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. [edit] Current members - Ian Gillan
- Active: 1969–1973, 1984–1989, 1992–present
- Instruments: vocals, harmonica, congas
- Release contributions: Deep Purple in Rock (1970), Fireball (1971), Machine Head (1972), Who Do We Think We Are (1973), Perfect Strangers (1984), The House of Blue Light (1987), The Battle Rages On (1993), Purpendicular (1996), Abandon (1998), Bananas (2003), Rapture of the Deep (2005)
- Steve Morse
- Active: 1994–present
- Instruments: guitar
- Release contributions: Purpendicular (1996), Abandon (1998), Bananas (2003), Rapture of the Deep (2005)
- Roger Glover
- Active: 1969–1973, 1984–present
- Instruments: bass, synthesizers
- Release contributions: In Rock (1970), Fireball (1971), Machine Head (1972), Who Do We Think We Are (1973), Perfect Strangers (1984), The House of Blue Light (1987), Slaves and Masters (1990), The Battle Rages On (1993), Purpendicular (1996), Abandon (1998), Bananas (2003), Rapture of the Deep (2005)
- Ian Paice
- Active: 1968–1976, 1984–present
- Instruments: drums, percussion
- Release contributions: all Deep Purple releases
- Don Airey
- Active: 2002–present
- Instruments: keyboards
- Release contributions: Bananas (2003), Rapture of the Deep (2005)
[edit] Former members - Ritchie Blackmore
- Active: 1968–1975, 1984–1993
- Instruments: guitar
- Release contributions: Shades of Deep Purple (1968), The Book of Taliesyn (1968), Deep Purple (1969), Deep Purple in Rock (1970), Fireball (1971), Machine Head (1972), Who Do We Think We Are (1973), Burn (1974), Stormbringer (1974), Perfect Strangers (1984), The House of Blue Light (1987), Slaves and Masters (1990), The Battle Rages On (1993)
- Jon Lord
- Active: 1968–1976, 1984–2002
- Instruments: keyboards, backing vocals
- Release contributions: Shades of Deep Purple (1968), The Book of Taliesyn (1968), Deep Purple (1969), Deep Purple in Rock (1970), Fireball (1971), Machine Head (1972), Who Do We Think We Are (1973), Burn (1974), Stormbringer (1974), Come Taste the Band (1974), Perfect Strangers (1984), The House of Blue Light (1987), Slaves and Masters (1990), The Battle Rages On (1993), Purpendicular (1996), Abandon (1998)
- David Coverdale
- Active: 1973–1976
- Instruments: lead vocals
- Release contributions: Burn (1974), Stormbringer (1974), Come Taste the Band (1975)
- Glenn Hughes
- Active: 1973–1976
- Instruments: bass, vocals
- Release contributions: Burn (1974), Stormbringer (1974), Come Taste the Band (1975)
- Rod Evans
- Active: 1968–1969
- Instruments: lead vocals
- Release contributions: Shades of Deep Purple (1968), The Book of Taliesyn (1968), Deep Purple (1969)
- Nick Simper
- Active: 1968–1969
- Instruments: bass, backing vocals
- Release contributions: Shades of Deep Purple (1968), The Book of Taliesyn (1968), Deep Purple (1969)
- Tommy Bolin
- Active: 1975–1976
- Instruments: guitar, vocals, bass, piano
- Release contributions: Come Taste the Band (1975)
- Joe Lynn Turner
- Active: 1990–1992
- Instruments: vocals
- Release contributions: Slaves and Masters (1990)
- Joe Satriani
- Active: 1993–1994
- Instruments: guitar
- Release contributions: none
[edit] Band lineups | Personnel | Studio albums | Notable singles | | Mark I (April 1968–July 1969) | | | | Mark IIa (July 1969–June 1973) | | | | Mark III (June 1973–May 1975) | | - "Might Just Take Your Life", February 1974
| Mark IV (May 1975–March 1976) - David Coverdale – vocals
- Tommy Bolin – guitar
- Glenn Hughes – bass
- Ian Paice – drums
- Jon Lord – keyboards
| | | | Group disbanded (March 1976–April 1984) | Mark IIb (April 1984–April 1989) - Ian Gillan – vocals
- Ritchie Blackmore – guitar
- Roger Glover – bass
- Ian Paice – drums
- Jon Lord – keyboards
| | | Mark V (January 1990–August 1992) - Joe Lynn Turner – vocals
- Ritchie Blackmore – guitar
- Roger Glover – bass
- Ian Paice – drums
- Jon Lord – keyboards
| | - "King of Dreams", October 1990
- "Love Conquers All", February 1991
| Mark IIc (August 1992–November 1993) - Ian Gillan – vocals
- Ritchie Blackmore – guitar
- Roger Glover – bass
- Ian Paice – drums
- Jon Lord – keyboards
| | - "Anya", July 1993
- "Time to Kill", July 1993
| Mark VI (November 1993–September 1994) - Ian Gillan – vocals
- Joe Satriani – guitar
- Roger Glover – bass
- Ian Paice – drums
- Jon Lord – keyboards
| | | Mark VII (November 1994–March 2002) - Ian Gillan – vocals
- Steve Morse – guitar
- Roger Glover – bass
- Ian Paice – drums
- Jon Lord – keyboards
| | - "The Turtle Island Shuffle", 1996
| Mark VIII (March 2002–present) - Ian Gillan – vocals
- Steve Morse – guitar
- Roger Glover – bass
- Ian Paice – drums
- Don Airey – keyboards
| | | [edit] Timeline [edit] References [edit] External links |
