DEEP PURPLE WITH OTHER LINE-UPS

MARK I

ROD EVANS ON VOCALS & NICKY SIMPER ON BASS

MARK III

DAVID COVERDALE ON VOCALS & GLENN HUGHES ON BASS

JOE LYNN TURNER ON VOCALS & ROGER GLOVER ON BASS

IAN GILLAN ON VOCALS & STEVE MORSE ON GUITARS

PRESENT

DON AIREY ON KEYBOARDS

A BRIEF HISTORY

In 1968, the band released the album 'Shades of Deep Purple' featuring the Tom Jones-like Rod Evans on vocals, Nicky Simper on bass, Richie Blackmore on guitars, Jon Lord on keyboards and Ian Paice on drums and managed to hit the chart with the hit single "Hush". They followed the psychedelic sound of pop/rock of the 60's. My personal favourites from this album are "Mandrake Root" and "Hush".

In the same year they produced another album called 'The Book of Taliesyn' in which most of the songs were a bit harder than the first album. "Listen, Learn, Read On" and "Wring That Neck" have captured my nerves through Ian Paice's playing.

They just took a year to complete their third self-title album which marked the end of Deep Purple Mark I. The album entitled Deep Purple had shown a sign of where they were going to as the pioneers of Heavy Rock through tracks like "Chasing Shadows", "The Painter" and "Why Didn't Rosemary?". I enjoyed this line-up especially through the captivating style of Ian Paice and the raw sound of the man in black himself, Mr. Blackmore.

In 1969, the band went through a few changes with new faces on vocals and bass. Ian Gillan took over the job as the frontman and Roger Glover on bass. Known as DP Mark II, they experimented themselves in one of the most historical events in Rock music as they collaborated with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Malcolm Arnold and performed The Concerto for Group and Orchestra in the Royal Albert Hall (London).

In Rock is a hard rock album released in September 1970. It was their fourth studio album, and the first with the classic Mk II lineup. In 1971 they released Fireball which followed by my all time favourite album Machine Head in 1972. Let say all of the songs in these 3 albums are my favourites. Made in Japan is a live album released in December 1972 in all of Europe. The album was recorded live over three nights during 15-17 August 1972 in Osaka and Tokyo, Japan, hence the name of the album. The tracks mostly come from their studio effort, Machine Head. (Check out out this version of Highway Star...THE BEST). Who Do We Think We Are is the fourth studio album by the Mark II lineup. It was recorded in Rome (in July 1972) and Frankfurt (October 1972) using the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio. It was Deep Purple's seventh studio album, and the last one with the classic Mark II lineup. It was not a successful album as the songs reflected the internal problems occured in the band (especially through Blackmore's solos).

Burn is the eighth studio album which was recorded in Montreux, Switzerland in November 1973 with the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio, and released in February 1974. It introduced new lead vocalist David Coverdale and new bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes. They replaced Ian Gillan and Roger Glover. This was the first Deep Purple album with the Mark III lineup. With the addition of Coverdale and Hughes, Purple's hard rock sound became more boogie oriented, incorporating elements of soul and funk which would become much more prominent on the follow up album, Stormbringer. Stormbringer is the ninth studio album released in November 1974. On this album, the soul and funk elements that were only hinted at on Burn are much more prominent. This shift in direction alienated some fans as well as Ritchie Blackmore, who left the band not long after Stormbringer was released. Come Taste the Band was recorded between August 3rd and September 1st, 1975. The album was released in October 1975. It was the only studio album with Tommy Bolin, who replaced Ritchie Blackmore on lead guitar. This album has never been in my DP library.

After 11 years, the most famous Mark II line up reformed and released DP's 11th album Perfect Strangers in 1984. The House of Blue Light is the twelfth studio album released in 1987. It is the second recording by the re-formed Mark II lineup.

Slaves & Masters is the thirteenth studio album released in 1990. This is the only album to feature singer Joe Lynn Turner, who had replaced Ian Gillan the previous year. If you opt for soft and melancholic rock tunes, listen to this album (not for me).

The band's classic Mk II line-up reunited for a second time after 1984's Perfect Strangers. They released their 14th album The Battle Rages On in 1993. It was the last album recorded by Ritchie Blackmore as he left the band during the tour.

Purpendicular is the fifteenth studio album released in 1996 and it's their first album with Steve Morse, former guitarist of Dixie Dregs. For me he never fit the job of Ritchie Blackmore. In 1998 the same line-up released the band's sixteenth studio album; Abandon.

Bananas is the 17th studio album released on 2003 featuring Don Airey on the keyboards, who replaced founding member Jon Lord in 2002. This line-up released another studio album in 2005 named Rapture of the Deep.

(source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)