Deep Purple

Deep Purple

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1968 in London, England
Founder	Rod Evans, Ritchie Blackmore, Nick Simper, Jon Lord, Ian Paice
Headquarters	London , England
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Rock music albums and performances
Number of employees	Band members (varied over time)

Deep Purple is a rock ensemble originating from London, established in 1968. They are widely acknowledged as trailblazers within the heavy metal and contemporary hard rock genres, though their musical approach has undergone significant changes. Starting out as a psychedelic and progressive rock band, they transitioned to a heavier sound with the release of their 1970 album Deep Purple in Rock. Alongside Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are often cited as part of the "unholy trinity" defining early 1970s British hard rock and heavy metal. Renowned for their 1972 performance at London's Rainbow Theatre—dubbed the "world's loudest band"—Deep Purple has achieved global sales exceeding 100 million records and has influenced successful acts such as Rainbow, Whitesnake, and Gillan.

The group was originally formed by vocalist Rod Evans, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, bassist Nick Simper, keyboardist Jon Lord, and drummer Ian Paice. After producing three albums, Evans and Simper were replaced in 1969 by Ian Gillan and Roger Glover, establishing the classic "Mark II" formation. This lineup was responsible for four studio albums—Deep Purple in Rock (1970), Fireball (1971), Machine Head (1972), and Who Do We Think We Are (1973)—along with the live recording Made in Japan (1972), cementing their impact on hard rock and heavy metal. When Gillan and Glover departed in 1973, David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes joined for the "Mark III" lineup, which yielded Burn and Stormbringer (both released in 1974). Blackmore exited in 1975 due to creative disagreements; Tommy Bolin then joined for a single album before the band's dissolution in 1976.

The "Mark II" ensemble reunited in 1984, producing Perfect Strangers (1984) and The House of Blue Light (1987). Internal tensions led to Gillan’s dismissal in 1989; he was succeeded by Joe Lynn Turner for the album Slaves and Masters (1990). Following Turner’s exit in 1992, Gillan returned for The Battle Rages On... (1993). Blackmore left once more that year, with Joe Satriani temporarily filling his role before Steve Morse became his permanent replacement. The "Mark VII" configuration—comprising Paice, Lord, Gillan, Glover, and Morse—remained intact for nearly ten years, releasing albums such as Purpendicular (1996) and Abandon (1998). Lord retired in 2002 and was succeeded by Don Airey; Ian Paice remains the only founding member still active. The "Mark VIII" lineup delivered six studio albums over two decades until Morse's departure in 2022, after which Simon McBride took over.

Deep Purple holds the 22nd spot on VH1's Greatest Artists of Hard Rock ranking and was voted fifth in Planet Rock’s survey of the most influential bands. The band earned the Legend Award at the World Music Awards in 2008 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.

Origins (1967–1968)

In 1967, former Searchers drummer Chris Curtis approached London-based entrepreneur Tony Edwards with a proposal to manage a new ensemble named Roundabout—a concept envisioned as a "supergroup" featuring rotating musicians. Edwards agreed to support this venture financially alongside partners John Coletta and Ron Hire, forming Hire-Edwards-Coletta Enterprises (HEC).

The initial member recruited was Jon Lord, a classically trained Hammond organ player who shared living quarters with Curtis and had previously played with the Artwoods. At that time backing The Flower Pot Men, Lord brought bassist Nick Simper and drummer Carlo Little into consideration. Simper recommended guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, noted for his session work and involvement with bands like The Outlaws and Screaming Lord Sutch & the Savages. HEC convinced Blackmore to audition in London.

Curtis’s unpredictable conduct resulted in his removal from the project; however, HEC recognized potential in Lord and Blackmore who began assembling additional members under Edwards’ management. Lord persuaded Simper to join; Blackmore replaced Little with drummer Bobby Woodman, formerly of Vince Taylor's Play-Boys. The group rehearsed in South Kensington.

By March 1968, Lord, Blackmore, Simper, and Woodman moved to Deeves Hall located in Hertfordshire, equipped with Marshall amplifiers and a Hammond C3 organ. After auditioning several vocalists—including Rod Stewart—the band selected Rod Evans alongside drummer Ian Paice from Maze to complete their lineup.

During an April tour across Denmark and Sweden under the name Roundabout, Blackmore suggested renaming the group Deep Purple, inspired by a favorite song of his grandmother written by Peter DeRose. Other names considered included "Concrete God," "Orpheus," and "Sugarlump."

Mark I (1968–1969)

Deep Purple entered the studio for their first album, Shades of Deep Purple, in May 1968 at London's Pye Studios. The album was released in the United States by Tetragrammaton Records in July and later in the United Kingdom through EMI Records in September. It featured a successful cover of Joe South's "Hush", which climbed to No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached No. 2 on Canada's RPM chart, propelling the album to No. 24 on Billboard’s pop albums ranking. During this period, the band supported Cream on their US Goodbye tour.

Their follow-up album, The Book of Taliesyn, arrived in North America in October 1968 and included a rendition of Neil Diamond's "Kentucky Woman", which made it into the Top 40 charts in both the US and Canada. Despite this, sales were modest, with the album peaking at No. 54 in the US and No. 48 in Canada. Its UK release occurred the following year but failed to make a significant chart impact. Throughout their 1968 US tour, Deep Purple increased their exposure with several prominent television appearances such as Playboy After Dark and The Dating Game.

In early 1969, the band issued the non-album single "Emmaretta". By March, recording sessions for their third album, Deep Purple, had concluded, featuring the track "April" which incorporated orchestral arrangements reflecting Jon Lord's classical music influences.

The US release of this album was postponed by Tetragrammaton until after Deep Purple’s 1969 American tour. Coupled with inadequate promotion from the financially unstable label, this led to disappointing sales and no entry into the Billboard Top 100. Shortly after its late June launch, Tetragrammaton declared bankruptcy; its catalog was eventually acquired by Warner Bros. Records, which handled Deep Purple's American releases throughout the subsequent decade.

During their 1969 tour of America, Jon Lord and Ritchie Blackmore began discussing a transition toward a heavier rock sound, prompting lineup changes that summer with the dismissal of Rod Evans and Nick Simper. According to drummer Ian Paice, this shift was essential to avoid the band's collapse. Evans reportedly pursued acting opportunities in Hollywood afterward, while Simper and Evans went on to form Warhorse and Captain Beyond, respectively.

Mark II (1969–1973)

The formation of Deep Purple Mark II took place at Hanwell Community Centre in West London during the summer of 1969. In search of a new lead vocalist, Blackmore initially approached 19-year-old Terry Reid, who declined due to existing contractual commitments. The group then enlisted singer Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover, both from Episode Six, introduced through drummer Mick Underwood. Although Blackmore preferred only Gillan for vocals, Glover remained in the lineup based on Ian Paice's recommendation.

Mark II’s debut release was the single "Hallelujah", which failed to achieve commercial success despite television promotion efforts. Blackmore later described it as a compromise between mainstream appeal and their typical style.

In September 1969, the band attracted UK attention with Concerto for Group and Orchestra, an innovative composition by Jon Lord performed alongside the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at London's Royal Albert Hall. This groundbreaking fusion of rock and orchestral music delivered their first UK chart success but was viewed by Gillan and Blackmore as a distraction from their core hard rock direction. Jon Lord subsequently composed a similar work titled Gemini Suite.

Following this period, Mark II embarked on an intensive schedule of touring and recording. Their first studio album under this lineup, In Rock (1970), included classics like "Speed King" and "Child in Time". The standalone single "Black Night" reached the UK Top 10. The album's distinctive fusion of Blackmore’s guitar work, Lord’s organ playing, and Gillan’s vocals crafted an identity that helped shape early heavy metal alongside contemporaries such as Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath.

Blackmore reflected that In Rock marked his deliberate return to rock music after previous orchestral ventures. The album attained No. 4 on UK charts while "Black Night" peaked at No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart. The band became renowned for loud live performances featuring dynamic improvisation between Blackmore and Lord.

The follow-up Mark II studio album, Fireball (1971), reached No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart. It included singles such as its title track and "Strange Kind of Woman," which climbed to No. 8 in the UK.

Shortly after releasing Fireball, new compositions like "Highway Star" were introduced during live shows. In October 1971, Ian Gillan contracted hepatitis during a US tour; bassist Roger Glover temporarily assumed vocal duties before remaining concerts were cancelled.

In December 1971, recording sessions for Machine Head took place in Switzerland after a fire destroyed their original venue—an event that inspired "Smoke on the Water". Most recording occurred at the Grand Hôtel de Territet and an adjacent theatre.

Blackmore recalled completing "Smoke on the Water" amid interruptions from police responding to noise complaints.

Released in March 1972, Machine Head became one of Deep Purple’s most acclaimed albums—securing their second UK No. 1 position and entering the US top ten—with enduring tracks including "Highway Star," "Space Truckin'," "Lazy," and "Smoke on the Water."

Despite health challenges during extensive touring throughout 1972—including Blackmore contracting hepatitis mid-tour which led to show cancellations even after attempts to replace him with Al Kooper and Randy California—the band maintained momentum.

A tour of Japan resulted in the celebrated double live album Made in Japan, initially released exclusively in Japan but later worldwide; it achieved multi-platinum status and is regarded as one of rock's best-selling live recordings.

Mark II’s final studio album together was Who Do We Think We Are (1973), featuring the successful single "Woman from Tokyo". The record reached No. 4 in the UK and No. 15 in the US charts, quickly earning gold certification and contributing to Deep Purple becoming one of America's top-selling artists that year.

However, internal tensions escalated significantly; exhaustion from management demands to complete both recording and touring culminated in Ian Gillan departing after their second Japan tour that summer, followed by Roger Glover’s dismissal at Blackmore’s insistence.

Jon Lord later reflected on Mark II’s disbandment at their creative peak as “the biggest shame in rock,” emphasizing that their songwriting momentum remained strong at that time.

Mark III (1973–1975)

The group brought in bassist and vocalist Glenn Hughes from the Midlands, who had previously played with Trapeze. Before his departure, Glover had expressed his plans to leave, prompting the band to search for a replacement. Following Hughes's addition, the band considered maintaining a quartet format, with Hughes covering both bass and lead vocals. Initially, Hughes was informed that Paul Rodgers from Free might join as a co-lead singer; however, Rodgers declined to concentrate on forming Bad Company. Subsequently, the band auditioned vocalists and chose David Coverdale, a relatively unknown singer from north-east England, whose blues-influenced voice was preferred by Blackmore.

Released in February 1974, Burn signaled commercial success for Deep Purple Mark III, climbing to No. 3 in the UK and No. 9 in the US charts, followed by an international tour. The album’s title track embraced the progressive rock style popularized by groups such as Yes and Genesis. Other standout songs included the bluesy "Mistreated".

During the spring tour, the band played major venues including Madison Square Garden and Nassau Coliseum. On 6 April 1974, they co-headlined the California Jam festival alongside Emerson, Lake & Palmer, performing before an audience exceeding 250,000 and sharing the lineup with acts like Black Sabbath and Eagles. Broadcast segments on ABC Television broadened their exposure in the US. A memorable moment featured Blackmore setting his amplifiers on fire during the event. Their May concert in London was recorded and later released in 1982 as Live in London.

Hughes and Coverdale incorporated vocal harmonies along with funk and blues influences that shaped the late 1974 album Stormbringer, which reached No. 6 in the UK and No. 20 on the US Billboard charts. Notable tracks included "Lady Double Dealer" and "Soldier of Fortune". Despite its commercial success, Blackmore criticized the album’s funk elements, dismissing them as "shoeshine music". The live album Made in Europe, featuring recordings from concerts during the Stormbringer tour, was issued towards the end of 1976.

Following a performance in Munich on 26 March 1975, Blackmore announced his decision to leave Deep Purple, bringing an end to Mark III. His departure was officially confirmed on 21 June 1975. After leaving, Blackmore went on to create Rainbow with Ronnie James Dio.

Mark IV (1975–1976)

Following Blackmore's exit, Deep Purple opted to proceed with a new lead guitarist. Among the contenders were Clem Clempson, Zal Cleminson, Mick Ronson, and Rory Gallagher, but the band ultimately selected American musician Tommy Bolin. Accounts vary regarding how Bolin joined: Coverdale credits himself for proposing Bolin, whereas Bolin asserted that Blackmore's recommendation led to his audition. Prior to joining Deep Purple, Bolin had performed with groups such as Denny & The Triumphs, American Standard, and Zephyr, and contributed as a session player on Billy Cobham's 1973 jazz fusion album Spectrum. He also served as lead guitarist on two post-Joe Walsh James Gang records while working on his solo debut Teaser.

The Mark IV lineup released Come Taste the Band in October 1975, just one month before Bolin’s solo debut appeared. The album reached No. 19 in the UK and No. 43 in the US charts, garnering mixed critical reception but injecting fresh energy into the band with its blend of funk and hard rock. Bolin played a major role in shaping the material, encouraged by Hughes and Coverdale. Unfortunately, his drug dependency impacted live shows during the tour, compounded by Hughes’ own cocaine problems.

The last concert of this era occurred on 15 March 1976 at the Liverpool Empire Theatre. Shortly after, Coverdale left as the band disbanded; Lord and Paice had already resolved to end the group’s activities. This dissolution was publicly confirmed in July 1976 by manager Rob Cooksey, who announced that Deep Purple would cease recording and performing together. The live album Last Concert in Japan, recorded during the Come Taste the Band tour, was released in 1977.

Bolin finished his sophomore solo effort, Private Eyes, but tragically passed away on 4 December 1976 at age 25 due to multiple-drug intoxication following a Miami performance supporting Jeff Beck.

Band hiatus and individual pursuits (1976–1984)

After Deep Purple disbanded, its members achieved notable success with other groups. Ritchie Blackmore and Roger Glover joined Rainbow between 1975 and 1984, with Glover becoming involved from 1979 onward. David Coverdale, Jon Lord (until 1984), and Ian Paice (from 1979 to 1982) contributed to the ongoing career of Whitesnake since its formation in 1978. Meanwhile, Ian Gillan fronted the band Gillan from 1978 to 1982. Additionally, Ian Gillan became part of Black Sabbath between 1982 and 1984, with Glenn Hughes briefly collaborating later in that decade. Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, Deep Purple's influence was sustained by fan-driven reissues and compilations, which helped reignite promoter interest during a resurgence of hard rock. In 1980, an unauthorized "touring version" of Deep Purple featuring Rod Evans prompted legal action; Evans was mandated to pay US$672,000 for the improper use of the band's name.

Mark II reunion period (1984–1989)

In April 1984, Deep Purple officially reassembled with the renowned Mark II lineup: Jon Lord, Ian Paice, Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, and Roger Glover. They secured an international contract with PolyGram, assigning Mercury Records for US distribution and Polydor for UK and global releases. The album Perfect Strangers, recorded in Vermont and launched in October 1984, climbed to No. 5 on the UK Albums Chart and reached No. 17 on the US Billboard 200 chart. Singles such as "Knocking at Your Back Door" and "Perfect Strangers" were featured on this record. Perfect Strangers earned Deep Purple their second US platinum certification following Machine Head, while Made in Japan had also achieved platinum status by 1986.

The subsequent reunion tour kicked off in Australia before extending across North America and Europe. Financially, it proved highly lucrative; in the United States alone, the 1985 tour's revenue was second only to Bruce Springsteen’s earnings that year. The UK segment included headlining the 1985 Knebworth Fayre, attracting a crowd of 80,000 despite adverse weather conditions.

After Perfect Strangers, the Mark II lineup released The House of Blue Light in 1987, followed by another global tour which was temporarily halted when Blackmore injured his finger during a performance. The live album Nobody's Perfect, compiled from various concerts on this tour, was issued in 1988. That same year marked Deep Purple’s 20th anniversary with a new Mark II rendition of "Hush."

Mark V (1989–1992)

In 1989, Gillan was dismissed due to worsening personal and creative conflicts with Blackmore. The band initially pursued Survivor's lead singer Jimi Jamison as a potential replacement, but contractual issues with the label prevented his involvement. After evaluating multiple candidates—including Brian Howe, Doug Pinnick, Australians Jimmy Barnes and John Farnham, Terry Brock, and Norman "Kal" Swan—the group ultimately chose Joe Lynn Turner, who had previously collaborated with Blackmore and Glover in Rainbow.

This iteration of the band produced a single album, Slaves and Masters (1990), followed by a global tour in 1991. The record achieved moderate success, peaking at No. 45 on UK charts and reaching No. 87 on the US Billboard rankings. Critics often remarked that the album’s sound was more reminiscent of Rainbow than Deep Purple.

Second Mark II reunion (1992–1993) and Mark VI (1993–1994)

Following the tour, recording sessions for a new album commenced but Turner was removed from the lineup. In celebration of Deep Purple’s 25th anniversary in 1993, Lord, Paice, Glover, along with the record label, advocated for Gillan’s return to reestablish the Mark II formation. Although Blackmore favored Turner’s continuation, he consented to Gillan’s comeback after receiving a $250,000 payment. The resulting album, The Battle Rages On..., was completed within that year.

Strained relations persisted as Gillan revised much of the material originally developed with Turner, which Blackmore believed compromised the melodic integrity of the songs. The group toured Europe, captured on the live release Come Hell or High Water (1994), featuring an evidently displeased Blackmore. The complete performance was later issued as Live at the NEC in 2006 but was swiftly withdrawn after Gillan criticized it as showcasing a low point for the band.

Blackmore permanently exited Deep Purple following a November 1993 concert in Helsinki. Joe Satriani stepped in to fulfill remaining Japanese dates and a European tour in 1994 but declined a permanent position due to prior commitments. In August 1994, Steve Morse, formerly of Dixie Dregs and Kansas, was appointed as Blackmore’s replacement.

Mark VII (1994–2002)

The addition of Steve Morse infused new creative energy into Deep Purple, culminating in the 1996 release Purpendicular, which displayed a variety of musical influences. Despite prevailing post-grunge trends in the mid-1990s, the album did not enter the US Billboard 200 chart. The Mark VII lineup followed up with the live album Live at The Olympia '96 in 1997 and then released the more aggressive Abandon in 1998, supporting it with well-received tours.

In 1999, commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Concerto for Group and Orchestra, Jon Lord collaborated with Dutch composer Marco de Goeij to reconstruct the lost score. The concerto was performed anew at London's Royal Albert Hall alongside the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Paul Mann. This event combined solo pieces and Deep Purple compositions and was documented on In Concert with The London Symphony Orchestra released in 2000. The 2001 box set The Soundboard Series compiled recordings from their Australian and Tokyo tours. Extensive touring persisted until 2002 when founding member Lord retired amicably to concentrate on orchestral work, leaving Ian Paice as the last original member. Lord’s role was filled by seasoned keyboardist Don Airey, who had previously collaborated with bassist Roger Glover during their time in Rainbow (1979–1982).

Mark VIII (2002–2022)

In 2003, the Mark VIII era of Deep Purple introduced Bananas, marking their first studio release after a five-year gap, followed by a series of live performances. However, EMI Records chose not to renew their contract, likely influenced by diminishing album sales.

The band appeared at the Live 8 event in Ontario in 2005 and later that year launched Rapture of the Deep, with both projects produced by Michael Bradford. By 2009, Ian Gillan observed that although album sales were waning, demand for live concerts remained robust. Deep Purple embarked on an extensive 2011 tour, performing across 48 countries. Their Songs That Built Rock Tour incorporated a 38-piece orchestra and included a notable show at London's O₂ Arena.

While there was internal hesitation about creating new material due to limited financial returns, Roger Glover championed continuing studio recordings. Talks of reuniting the Mark III lineup arose but did not progress because Ritchie Blackmore was unavailable. Following intensive songwriting sessions in Europe, the band recorded a new album during the summer of 2012 with producer Bob Ezrin.

Co-founder Jon Lord passed away in July 2012 at age 71. By December of that year, Deep Purple had finalized 14 tracks for their nineteenth studio album. The record, titled Now What?!, was recorded in Nashville and released on 26 April 2013. Among its songs is "Vincent Price," named after the actor who had previously collaborated with Gillan and Glover.

On 25 November 2016, Deep Purple revealed plans for their twentieth studio album, Infinite, which debuted on 7 April 2017. To promote it, they launched The Long Goodbye Tour beginning in Bucharest. Ian Paice indicated this could be their final major tour due to age and personal responsibilities but did not rule out future activities. The lead single "Time for Bedlam" represented their first new material in nearly four years.

On 29 February 2020, the band released "Throw My Bones" ahead of their anticipated June album Whoosh!, which was postponed until August because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Critics highlighted its classic sound that stood apart from modern trends. Gillan confirmed there were no plans for immediate retirement.

The group announced a covers album titled Turning to Crime on 6 October 2021, which was released on 26 November 2021.

Mark IX (2022–present)

In March 2022, Steve Morse took a leave of absence from Deep Purple following his wife’s cancer diagnosis. During this period, the band continued touring with Simon McBride, previously of Sweet Savage, filling in as his temporary replacement while Morse remained an official member. On 23 July 2022, Morse formally departed to dedicate time to his wife’s care, and McBride was confirmed as a permanent guitarist in September.

In June 2022, Ian Gillan disclosed intentions to begin writing Deep Purple’s twenty-third studio album after completing the Whoosh! tour, with recording sessions planned for March 2023.

The forthcoming album, titled =1 More Time, was unveiled alongside a European and UK tour on 19 March. Jefferson Starship joined as special guests for European dates, while Reef supported the UK shows. On 24 April 2024, the band announced that =1, featuring McBride’s first recordings with them, would be released on 19 July. Produced by Bob Ezrin—his fifth collaboration with Deep Purple—the lead single "Portable Door" premiered on 30 April, followed by "Pictures of You" on 5 June and "Lazy Sod" on 5 July.

By May 2025, Ian Paice confirmed that work had commenced on new compositions aimed at a possible release in 2026. Later that year, Gillan revealed he retains only about 30% of his vision and discussed potential retirement should his energy levels decline significantly, stressing his commitment to not let down fans or bandmates.

Artistry

Deep Purple are widely acknowledged as trailblazers in the development of hard rock and heavy metal, standing alongside Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. The BBC has referred to them as part of the "unholy trinity" that defined British hard rock and heavy metal during the 1970s' heyday.

The group has ventured into multiple rock subgenres, such as acid rock, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, blues rock, and funk rock. This diversity led Canadian journalist Martin Popoff to describe them as "a benchmark for a metal genre that defies strict classification." Jason Ankeny from AllMusic commended Deep Purple for elevating hard rock into a fine art and producing some of the most iconic guitar riffs worldwide.

Musical style

Members of Deep Purple brought a variety of musical influences: Lord had a background in classical music and experience with jazz and blues rock; Blackmore and Simper were seasoned pop rock session musicians; Paice and Evans originated from beat groups. Their initial release, Shades of Deep Purple, blended elements of psychedelic, progressive, and pop rock.

The heavier sound that became a hallmark of the Mark II lineup began to take shape on earlier records, particularly through Blackmore’s distinctive guitar playing. When Ian Gillan replaced Rod Evans as lead singer, he introduced inspirations drawn from Elvis Presley, psychedelic music, and pop rock. The first three albums featuring Gillan are regarded as seminal early works in the realms of hard rock and heavy metal, while Who Do We Think We Are marked a turn toward a more blues-oriented style.

Tracks from the Mark II era like "Speed King", "Hard Lovin' Man", "Fireball", and "Highway Star" served as influential precursors to speed metal and thrash metal. Robb Reiner of Canadian band Anvil described "Highway Star" as an example of "early speed metal." Moreover, "Hard Lovin' Man" is often cited as the "first proto-thrash song ever," predating similar efforts by Queen and Black Sabbath. Deep Purple also incorporated elements of funk and soul into their music, notably during the mid-1970s and later with tracks like "One Night in Vegas" (2017), which has been characterized as funk metal.

Influences

Ritchie Blackmore acknowledged influences such as the Allman Brothers Band, Vanilla Fudge, and Cream, but singled out Jimi Hendrix as "the real deal" for Deep Purple, lauding him as "at least 20 years ahead of his time." Hendrix’s compositions "Stone Free" and "Fire" served as inspirations for "Speed King." Although Blackmore encountered Hendrix at Hollywood’s Whisky a Go Go, they did not engage in conversation, according to a 2022 interview.

Mountain was another significant influence on Blackmore. Following a tour with them, Deep Purple pursued a heavier sound on Deep Purple In Rock. Blackmore expressed admiration for Leslie West’s guitar work, recalling the profound impact upon hearing "Mississippi Queen" for the first time: "It had such a massive sound! For just three musicians, it was incredibly heavy."

Other members of Deep Purple have cited an array of inspirations including Jimmy Smith, Buddy Rich, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Ella Fitzgerald, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bob Dylan, Buddy Holly, Jimmy McGriff, The Beatles, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Free, the Who, Traffic, Neil Young, Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, and Jeff Buckley.

Legacy and impact

File:Deep Purple - inFinite - The Long Goodbye Tour - Barclaycard Arena Hamburg 2017 29.jpg

Ian Paice (photographed in 2017). Positioned at number 21 on Rolling Stone's list of 100 Greatest Drummers, the description notes, "without Deep Purple's sole constant member, heavy metal drumming would not exist."

Deep Purple has served as a significant influence on a wide array of rock and metal artists such as Accept, Aerosmith, Alice in Chains, Anthrax, Bon Jovi, Cannibal Corpse, Carcass, Celtic Frost, Def Leppard, Dinosaur Jr., Dio, Dream Theater, Europe, Exodus, Heart, Helloween, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Kiss, Megadeth, Metallica, Mötley Crüe, Motörhead, Pantera, Prong, Queen, Rage Against the Machine, Rush, Scorpions, Slayer, Soundgarden, Testament, UFO, and Van Halen.

Joe Elliot, lead singer of Def Leppard, remarked that "in 1971, only three bands truly mattered: Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Deep Purple." Steve Harris, bassist and main songwriter for Iron Maiden, attributes their band's heavy sound to "Black Sabbath and Deep Purple with a touch of Zeppelin." Eddie Van Halen, founder of Van Halen, identified "Burn" as one of his favorite guitar riffs. Brian May from Queen described Ritchie Blackmore as "a pioneer and technically outstanding." Lars Ulrich, drummer for Metallica, regards Made in Japan as his all-time preferred album. Till Lindemann of German band Rammstein owned the band's 1974 album Stormbringer as his first record.

In the year 2000, Deep Purple was positioned at number 22 on VH1's list of the "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock". The group earned the Legend Award at the World Music Awards in 2008 and later received the Innovator Award at the Classic Rock Awards in 2011. In a Rolling Stone readers’ poll conducted in 2012, Made in Japan was ranked as the sixth greatest live album ever.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Machine Head released in 1972, the tribute compilation Re-Machined: A Tribute to Deep Purple's Machine Head was issued in 2012 featuring contributions from Iron Maiden, Metallica, Steve Vai, Carlos Santana, and Kings of Chaos.

Deep Purple appeared in the BBC/VH1 documentary series Seven Ages of Rock in 2007, which emphasized heavy metal music. In May 2019, they were honored with the Ivor Novello Award for International Achievement.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Eligible since 1993, Deep Purple first received a nomination for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 and were nominated several times afterward before finally being inducted in December 2015. Their inclusion was widely regarded as filling a significant void alongside Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath within hard rock’s so-called "Holy Trinity."

The inducted members included Ian Paice, Jon Lord, Ritchie Blackmore, Roger Glover, Ian Gillan, Rod Evans, David Coverdale, and Glenn Hughes; notable exclusions were Nick Simper, Tommy Bolin, Joe Lynn Turner, Joe Satriani, Steve Morse, and Don Airey.

Ian Gillan originally proposed restricting some former members from performing at the induction ceremony but later clarified that this was not his intention. Ritchie Blackmore abstained from attending due to disputes with management. Jon Lord’s widow accepted his award posthumously. During the event, the current lineup performed several classic tracks.

The band's late induction drew criticism from fellow musicians including Gene Simmons (Kiss), Geddy Lee (Rush), Slash (Guns N' Roses), Lars Ulrich (Metallica), and Chris Jericho (Fozzy), who pointed to perceived political biases within the Hall.

Hall officials have acknowledged that varying interpretations of what constitutes "rock and roll" have influenced voting results. Roger Glover criticized some voters for dismissing them as "one-hit wonders."

Ian Gillan expressed doubts about receiving formal accolades due to limited industry networking opportunities. Despite multiple nominations without induction before their eventual acceptance in 2015, fan polls consistently ranked them among top candidates for entry.

Band members

Main article: List of Deep Purple members

Current lineup

• Ian Paice – drums (1968–1976, returned from 1984–present)
• Roger Glover – bass guitar and keyboards (1969–1973; rejoined since 1984)
• Ian Gillan – lead vocals, harmonica, percussion (1969–1973; periods between 1984–1989; resumed from 1992 onward)
• Don Airey – keyboards (since 2002)
• Simon McBride – guitars (joined in 2022)

Concert tours

Widely acknowledged as one of the most relentless touring acts worldwide, Deep Purple has maintained an extensive touring schedule since their inception in 1968 except during their break from 1976 until their reunion in 1984. In France alone during the year 2007 they sold upwards of 150,000 tickets over forty performances, with their Rapture of the Deep tour voted by Planet Rock listeners as sixth best overall concert tour that year. A live DVD collection titled Around the World Live was released in May of 2008.

In February of that year they performed at Moscow’s State Kremlin Palace upon personal invitation from Dmitry Medvedev who was then chairman of Gazprom. This appearance marked their largest Russian venue since beginning tours there in 1996. Additionally, they played at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships held in Liberec during January 2009.

Key tours include:

• Debut Tour (1968) – Scandinavia
• Shades of Deep Purple Tour (1968)
• The Book of Taliesyn Tour (1968–1969)
• European Tours supporting In Rock and Burn
• Fireball World Tour (1971–1972)
• Machine Head World Tour (1972–1973)
• Reunion Tours including Perfect Strangers Tour (1984–1985)
• Numerous world tours throughout the ’90s and ’00s such as Purpendicular World Tour (1996–1997), Bananas World Tour (2003–2005), Rapture of the Deep tour (2006–2011)
• The Long Goodbye Tour spanning from 2017 to 2019
• Whoosh! Tour covering years 2022 to 2023
• =1 More Time Tour announced for summer dates across US markets scheduled for 2024

Discography

Main article: Deep Purple discography

Studio albums

• Shades of Deep Purple (1968)
• The Book of Taliesyn (1968)
• Deep Purple (1969)
• Deep Purple in Rock (1970)
• Fireball (1971)
• Machine Head (1972)
• Who Do We Think We Are (1973)
• Burn (1974)
• Stormbringer (1974)
• Come Taste the Band (1975)
• Perfect Strangers (1984)
• The House of Blue Light (1987)
• Slaves and Masters (1990)
• The Battle Rages On... (1993)
• Purpendicular (1996)
• Abandon (1998)
• Bananas (2003)
• Rapture of the Deep (2005)
• Now What?! (2013)
• Infinite (2017)
• Whoosh! (2020)
• Turning to Crime (2021)
• =1 (2024)

Further reading

• Deep Purple: The Illustrated Biography, Chris Charlesworth, Omnibus Press, 1983
• The Complete Deep Purple, Michael Heatley, Reynolds & Hearn, 2005
• Touched by Magic: The Tommy Bolin Story, Greg Prato, Createspace, 2008

External links

• The Highway Star – Dedicated Deep Purple fan website
• Unofficial Deep Purple concert archive