Deep Purple

• 1. Origins And Formation

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  In 1967, former Searchers drummer Chris Curtis contacted London businessman Tony Edwards to manage a new group he was assembling. The project began as Roundabout, a so-called supergroup where members would rotate in and out like a musical roundabout. Curtis secured funding from partners John Coletta and Ron Hire through their company HEC. The first recruit was classically trained Hammond organ player Jon Lord, who had previously played with the Artwoods. Lord alerted his bandmates Nick Simper and Carlo Little about the opportunity after performing with them in a backing band for The Flower Pot Men. Simper suggested guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, whom he had known since the early 1960s when both were in local bands. Blackmore traveled from Hamburg to audition for the group while making a name for himself as a studio session guitarist. Curtis's erratic behavior and LSD use caused him to lose interest, leading HEC to dismiss him from the project. Lord and Blackmore then recruited bassist Nick Simper and drummer Bobby Woodman instead of Carlo Little. They rehearsed at Cadogan Gardens in South Kensington before moving into Deeves Hall, a country house in Hertfordshire. There they lived, wrote, and rehearsed using Marshall amplification and a Hammond C3 organ. Dozens of singers auditioned until Rod Evans of club band the Maze fit their style. Evans brought along his drummer Ian Paice, whom Blackmore had seen perform in Germany in 1966. The lineup was complete by March 1968. During a brief tour of Denmark and Sweden, Blackmore suggested changing the name to Deep Purple after his grandmother's favorite song by Peter DeRose. Other names considered included Concrete God and Orpheus.

• 2. The Mark II Revolution

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  Deep Purple Mark II formed in Hanwell Community Centre in West London during the summer of 1969. Ritchie Blackmore initially sought Terry Reid as vocalist but found Reid bound by an exclusive contract with producer Mickie Most. The band turned to Episode Six singer Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover. According to Nick Simper, Gillan would only join if Glover came along too. This effectively ended Episode Six and left drummer Mick Underwood feeling guilty for nearly a decade. Their first release under the new lineup was Hallelujah, written by Roger Greenaway and Roger Cook. Simper still thought he was in the band when they recorded it and called John Coletta about recording dates before learning Glover had replaced him on bass. The single flopped despite television appearances promoting it. In September 1969, the band gained major publicity with Concerto for Group and Orchestra at London's Royal Albert Hall. Lord composed this three-movement epic performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Malcolm Arnold. While successful in the UK, both Gillan and Blackmore felt the orchestral project distracted from their desired hard-rocking style. Shortly after, Mark II released Deep Purple in Rock in 1970. The album featured Speed King, Into The Fire, and Child in Time. These tracks became staples of live performances during that period. The non-album single Black Night reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart later that year. The interplay between Blackmore's guitar and Lord's distorted organ created a unique identity separating them from earlier albums. Alongside Led Zeppelin II and Sabbath Paranoid, Deep Purple in Rock codified the budding heavy metal genre. Blackmore stated he got fed up playing classical orchestras and decided rock would be his turn while Lord handled more classical elements. The album reached No. 4 in the UK where it performed well. A second studio album Fireball followed in summer 1971 reaching No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart. The title track Fireball was released as a single alongside Strange Kind of Woman which became their second UK Top 10 hit.

• 3. Machine Head And Global Fame

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  In early December 1971, the band traveled to Switzerland to record Machine Head at the Montreux Casino using the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio. A fire caused by a man firing a flare gun into the ceiling burned down the casino during a Frank Zappa concert. This incident famously inspired the song Smoke on the Water. The album was recorded instead in a corridor at the nearby empty Grand Hôtel de Territet except for Smoke on the Water which was recorded at The Pavillon before police asked them to leave. Blackmore told BBC Radio 2 they did the whole thing in about four takes because police were banging on the door. They woke neighbors five miles away due to echo through the mountains when finishing the riff. Police burst in saying you have to stop just as they completed the track. Released in late March 1972, Machine Head became one of the band's most famous releases. It reached No. 1 in Canada and No. 7 in the US while re-establishing them in North America. Tracks like Highway Star, Space Truckin', Lazy, and Smoke on the Water became live classics. When Machine Head was recorded, the group had only been together three-and-a-half years yet it was their sixth studio album overall. In January 1972, Blackmore contracted hepatitis forcing the band to play without him temporarily. They attempted shows in Flint Michigan and Quebec City with Randy California playing guitar before canceling the rest of the tour. A Japan tour in August led to Made in Japan, originally intended as a Japan-only release but becoming an instant worldwide hit reaching platinum status in five countries including the US. It remains one of rock music's highest selling live albums. Mark II continued working and released Who Do We Think We Are in 1973 spawning the hit single Woman from Tokyo. The album hit No. 4 in UK charts and No. 15 in US chart achieving gold record status faster than any previous Deep Purple album. Following successes of Machine Head and Made in Japan, the addition of Who Do We Think We Are made Deep Purple top-selling artists of 1973 in the US.

• 4. Lineup Instability And Disbandment

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  Internal tensions and exhaustion grew noticeable after Who Do We Think We Are. Ian Gillan quit following their second tour of Japan in summer 1973 while Roger Glover was dismissed at Blackmore's insistence. Lord later called ending Mark II while at its peak the biggest shame in rock and roll. The band hired Midlands bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes formerly of Trapeze and settled on David Coverdale from Saltburn north-east England for lead vocals because Blackmore liked his masculine blues-tinged voice. Burn released February 1974 reached No. 3 in UK and No. 9 in US followed by a world tour. The title track opened most concerts during Mark III and IV eras as a conscious effort to embrace progressive rock movement popularized by Yes King Crimson Emerson Lake Palmer Genesis and Gentle Giant. Another notable song Mistreated was a slow-burning blues number. In April 1974, Mark III co-headlined California Jam festival at Ontario Motor Speedway attracting over 250,000 fans alongside Black Sabbath Eagles Seals Crofts Earth Wind Fire. During the show Blackmore doused amplifiers with petrol setting them on fire blowing a hole in stage. A month later performance recorded at Gaumont State Cinema Kilburn London became Live in London released 1982. Stormbringer late 1974 brought funk soul elements further apparent though Blackmore derisively called it shoeshine music out of distaste for funk soul elements. Songs Lady Double Dealer The Gypsy Soldier Of Fortune received significant radio play reaching No. 6 UK No. 20 US Billboard chart. After Stuttgart Böblingen show the 26th of March 1975 Blackmore announced quitting band in room Arabella Hotel Munich leaving Lord Paice Coverdale Hughes speechless. Blackmore formed Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow Ronnie James Dio Elf shortened Rainbow after first album. Following Blackmore departure group considered disbanding but decided continue finding American Tommy Bolin who joined Deep Purple Mark IV. Come Taste the Band released October 1975 one month before Bolin Teaser album despite mixed reviews middling sales No. 19 UK No. 43 US revitalized band bringing extreme funk edge hard rock sound. Personal problems surfaced during tour many fans openly booed Bolin inability play solos like Blackmore not realizing physical hamper from addiction. At same time Hughes admitted cocaine addiction affecting his performance. Last show the 15th of March 1976 Liverpool Empire Theatre ended with Coverdale walking off tears handing resignation told no band left quit as Lord Paice already decided break up band. Break-up made public July 1976 manager Rob Cooksey issuing statement band will not record perform together again. Bolin found unconscious the 4th of December 1976 Miami supporting Jeff Beck unable wake called paramedics too late official cause multiple-drug intoxication age 25.

• 5. Reunions And Commercial Resurgence

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  In April 1984 eight years after demise full-scale legal reunion took place classic Mark II lineup Jon Lord Ian Paice Ritchie Blackmore Ian Gillan Roger Glover. Reformed band signed worldwide deal PolyGram Mercury Records releasing albums US Polydor Records UK other countries. Perfect Strangers recorded Vermont released October 1984 commercially successful reaching No. 5 UK Albums Chart No. 17 Billboard 200 US. Album included singles concert staples Knocking at Your Back Door Perfect Strangers. Perfect Strangers became second Deep Purple album go platinum US following Machine Head Made in Japan finally hit platinum status US 1986 same year Machine Head increased double platinum. Tour started Australia winding world North America Europe summer financially tremendous success. US 1985 tour out-grossed every artist except Bruce Springsteen. UK homecoming saw headline 1985 Knebworth Fayre June weather bad torrential rain mud front 80,000 fans gig called Return of Knebworth Fayre. Mark II followed Perfect Strangers House Blue Light 1987 supported another world tour interrupted Blackmore broke finger stage trying catch guitar throwing air. New live album Nobody's Perfect culled several shows tour released 1988. UK new Mark II version Hush released 1988 celebrate 20th anniversary Deep Purple. Gillan fired 1989 relations Blackmore soured musical differences diverged far. Originally band intended recruit Survivor frontman Jimi Jamison replacement two weeks sessions Jamison announced join Deep Purple complications Scotti Brothers Records record label. After auditioning high-profile candidates including Brian Howe Doug Pinnick Australians Jimmy Barnes John Farnham Terry Brock Norman Kal Swan agreed Joe Lynn Turner previously member Rainbow Blackmore Glover. This Mark V lineup recorded one album Slaves Masters 1990 undertaking world tour most 1991. Album achieved modest success reaching No. 45 UK No. 87 Billboard chart some fans critics feeling music closer style Rainbow Deep Purple. With tour complete band set work another album early sessions Turner forced out. 1993 going Deep Purple 25th anniversary Lord Paice Glover record company wanting Gillan back Mark II reunion celebrate milestone. Although Blackmore preferred Turner remain group grudgingly relented receiving $250,000 bank account Mark II completed aptly titled Battle Rages On 1993. Blackmore still disagreed decision creating tension especially Gillan particular contention Gillan reworked material written Turner new album. Blackmore felt Gillan rewrites made songs less melodic original versions. Band began European tour documented live album Come Hell High Water released 1994 home video same name covering Birmingham England show displayed disgruntled Blackmore perform many guitar parts throw cup water cameraman unknown reasons. Complete show eventually released 2006 Live NEC quickly withdrawn Gillan publicly complained representing bad time group history lowest points life lives actually. Blackmore left Deep Purple second final time after Helsinki Finland November 1993. Joe Satriani drafted complete Japanese dates December stayed European summer tour 1994 asked join permanently commitments contract Epic Records prevented this. Band unanimously chose Dixie Dregs former Kansas guitarist Steve Morse Satriani successor August 1994.