Deep Purple | |
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![]() Deep Purple in 2004. From left to right: Roger Glover, Ian Paice, Ian Gillan, Don Airey and Steve Morse.
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Background information | |
Genres | Hard rock, heavy metal, blues-rock |
Years active | 1968–1976 1984–present |
Members | |
Ian Gillan Steve Morse Roger Glover Ian Paice Don Airey |
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Former members | |
Ritchie Blackmore Jon Lord David Coverdale Glenn Hughes Rod Evans Nick Simper Tommy Bolin Joe Lynn Turner Joe Satriani |
Deep Purple are an English hard rock band which currently consists of vocalist Ian Gillan, guitarist Steve Morse, bassist Roger Glover, drummer Ian Paice and keyboardist Don Airey. The band formed in Hertford in 1968 and originally comprised vocalist Rod Evans, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, bassist Nick Simper, drummer Paice and keyboardist Jon Lord.[1] Deep Purple is notable for their history of lineups, each one of which is often referred to by its own "Mark" number, ranging from the inaugural, I, to the current, VIII.
The original Mk. I released three albums, before vocalist Evans and bassist Simper were fired and replaced by Ian Gillan and Roger Glover respectively to create Mk. II. The second lineup remained until 1973, when Gillan (followed by Glover) left the band. David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes joined to create Deep Purple Mk III, though co-founding member and guitarist Ritchie Blackmore left in 1975 to be replaced by Tommy Bolin. Mk. IV lasted only a year and disbanded in 1976. While on hiatus, members concentrated on other projects, including Rainbow (Blackmore and Glover), Whitesnake (Coverdale, Lord and Paice), Black Sabbath and Gillan (both Gillan).
Deep Purple reunited in 1984 with the Mk. II lineup of Gillan, Blackmore, Glover, Paice and Lord. Gillan and Blackmore had a disagreement and the vocalist was fired from the band and replaced by Blackmore's former bandmate in Rainbow, Joe Lynn Turner. Turner remained until 1992, when the Mk. II lineup came together for the third time. Due to continuing conflicting interests between Gillan and Blackmore, the guitarist left the band for good in the middle of 1993s The Battle Rages On tour. He was replaced with Joe Satriani for the remainder of the shows but could not join the band permanently due to contractual issues.
Steve Morse was chosen to be Blackmore's full-time replacement in 1994, and he remains the guitarist to this day. In 2002 the most recent lineup change took place when Jon Lord, who had been in every incarnation of the band until then, left the band to pursue personal interests. He was replaced by Don Airey, formerly of Rainbow and Ozzy Osbourne's band, to create the current Mk. VIII lineup. Drummer Ian Paice is now the only member left who has been present in every lineup of Deep Purple since the band's formation in 1968.
Contents |
![]() Vocalist Ian Gillan |
![]() Guitarist Steve Morse |
![]() Bassist Roger Glover |
![]() Drummer Ian Paice |
![]() Keyboardist Don Airey |
Personnel | Studio albums | Notable singles |
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Mark I (April 1968–July 1969) |
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Mark IIa (July 1969–June 1973)
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Mark III (June 1973–May 1975)
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Mark IV (May 1975–March 1976)
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Group disbanded (March 1976–April 1984) | ||
Mark IIb (April 1984–April 1989)
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Mark V (January 1990–August 1992)
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Mark IIc (August 1992–November 1993)
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Mark VI (November 1993–September 1994)
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Mark VII (November 1994–March 2002)
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Mark VIII (March 2002–present)
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