Deep Purple
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Introduction
Deep Purple is a british rock band that pioneered hard rock in the late 60's (and still, as of 2009, exists) and also was one of the first bands incoorporating classical music in the sound of rock. The band had several setups known as Mark I, Mark II etc. It is no doubth that Deep Purple was one of the most influential bands of the seventies, and has inspired generations of musicians/bands in the genre of hard rock/heavy metal.
The Beginning
The Embryo of Deep Purple was from the very beginning an idea from The Searchers former drummer Chris Curtis. A psychedelic trend was around since Beatles Sgt. Pepper album and Jimi Hendrix's "Are You experienced?" -album. The project was first named "the Roundabout" and was supposed to follow the psychedelic trend. The first setup consisted of the brothers Chris & Dave Curtis (on vocals), Jon Lord on the Keys, Ritchie Blackmore on guitar, Nick Simper on bass and Bobby Woodman on drums. Both Blackmore and Lord were living in Hamburg at that time, and were working as session musicians. Lord had a minor succes from playing piano on the Kinks "You really got me", but otherwise none of the members had made any fame. Ritchie Blackmore was not happy with the psychedelic genre, and made more or less the two brothers leave the band before its even had started to rehearse seriously.
The Roundabouts had setup a rehearsing session in Denmark, and since the brothers left, they were holding new auditions for the vacancies. A lot of singers were auditioning, amongst them were even Rod Stewart. Finally Rod Evans got the job. Ian Paice, who were visiting the audition as a friend of Rod's not knowing that a drummer also was needed was hired as well. (both were members of a british band, M.I.5/The Maze, and Bobby Woodman had left by then)
When discussion the bands name during the rehearsals in Denmark, all was agreed to that "The Roundabouts" was kind of silly, and another name has to be found. "Fire" was on the line, but since another band already took that, Ritchie Blackmore suggested "Deep Purple" from a soul song by Nino Tempo/April Stevens. The other members was not so excited over the name, but Ritchie was persistent and on their first gig in Denmark it was Deep Purple. (even that they were announced as the Roundabouts)
Deep Purple Mark I
Deep Purple recorded their first single "Hush" which never made it to the charts in Europe, but reached the TOP 5 in the U.S. This phenomena gave the band a record deal with Tetragrammaton and their first L.P album ("Shades of Deep Purple") was released in september 1968. The following album ("the Book of Taliesyn") never reached any succes in Europe, but two singles made it to the TOP 20 in the. U.S ("Kentucky Women" and "River Deep Mountain High").
After they played as an opening act for Cream in the U.S and the audience actually dissed Cream yelling "Purple, Purple", Blackmore realized that Deep Purple must go into a heavier direction. Nick Simper and Rod Evans simply don't fitted in into the new direction and they were fired shortly after this. In november 1969 was their last album as Mark I released, entitled just "Deep Purple".
Deep Purple Mark II
The band hired Roger Glover (bass) and Ian Gillan (vocals) from the british pop-band Episode Six to replace Simper & Evans. At the same time keyboard player Jon Lord, who was a classical trained pianist, and also a skilled jazz player in the beginning of the sixties, wrote a piece for BBC ("Concerto for Group and Orchestra"), that was performed/recorded in Royal Albert Hall. They became big in England because of this event, but the band didn't want to build their fame on this album, and they worked hard to establish them as a live act.
The concerts were often very long due to improvised duels between Jon Lord and Blackmore. This was an element that was a trademark for the band at that time, but seemed to disappear later in their career.
Their first major success in Europe was with the single "Black Night", which never actually was on an album. With the release of their first "real" rock album "Deep Purple In Rock" with classics like "Child in Time" (nr 2 on the charts) and "Speed King", the band establishes themselves as one of the leaders in the genre.
Deep Purple Mark III
Deep Purple Mark IV
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Related GMC Lessons
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See also
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