Deep Purple

Over the course of a career that’s lasted almost forty years - and that’s not allowing for an eight-year break after an initial split in 1976 - Deep Purple have cemented their position as one of the most influential rock and roll bands in the history of the genre. Furthermore, they’re considered genuine pioneers of both hard rock and heavy metal after having moved away from initial roots in progressive rock, and have the commercial clout to back up their towering status within the rock community; they’ve sold in excess of one hundred million albums internationally. The current lineup features just one original member, Ian Paice on drums, although frontman Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover both joined the band shortly after they began, in 1969. Steve Morse, on guitar, and Don Airey on keys round out the five-piece as they stand today, and they continue to tour and record; their latest album, “Now What?!”, was released in April of 2013, and flirted with progressive metal.

That album might not have been as successful as the records that defined them back in their seventies heyday - March 1972’s “Machine Head”, which features their signature song “Smoke on the Water”, frequently features on countdowns of the greatest rock records ever - but they still pack out arenas the world over; their status as bona fide rock legends has long since been secure.