Deep Purple

Deep Purple were formed in Hertford, England, in 1968. Their debut, Shades of Deep Purple (1968), established them in the US market. In 1969, the "Mark II" lineup — Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, Ian Paice — became the band's classic era, producing Deep Purple in Rock (1970) and Machine Head (1972), home to "Smoke on the Water." Alongside Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple is regarded as a pioneer of hard rock and heavy metal. After lineup changes through the 1970s, the classic lineup reunited in 1984 for Perfect Strangers. Steve Morse joined in 1994, ushering in two decades of stability. Since 2013, working with producer Bob Ezrin, the band has released acclaimed later albums. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016, Deep Purple remains active today.