Deep Purple

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Formed in 1968, one of the founding groups of the heavy metal metal sound, the original line-up of Deep Purple consisted of Ian Paice, Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, Nick Simper, and Rod Evans. Founder and and lead guitarist, the esteemed Ritchie Blackmore, was the original driving force behind the band. He was a massive influence on the myriad of changes that followed in what is considered by cynics to be the 'original' Deep Purple.

Contents

[edit] History

Which line-up of the original four versions was considered the original 'original' line-up depends on who you ask. However, the one which is most widely considered, and arguably the most successful, was the Lord, Blackmore, Paice, Roger Glover and Ian Gillan. This was the band which had the biggest hits, including the famous anthem Smoke on the Water and the catchy Black Night (read: Black Night or Black Knight?).

Unfortunately history is never that simple. For all who are interested (and because they are one of the forefathers of metal) here is a quick guider to the ups and downs of Deep Purple (for those who aren't interested skip to the bottom of the page).

  • V1: Evans, Simper, Lord Blackmore, Paice. (formed 1968)
  • V2: Glover, Lord, Paice, Blackmore, Gillan. (formed 1969)
  • V3: Lord, Paice, Blackmore, David Coverdale, Glenn Hughes. (formed 1973)
  • V4: Lord, Paice, Hughes, Coverdale, Tommy Bolin. (formed: 1975)

Regrettably (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), without Blackmore, who had left his own band (to form Rainbow) due to disagreements with Coverdale, Deep Purple crumbled in March of 1976. Lord and Coverdale (who formed Whitesnake) left, leaving Paice, Bolin and Hughes to attempt to carry on.

Incredibly however, the Purple story doesn't stop there. In 1984 there was a reunion of the 'classic' line-up. Paice, Glover, Lord, Gillan and yes, Mr Blackmore were back with a vengeance. And more hits were recorded. Perfect Stranger, Knocking At Your Back Door, and my personal favourite, Child in Time, were all written at this time. The harmony between the members wasn't to last though, and Blackmore left in 1994 to try and re-form Rainbow. The rest of the band carried on regardless however, and continued to make records to the present day, the latest album being 'Bananas'. Ian Gillan has had his own side project but has continued to be with Purple on-and-off and Blackmore's replacement seemed to fill his shoes pretty well, the incredibly talented Steve Morse. The final 'causualty' to the line-up, to date, was Jon Lord who retired and was replaced in 2002 with Don Airey.

Sound-wise, Purple are like no other. The soaring, screaming, wild and eccentric vocals of Ian Gillan have a blues-rock quality. The guitar work has never featured the double lead which characterises so many heavy metal bands today, no, Purple managed with just the single guitar. The electric organ also plays a massive part in their sound. It is possibly because of the organ that Purple's sound hasn't be matched, or perhaps it's just that no-one, absolutely no-one, sounds quite as impressive as Ian Gillan in a full live version of Smoke on the Water.

For fans of Led Zep, classic rock.

[edit] Fact File

Name: Deep Purple.

Nationality: British.

Year Founded: 1968.

Founder: Richie Blackmore

Current Line-up: Ian Paice, Roger Glover, Ian Gillan, Steve Morse, Don Airey.

First Major Chart Success:

  • Album: Fireball (number 1 in UK charts)
  • Single: Hush (Shades of Deep Purple) (number 4 in US charts)

Best Introductory Albums:

  • Machine Head.
  • Best of Deep Purple: 30th Annerversary Special Ed.
  • Perfect Strangers.

Current/Next Tour: Bananas World Tour (just finished)

[edit] Discography

N.B.: This discography is comprised of only Studio albums.

[edit] Deep Purple V1

  • Shades of Deep Purple (1968)
  • The Book of Taliesyn (1968)
  • Deep Purple (1969)

[edit] Deep Purple V2

  • Deep Purple in Rock (1970)
  • Fireball (1971)
  • Machine Head (1972)
  • Who Do We Think We Are (1973)

[edit] Deep Purple V3

  • Burn (1974)
  • Stormbringer (1974)

[edit] Deep Purple V4

  • Come Taste the Band (1975)

[edit] Deep Purple Reunion

  • Perfect Strangers (1984)
  • The House of Blue Light (1987)
  • Slaves & Masters (1990)
  • The Battle Rages on... (1993)

[edit] Deep Purple (with Morse)

  • Purpendicular (1995)
  • Abandon (1998)

[edit] Deep Purple (with Airey)

  • Bananas, August 2003
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