Deep Purple

19th June 1970 The week's Melody Maker hits the shops and "Deep Purple In Rock" has entered the album charts at number 21. "It was in Dundee that I heard the album had gone into the charts. We were having lunch when Tony Edwards announced it and, after so many years of struggle and disappointment, I just burst into tears. Within one year everything had changed, and now it all seemed, for once, so very simple." Ian Gillan

17-18th June 1971 The band flew to Keflavik, Iceland, to play a one-off show in Reykjavik, with Richard Green of the New Musical Express in tow. Their arrival made the front page of the newspaper, Visir, and they even named the band's hotel, Hotel Esju, and mentioned that a reporter from "British magazine New Musical Express, widespread pop-weekly publication" would be following their every step during their stay in Iceland. "We hired a DC4 with an Irish pilot, his wife as the stewardess and this dickhead who'd just got his gliding licence as the co-pilot. On the way out there we hit a bit of turbulence and the whole ceiling of the plane fell in on us. That wasn't too bad but all the wiring which connected the front of the plane with the back was lying in the corridor. This dickhead comes out and tries to push it back without any thought of what goes where and there's lights flashing and smoke everywhere ... we just yelled at him to leave it alone. The plane landed safely but we refused to fly back in it. They had to bring another one out for us to go home in." Ian Gillan

50 years ago today with Deep Purple 16-17th June 1969 Hanwell Community Centre, England The Mk2 line-up's first rehearsal at the Hanwell Community Centre took place this week in 1969. The former Central London District Poor Law School, once attended by Charlie Chaplin, was originally a residential school in the countryside that educated London's orphaned and disadvantaged children. By 1945, It had become a community centre in west London, with the large, central dining area turned into a sports hall. "It was always available, it was cheap, and it was close to where we were all living at the time." Ian Paice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOcoGotfabc&t=15s The following day (17th) at De Lane Lea studios, the band completed recording of the new single, "Hallelujah". Even more incredible perhaps, on the 18th June, Deep Purple Mark 1 played in Belgium, whilst Ian Gillan & Roger Glover played with Episode 6 that week!

16th June 1976 Tommy Bolin spoke to SOUNDS magazine: "I don't think I'm officially out of Purple. I still really don't know where I stand. Since the tour, they haven't called me, they haven't written me a letter, and somehow I feel maybe the management was using me, you know, because if you care about a person you do those things." With Glenn having found out whilst he was at Ian Paice's wedding about David Coverdale's resignation from Purple, and keen to be back on the road, a Trapeze US tour - originally expected to take place after the end of Purple's "nine-month" world tour - was quickly put together for August, with plans for this to be followed by some UK dates. The tour news added further to the speculation that Purple were finished. Rob Cooksey, the bands touring manager,countered that this was merely a temporary arrangement and that the rest of the band were taking extended holidays.

Mid June 1975. One of Deep Purple's roadies, Nick Bell, located Tommy Bolin, who was living in Malibu, and invited him down for a jam with the band. Over the three weeks that followed, they jammed nearly every day putting nearly half an album's worth of songs together. The managers meanwhile worked on a three-year contract which allowed Tommy enough free time to work on his own projects and career outside Deep Purple, who were looking to take things a little easier. "I actually wanted to leave Purple when Ritchie quit. We'd flown Clem Clempson out to LA to audition him, but I knew he wasn't right for us and I got disillusioned. At this point I was hanging out with David Bowie a lot - he used to 'crash' at my house all the time - and we used to party a lot together. Bowie was doing the "Station To Station" album, and we talked about doing a record together, with him producing. Then Tommy arrived on the scene and Purple started happening again." Glenn Hughes

A brilliant Deep Purple Mark 3 poster from early 1975. The band featured Glenn Hughes, Ritchie Blackmore, David Coverdale, Jon Lord and Ian Paice, and produced the classic album 'Burn' and 'Stormbringer'

Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow returns to the Munich Olympiahalle tonight June 12th. It has been many years since the band performed there including 2 remarkable shows, one now on DVD Munich 1977, and this great live performance from Rainbow Mark 1 in 1976: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-pLkZ25E8o

Check out this new video from Glenn Hughes’ guitarist SOREN ANDERSEN We very rarely plug anything outside of Deep Purple , but this is something really great and worth watching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=89&v=bqz0jKDLfb4 "City Of Angels" was filmed in... well, L.A., of course. Although the album isn’t out until October, the first single has been released this week. The album features guest appearances from, among others, Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Glenn Hughes, Marco Mendoza and fellow Dane Ida Nielsen (Prince). The sunsoaked "City of Angels" is a fitting first single, about his beloved Los Angeles with a music video shot around Venice Beach and Hollywood. Soren has been with Glenn for nearly 10 years now, and is very much a part of his Classic Purple live performance.

Deep Purple on this day - 10th June 1970 There were about 2,000 people in the hall, and hundreds of youngsters outside - all clamouring to be let in for free. Naturally they could not get in, so they splashed petrol around and tried to set the place on fire. Then, as we were playing, a cry went up that a bomb had been placed under the stage. That place emptied so fast! It all happened just 25 minutes before the end of the show. We're getting used to this now. A similar thing happened when we were playing Aberdeen about three months ago." Ian Paice/Melody Maker This video isn't from June 10th but it was typical for the time. Enjoy!

Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow conquered Sweden Rock last night in front of well over 50,000 fans. The Citadel, as it appeared with thousands of camper vans and the like, went crazy for the band singing every word in every song. Congratulations to the festival organisers for such a brilliant event.

Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow headlines Sweden Rock tonight in front of 50,000 punters. It will be immense!

50 years TODAY Saturday, 07.06.69 London - De Lane Lea studios The first Deep Purple recording session for Ian Gillan, the track, "Hallelujah". Roger Glover had only agreed to do the track on a session basis, fearing that the combined departure of both of them to Purple would mean an end for Episode Six. Gillan tried to talk Roger into considering the potential of joining the band and he agreed to go with Ian to Jon's house to play some songs the pair of them had written. "I've decided to accept Deep Purple's offer after a sleepless night. Phoned Jon in early evening and he said he'd ring back with the answer. Went home to get money and Ian phoned and left a message to say that I was in. Feeling ten miles high. Brian [Connolly of The Sweet] gave me a lift back to Ian's. Phoned Gloria and told her. She was mad." Roger Glovers diary notes 7/6/69 Check out the recording now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=Rk6VYN31v2U

Early June 1970. A year on since this Deep Purple Mark 2 first got together, the first week of June saw the UK release of the "Black Night" b/w "Speed King" single together with "Deep Purple In Rock" (SHVL 777), produced by Deep Purple . The album title highlighted the distinction between this one, "In Rock", and the previous album, "In Concert", as well as providing a great inspiration for the cover artwork! And some crazy singles covers, this one from Holland.

Today in 1969......Ian Gillan, having accepted the offer to join Purple the previous night, had a meeting with Ritchie, Jon and Ian at which they asked if he knew of a good bass player. Ian suggested Roger Glover. 6 months later the paperwork was done to formalise one of rock's great partnerships.

How prophetic .....Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow as listed on an Australian album in 1977! "Blackmores Rainbow" starts their 2019 tour tomorrow in Helsinki Finland.

Having left Trapeze in 1973 to join Deep Purple, Glenn Hughes spent many years in the wilderness before rejoining his band Trapeze for a one off US tour. It turned out that the band played a batch of American and European dates that also included veteran blues guitarist, Craig Erickson accompanying Mel Galley on both lead and rhythm guitar. Check out this great TV piece from 1994: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2UP3aXgq10&feature=youtu.be

Deep Purple's promotional clip for 'Knockin' At Your Back Door' filmed and edited in Sydney Australia in January 1985. The live material was from Purple's 3rd show in Sydney mid December 1984.

29th May 1971 One Swiss gig that Deep Purple won't forget. It took place under very unfortunate circumstances. The band was booked to play on 29th May in the Wetzikoner Eishalle. The night before the gig their six ton truck was stuck with a broken engine somewhere between Milan and Como, so the gig was in doubt. Only due to the goodwill of the band and their professionalism did the fans manage to get their Purple. The band rented a Lear Jet that picked up the most important instruments from Milan and flew them to Zürich-Kloten, where a VW van was waiting. Because they played on the equipment from Ashton, Gardner & Dyke, it all sounded very weak, something a lot of fans blamed on the band (unaware of the problems). A bit more fairness from the audience would have been more appropriate. What other top act would still have played under these circumstances?" Teddy Meier -EMI Switzerland press release https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-bPGYRfsU4&feature=youtu.be

This day with Deep Purple Mark 3 on May 28th 1974 "Purple hit Coventry with two evenings of good music and sheer lunacy to mark the end of a triumphant British tour. Everything seemed quite normal at the opening of Elf's set. They have developed into a highly polished professional unit. Ronnie Dio displayed his powerful vocals on a searing rendition of "Happy" from their current album "Carolina County Ball" and the delivery of this number was so crisp and powerful that the audience surged towards the stage in appreciation. Suddenly from nowhere a 'dirty great big' bag of flour hit Ronnie on the head. More of them seemed to appear from the corners of the stage and soon enough the whole line-up of Stephen Edwards (guitar), Craig Gruber (bass), Mickey Lee Soule (piano) and Cool Guy (drums) were covered in that white stuff. The audience, who were looking a bit dead, didn't seem to react to this attack. Next on were Purple, kicking the set off in fine form with "Burn". They played their asses off and the set ran smoothly apart from a mysterious incident involving a bottle breaking against the side of Glenn Hughes leg. Blackmore featured some really fine soloing and Ian Paice did a mindblasting solo in "You Fool No One" which went into "Mule". David Coverdale displayed his vociferous vocals in "Mistreated". It was a great set, not their best, but they were out to have a good time. They too were bombarded with flour at the end of "Space Trucking". By this time the audience were on their feet and cheering and the band came back on for an encore which was "Going Down" which culminated with a line of trouserless roadies having a knees up across the stage.

This week with Deep Purple. INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT - Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord (posthumous) and Ian Paice (Deep Purple Mark 2) The Ivors, now in their 64th year, celebrate, honour and reward excellence in British and Irish songwriting and composing across categories for songs, album, film, TV and video game scores released in the UK in 2018. The ceremony also saw the presentation of Ivor Novello Awards which recognise music creators for their wider contribution to UK music. The Ivors Academy presented Ivor Novello Awards to 29 individual songwriters and composers across 14 award categories. Acknowledging an exceptional legacy that has inspired and shaped generations of hard rock musicians all over the world, the Academy bestowed the Ivor Novello Award for International Achievement to the iconic Deep Purple Mark II line-up – Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord (posthumous) and Ian Paice.

This week in 1970 with Deep Purple. Jon Lord explains the time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yNoMh2w1NM "When Jimi Hendrix broke up his Experience and went back to America, a huge gap was left in Britain. On-stage excitement was hard to find. But on Monday night, at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, excitement returned in the shape of Deep Purple. They played two shows to capacity audiences and tore the place apart with their musicianship and controlled volume - which ranged from very gentle to ear-splitting level. Opening with two numbers from the forthcoming Deep Purple In Rock LP, "Speed King" and "Child In Time", vocalist Ian Gillan's screaming vibrato voice was all but drowned out by the power of the instruments, but this is the only criticism one can find in their act, Gillan's voice is, in fact, really a fifth instrument in the group. Drummer Ian Paice and bass player Roger Glover then laid the riff for an old Purple favourite, "Wring That Neck", which featured some brilliant organ playing from Jon Lord and his multi-toned Hammond and some fine guitar work from Ritchie Blackmore. Blackmore's technical brilliance is of the quality you wouldn't believe if you didn't actually see it. Leaping, staggering and lurching all over the half of the stage which he controls, Ritchie's showmanship almost outclassed his musicianship. The closing number, another old album track "Mandrake Root", featured vocalist Ian Gillan on conga drums. "Mandrake" built into a deafening strobe-lighted climax after which the only thing the group could possibly do would be to wreck their instruments. Paice kicked his drums all over the stage and Blackmore physically toppled two six-foot speaker columns over on top of his discarded guitar. It took the audience about 30 seconds to recover from their state of limp shock before giving Deep Purple a much-deserved standing ovation." New Musical Express

With JON Lord 45 years ago this week - May 1974 Following the success of the previous year's "Rock Meets Classic" performance in Munich, Jon Lord and Eberhard Schoener had been commissioned to write a new piece and return to Munich for the final gala night of the Prix Jeunesse Festival, with the Orchestra of the Munich Chamber Opera. As well as the Purple contingent, the other musicians this time included Tony Ashton, Ray Fenwick and Pete York.

This is huge find - Deep Purple on Italian TV performing Strange Kind Of Woman. The band appeared on "Su Di Giri" ("Up To Speed"), introduced by Enzo Cerusico and Giuditta Saltarini, on RAI 3 (Radiotelevisione Italiana), miming to "Strange Kind Of Woman". Ritchie Blackmore is seen with a white Stratocaster & a Telecaster neck, and Roger Glover with his Fender Mustang bass. Head over to YouTube to see the full performance: https://youtu.be/H7Gne6XPJ8Q

This week in 1972 with Ritchie Blackmore as the band departed for their next USA tour. Ritchie is discussing working with Phil Lynott and Ian Paice. Roger Glover provides his thoughts. "It's coming on very slowly, but I want to be sure about it. It's a sort of rock/blues band, very different from Purple. I would like to make a single with them because that's the quickest way to get things going, but they wouldn't play our kind of stuff on the radio. We have got a couple of tracks down and I am pretty pleased with them. I want to do something where it is all my own fault if it goes wrong, or my own fault if it turns out good. After Christmas it may be the turning point for Purple. We are having a good time but it's got to end sometime. Jon is doing his own things and Roger is into production. I just think there is room for more excitement in today's music and I want to do something about it. I think I can do something more exciting than Deep Purple." Ritchie Blackmore/Melody Maker

Late 1975 saw the release of Deep Purple's Come Taste The Band and Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. How do these albums compare 45 years on.....?