Deep Purple Biography

The band’s debut album, ‘Shades of Deep Purple’, didn’t catch the attention of the UK, but in American they landed a top five hit with ‘Hush’.

The albums ‘The Book of Taliesyn’ and ‘Deep Purple’ followed but, as the band’s ambitions were growing, their American label folded. Evans and Simper left the band and Ian Gillan and Roger Glover took their places, marking the first of many line-up changes.

‘Deep Purple in Rock’ heralded the beginning of the group's commercially successful period. After the success of 'In Rock' and 'Fireball' the band decided on a European location to record their next album. They chose The Casino in Montreux in Switzerland, only to see it burn down the night before recording was to begin. Out of the ashes of the Casino, however, was to come their most memorable song and their most successful album ever. With smoke literally wafting over the water of Lake Geneva, the band took up residence in the Grand Hotel and, in the swiftly converted corridors and cupboards of the deserted Hotel, recorded the album that was to become their tour de force. The multi-platinum ‘Machine Head’ reached the U.S. Top Five in 1972.

Gillian and Glover later left the band, while David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes were recruited for 1974's ‘Burn’. After finishing 1974's Stormbringer, Blackmore left the band to form Rainbow.

Deep Purple broke-up in 1976 and it wasn’t until 1984 that the classic line-up of Blackmore, Gillan, Lord, Glover and Paice reunited for the platinum selling ‘Perfect Strangers’ album. Throughout the 90s, the band continued in one form or another, and the release of several archival releases and box-set collections have helped keep their fan base happy.