Another of Rock's Greatest..
Although they started up as a pop-rock outfit in 1968 (in Germany),making the U.S. Top 5 with Hush as well as their next two singles,and success with their first albums - Shades of Deep Purple /1968 , Book of Taliesyn /1969 , Deep Purple /1969 and In Concert /1970, -real success and recognition came during the era of their 2nd line-up (or Mark) which came in 1970:
Ian Gillan (vocals)- Roger Glover (bass)- Ritchie Blackmore (guitar)-Jon Lord (keyboards) and Ian Paice (drums) are the real supermark of the Deep Purple..
Their first ambitious attempt was Concerto for Group and Orchestra an album recorded at the Albert Hall with the Royal Philarmonic Orchestra , and their first hit single together, was Black Night in August 1970.
The group is now pursuing heavier rock directions and becomes one of the most successful and influential bands of the early 70's, joining Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath in spreading the gospel of multi-decibel British Rock around the world,with Richie Blackmore establishing the reputation of a Guitar Hero.
Their world-wide success in appearances and sales of their next albums, In Rock /1970 , Fireball /1971 , Machine Head /1972 and Made in Japan /1972 , created friction caused by ego-problems.. leading to the first departure (Gillan in 1973 -creates an eventually successful own band), then the next (Glover soon later - went into production) and then the big one..(Blackmore in 1975 -forms Rainbow -to be later joined by Glover).
By 1976 Deep Purple die a natural death...their audience beggining to diminish.
Lord, Paice and David Coverdale (who replaced Ian Gillan) now form three/fifths of Whitesnake
It took a good many years to get back together again, but when they did, in April 1984, under their Classic line-up, fans around the world were delighted to have them back. Their reunion album Perfect Strangers (the first studio album in 11 years..) went Platinum in no time, and their U.S. tour was the second highest grossing one that year.
They played at Knebworth in 1985 ,for their British fans, and then went on a World Tour in 1987 - releasing in the meantime a highly successfu new album, House of Blue Light
Ladies and Gentlemen - the Deep Purple were here to stay ..
Some CD pics I've scanned -plus a Gillan pic off the net- Click on thumbs for full size image: