What impact did deep purple have on people?

Answer 1

Deep Purple is one of the longest lasting, currently touring bands ever in the music business. They have sold in excess of 150 million records world wide as a band, and if one adds in the sales of major 'splinter' groups with members of Deep Purple, such as Whitesnake, and Blackmore's Rainbow, the number approaches 200 million. Formed in 1968, the band has gone through several major personnel changes, some amicable, some not. Drummer Ian Paice is the only original member left, since the retirement from touring of Jon Lord in 2002. One of the seminal early "Hard Rock" bands, (They do not, and have never considered themselves "heavy metal") Purple's music has influenced almost every strata of rock group since the early 1970s. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they were pioneers of heavy, guitar based rock. Lord's masterful keyboard playing set them apart, however, and the guitar-organ interplay has always been one of their hallmarks. Lord was replaced by the equally able Don Airey in 2002. Virtually every rock guitarist since 1972 has admitted learning the riff to "Smoke On the Water", one of Purple's biggest hits. Ritchie Blackmore has often stressed that most guitarists play it incorrectly, but that hasn't stopped millons of kids pounding it out in music stores all around the world. During the early to mid 1970s in America, Deep Purple had more albums and singles on the billboard charts than any other single artist - at one point, with three albums in the top 20. During 1973 alone, they toured North America six times. In 1984, their "Perfect Strangers" reunion tour was second only to Bruce Springsteen in gross ticket sales. They are huge favorites in much of Asia, having toured India, Australia, Japan and Malaysia on many occasions. Their current concerts are attended by a wide mix of devotees, from young kids barely into their teens, to original fans now pushing 60. Very few rock acts can claim to attract as wide an audience.