User:Gm1121983~enwikibooks/Deep Purple

Deep Purple is a heavy metal band from the late 1960's. From 1968-69, Rod Evans performed the lead vocals, Ritchie Blackmore played guitar, Jon Lord played the keyboard, Ian Paice played the drums, and Nick Simper played bass guitar. From 1969-73, Ian Gillan sang lead, and Roger Glover played bass. From 1973-75, David Coverdale sang lead, and Glenn Hughes played bass. From 1975-76, Tommy Bolin played guitar. From 1976-84, the group was disbanded. From 1984-89, Gillan sang lead, and Glover played bass. From 1989-92, Joe Lynn Turner sang lead. Then Ian Gillan came back in 1992 after Turner left the band. From 1993-94, Joe Satriani played guitar. From 1994-2002, Steve Morse played guitar. Then in 2002, Jon Lord left the band, and Don Airey took his place.

Current lineup

 * Ian Gillan - lead vocal
 * Steve Morse - guitar
 * Don Airey - keyboard
 * Ian Paice - drums
 * Roger Glover - bass

Smoke on the Water
"Smoke on the Water" was first released on Deep Purple's 1972 album Machine Head. It is well-known for its crunching four-tone "blues scale" melody, one of the most famous riffs in hard rock history.

 e|--|---|-| B|--|---|-| G|---3---5--x---|--3---6---5--x-|--3---5---3--| D|---5---3---5---5--|--3---6---5-5--|--3---5---3---5--| A|---5---5--|5--|--5--| E|--|---|-|

Jon Lord doubles the guitar part with his organ, which he plays through a distorted Marshall amp to create a very similar sound to the guitar. Ritchie Blackmore uses two fingers to pluck, so that the pairs of notes can be played exactly simultaneously and to match the organ's timing more closely. This song is about rock and roll history, and the lyrics tell a true story: on December 4, 1971, Deep Purple had set up camp in Montreux, Switzerland to record an album using a mobile recording studio (rented from the Rolling Stones and known as the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio - referred to as the "Rolling truck Stones thing" in the song lyric) at the entertainment complex that was part of the Montreux Casino (referred to as "the gambling house" in the song lyric).

Highway Star
"Highway Star" appears on the same album as "Smoke on the Water". It's the very first song on the album. "Smoke on the Water" is the fifth track. The opening track is one of the earliest examples of speed metal. This song is about a man and his love for his high-powered car, which he says can outrace every other car. It sounds like an engine going full-throttle, and it gets you in the gut like an engine going full-throttle. It has a furious main riff and blistering solos.