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Deep Purple
Deep Purple in 2004.jpg
L-R: Roger Glover, Ian Paice, Ian Gillan, Don Airey and Steve Morse in 2004.
Background information
Also known as Roundabout
Origin Hertford, England
Genres Hard rock, heavy metal, progressive rock
Years active 1968–1976, 1984–present
Labels Tetragrammaton, Warner Bros., Polydor, BMG, EMI, Edel
Associated acts The Maze, Episode Six, Rainbow, Paice, Ashton & Lord, Whitesnake, Black Sabbath, Gillan & Glover, Hughes Turner Project, Living Loud
Members Ian Paice
Roger Glover
Ian Gillan
Steve Morse
Don Airey

Deep Purple is a famous English rock band. They started in Hertford, England in 1968. Many people see them as pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock music.

The band's sound changed over the years. They began as a progressive rock band. But by 1970, they started playing much heavier music. In 1975, the Guinness Book of World Records called them "the globe's loudest band." This was after a concert in London in 1972. Deep Purple has sold over 100 million albums around the world!

Deep Purple: A Rock Legend

How the Band Started

Deep Purple was formed in 1968. The first members were Rod Evans (singer), Nick Simper (bass), Ritchie Blackmore (guitar), Jon Lord (keyboards), and Ian Paice (drums). This first group was called Mark I. They played a mix of rock and progressive music.

Famous Members and Changes

Deep Purple has had many different members over the years. They even took a break from 1976 to 1984. The most famous and successful group of members was called Mark II. This included Ian Gillan (vocals), Jon Lord (keyboards), Roger Glover (bass), Ian Paice (drums), and Ritchie Blackmore (guitar).

This Mark II group played together from 1969 to 1973. They also reunited from 1984 to 1989, and again from 1992 to 1993. Other important members included David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes in the Mark III and IV line-ups. Tommy Bolin also played guitar for a short time.

Since 1994, the band's members have been more stable. Steve Morse joined as the guitarist. In 2002, Don Airey took over on keyboards when Jon Lord retired. Today, Ian Paice is the only original member still in the band.

Their Biggest Hits

Deep Purple is known for many great songs. Their most famous song is "Smoke on the Water." This song is from their album "Machine Head." Another very popular album was "Deep Purple in Rock." It was a huge hit and reached number one in Germany.

Awards and Recognition

Deep Purple has received many honors for their music. VH1 ranked them number 22 on their list of Greatest Artists of Hard Rock. A radio station in Britain, Planet Rock, said they were the 5th most influential band ever.

In 2008, they won the Legend Award at the World Music Awards. In 2016, Deep Purple was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This means their music and influence are recognized as very important in rock history.

Images for kids

  • Deep Purple (1968)

    Deep Purple in 1968. Standing, left to right: Nick Simper, Ian Paice and Rod Evans. Seated: Ritchie Blackmore and Jon Lord

  • Deep Purple, Ritchie Blackmore 1970

    Ritchie Blackmore in Hannover, Germany, 1970

  • Deep Purple (1971)

    The classic Deep Purple line-up, 1971. Left to right: Jon Lord, Roger Glover, Ian Gillan, Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Paice.

  • Territethoteldesalpes

    Grand Hôtel de Territet outside Montreux where Machine Head – excluding "Smoke on the Water" – was recorded in December 1971

  • Ian Gillan (1972)

    Gillan on stage in Clemson, South Carolina, 1972

  • Deep Purple (1975)

    Collage of the Mark III lineup, with bassist and vocalist Glenn Hughes (left) and co-lead vocalist David Coverdale (top) joining Blackmore, Paice and Lord

  • Jam I ad

    Deep Purple co-headlined the California Jam in 1974. They played to over 250,000 people at the Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, Southern California.

  • Deep Purple (UK Tour 1976)

    Promotional photo of Deep Purple for their 1976 UK Tour. Fltr (top row): David Coverdale, Ian Paice; (bottom row): Glenn Hughes, Tommy Bolin and Jon Lord

  • Roger Glover Steve Morse 2005

    Roger Glover and Steve Morse playing the intro to "Highway Star" at the Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto, 2005

  • Deep Purple - MN Gredos - 01

    Glover and Morse in 2013 in Spain

  • 2022 Lieder am See - Deep Purple - by 2eight - 9SC7190

    Glover, Gillan and Simon McBride performing in 2022

  • Deep Purple - inFinite - The Long Goodbye Tour - Barclaycard Arena Hamburg 2017 29

    Ian Paice (pictured in 2017). Ranked number 21 in Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Drummers list, his magazine entry states, "without Deep Purple’s only continuous member, there would be no heavy metal drumming."

  • Dmitry Medvedev with Deep Purple 23 March 2011-1

    Current members of Deep Purple with then-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in 2011

  • Deep Purple Brazil march 2009

    Deep Purple in Brazil, March 2009

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Deep Purple para niños

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