Highway Star

Highway Star

Mike Pachelli breaks down “Highway Star” by Deep Purple. This song was the opener for their 1972 album, Machine Head, the same album that featured their mega hit, “Smoke On The Water.”

“Highway Star” originated on a tour bus when a reporter asked how the band wrote a song. Ritchie Blackmore began playing an 8th note pattern on an acoustic guitar and Ian Gillian started improvising lyrics. “Highway Star” was completed that day and then performed on stage that night in Portsmouth.

Guitar World Magazine ranks Blackmore’s solo in “Highway Star” at #15 in their list of the “100 Greatest Guitar Solos.” It’s an up-tempo solo, classically inspired, that has influenced many speed metal bands. True to the genius of Ritchie Blackmore, the solo is both harmonically sound and technically challenging!

Mike plays a Gibson Nighthawk Studio in the lesson.

Mike Pachelli started playing guitar as a youngster in his hometown of Youngstown, Ohio. His earliest influence was Wes Montgomery who Mike says, "first opened my ears to the possibilities on guitar." Pachelli studied classical guitar at YSU and then moved to New York City to study bebop with guitar luminaries Joe Pass and Pat Martino. Mike's guitar style is an amalgamation of blues, jazz, rock, and neo-classical. He has a wealth of musical experience gained thru years of night clubs, concert halls, and recording studios. He's performed all over the U.S. and Europe with some of the most eclectic jazz, blues, pop and rock musicians including Brother Jack McDuff, Albert King, Les & Larry Elgart, Michael Sembello, Crystal Gayle, Barbara Mandrell, Jeanne Mas, Phil Keaggy, Frank Stallone (to name a few) and has done classical symphony concerts touring with Ferrante and Teicher.