In the late 1960s, rock was getting louder, heavier, and more experimental - and Deep Purple were right at the heart of that transformation. Formed in Hertford, England, in 1968, the band would go on to become one of the pioneers of hard rock and heavy metal, sitting alongside Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath as part of the genre’s “unholy trinity”. It all began when drummer Chris Curtis dreamed up a “supergroup” project. Though he soon departed, the musicians he brought together - guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, keyboard wizard Jon Lord, bassist Nick Simper, and drummer Ian Paice – stayed on. They recruited vocalist Rod Evans and launched Deep Purple. The name came from a song that was a favourite of Blackmore’s grandmother. The early lineup produced three albums (“Shades of Deep Purple”, “The Book of Taliesyn” and “Deep Purple”) blending psychedelic rock, progressive touches, and classical influences, thanks in part to Lord’s Hammond organ. Their cover of “Hush” became a U.S. hit in 1968, but it was in 1969, with a lineup change, that Deep Purple truly found their signature sound. Evans and Simper were replaced by powerhouse vocalist Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover. This “Mark II” lineup unleashed a run of albums that cemented their legend: “Deep Purple in Rock” (1970), “Fireball” (1971), and “Machine Head” (1972). “Machine Head” featured the immortal “Smoke on the Water”, its riff born from a real-life fire at a Frank Zappa concert in Montreux, Switzerland. These records fused classical-inspired arrangements with aggressive guitar work and thundering rhythm, pushing rock into heavier territory. Their live shows became the stuff of legend, specially “Made in Japan” (1972), often hailed as one of the greatest live albums ever. But with fame came friction. Gillan and Glover left in 1973, replaced by David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes, shifting the sound toward blues-rock and funk on albums like “Burn” and “Stormbringer”. Blackmore departed in 1975 to form Rainbow, and American guitarist Tommy Bolin stepped in for “Come Taste the Band” (1975). But by 1976, after Bolin’s tragic death, Deep Purple disbanded. The story didn’t end there. In 1984, the Mark II lineup reunited for “Perfect Strangers”, proving they could still pack arenas worldwide. Over the years, the band went through further lineup changes - with guitarist Steve Morse replacing Blackmore in 1994, and later, Simon McBride stepping in - yet they continued recording and touring well into the 21st century. Deep Purple were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2016, recognized for their enduring influence on rock and metal. From the organ-guitar duels of Jon Lord and Ritchie Blackmore to the thunder of Ian Paice’s drumming, Deep Purple’s sound was bold, virtuoso, and unapologetically loud - a testament to a band that refused to fade quietly.