Deep Purple are a British hard rock band originally from London. Formed in March 1968, the group originally included guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, vocalist Rod Evans, keyboardist Jon Lord, drummer Ian Paice and bassist Nick Simper ("Mark I"). In mid-1969, Evans and Simper were replaced by Ian Gillan and Roger Glover ("Mark II"). After four years, Gillan and Glover departed in 1973, and were replaced by David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes ("Mark III"). Tommy Bolin replaced Blackmore in 1975 ("Mark IV"), with this lineup continuing until Deep Purple broke up in July 1976. The group re-formed in April 1984 with the "Mark II" lineup of Blackmore, Lord, Paice, Gillan and Glover. The current lineup, dubbed "Mark IX", features Paice, Gillan, Glover, keyboardist Don Airey and guitarist Simon McBride.
History 1968–1976 Deep Purple were formed under the name Roundabout in March 1968 by keyboardist Jon Lord, bassist Nick Simper, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, drummer Ian Paice and vocalist Rod Evans. Lord and Simper had previously played together with The Flower Pot Men, and Simper had earlier worked briefly with Blackmore; Paice and Evans were brought in from The Maze, whom Blackmore had seen performing. The group soon changed their name to Deep Purple, after the song of the same name by Nino Tempo & April Stevens. Deep Purple quickly recorded their first album Shades of Deep Purple, which was issued in July 1968. After The Book of Taliesyn and Deep Purple, Lord, Blackmore and Paice made the decision in May 1969 to dismiss Simper and Evans, wanting to pursue a heavier direction that they deemed the pair unsuitable for.
By the time the original lineup, retroactively dubbed "Mark I", played their last show on 4 July 1969, new vocalist Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover had already been recruited from Episode Six. During its four-year tenure, the "Mark II" lineup established itself as the most commercially and critically acclaimed of the group's history, releasing the studio albums Deep Purple in Rock, Fireball, Machine Head and Who Do We Think We Are, in addition to the live albums Concerto for Group and Orchestra and Made in Japan. However, in October 1972, following increasing tensions and exhaustion, Gillan informed the rest of the band that he would be leaving after the remaining tour dates were completed. Glover followed the singer later in providing his resignation, believing that Blackmore wanted him to leave. The final show of the tour took place on 29 June 1973 in Osaka, Japan, after which Gillan and Glover both left and "Mark II" came to an end.
On 14 July 1973, it was announced in Melody Maker magazine that Glenn Hughes of Trapeze had replaced Glover on bass. Paul Rodgers, who had been a member of Free until their recent breakup, was initially offered the role of frontman, but he declined to focus on the formation of Bad Company. The position vacated by Gillan was later taken by David Coverdale, who auditioned in the summer and was unveiled as Deep Purple's new vocalist on 23 September 1973. After "Mark III" released Burn and Stormbringer, the creatively frustrated Blackmore recorded a self-titled debut album by a new project dubbed Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow (later shortened to just Rainbow) in early 1975. This ultimately led to his departure from Deep Purple, which was officially announced on 21 June 1975. Despite Blackmore's core creative role in the band, Deep Purple continued with the addition of former James Gang guitarist Tommy Bolin. After just one album, Come Taste the Band, "Mark IV" played their final show on 15 March 1976, before breaking up officially on 19 July. Bolin died of a heroin overdose that December.
1984 onward
After eight years of inactivity, on 27 April 1984 it was announced that the "Mark II" lineup of Deep Purple were set to return for a worldwide tour and a new album. The reunion of Lord, Blackmore, Glover, Gillan and Paice lasted for five years and spawned two studio albums, Perfect Strangers and The House of Blue Light. By the middle of 1989, however, Gillan had left the group for a second time, with the other members firing him due to creative and personal differences. After auditioning and rehearsing with numerous potential replacements for the vocalist, the band eventually enlisted Joe Lynn Turner, who had previously worked with Blackmore and Glover in Rainbow, to take Gillan's place in December 1989. This "Mark V" lineup recorded just one album, Slaves and Masters, which was released in 1990 and promoted on tour throughout 1991.
In August 1992, despite having started work on the band's next album, Turner was suddenly dismissed from Deep Purple. Gillan subsequently returned for a third stint as lead vocalist, as management wanted the classic "Mark II" lineup back together for a planned 25th anniversary tour, and the band issued The Battle Rages On... in 1993. Blackmore was unhappy with Gillan's return and Turner's firing, however, which led to renewed and increasing tensions between the pair on the subsequent touring cycle. The guitarist played his final show with Deep Purple on 17 November 1993. The band added Joe Satriani in Blackmore's place for a string of pre-arranged tour dates, including shows in Japan and Europe starting in December. This "Mark VI" arrangement was only temporary, however, with the guitarist returning to his solo career at the end of the run in July 1994.
Blackmore was eventually officially replaced by former Dixie Dregs and Kansas guitarist Steve Morse on August 17, 1994, who debuted with the band at three low-key gigs in November 1994 and was later offered the position permanently. The "Mark VII" lineup remained stable throughout the rest of the decade, releasing two studio albums in Purpendicular and Abandon. In March 2002, it was announced that Lord – a member of every lineup of Deep Purple to date – was set to amicably retire from the group, with Don Airey, who had previously worked with Glover in Rainbow, taking his place. The keyboardist's departure left Paice as the sole remaining constant member of the band. The "Mark VIII" lineup of Gillan, Morse, Glover, Airey and Paice released six studio albums: Bananas in 2003, Rapture of the Deep in 2005, Now What?! in 2013, Infinite in 2017, Whoosh! in 2020 and Turning to Crime in 2021. The lineup remained in place for exactly 20 years, until March 2022, when the band announced that Steve Morse would go on a hiatus and be replaced by Simon McBride, who has previously toured with both Ian Gillan and Don Airey. On 23 July 2022, it was announced that Steve Morse had permanently left. The first album with McBride, =1, was released in 2024, followed by Splat! in 2026. On 12 August 2026, Blackmore made a one-off return to Deep Purple at the Northwell at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York, joining the Mark IX lineup onstage for the encore performance of "Smoke on the Water". It was his first performance with the band since 1993.
Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsIan Paiceall Deep Purple releasesRoger GloverIan GillanDon Airey2002–presentkeyboardsSimon McBrideguitarall Deep Purple studio albums from =1 (2024) onward
Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsJon LordRitchie BlackmoreguitarRod Evans1968–1969vocalsNick Simper1968–1969David Coverdale1973–1976vocalsGlenn HughesTommy Bolin1975–1976 Joe Lynn Turner1989–1992vocalsSlaves and Masters (1990)Joe Satriani1993–1994guitarSteve Morse
Touring ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsNotesChristopher Cross1970guitarOn 28 August 1970, Cross was a last-minute substitute for an ailing Ritchie Blackmore, at a concert in San Antonio, Texas at the Jam Factory.Margaret Moser. "The Reluctant Celebrity: Christopher Cross." The Austin Chronicle. 20 January 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2022.Randy California1972 On 6 April 1972, California filled in for Blackmore, who had contracted hepatitis, at a concert in Quebec. Candice Night1993backing vocalsNight performed backing vocals at select dates on Deep Purple's 1993 tour on the request of Blackmore.Nick Fyffebass guitarIan Paice's son-in-law, Fyffe filled in for Roger Glover for a series of European dates in 2011 and one festival show in 2013.Jordan Rudess2020keyboardsRudess filled in for Don Airey for one show in March 2020, while Airey was absent for undisclosed reasons.Adam Wakeman2023Wakeman filled in for one show while Airey was absent due to an illness.
Session ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsBeth Hart 2003backing vocalsBananas (2003)Paul Buckmaster2003 string arrangement and celloMichael Bradford2003 guitar Jason Roller2012acoustic guitarNow What?! (2013)Eric Darkenpercussion Mike Johnsonsteel guitarDavid Hamiltonadditional keyboardsStudents of Nimbus School of Recording Arts gang vocals Bob Ezrin Tommy Denander 2016additional guitarInfinite (2017)Saam Hashemi 2020programming Whoosh! (2020)Ayana Georgebacking vocals Tiffany Palmer Nicole Thalia2021Turning to Crime (2021)Marsha B. Morrison Leo GreenMatt Hollandtrumpet Gina Forsyth fiddle Bruce Daigrepont squeeze boxJulian Shankpercussion
Timeline
Lineups Lineup MembersStudio albumsLive albumsMark I Jon Lord – keyboards, backing vocals Ritchie Blackmore – guitars Ian Paice – drums, percussion Nick Simper – bass, backing vocals Rod Evans – lead vocalsShades of Deep Purple (1968) The Book of Taliesyn (1968) Deep Purple (1969)Inglewood (2002) / Live at Inglewood 1968 (2009) BBC Sessions 1968–1970 (2011, disc 1)Mark IIJon Lord – keyboards Ritchie Blackmore – guitars Ian Paice – drums, percussion Ian Gillan – vocals, percussion, harmonica Roger Glover – bassDeep Purple in Rock (1970) Fireball (1971) Machine Head (1972) Who Do We Think We Are (1973)Concerto for Group and Orchestra (1969) Made in Japan (1972) / Live in Japan (1993) Deep Purple in Concert (1980) Scandinavian Nights (1988) / Live in Stockholm (2005) / Stockholm 1970 (2014) Gemini Suite Live (1993) Space Vol 1 & 2 (2001) / Live in Aachen 1970 (2005) Live in Denmark '72 (2002) / Copenhagen 1972 (2013) Kneel & Pray (2004) / Live in Montreux 1969 (2006) New Live & Rare (2004) BBC Sessions 1968–1970 (2011, disc 2) Long Beach 1971 (2015)Mark IIIJon Lord – keyboards Ritchie Blackmore – guitars Ian Paice – drums, percussion Glenn Hughes – bass, backing vocals David Coverdale – lead vocalsBurn (1974) Stormbringer (1974)Made in Europe (1976) / Mk III: The Final Concerts (1996) Live in London (1982) California Jamming (1996) / Just Might Take Your Life (2003) Live in Paris 1975 (2001) / Paris 1975 (2012) Perks and Tit (2004) / Live in San Diego 1974 (2007) Graz 1975 (2014)Mark IVJon Lord – keyboards Ian Paice – drums, percussion Glenn Hughes – bass, backing vocals David Coverdale – lead vocals Tommy Bolin – guitars, backing vocalsCome Taste the Band (1975)Last Concert in Japan (1977) / This Time Around: Live in Tokyo (2001) On the Wings of a Russian Foxbat (1995) / Long Beach 1976 (2016) Days May Come and Days May Go (2000) 1420 Beachwood Drive (2000) Phoenix Rising (2011)Band inactive July 1976 – April 1984Mark II (reunion)Jon Lord – keyboards Ian Paice – drums, percussion Ritchie Blackmore – guitars Ian Gillan – vocals, percussion, harmonica Roger Glover – bass, keyboardsPerfect Strangers (1984) The House of Blue Light (1987)Nobody's Perfect (1988) In the Absence of Pink (1991) The Bootleg Series (2000, discs 1–6) Perfect Strangers Live (2013)Mark VJon Lord – keyboards Ian Paice – drums, percussion Ritchie Blackmore – guitars Roger Glover – bass, keyboards Joe Lynn Turner – vocalsSlaves and Masters (1990)Mark II (second reunion)Jon Lord – keyboards Ian Paice – drums, percussion Ritchie Blackmore – guitars Roger Glover – bass Ian Gillan – vocals, percussion, harmonicaThe Battle Rages On... (1993)Come Hell or High Water (1994) / Live in Europe 1993 (2006) The Bootleg Series (2000, discs 7 and 8)Mark VIJon Lord – keyboards Ian Paice – drums, percussion Roger Glover – bass