Votes: 52.94% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 30 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 28 Votes: 46.43% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 36 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 96 Votes: 60.42% Annoying
In 2006, Out of 137 Votes: 58.39% Annoying
In 2005, Out of 232 Votes: 59.48% Annoying
In 2004, Out of 289 Votes: 51.56% Annoying
In 2003, Out of 242 Votes: 59.50% Annoying