Deep Purple

Lets celebrate the influence and music of Deep Purple's Ritchie Blackmore. Head to You tube to catch up on some new interviews by Brian May, Phil Collen and Steve Vai discussing the influence of Ritchie on their playing. https://www.youtube.com/user/deeppurpleos And don't forget to subscribe to the channel to see these and a host of new videos as soon as they are published!

The crazy things the band had to do back in the '70s - Check out Deep Purple Mark 2 on German TV performing the IN ROCK monster SPEED KING!

Check out the stupidity of some people -This time in New Zealand in early December when Deep Purple reformed for Perefct Strangers. The locals were a little feral according to the local police!

The great Jon Lord at the Royal Albert Hall in September 1969. He was able to combine his two musical loves, Rock and Classical. It was magical evening.

The unsung heroes in any band ....the brilliant crew - This is Baz Marshall backstage with Purple at The California Jam on 6th April 1974

This week in August 73 at London's Scorpio Sound Studios David Coverdale's audition took place at Scorpio, a six-hour session, from 3pm to 9pm. Though it was done in a studio setting, rather than in a rehearsal room, no recordings have surfaced from this, as yet. The band allowed for David's nervousness but were not impressed by his moustache. As Glenn Hughes later commented "The guys let him wait for about a week before telling him he had the job..." "Dear Sir, I heard that Ian Gillan is leaving Deep Purple and my friends persuaded me to send in a tape. Please excuse the quality but I hope you'll give it a listen. My phone number is on the tape box if by some small chance you want to speak to me. Regards David Coverdale" Reconstructed by David Coverdale for the New Musical Express in November 1974

Deep Purple Mark 2 on their last US tour in 1973. Smoke On The Water was riding high in the charts. The band split in late June 1973 before rising again with BURN as Mark 3 Deep Purple.

Check out the new uploads featuring Deep Purple Live at Giants Stadium New Jersey with Aerosmith & Guns n Roses : https://www.youtube.com/user/deeppurpleos

Deep Purple Mark 4 Come taste The Band was recorded between 3rd August – 1st September 1975 at Musicland Studios Munich and was produced by Martin Birch. Glenn Hughes was reported to have been flown home from the sessions suffering from hepatitis - though the more complete story seems to be that the band sent him into rehabilitation after he'd overdone the substance abuse - and Tommy Bolin ended up playing bass on the last recording session, for the album's opening track, "Comin' Home". Backing vocals on the track were supplied by David, Tommy and Jon. Glenn had originally recorded a vocal track for "Dealer" but this was re-recorded by David and Tommy after his departure. The original recording of Glenn’s vocals were wiped and cannot be located. Glenn's rehab' amounted to three weeks staying at his then girlfriend Vicky's parents' club, Oakley House, in Brewood. The story continues…….

This week in August 1975 Deep Purple Mark 4 fly to Germany "For the third time, Deep Purple came to Munich to make a record. Also present: Their new guitarist, Tommy Bolin. For the Californian, this was the first European trip of his life. What does an American do when he comes to Munich? He goes to the Hofbrauhaus! The new Deep Purple guitarist Tommy Bolin is no exception. After less than 24 hours in the capital of Bayern, he could be found in Rudi und Blasmusik, in front of a pile of beer, practising 'Good Old German Gemütlichkeit'. During the first day of Purple's stay in Munich, they decided first to party: It was Tommy's birthday! You only turn [sic] 27 once in your life. Despite the wild binge, Tommy proved to have some constitution: Punctually (!) at 9 o'clock, he turned up for his meeting with Pop. During a walk through town he collected some first impressions of the city where he will spend the next few weeks in the studio. Tommy really liked the many old buildings and, in front of the historical Town Hall on the Marienplatz, he exclaimed: 'Fantastic! You can't find anything like this in America.' Sightseeing makes you thirsty and as soon as the Hofbrauhaus came in sight, Tommy was unstoppable. Straight away he had two large beers put in front of him on the table by the waitress. 'It doesn't taste as good anywhere else as it tastes here!', concluded Tommy, in between two sips of beer and a handful of radishes. The horn section of the Hofbrauhaus fascinated him especially. With his arms spread, he danced around them and smiled: 'If I could conduct properly I would really get these old guys up to speed and I would bring my guitar along and join in. That would be a great album: Deep Purple Live In Hofbrauhaus!' Next, tourist Tommy ran into a souvenir shop. A giant beer jug, which he later took with him to the studio, should remind him of his first visit to Munich. When Pop finally bought him an original Bayern-Lederhosen, Tommy couldn't have been happier: 'I will wear this on stage during our next German tour!'" Pop Magazine

Following the release of Perfect Strangers in late 1984, Deep Purple found themselves in New York City on the promotional trail. This interview is with Ian Paice & Ian Gillan who are quite adamant that the band wouldn't be making a rock video. It is interesting to look back at that period and how serious musicians viewed the advent of videos. The elusive documentary which was never made is still very much in their thinking. Other new videos are available at: https://www.youtube.com/user/deeppurpleos

This will be a big weekend on Deep Purple so head over to the You Tube Channel to check out some great new clips, starting with Deep Purple Mark 2 live at Giants Stadium perform their classic track 'Smoke On The Water'. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m27npl7NZPw&feature=youtu.be Three hard rock giants at the Giants Stadium - 1988 Guns N' Roses - Deep Purple - Aerosmith What a gig!

This day in 1974, Deep Purple Mark 3 fly into Munich Germany to commence work on the 2nd August at Musicland Studios on what would become the Stormbringer album. Months later the band are being presented their awards by Warner Bros President, Joe Smith.

Deep Purple has been ROCKING the charts for over 50 years now!

Today 30th July 1971 Deep Purple play Los Angeles Long Beach Arena with The Faces & Southern Comfort. The set list was : Speed King / Strange Kind Of Woman / Child In Time / Mandrake Root. Purple's 70-minute set was recorded by the University Of Southern California's radio station, Station KUSC, for their "Monday Night Airbag Live" show, hosted by Elliot Mintz. The recording is now available in The Deep Purple Soundboard Series.

Check out some cool new interview pieces at the Official You Tube Channel - Roger and Ian backstage at Giants Stadium in 1988> https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChFONkdHg3zrt3zaHmx1bKA

Deep Purple toured with Deep Purple & The Faces in 1969. Here's a cool little interview with Ian Paice and Roger Glover recorded in 1988: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcgIVJEpJDI&feature=youtu.be

A great promotional photo of Deep Purple from 1973 featuring the Mark 2 line up.

Deep Purple hit the Instagram stage! Follow us here with loads of stories and great pics: https://www.instagram.com/deeppurpleclassic/

This isn't something you see everyday .....We are looking back to the Reading Festival in 1979 with the GILLAN band. Ian Gillan is seen here chatting backstage to his old mate, the great Jon Lord. Photo © Andre Csillag

Ian Paice - The backbone of Purple since the bands very first days in 1968. One of the greatest of all time!

A very young David Coverdale in early 1974 with Deep Purple Mark 3. It was the beginning of an immense career!

Roger Glover - 50 year this month with Deep Purple and still having a blast! This photo was taken in late 1972.

Rocking in 1974 - Deep Purple Mark 3 featuring David Coverdale on vocals, and Glenn Hughes (Bass/Vocals). This photo was taken from the photo pit by the bands record company, EMI.

The great Tommy Bolin live with Deep Purple in January 1976. His contribution to the Purple legend was immense, albeit over a very short period of less than a year from August 1975 - April 1976.