Facts about Deep Purple
- 09
Grandmother's favorite song, the 1939 tune Deep Purple recorded by Larry Clinton, reportedly inspired guitarist Ritchie Blackmore to choose the band's name in 1968.
- 08
Purple's 1973 album Who Do We Think We Are reached number four on the Billboard 200 chart and featured the hit single Woman from Tokyo, showcasing the band's continued commercial strength during their classic lineup era.
- 07
Founding member Jon Lord's keyboard work on Deep Purple's 1968 self-titled debut album established the band's signature sound of blending classical music influences with heavy rock instrumentation.
- 06
A 1970 performance of Deep Purple at the Los Angeles Forum was recorded and released as the live album Made in Japan in 1972, becoming one of the best-selling live rock records of all time.
- 05
During their 1968 debut tour, Deep Purple performed at the Nürnberger Zirkus in Germany, establishing themselves in Europe before achieving major success in the United States.
- 04
The 1974 album Burn marked Deep Purple's first release with David Coverdale as vocalist, replacing Ian Gillan after the band's initial breakup in 1976 had been preceded by extensive touring.
- 03
Jon Lord's Hammond B3 organ solo on Highway Star from 1972's Machine Head was performed live in the studio without overdubbing, showcasing the keyboardist's virtuosic technical abilities.
- 02
Ritchie Blackmore's guitar riff for Smoke on the Water uses only three notes, making it one of the most recognizable yet simplest heavy metal melodies ever recorded.
- 01
In 1972, Deep Purple's Machine Head album achieved platinum status in the United States within three months of its release, featuring the iconic song Smoke on the Water.