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AllTheNews.com™
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Keep on Space Truckin'Band still has energy not common todayWelcome to my Deep Purple page where I have the opportunity to talk and share information about my favourite group. I truly believe DP is one of the most under rated groups around. It seems few people know much about them, yet in my opinion, they are the greatest rock band performing today.They are still releasing albums of new material (unlike the 'other' two pioneering rocks bands Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin) and are constantly touring. I've seen them three times in the last five years, four in total. But ask someone if they like DP, and they'll usually say, "Is that the duh-duh-duh group?" ('Smoke on the Water'). The other response is usually "Are they still together?" DP has been making music in five decades, since the '60s - although there was a period of almost 10 years the group didn't exist - from the mid-'70s to the early '80s. They entered the Guinness Book of World Records for the loudest band (The Who later broke that record) and the '72 album 'Made in Japan' is a world-wide best selling album. Their albums have sold close to the billions (in pounds). Peace in the landThe group experienced more than its share of conflict throughout the decades, and usually the war was between vocalist Ian Gillan and guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. But since Steve Morse joined the band around 1993, there has been peace, and the band is pumped on the new blood he has infused. Just listen to this lineup's output, from 'Perpendicular' and 'Abandon' and the numerous live releases, and you might be surprised.Mr. Morse is a Steve Vai-Joe Satriani-style guitar player. His technique is amazing and he can play very fast, but he also plays with feeling, and can weave amazing tapestries with his fretwork. DP has never had this type of guitar player before. Well, that may not be totally true. For a very short time, Joe Satriani finished a tour for the group back in '93-'94 after Blackmore left in yet another huff. But that lineup never recorded any new material (although there are recordings of them in concert I'm trying to get my hands on). A long historyIt is very unusual that after 25 years in the business, the boys should be experiencing their most creative and exciting phase of their career. Guitarist Steve Morse had already done this type of thing before (joining an already well-known band) - he joined Kansas some time ago, but the union didn't really gel. Morse, before joining DP, was already well known with his own group, the Dixie Dregs. The group hasn't actually dissolved, and still performs. As with most bands, DP has a long and varied history. One of the better
known stories relates to the California Jam in '74. There was some doubt
as to which band was going to go on last (choice spot of course), DP or
Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Well, DP held out for so long that ELP eventually
went on, leaving the last spot for DP. And there was a requirement - no
camera man was to go close to Blackmore.
Family TreeThere really are too many branches on the family tree to relate at this time, but they are numerous: Gillan had a very successful solo career with the Ian Gillan Band and sang as Jesus on Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Jesus Christ Superstar'; Blackmore did well with Rainbow; Roger Glover went into producing (in fact he produced Nazareth's 'Loud 'n' Proud' and several Judas Priest albums), and Jon Lord is also classically trained and has released numerous albums in this vein (he also played on David Gilmour's 'Blue Light' album). Ian Paice appeared on British television on some kind of rock star program, and also played with Gary Moore during the early '80s; David Coverdale of course went on to form Whitesnake, which at one time featured both Jon Lord and Ian Paice; Glenn Hughes has played with Gary Moore, Black Sabbath and even KLF, whoever they are. Joe Lynn Turner of course was Blackmore's vocalist in Rainbow for many years, but lately we're not sure what he is up to. I think he just released an album in collaboration with Glenn Hughes. Like I said, too much information in too little time. If you enjoyed your visit, please return. The site will be updated as time permits. Thanks for coming.
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