Deep purple

Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968.Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members have tried not to categorise themselves as any one genre. The band also incorporated classical music, blues-rock, pop and progressive rock elements.They were once listed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's loudest band, and have sold over 100 million albums worldwide. Deep Purple were ranked #22 on VH1's Greatest Artists of Hard Rock programme.

The revamped Deep Purple's first album, 1970's Concerto for Group and Orchestra, further sought to fuse rock and classical music. When the project, which was recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, was poorly received, Blackmore took creative control of the band, steering it towards a heavier, guitar-dominated approach which took full advantage of Gillan's powerful vocals. The gambit worked; 1970's Deep Purple in Rock heralded the beginning of the group's most creatively and commercially successful period. At home, the album sold over a million copies, with the subsequent non-LP single "Black Night" falling just shy of topping the U.K. pop charts. Released in 1971, Fireball was also a smash, scoring a hit with "Strange Kind of Woman."

Despite their association with the sub-genre, Deep Purple has never been purely a heavy metal band, though many later heavy metal bands cite their influence. The group has frequently changed styles and lineups over the years, but has always included virtuoso players in its ranks and placed a high priority on musicianship. Some incarnations of Deep Purple have brought aspects of jazz to a rock context due to their frequent use of their songs as vehicles for extended and sophisticated solos.

The revitalized band enjoyed success throughout the rest of the 1990s, releasing the critically acclaimed Purpendicular in 1996, and Abandon in 1998. Most of this period was spent on the road via constant touring. The group continued forward until 2002, when founding member Jon Lord (who, along with Ian Paice, was the only member to be in all incarnations of the band) announced he was leaving the band to pursue personal projects (especially orchestral work). Rock keyboard veteran Don Airey (Rainbow/Whitesnake, etc.), who had helped Purple out when Lord was injured in 2001, joined the band. In 2003, Deep Purple released their first studio album in five years, the highly prasied Bananas, and began toruing in support of the album immediately.

Current members
Ian Gillan – vocals, harmonica, congas (1969–1973, 1984–1989, 1992–present)
Steve Morse – guitar (1994–present)
Roger Glover – bass (1969–1973, 1984–present)
Ian Paice – drums, percussion (1968–1976, 1984–present)
Don Airey – organ, keyboards (2001–present)


Former members
Ritchie Blackmore – guitar (1968–1975, 1984–1993)
Jon Lord – organ, keyboards, backing vocals (1968–1976, 1984–2001)
Rod Evans – lead vocals (1968–1969)
Nick Simper – bass, backing vocals (1968–1969)
David Coverdale – lead vocals (1973–1976)
Glenn Hughes – bass, vocals (1973–1976)
Tommy Bolin – guitar, vocals, piano (1975–1976)
Joe Lynn Turner – vocals (1990–1992)
Joe Satriani – guitar (1993–1994)