Favorite "Color" Bands #3 - Deep Purple

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I had to take a day off yesterday (depression sucks, don't you know,) but nonetheless, duty calls. We are at #3 in my countdown of my favorite bands with a color in their name: the legendary Deep Purple. Despite multiple lineup changes, Deep Purple has accomplished quite a bit since forming in Hertford, England in 1968. Considered a pioneer in heavy metal/hard rock, all the band has done is sell over 100 million records worldwide, and, although it took longer than it should have, made it into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They also made the Guinness Book of World Records, in 1975, as the World's Loudest Band. And yet, sadly, there are still many people that only know them for Ritchie Blackmore's opening guitar riff for their classic song, "Smoke On the Water." In addition to the classic lineup of Blackmore, vocalist Ian Gillan, bassist Roger Glover, keyboardist Jon Lord (R.I.P.) and drummer Ian Paice, a lot of great musicians have called Deep Purple home at one time or another: vocalist David Coverdale, guitarist Tommy Bolin, vocalist Rod Evans, vocalist Glenn Hughes, guitarist Joe Satriani, and guitarist Steve Morse. That's a hell of a lot of talent packed into one band. Oddly, not all of them made it into the Hall of Fame as band members. Now, about that guitar riff. Nearly every guitarist out there will gladly tell you that it's the first thing they learned to play. Talk about influential! (Frank Zappa and the Mother's info verified by Wikipedia)