Deep Purple

Deep Purple, formed in 1968 in Hertford, England, pioneered the hard rock and heavy metal genres. Initially leaning towards progressive rock, their 1970 album Deep Purple in Rock established the heavier sound that defined classic rock. Alongside Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are often described as the "unholy trinity" of British hard rock. The iconic MK II lineup—featuring Ian Gillan (vocals), Ritchie Blackmore (guitar), Jon Lord (keys), Roger Glover (bass), and Ian Paice (drums)—produced milestone albums and classic live recordings like Made in Japan. Despite many lineup changes over decades, the band has remained a touring powerhouse, selling over 100 million records. In recent years, they released acclaimed studio albums Now What?! (2013), inFinite (2017), and Whoosh! (2020), all produced by Bob Ezrin. In 2021, during the pandemic, they surprised fans with the covers album Turning to Crime, and in July 2024 they released =1, their 23rd studio album and the first with guitarist Simon McBride replacing Steve Morse. The current lineup—Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice, Don Airey, and Simon McBride—embarks on major tours (such as the “=1 More Time” tour), demonstrating that Deep Purple remains at the forefront of hard rock. Known for timeless classics like “Smoke on the Water,” “Highway Star,” and “Black Night,” their music continues to resonate across generations.