Deep Purple In Rock (Mighty Lambchop's Heavy Metal Nails #1)

Update 10.4.12: Deep Purple have been nominated to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I am begging you to vote in the fan poll to ensure their induction!  It's our chance to right a serious wrong in Rock history!!
http://rockhall.com/get-involved/interact/poll/ 



Good morning!

Today I am kicking off my Heavy Metal Nails series with Deep Purple. When I am asked for my favorite bands, I always put Deep Purple and Black Sabbath at number one. Both bands are deeply influential to heavy metal and hard rock music. I cherish and treasure the music both have created over the years and my iPod is NEVER without any of their music.



Deep Purple was formed in 1968 in Hertford, England. The band began as a hybrid of classical and blues influenced rock. Over the course of their history became heavier and added elements of funk and soul. They have a long history with a lot of members. Enough so, that each lineup is referred to as a "Mark." Mark 1 is the original lineup. Mark 2 is the most successful commercially and in influence. To date, there are eight "Marks." Rather than go through each mark, I prefer to focus on my favorite lineups.

Sponged gradient and freehand nail art.
Index is for Mark II, middle is for Mark III and pinkie is for Mark IV
Ring finger has the best approximation I could do for the logo


Polishes used:
Sally Hansen Lavender Cloud,
Milani Rad Purple, Orly Purple Velvet and Layla Hologram Effect Ultra Violet
Nail art was achieved with Sally Hansen Nail art pen in silver
and Kiss Nail Artist pen in Black

Deep Purple Mark II 1970-1973
Back row from left to right:
Ritchie Blackmore, Roger Glover, Ian Paice
Front from left to right:
Ian Gillan, Jon Lord

The Mark II lineup is responsible for the iconic Smoke on the Water. I say iconic because of that opening riff. It's usually the first song most guitar players learn too. The story behind the song is a great one. Essentially, the band went to Montreux to record the legendary Machine Head album. The casino they were to record at burned down when someone shot a flare gun into the ceiling during a Frank Zappa concert. The stories are so funny especially concerning Zappa. 
This lineup was really creative. They showcased Jon Lord and Ritchie Blackmore's classical influences as well as a heavier rock sound. This is also the lineup that cemented Ritchie Blackmore as a guitar god, influencing countless heavy metal and hard rock guitarists over the years.
In 1972, the band was named the "Loudest Band in the World," by Guinness.

Songs to check out from that era (besides Smoke on the Water...)

Deep Purple Mark III 1973-1975
Left to right:
Glenn Hughes, Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Paice,
 Jon Lord and David Coverdale

The Mark III lineup welcomed the addition of Glenn Hughes, of  Trapeze fame, on bass and vocals as well as a young, unknown singer from the Midlands, David Coverdale. They replaced Roger Glover and Ian Gillan respectively. Hughes and Coverdale brought funk and soul influences into the band as well as a beautiful collaborative vocal style. This period brought great creativity, continued success and found the band playing at the monster California Jam festival in 1974. 
Sadly, this would not last. Ritchie Blackmore disliked the soul and funk influences and left to form Rainbow in 1975 with Ronnie James Dio.
*It's worth mentioning that this lineup brings the legendary Judas Priest into the family tree. Trapeze was formed by Glenn Hughes, Mel Galley and Dave Holland. Holland would later join Judas Priest in 1979.*

Songs from this era to check out:

Deep Purple Mark IV 1975-1976
Back row L to R:
David Coverdale, Jon Lord, Tommy Bolin
Front row L to R:
Ian Paice and Glenn Hughes

Mark IV was very brief and saw the addition of young American guitarist, Tommy Bolin. Bolin had made his name as a session player for jazz artists like Billy Cobham and Alphonse Mouzon and had good success with rock band, the James Gang.
*Looks like another notation for the family tree! Guitarist Joe Walsh was in James Gang before replacing Bernie Leadon in the Eagles.*
Mark III saw more jazz influence as well as the soul and funk Hughes and Coverdale had brought.
The band released the Come Taste the Band album which was moderately received then and seems to be gaining more acceptance now. They also released a live album from their final concert in Japan.
Sadly, the inner turmoil as well as various substance abuse issues forced the band to split in 1976.

Songs from this era to check out:
You Keep On Moving (Oft linked because this is my very favorite version.)

This could be a sad end but gratefully, the band reformed in 1984 and has continued despite lineup changes and retirements since.

In the meantime, members of the band went on to other projects and continued to influence hard rock and heavy metal.
David Coverdale formed Whitesnake with Ian Paice and Jon Lord. The band was later joined by Mel Galley, who I mentioned had been in Trapeze with Glenn Hughes.

Ritchie Blackmore formed Rainbow in 1975. Blackmore continued Rainbow off and on until 1997 and re-joined Deep Purple in 1984, 1989 and 1993. He now performs as part of a duo with his wife, Candice Night, called Blackmore's Night.

Glenn Hughes has been a successful solo artist and has collaborated on various projects with hard rock legends as Gary Moore, Pat ThrallTony Iommi and Joe Lynn Turner. To date, Hughes is focused on his new band, Black Country Communion. Hughes was briefly the singer for Black Sabbath and performed on the Seventh Star album.

Ian Gillan spent some time in Black Sabbath as well, replacing Ronnie James Dio, and recorded the Born Again album. He continues as vocalist for Deep Purple and has recently done a new project with Tony Iommi, called Who Cares.
Jon Lord retired in 2002. Roger Glover is still in the band and a solo artist in his own right. Ian Paice is still in Purple and has the distinction of being the only original member left.
Tommy Bolin continued his solo career until his death in December 1976.

Whew! That is just one hell of a lot. I hope you will be able to see just how multi-layered and dimensional Deep Purple have always been. Heavy metal and hard rock just would not have been the same without them. 
Purple are often cited as major influences from bands/artists such as Metallica, Pantera, Bon Jovi,Yngwie Malmsteen  and countless others. 

It is fucking criminal that Deep Purple are not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. You really don't need to hear my rant about it. Eddie Trunk has said and continues to say precisely how I feel about it and just how fucking wrong it is. 

Thank you for joining me. Tomorrow, I will be featuring the one and only Black Sabbath. I expect a snotch of controversy. And not just because of the classic Team Ozzy or Team Dio fight. 
I will see you tomorrow and in the mean time, keep Space Truckin' round the stars!


P.S. Here are some other notable branches to spring from this fertile tree:
Kansas
Dixie Dregs
Iron Maiden
Steve Vai
Van Halen 
Frank Zappa
Thin Lizzy










4 Comments

  1. Waits for the Dio and Maiden mani's! *taps foot*
    I love it, my Daddy would've been proud of you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you honey! You'll just have to stay tuned to see what else I do. ;) Love you!!!

      Delete
  2. Thank you for writing what I believe to be true about Deep Purple, with regard to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. How they can not be there is simply beyond me, on so many levels.

    I'm simply too fucking old to understand much of the metal you love, but I can hear your passion for it, and I completely applaud that. My late father had similar misgivings on my own love for DP in their first incarnation, until I played "April" for him, with it's heavily classical influences, and after that he left me alone.

    I don't mind admitting, my young friends, that I cried like a newborn a few days ago when Mr. Lord passed on.

    Cheers, from a fat, white, *OLD*, Yank.
    kw

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. First of all, I want to thank you so much for coming by and taking the time to write. Your comment really touched me.

      I simply adore Deep Purple and it really is criminal that they are overlooked by the Hall. Without them, there is no modern heavy metal. Period.

      I, too, cried when Mr. Lord left us. From what I understand, he was a delightful character as well as a tremendously talented and influential musician. It would have been so lovely to have had an opportunity to meet him.

      Again, thank you. I really enjoyed hearing from you. Your comment made my day!

      Delete

Thank you for coming by! I deeply appreciate each comment and I do my best to respond in a timely fashion.

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