Deep Purple

Deep Purple's 1972 live album Made in Japan helped define the sound of emerging hard rock and heavy metal, while “Smoke on the Water” became one of rock's most recognisable songs. Formed in London in 1968, the British band began as a psychedelic and progressive rock group before moving toward a heavier attack on Deep Purple in Rock in 1970. They have sold more than 100 million records worldwide and were named “the globe's loudest band” in the 1975 Guinness Book of World Records, following a 1972 concert at London's Rainbow Theatre.

The original line-up paired vocalist Rod Evans and guitarist Ritchie Blackmore with bassist Nick Simper, keyboardist Jon Lord and drummer Ian Paice. After three studio albums, Evans and Simper were replaced in 1969 by singer Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover, creating the celebrated Mark II formation. Following the orchestral collaboration Concerto for Group and Orchestra, the group recorded Deep Purple in Rock, Fireball, Machine Head and Who Do We Think We Are, alongside Made in Japan. Their blend of Blackmore's guitar, Lord's keyboards and the Gillan-led rhythm section placed them alongside Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath in the often-cited “unholy trinity” of British hard rock and heavy metal in the early to mid-1970s.

Gillan and Glover left in 1973, and Deep Purple recruited David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes for the albums Burn and Stormbringer. Blackmore departed in 1975 and Tommy Bolin took over guitar duties for Come Taste the Band. The band disbanded in July 1976; Bolin died from a drug overdose five months later. Blackmore later formed Rainbow, while Coverdale went on to Whitesnake and Gillan led Gillan, among the successful groups that emerged from Deep Purple's members.

The Mark II line-up reunited in 1984 for Perfect Strangers and The House of Blue Light. After Gillan's 1989 departure, Joe Lynn Turner sang on Slaves and Masters, before Gillan returned for The Battle Rages On.... Blackmore left again in 1993, with Joe Satriani serving temporarily before Steve Morse became the permanent guitarist. Lord retired in 2002 and Don Airey succeeded him; Paice remained the sole original member. Morse left in 2022 after 28 years, replaced by Simon McBride. Deep Purple were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016 and received a Legend Award at the 2008 World Music Awards.