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KillerBananas wrote:

It was also announced that Ritchie was participating with "Doc Calvinson" on a book through an official statement from Minstrel Hall music that said: "Candice and Ritchie have authorized Doc Calvinson to write their stories. It will be the musical history of Ritchie Blackmore-past and present - as well as their own biographical account of Blackmore's Night. This book will be accurate as they are participating in the authoring. If you want to read the true story this will be the one to read."

These statements clearly proved to me what was taking place. And for anyone who has read Mr. Bloom’s book, or follows his magazine “More Black than Purple” should know he strives to document truth and accuracy. Mr. Bloom knows and has personally interviewed, most of the key players from the “inner circle” that span Ritchie’s entire career and his book is far from rubbish. On a personal speculation, I question the authenticity of the writer of the question addressed to Candice. Perhaps Candice wrote the question herself? One may never know….


 But this story does not stop hear.

 Shortly before my review was posted, I re-read “The Next Stage” paying closer attention. The first thing that I noticed was the lack of any publisher’s credentials. Other than a basic copyright and a brief notation of these rights, there is no mention of a publisher. Nothing is to be used other than brief quotations and without written permission so who does one write for permission without a publisher? And even more perplexing to me was the mysterious name of the author ”Doc Calvinson”.

 In the books forward written by managing director Carole Steven, she makes it clear that “Doc Calvinson” is a man they respect, trust, and who has apparently been around the music business for quite awhile. And In “Doc’s” introduction, he makes claim (page 5) that he is the guy “you don’t see” and that he has been there for “forty years”. Furthermore, “Doc” state’s “the names have been changed to protect the incompetent, the irresponsible, and the privacy of those who had to, and continue to, endure the life of a touring musician”.

What exactly did this mean “to protect the incompetent”? So I inquired Minstrel Hall to see if I could have “Doc’s” email address so I could speak to him about his involvement with this project and obtain a statement from him to go along with my recently submitted book review. Management expressed that she would get a statement for me to be added to the review but that Doc remains a “very private person” and no emails could be exchanged through him and me. This is what I received:

 Right now it's some crazy-ass hour of the morning and here I sit in the quiet of the lobby of a crappy little hotel in some city I don't even know how to pronounce. No one speaks English here and everyone smells. I asked for toast for a snack and I think I got rabbit meat. You know how it goes...
Well first of all I have to say I have been privileged to work with the incredibly talented artists that live behind the stories. And with their great genius comes their great trials and tribulations that have made the stories come to life with such color. Of course, all those stories are funny....in retrospect. When you live them you normally can't wait until they end. When you read about them later...much later...they make you cherish the memory, with an unconscious grin widening on your face. You think of the fans you do it all for, the exhilaration of being on that stage, and then, before you know it, you long for the road again. It is a vicious cycle of self-inflected wounds, but it hurts so good. The stories speak for themselves. They cover a few periods in the history of a few different bands, but we wanted to respect the privacy of groups and individuals so we changed names.

 I started questioning just why this person was being kept so secret and began some detective work to find out the true identity of Doc Calvinson. After all, having a decent knowledge of people who have worked with Ritchie throughout his career, this name eluded me. And Carole says in her forward that Doc is an indispensable roadie. Does a roadie need to be that elusive, or could it be that even the name of the author was changed as well? The answer to this question was yes. Doc’s name was changed. But Doc Calvinson is far from a roadie. And after a little thought and effort the answer to my question was staring me right in the face and was in the name itself. How could I have been so blind? Anyone who has followed the band closely over the years and has read the interviews should have a basic background of Candice Night. She has made reference many times that her father is a Doctor, and his name just happens to be Calvin. Candice also has a brother. I will not mention his name. And here we have it.
Doc = Doctor
Calvin = Father
Son = Brother
And put together = Doc Calvinson!

 The author of The Next Stage (or for at least a portion) is none other than Candy’s brother. This is documented. The knights must have sat around the round table with a gallon of Walker and come up with this one. Rather cleaver if I say so myself. But I should have spotted it from the start as everything that comes from this band goes through Candice’s Mother and the bands manager Carole so that they can keep it in the family.

 So what is my point and why is it a big deal? Because this is another example of dishonesty and how they continue to cover things up and shelter any truth from their fans. Why would a band put so much effort into hiding this? Would it have made a difference to anyone if they had said that Candice has asked her brother to document these stories for them? I seriously doubt it. And for those of us who are knowledgeable of the “inner circle” clearly know that her brother does not work in the music industry at all. For that matter just read the first paragraph on page nine of the book: “my brother is in the world of big business. He always complains about his company’s hiring process. I only wish the process for hiring talented band members were that structured and reliable in the music business” Yet on page five Doc says: “What may seem ridiculous to you is business as usual to me. Just another day at the office. My hours are 24/7. There are no days off. Only days without a show”. So what are we to believe? And just how could he have been there for forty years when he wasn’t even born? Yet he states he has spent the better portion of his life on the road? I know of fans that have seen more Blackmore’s Night shows then he has.
   
 After taking a fresh look at this book, I can now see that this was a staged effort and have to ask myself, who wrote what? Obviously the statement that was sent to us is pure rubbish. And a good portion of the book would clearly shows that these stories should only be read as just that, “Stories” and if anything is actually based on fact, it should be taken with a grain of salt. This book is nothing more than a multilateral family effort, mother, daughter, and son, that was rushed to publication for one reason only and that was to keep your eyes focused on them. So I ask you, did changing the authors name protect the incompetent?

Question for the bands management.

1. In the official statement by Minstrel Hall: “If you want to read the true story this will be the one to read." How can your fans expect to read truth when you cover up minor truths and facts?


KB says: Is there still someone out there who think highly of Blackmores, or Blackmore/ Candise, management of today??

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Wott wrote:
We have no right to expect honesty or truth about areas that are no business of ours.

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Wott wrote:

We have no right to expect honesty or truth about areas that are no business of ours.

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KillerBananas wrote:

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Wott wrote:

We have no right to expect honesty or truth about areas that are no business of ours.

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Bollocks! If his management says that this is the truth, written with the man himself, I expect it to be the truth. Well, it's not! It's pure bull, and (some) people have paid money for it. It's a scam from the Stevens family/ management, written by a familymember that has never had any experience from the musicbiz.

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Wott wrote:

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KillerBananas wrote:

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Wott wrote:

We have no right to expect honesty or truth about areas that are no business of ours.

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Bollocks! If his management says that this is the truth, written with the man himself, I expect it to be the truth. Well, it's not! It's pure bull, and (some) people have paid money for it. It's a scam from the Stevens family/ management, written by a familymember that has never had any experience from the musicbiz.

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Better get down the cop shop then and dob him in for obtaining money by deception.

Then Ritchie can spend the next few years serenading in-mates on B Wing.

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KillerBananas wrote:

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Wott wrote:

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KillerBananas wrote:

quote:

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Wott wrote:

We have no right to expect honesty or truth about areas that are no business of ours.

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Bollocks! If his management says that this is the truth, written with the man himself, I expect it to be the truth. Well, it's not! It's pure bull, and (some) people have paid money for it. It's a scam from the Stevens family/ management, written by a familymember that has never had any experience from the musicbiz.

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Better get down the cop shop then and dob him in for obtaining money by deception.

Then Ritchie can spend the next few years serenading in-mates on B Wing.

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You don't get it do you....?

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