23 April 2026
As the saying goes, “you’re never too old to rock ‘n’ roll.”
DEEP PURPLE (1968–1976, 1984–present / 23 LPs with 2024’s
‘=1‘ as the most recent one) are one of the many examples.
The band still features 3 key members, drummer Ian Paice (aged 77),
bassist Roger Glover (aged 80), and powerhouse voice Ian Gillan (aged 80)
and they still tour nonstop around the globe.
This summer they return to America.
Still smoking.
19 July 2024
The song is about a spectacular event at Montreux‘s lake, where the by now
legendary Montreux Jazz Festival (actually more rock than jazz) took place.
It referred to the smoke from the fire that destroyed the city’s casino, spreading
over Lake Geneva. The members of Deep Purple who played at the festival saw it
happen from their hotel window.
Roger Glover (bassist) said at the time: “It was probably the biggest fire I’d ever seen up to that point and probably ever seen in my life. It was a huge building. I remember there was very little panic getting out, because it didn’t seem like much of a fire at first. But, when it caught, it went up like a fireworks display.”
The Swiss police named Zdeněk Špička, a Czechoslovak refugee
as a suspect in the case, but he fled Switzerland shortly after.
The band played again at this year’s 2024 edition and,
of course, performed the classic again.
We all came out to Montreux
On the Lake Geneva shoreline
To make records with a mobile, yeah
We didn’t have much time now
Frank Zappa and the Mothers
Were at the best place around
But some stupid with a flare gun
Burned the place to the ground
Smoke on the water,
A fire in the sky
(Smoke) on the water, you guys are great
They burned down the gambling house
It died with an awful sound
Funky Claude was running in and out
He was pulling kids out the ground now
When it all was over
Find another place
Swiss time was running out
It seemed that we would lose the race
Smoke on the water,
A fire in the sky
Smoke on the water
Burn it down
22 April 2019
Legendary hard rockers DEEP PURPLE reached the top spot of the UK albums
chart – for the second time – on 22 April 1972, 47 years ago, with their sixth LP
MACHINE HEAD. The album was also a bestseller all over Europe and peaked
at #7 in the USA. The success of its lead single SMOKE ON THE WATER issued
in December of the previous year was a big factor for the longplayer’s triumph.
Oh yeah, whether you were/are a hard rock fan or not you just can’t ignore the
booming power of this timeless, head-banging riff. Press the button here…
DEEP PURPLE: Facebook
