Deep Purple

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Deep Purple is a British rock group. They were one of the first and most famous hard rock bands, and are considered pioneers of heavy metal.

Despite their association with the sub-genre, Deep Purple has never been purely a heavy metal band, though many later true heavy metal bands cite their influence. The group has frequently changed styles and lineups over the years, but has always included virtuoso players in its ranks and placed a high priority on musicianship. Some incarnations of Deep Purple have brought aspects of jazz to a rock context due to their frequent use of their songs as vehicles for extended and sophisticated solos.

They were formed in 1968 as Roundabout, consisting of Ritchie Blackmore on guitar, Jon Lord on hammond organ, Chris Curtis on vocals, Dave Curtis on bass and Bobby Woodman on drums. After only a month of rehearsals, Blackmore and Lord would be the only two remaining members, bringing in vocalist Rod Evans, bassist Nick Simper and drummer Ian Paice. In April, the band would change its name to Deep Purple.

After three albums and extensive touring in the states, it was the inclusion of Ian Gillan and Roger Glover that created the essential Deep Purple line-up Mark II, that was reunited two times. This version of the group released the highly influential and successful albums Deep Purple In Rock and Machine head (the latter featuring their most famous song, "Smoke on the Water"), and the live album Made in Japan.

Members: Deep Purple Mark I (April 1968 - June 1969)

• Ritchie Blackmore (guitar)
• Rod Evans (vocals)
• Jon Lord (keyboards + backing vocals)
• Ian Paice (drums)
• Nick Simper (bass + backing vocals)

Deep Purple Mark IIa (June 1969 - 30 June 1973)

• Ritchie Blackmore (guitar)
• Ian Gillan (vocals)
• Roger Glover (bass)
• Jon Lord (keyboards)
• Ian Paice (drums)

Deep Purple Mark III (October 1973 - 5 April 1975)

• Ritchie Blackmore (guitar)
• David Coverdale (vocals)
• Glenn Hughes (bass + vocals)
• Jon Lord (keyboards)
• Ian Paice (drums)

Deep Purple Mark IV (1975 - July 1976 (last gig was March 15 1976))

• Tommy Bolin (guitar + vocals)
• David Coverdale (vocals)
• Glenn Hughes (bass + vocals)
• Jon Lord (keyboards)
• Ian Paice (drums)

Deep Purple Mark IIb (reunion) (April 1984 - April 1989) Same lineup as Mk II above.

Deep Purple Mark V (Autumn 1989 - Autumn 1992)

• Ritchie Blackmore (guitar)
• Roger Glover (bass)
• Jon Lord (keyboards)
• Ian Paice (drums)
• Joe Lynn Turner (vocals)

Deep Purple Mark IIc (re-reunion) (Autumn 1992 - 17 November 1993) Same lineup as Mk II above.

Deep Purple Mark VI (2. December 1993 - July 1994)

• Ian Gillan (vocals)
• Roger Glover (bass)
• Jon Lord (keyboards)
• Ian Paice (drums)
• Joe Satriani (guitar)

This is the only non-recording lineup.

Deep Purple Mark VII (November 1994 - February 2002)

• Ian Gillan (vocals)
• Roger Glover (bass and backing vocals)
• Jon Lord (keyboards)
• Ian Paice (drums)
• Steve Morse (guitar and backing vocals)

Deep Purple Mark VIII (March 2002 - present)

• Ian Gillan (vocals)
• Roger Glover (bass and backing vocals)
• Don Airey (keyboards)
• Ian Paice (drums)
• Steve Morse (guitar and backing vocals)

Discography: Mk I

• Shades of Deep Purple, September 1968
• The Book of Taliesyn, December 1968
• Deep Purple, November 1969

Mk IIa

• Concerto for Group and Orchestra, December 1969
• Deep Purple in Rock, June 1970
• Fireball, September 1971
• Machine head, March 1972
• Who Do We Think We Are, February 1973

Mk III

• Burn, February 1974
• Stormbringer, December 1974

Mk IV

• Come Taste the Band, October 1975

Mk IIb

• Perfect Strangers, 1984
• The House of Blue Light, 1987

Mk V

• Slaves & Masters, 1990

Mk IIc

• The Battle Rages on..., July 1993

Mk VII

• Purpendicular, February 1996
• Abandon, May 1998

Mk VIII

• Bananas, August 2003

External link

• The Highway Star
• Home page