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Catastrophe after catastrophe

Roger Glover, London, Ontario, Feb 11, 2012; photo © Nick Soveiko cc-by-nc-sa

Classic Rock History has a feature on Machine Head based on an interview with Roger Glover:

In retrospect, Deep Purple’s 1972 record, Machine Head, reads as an iconic proto-metal masterpiece. Given that its track listing boasts classic cuts like “Lazy,” “Highway Star,” and the forever-loved FM radio staple, “Smoke on the Water,” that’s no surprise.

It’s been 52 years since Machine Head dropped, but for Deep Purple’s bassist, Roger Glover, who was there through it all, it’s still fresh in his mind. “I don’t quite know how to put this,” Glover says. “There are so many stories attached to it [Machine Head]. The actual story of Machine Head is catastrophe after catastrophe.

Continue reading in Classic Rock History.



8 Comments to “Catastrophe after catastrophe”:

  1. 1
    Gregster says:

    Yo,

    That was a pleasant reprise of the times by Roger, well done & worth the read-through…

    What’s better perhaps, is further down the page, a Robin Trower interview about the new remix of his 50th anniversary album “Twice removed from yesterday”…And some great photos of what appears to be a stunning-in-electric-blue new signature Stratocaster from him too…( Hint, hint Simon )…

    Peace !

  2. 2
    James Steven Gemmell says:

    Like Roger, I wasn’t as enthralled with his bass playing on the studio version of ‘Smoke on the Water’ as I was with the live ‘Made in Japan’ version – where his bass sound made all the difference. The elephant in the room is why Purple doesn’t bury the hatchet with Ritchie Blackmore and record a song or two. Ritchie can still play melodically, albeit not as fast as in his heyday. He’s not the grouch he was back in the day. On the contrary, he seems like a mellow dude nowadays.
    https://youtu.be/JovXpgE984I?t=761

  3. 3
    Gregster says:

    @2…

    James said qt.”The elephant in the room, is why Purple doesn’t bury the hatchet with Ritchie Blackmore and record a song or two”.

    Cough, cough…History should reveal that its was Ritchie, with hatchet-in-hand, that actually tried to kill-off the band…(Lesson learned, once bitten, twice shy).

    Everyone is far better off with the new band as it is. Simon has nothing to prove, he only has to sit-in well & shine when the light is on him. He’ll deliver the goods for sure, & the band will remain a happy one, as Ian Paice mentioned in a previous thread.

    30 years of great albums & touring with Steve Morse should speak volumes also, & turn the elephant into a mouse.

    Peace !

  4. 4
    Uwe Hornung says:

    “ Some 52 years, thousands of shows, and even more miles logged later, though, when asked about the impact of Machine Head, and specifically, “Smoke on the Water,” after taking a drag on his half-lit cigarette, Glover smiles, saying, “I don’t know… we literally wrote about what happened to us. ”

    Roger still smokes? I had no idea. I thought he was such a health buff with his vegetarianism and all.

  5. 5
    Leslie S Hedger says:

    I agree with # 2. Rogers bass comes pounding in on the live version!!

  6. 6
    Uwe Hornung says:

    Re elephants in rooms and such: I think in essence, Ritchie – unlike the minions he left behind in despair – wanted to elevate the marketing and crafting of his music to a more contemporary 21 Century level, hence he proceeded to play medieval folk tunes with his very talented gf singing on acoustic guitars and have the whole thing managed by her mother. I mean let’s be for real, who wouldn’t prefer a drum machine programmed by Pat Regan to a Pearl set played by Ian Paice. No contest really. It must have felt very liberating.

    And where else can you as a grown man cosplay in line with your favorite TV series from the 50ies?

    https://youtu.be/BbyYr6L5xQM

    It all seems as logical and compelling to me as if Henry Ford had decided one day to become a recluse on a farm in the Midwest and breed work horses there, who needs cars anyway.

    And there longbows, javelins and elephant tusks must rest.

  7. 7
    Gregster says:

    @6…Well, according to the new post from RB, it’s highly likely that the lack of available German beer on Long Island may be the source of the trouble…

    I’m sure Henry would have had at least 1 x V-8 powered car in the stable…Most people who have driven V-8’s tend to never give them up under any circumstances…There’ just a certain quality about them that expresses itself regardless of size.

    Peace !

  8. 8
    George C says:

    Why hasn’t this movie been made?

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