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The Original Deep Purple Web Pages
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Before MTV and hairspray

Louder Sound reprints a Geoff Barton feature on the pre-1987 Whitesnake originally penned for the Classic Rock magazine. It’s March 9, 1978. The ritzy stage of the Scarborough Penthouse looks like something out of The Price Is Right: curtains made out of multi-coloured strips of aluminium foil drape over a modest backline of amplifiers, there’s […]

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Finish in Finland

It was 30 years ago, on November 17, 1993, that Mark 2 played their final concert at the Jäähalli in Helsinki, Finland. Ritchie Blackmore went his own way, and the rest of the band decided to carry with a different guitar player. Both sides arguably turned out to be better off.

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As subtle as a flying mallet

Louder Sound reprints a feature from the Classic Rock magazine on Whitesnake’s 1979 Lovehunter album: Working at Clearwell Castle, the 18th-century estate in the Forest Of Dean where Purple had prepped for both Burn and Stormbringer, the band re-hired Purple’s producer of choice, Martin Birch, who had also overseen Trouble, to man the console of […]

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Videos

You may or may not have noticed a new link on the home page: Video list. This immense piece of work was done by long-term editor Trond (I did the munging to HTML) and should keep you occupied for more than a few hours. There are videos on YouTube and elsewhere of lineups from Rod […]

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The last battle

German magazine ROCKS is running a feature on The Battle Rages On and subsequent tour as the cover story of their latest issue (2023/6). We are being told that the article is well written and illustrated, albeit does not contain anything we haven’t already learned from elsewhere. The issue can be ordered through the publisher […]

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Endearingly laid back

Geir Myklebust reprints in his blog a heartfelt eulogy to Tommy Bolin penned by Geoff Barton for the December 11, 1976, issue of Sounds. HEARD ABOUT Tommy’s death last Sunday morning. The news hit hard and low. I hadn’t known him particularly well, but there was always — shall always be — a place for […]

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No need for a polyphonic synthesizer

A short interview with Jon Lord, focussing on his gear. It was originally published in Sounds issue from December 4, 1976: Synthesizers JON LORD has been playing electronic keyboards professionally for 12 years, starting with the Hammond C3, which is still a favourite instrument. But like most keyboard players, he has explored synthesisers as a […]

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Purple album, gold edition

Whitesnake’s The Purple Album will be reissued on October 13, 2023, via Rhino Records. It will be available as 2CD, 2LP on gold vinyl, Blu-ray, and digital. Of particular interest in certain quarters would be the second CD that will feature the 4 tracks from DC & The Fabulosa Brothers tape that landed him the […]

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Electrocute the lot of ’em, especially the critics

A historical interview with Ritchie Blackmore and Cozy Powell from the same issue of Sounds dated July 24, 1976. Blackmore swings the axe Peter Crescenti dodges the blows RITCHIE BLACKMORE harbours no love for rock ‘n’ roll journalists. As far as he’s concerned, most of them fall into two unflattering categories, those that are either […]

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Is no more — officially

Another historical article, announcing the dissolution of Deep Purple Mark 4. It originally appeared in the issue of Sounds from July 24, 1976. Purple: the end By Hugh Fielder DEEP PURPLE is no more — officially. One of Britain’s longest running and most successful heavy rock bands have split up — as predicted exclusively in […]

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