Simon McBride became Deep Purple’s guitarist in 2022, stepping into one of the most storied six-string chairs in rock history.
Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, McBride spent nearly three decades building a reputation as a blues-rock virtuoso before joining the band that shaped his own musical taste as a child.
He replaced longtime guitarist Steve Morse and became only the fourth permanent guitarist in the band’s history.
This article covers his Belfast roots, his years with Sweet Savage, his solo career, and his current role recording and touring with Deep Purple.
Photo credit: 2eight, Wikimedia Commons
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Who Is Simon McBride?
Simon McBride is a Northern Irish singer, guitarist, and songwriter best known as Deep Purple’s guitarist since 2022.
He was born in Belfast on April 9, 1979, and grew up immersed in his father’s classic rock record collection.
Guitarist magazine once called him “among the best blues-rock players anywhere in the world.”
Before Deep Purple, McBride built a career spanning heavy metal, soul, and solo blues-rock records over nearly three decades.
Simon McBride’s Early Life in Belfast
McBride grew up in a house filled with classic rock, thanks to a father who loved bands like Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and Free.
He picked up a guitar at age nine and taught himself basic chords from a tuition book.
He progressed quickly by listening to records and playing along by ear.
At age 15 he entered Guitarist magazine’s Young Guitarist of the Year competition at London’s Wembley Conference Centre, and won.
That victory launched him into a professional career before he had even finished his teens.
💡 Did You Know?
Simon McBride is a visiting guitar tutor at BIMM in Dublin and has also guest taught at the International Guitar Foundation summer school and at BIMM Bristol.
Simon McBride Joins Sweet Savage
A few months after his 16th birthday, McBride was recruited by Belfast metal band Sweet Savage.
He replaced founding guitarist Vivian Campbell, who had departed to join Dio and later Def Leppard.
McBride recorded two albums with Sweet Savage, Killing Time in 1996 and Rune in 1998.
Metallica had already covered the Sweet Savage song “Killing Time” as a B-side, giving the band renewed attention around the world.
Learn more about the band’s origins on Sweet Savage’s Wikipedia page.
The Andrew Strong Years
After leaving Sweet Savage in 1998, McBride joined fellow Irishman Andrew Strong, famous for his role in the 1991 film The Commitments.
Playing with Strong meant a sharp turn toward soul, R&B, and pop music.
McBride has said the change was a useful learning experience that pulled him closer to the blues roots that first inspired him.
He spent six years touring with Strong before deciding to pursue his own material.
Blind Friday and Solo Beginnings
In 2003, McBride formed the Belfast band Blind Friday with vocalist Robin Martin.
Drummer Marty McCloskey and bassist Mark Adair later joined the lineup.
Blind Friday earned endorsements from PRS Guitars, Gretsch Drums, and Framus Amplification.
The band released one album, Wake Up, in 2007, before splitting up.
That breakup pushed McBride toward the solo career that would define the next decade of his life.
Simon McBride’s Solo Discography
McBride released his debut solo album, Rich Man Falling, on Nugene Records in 2008.
The record included covers of Free’s “Be My Friend” and Jimi Hendrix’s “Power of Soul.”
By this point he had opened shows for Jeff Beck, Joe Bonamassa, and slide guitarist Derek Trucks.
His 2010 follow-up, Since Then, earned him nominations at the British Blues Awards.
That same year, he toured the UK supporting one of his own guitar heroes, Joe Satriani.
In 2011 he played Glastonbury Festival and recorded a UK tour that became the live album Nine Lives.
His 2012 album Crossing the Line was recorded in Belfast and Maryland and later appeared on Classic Rock magazine’s best-of list for the year.
Joining Snakecharmer
In 2016, Simon McBride joined Snakecharmer, a band built around former Whitesnake members.
He replaced founding guitarist Micky Moody on lead guitar.
McBride recorded the band’s second album, Second Skin, released in May 2017.
He continued touring with Snakecharmer even after joining Deep Purple’s camp.
Working With Don Airey and Ian Gillan
Long before he officially joined Deep Purple, Simon McBride was already close to the band.
He spent roughly a decade playing guitar in Don Airey’s solo touring band, performing songs from Airey’s career with Rainbow, Whitesnake, and Ozzy Osbourne.
McBride also played on projects connected to Ian Gillan, including Gillan’s live Contractual Obligation recordings.
Those relationships made McBride a familiar and trusted face inside the Deep Purple camp long before any lineup change happened.
Simon McBride Replaces Steve Morse
In March 2022, Steve Morse announced he needed to step back from Deep Purple to care for his wife during her cancer treatment.
Simon McBride stepped in to cover Morse’s touring dates during the band’s 2022 summer tour.
Fans and critics responded well to McBride’s live performances of classic songs like Highway Star.
On July 23, 2022, Morse announced he was leaving the band permanently.
Morse said he was “handing over the keys to the vault” and that McBride had the gig “nailed.”
💡 Did You Know?
Simon McBride also endorses Victory amplifiers and D’Addario strings alongside his long-running PRS Guitars partnership.
Simon McBride Becomes Permanent Guitarist
Deep Purple formally announced Simon McBride as their permanent guitarist on September 16, 2022.
He became the fourth permanent guitarist in the band’s history, following Ritchie Blackmore, Tommy Bolin, and Steve Morse.
Deep Purple’s last studio album before McBride joined was Rapture of the Deep, recorded years earlier with Morse on guitar.
McBride said joining felt like “dream-come-true stuff” after growing up idolizing the band.
The same year, he released his own solo album, The Fighter, through earMUSIC.
Recording =1: His First Deep Purple Album
Simon McBride’s first full studio recording with Deep Purple was 2024’s =1, the band’s 23rd studio album.
Legendary producer Bob Ezrin helmed the sessions, his fifth Deep Purple record.
The album’s title track and first single, “Portable Door,” arrived on April 30, 2024.
McBride has said the recording process felt stress-free, describing it as simply getting in a room and playing.
He also said he tries to stay respectful of the guitar parts built by Ritchie Blackmore and Steve Morse before him.
The =1 album went on to top charts in twenty countries and supported a tour of 75 shows in 2024.
That tour closed with a sold-out night at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro on November 10, 2024.
Simon McBride’s Guitar Gear and PRS Endorsement
As a teenager, Simon McBride caught the attention of guitar builder Paul Reed Smith.
He remains a PRS Guitars-endorsed artist to this day.
His association with PRS has taken him to music events across Europe and to the annual PRS Experience in Maryland.
There, he has played alongside guitar legends including Carlos Santana and Buddy Guy.
His signature tone blends blues phrasing with the hard rock attack Deep Purple fans expect on stage.
Simon McBride’s Solo Career Today
Simon McBride has continued releasing solo music even while touring the world with Deep Purple.
In 2025 he released Recordings: 2020-2025, a compilation of blues-rock originals and unexpected covers of Free, Duran Duran, The Cure, and Bill Withers.
That same year he toured the UK and Europe behind his 2022 solo album, The Fighter.
McBride has said he nearly walked away from music a decade before Deep Purple came calling, after years of stalled opportunities.
He credits persistence for keeping his career alive long enough to land the biggest gig of his life.
Simon McBride’s Legacy and What’s Next
Simon McBride now carries the weight of a guitar chair once held by Ritchie Blackmore and Steve Morse.
He has embraced that history rather than running from it, calling it an honor to have his name tied to Deep Purple’s legacy.
Drummer Ian Paice has said McBride fits the band’s relentless touring schedule better than some of his predecessors.
With new Deep Purple material reportedly in early development, McBride’s role in the band’s future looks far from finished.
People Also Ask About Simon McBride
Who is Simon McBride?
Simon McBride is a Northern Irish guitarist and singer born in Belfast in 1979 who became Deep Purple’s guitarist in 2022. He built his career through bands like Sweet Savage and Snakecharmer, plus a long solo discography, before joining Deep Purple full time.
Did Simon McBride replace Steve Morse in Deep Purple?
Yes. McBride filled in for Steve Morse during Deep Purple’s 2022 summer tour after Morse stepped back to care for his wife. Morse left permanently in July 2022, and McBride was named the band’s official guitarist that September.
Is Simon McBride a permanent member of Deep Purple?
Yes, Simon McBride became a full, permanent member of Deep Purple on September 16, 2022. He is the fourth permanent guitarist in the band’s history, after Ritchie Blackmore, Tommy Bolin, and Steve Morse.
What bands was Simon McBride in before Deep Purple?
Before Deep Purple, McBride played in Sweet Savage, toured with Andrew Strong, led his own band Blind Friday, and later joined Snakecharmer alongside former Whitesnake members. He also built a long-running solo career in between.
What guitar does Simon McBride play?
Simon McBride is a longtime PRS Guitars-endorsed artist, a relationship that began when he was a teenager. He also endorses Victory amplifiers and D’Addario strings.
Watch: Simon McBride on Replacing Steve Morse
Essential Deep Purple Albums to Own
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Rapture of the Deep
20th Anniversary 2CD Edition
The last Deep Purple studio album before Simon McBride joined.
Hear the guitar chair he stepped into.
Machine Head
1972 Classic
The Deep Purple record every new guitarist gets measured against.
Essential listening for any fan.
Perfect Strangers
1984 Reunion Album
The Mark II reunion that reshaped the band’s sound.
A key stop in Deep Purple’s guitar history.
The Very Best of Deep Purple
Career-Spanning Collection
A full overview of the band Simon McBride now fronts on guitar.
The perfect starting point for new fans.
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Simon McBride’s story runs from a Belfast bedroom to the biggest stages in rock, and he is far from finished writing it.
Follow his work at his official website and on Facebook, or read his full history on Wikipedia.
Whatever comes next for Deep Purple, Simon McBride has already earned his place in the band’s long, storied guitar lineage.