Deep Purple - The Legends ...

Ian Gillan (born Hounslow, Middlesex, August 19, 1945)

Ian joined Deep Purple from Episode Six in 1969. His first Purple album appearance was on ‘Concerto for Group and Orchestra’ but Gillan made his greatest vocal impact on ‘In Rock’, ‘Fireball’ and ‘Machine Head’. The band’s most famous anthem ‘Smoke On The Water’ emphasises his ability to deliver a lyric with smouldering intensity and rock’n’roll exuberance.Gillan led his own band during the late Seventies before rejoining Deep Purple for ‘Perfect Strangers’ in 1984. In 1989 he toured as Garth Rockett before releasing further solo albums including ‘Naked Thunder’ (1990), ‘Toolbox’ (1991) and Dreamcatcher (1998). Ian is presently working on several projects, both as a writer and vocalist, with a book under construction and a new solo album taking shape.


Roger Glover (born Brecon, Wales, November 30 1945)

The bass player and composer, joined Deep Purple from Episode Six in 1969, then left to become head of A&R at Purple Records. He wrote the ‘The Butterfly Ball’ (1974) concept album which yielded the hit song ‘Love is All’ sung by Ronnie James Dio. He worked as a producer with such bands as Nazareth and Status Quo, as well as working with Ian Gillan on their album ‘Accidentally On Purpose’ (1988). Roger played with Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow (1979-1984) before returning to Deep Purple in 1984. "The last eight years have been especially enjoyable. It is such a joy to be in the band now. After Steve joined it reawakened in me that feeling of why I was in the band in the first place. It’s like a great big adventure. That’s the way it was in the beginning and then, of course, politics and personalities, success and money get in the way of the fun. For a while it became a job or a bore. The last eight years have been the exact opposite. It’s back to the fun it was in the first place, which is a wonderful thing!”



Ian Paice (born June 29, 1948)

Deep Purple’s drummer since he joined the band (age 19) in 1968. Armed with a dazzlingly fast technique, Ian has also worked with Paice, Ashton & Lord, Gary Moore and Whitesnake.A recent highlight was guesting on Sir Paul McCartney’s ‘Run Devil Run’ (1999) rock’n’roll album. Steve Morse says about Ian Paice: “He’s like a real heavy Ringo. He’s just so good on the drums, but doesn’t want to make a big deal about it.”