Deep Purple is a rock band from Britain. It was founded in 1968 in the English city of Hartford, became the founder of the hard rock genre and in the 70s of the XX century was one of the most influential rock bands.
Below is a brief history of the group and the composition of Deep Purple over the years.
Prequel
The one who had the idea of forming a band was Chris Curtis, a drummer who had previously played in The Searches. During a difficult period, after leaving the last collective, he met the same wandering soul in the person of John Lond - keyboard player. He also just left The Artwoods. The third member is guitarist Richie Blackmore, who before joining the team already had experience and even managed to create his own team The Three Musketeers.
Initially, the team had a different name - Roundabout.
Soon the fourth and fifth members are added: Bobby Woodman (drummer) and Dave Curtiss (bass player).
Curtiss leaves the group, the search for the bassist and vocalist begins.
The look falls on the musician Nick Simper, but during the rehearsals, the participants and Nick himself understand that he is a bird of another flight.
In place of the singer comes a young guy named Rod Evans, and Ian Pace is appointed to the role of a new drummer (after another departure, but already Woodman).
The current Deep Purple quintet with an updated name and under the command of manager Tony Edwards is on a tour of Denmark. Thus began the creative path of the legendary group.
The first composition of "Deep Purple" (1968-1969)
Initially, the team did not have an exact decision in what style they would like to play. But later, a pendulum appeared in front of him in the person of the Vanila Fudge group (psychedelic rock).
The first major performance was in April 1968 in Denmark. Despite the negotiated new name, the group held a concert under the old nickname. Judging by the reaction of the public, their "trial scene" ended in incredible success.
The band's debut album, entitled "Shades of Deep Purple", was recorded in just 2 days. In June of the same year, the song "Hush" was born, which they decided to use as a start. In the United States, the track managed to take fourth place.
The second album, The Book of Taliesyn, was less successful. Unlike the United States, Britain was not interested in the collective. But despite the bad luck, the group managed to sign an agreement with the American label Tetragrammaton Records.
In 1969, the third work was recorded, in which the music is more rigid and complex. However, the internal relationship did not stick together, which clearly affected the group's activities (they were booed in the last performance), during which the Deep Purple line-up undergoes changes again.
The second composition (1969 - 1972)
The new track "Hallelujah" is being recorded. Ian Gillan (vocalist) and his duet partner drummer Roger Glover come to the post .
The new album, entitled "Concerto for Group Orchestra", created in 1969, ensured the group's success, being able to get on the British chart.
Work on the fourth Deep Purple In Rock album began in September of that year and lasted until April 67th. The British lists kept the top 30 for the whole year, and the suddenly-written track "Black Nigth" even acquired the status of a business card for a while.
The fifth studio album under the nickname "Fireball" is released in July for British listeners and in October for American ones.
In 1972, they achieved worldwide success thanks to their sixth album, “Macine Head,” which rose to number 1 in England and sold 3 million copies in the United States.
By the end of the same year, the group was declared the most popular in the world - they surpassed the Rolling Stones in popularity .
The seventh work was less successful for musicians: in it, according to critics, only two tracks were worthy.
Due to the aggravated relationship between Blackmore and Glover, the latter submits a letter of resignation. Vocalist Gillan at the same time leaves the band, and the date of their last concert falls on 1973 June in Japan.
The composition of "Deep Purple" is changing again.
The Third Composition (1973-1974)
David Coverdale and bassist Glenn Hughes come to take the lead.
In the new line-up, the eighth album "Burn" is born, however, with notes of rhythm and blues (a song-dance style that is far from hard).
The ninth album "Stormbringer" was weaker compared to the previous one, possibly due to disagreements on issues of the genre.
The fourth composition (1975 - 1976)
Blackmore is replaced by guitarist Tommy Bolin, who made a great contribution to the tenth album "Come Taste the Band".
After a series of unsuccessful concerts, the participants were divided into 2 parties: some were for a jazz-dance style, while the second wanted to focus on hit charts.
In July 1976, the group split up.
Fifth composition (1984 - 1989)
1984 - The long-awaited reunion of the classic Deep Purple roster. The company, which was considered traditional, included Gillan, Lord, Glover, Blackmore and drummer Pace - the only member who did not leave his post even once in the history of the group.
New collaboration “Perfect Stranges” rises to worthy places in the British and American charts.
Sixth squad (1989 - 1992)
Despite the success, relations between the participants did not work out, and Joe Turner takes the place of vocalist Gillan.
The next album, "Greg Rike Productions", is released, which was not very successful, according to critics.
Seventh squad (1993-1994)
Between Turner and the rest of the team, communication became increasingly tense - they decided to return Gillan to his place.
The 1993 album "The Battle Rages On" was not able to return to their previous places.
After several unsuccessful and excellent concerts, the guitarist Blackmore leaves the band.
The eighth composition (1994 - 2002)
In place of the former instrumentalist, Joe Satriani temporarily comes. After successful projects, he was offered to stay on an ongoing basis, but he was forced to refuse due to contractual obligations of other contracts.
With the new member Steve Morse, the 15th and 16th albums of "Purpendicular" with "Abandon" were recorded.
July 23, 1996 is the date of the first concert in Russia for the entire existence of the group. The musicians, in addition to the main program, performed Mussorgsky's brilliant cycle "Pictures from the Exhibition".
Ninth line-up (2002 - present)
Keyboardist Lord makes a choice in the direction of solo activity, and in his place comes the pianist Don Airy.
The new Deep Purple lineup is releasing for the first time in 5 years the 17th album of Bananas, which the audience is pleased with.
In 2005, 2 more studio works were born - "Rapture on the Deep" and "Rapture on the Deep tour".
Project "Now What ?!" 2013 is released even in Russia to their 45th birthday.
In 2017, the last, 20th album, "Infinity", is being created. The group intended to celebrate the 50th anniversary with a farewell tour and retire.
The reason for this decision, according to Pace, is the obvious difference between the group with the young roster, once everyone was 21 years old, and now it’s the eighth decade.
Merits
The group "Deep Purple", despite its regular variability, was able to create 20 studio works, hold hundreds of concerts and take its honored and deserved place in the Hall of Fame.