After a Dregs concert in NYC the band accommodated a meet-n-greet for autographs. When I asked Steve to autograph my pilot license, the rest of the band said "OH YEAH!!" and he was really excited to do it. He is such a neat guy on so many levels.

If my memory is correct, Steve recorded his masterpiece album, “High Tension Wires” during his commercial aviation career. He recorded during his down-time (Hours of Service requirements). I can only imagine him writing the compositions in his head while soaring above the beautiful landscapes, tunes such as “Country Colors” and “Highland Wedding”. Thanks for this terrific interview. Thanks for shining a spotlight on this world-class human being!

NEVER NEW THAT LEGEND STEVE MORSE OF DEEP PURPLE WAS SUCH AN EXPERENCED AVIATOR, THANKS FOR THAT GREAT INTERVIEW AOPA

This is the first time I've seen Steve interviewed where he doesn't have a guitar in his hands. One of the greatest guitarists in the history of rock music, and yet back in the 80s he had to make a living as a pilot...

He’s a great example of a Rock & Roll life done right.

As a fan of his music all these years, it makes perfect sense that he's a capable pilot. I never pass up a chance to hear him speak.

I woke up late and tuned in to this interview. I couldn't leave my desk. Steve Morse learned to fly about the same time as I and about the same age but he's had a unique flying career .

Steve is super human....he is a regular guy when you see him in interviews....but his actions speak much louder than his words...

That is one of the best video for me! I am a french pilot and a fan of DP and Steve since I'm a teenage! Thank you thank you thank you a thousand times! Merci beaucoup ! (I was hoping a tour of his planes though). Let's do John Travolta and Harrison Ford.... Keep going!

What a wonderful human being. Forever young 😊😊😊

Aviation isn't really my thing, but Deep Purple is... and so I clicked. Not only did I enjoy listening to Steve, I also gained a new appreciation for piloting. 🙂💜

Steve just is an amazing guy who usually has lot of interesting things to say and stories to tell! I've posted this great conversation on his official Facebook-page (I'm on Steve's webteam). Thanks AOPA for doing this!

Steave Morse greate guy and guitar player! I'm happy,that I met hi two times in Moscow after concert!

It's not often you see a New Holland? wind-rower and an airplane in the same building. Been a fan for about 40 years Steve, thank you for your wonderful music.

Great interview , Steve Morse has great flying stories !

I started Flying cuz my Dad used to take us to the airport to sit behind the fence and watch little Cessnas land.Also SKY KING was my hero . I fell in love with the 310 too.I told my dad I finally made it over that fence :) I wanted to buy a Tri Pacer Milking Stool a few years ago.I remember talking to you at several shows we did together about our Love for Flying -

LOVE the Dregs. I didn't know he was a pilot.

Interviewing Steve this week for Guitar Player magazine re new Deep Purple album - came here for a bit of background info for his non-guitar life - great interview even though I didn't know way more than half of what he was describing!

I wasn't expecting much from this but it turned out to be great.

great interview.

Really cool. Thanks

Thanks for the great insight into Steve's aviation and his music. That was super cool! The Dixie Dregs were an Atlanta staple but I didn't know about his aviation skills.

Made my Day!! Thanks AOPALive

Kind of brings it all into perspective, I had no idea Steve Morse was such a capable aviator. Great interview, and maybe you can have him back for a 1 hr fireside chat, telling stories that inspire, educate, and entertain. Story telling is one of the oldest forms of entertainment and learning, that go back thousands of years. It would be a shame for all his lifes experiences to simply be gone without ever sharing. That's true of dozens of other aviation personalities, like Burt Rutan, or the more recent Mike Patey (Draco). It could be another AOPA weekly or monthly 1 hr sit down presentation. Those videos would last forever, and keep aviation history alive and exciting. In fact, it would be even more dynamic if you had two guests at the same time, from different backgrounds. Like Steve Morse from the band Deep Purple and Joel Swager, winner of the 2018 Reno Air Races Unlimited Class. That type of combination would make for interesting interaction as well as great stories and learning opportunities. Cheers from Winnipeg.

Great interview with The Aviator... I've known about his flying career but not to this detail. Was great hearing him name off all the planes he's owned and flown, even gliders which I love. The really great part is how he explained the similarities between flying and playing guitar. They go hand in hand. Thanks for the post AOPA. See The Aviator video commemorating Steve's love for airplanes: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/kK2Rd8lpv7_ch4U.html

In the 1980s he was an airline pilot for a while when he was trying to decide what to do in life. He was winning all of these awards as a guitarist, but he wasn't making very much money at that time. I'm glad that he picked the career as a guitarist.

I never realized Steve has owned more airplanes than guitars

What a super nice and down to earth person. Tom, you seemed like you didn’t prep well for the interview or maybe were star struck...like me.

I've been envious of Steve for years for his guitar playing and piloting abilities. If I find out he is also a good golfer, I may start to hate him!

Hi Steve if you use a commercial fertilizer on your runway the critters will not live there.. we apply fertilizer every two years and it keeps the critters to a minimum. Happy flying and stay safe. Gene

For all you young'uns out there this is the type of thing that we used to go do when I was a kid. Run, jump and PLAY outside.

he's that guy who, if shit hit the fan and the food supply etc. got screwed, he'd make it. lol

Great story,Aopa, Steve,major fan of DP, I learn by building my own, U/C no money for kits,, sat on A/P fence until 1 Day a rancher took me for a ride, I Swallowed that hook !!

Notice the Kitfox airplane in the back and hay rake

Special thanks for this funny stories about Russian aviation ) Steve, we love you, and waiting next time you come to Moscow!

Sky Kings first plane was a twin Cessna but it was a T-50 Bobcat! Better know as a Bamboo Bomber!

I met Steve about 20 years ago. Super nice guy and went out of his way to take time for his fans. In contrast, I met Yngwie a couple weeks after that. What a douche!! lol.

Member of the band Kansas for awhile!

Ha, I was a Sky King kid too.

No surprise his parents were well educated.

Thanks. I guess, no time for a haircut

You can see that Steve has a real passion for aviation, should have just stuck with that topic for the whole interview and forget about the your a famous guitarist angle.