Live Music Head
Darryl Tahirali
NHLKiDD
The discussion of legendary Heavy Metal/Hard Rock acts often begins with Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. However, it really isn’t a stretch to include Deep Purple on that level. Like Sabbath & Zeppelin (who are currently inducted), Deep Purple had the hit records, the signature songs, an excellent reputation as a great live act, and they meet the influence category. Already eligible for fifteen years the only real knock against them is the multiple lineup changes they have had but with a resume like theirs, and with their perceived peers in; their legions of fans hope that they won’t have to wait another fifteen years. We can’t imagine they will.
The Bullet Points:
Previous Rank:
2010: #4
Eligible Since:
1993
Country of Origin:
United Kingdom (Hertford, England)
Why They Will Get In:
We can’t imagine that this band could possibly be ignored forever.
Why They Won’t Get In:
The multiple lineup changes could be befuddling voters who may be uncertain which members to induct.
Nominated In:
Never
Essential Albums:
Shades of Deep Purple (1968)
Deep Purple in Rock (1970)
Machine Head (1972)
Made in Japan (1972)
Our Five Favorite Songs as Chosen by Each Member of the NIHOF Committee:
Hush (From Shades of Deep Purple, 1968)
Child in Time (From Deep Purple in Rock, 1970)
Highway Star (From Machine Head, 1972)
Lazy (From Machine Head, 1972)
Perfect Strangers (From Perfect Strangers, 1984)
Comments
Two years ago, Alice Cooper got in and Vince Fournier (Alice himself) said he couldn't understand how Donovan didn't make it. Last year, Donovan gets in because he got some momentum from the headline band that had just gotten in. I am hoping Slash does the same for Deep Purple. The biggest oversight by the Hall in my opinion.
1) They were the first to perform and record with an orchestra. After that influences from classical music were maintained; no band of the early 70's used those influences to kick more ass though. See eg Lord's Bach paraphrase at the beginning of Speed King.
2) In Rock raised rock'n'roll to a higher level. See the main body of that very same Speed King and the guitar solo of Highway Star.
3) They beat Led Zep at their own games. Bloodsucker and Lazy would have been gems on any LZ album. The call and answer game of Blackmore and Gillan in the coda of Strange Kind of Woman puts Page and Plant in the shadow.
4) They beat Black Sabbath at their own game. Into the Fire is a relative weakling, but would shine on any BS album.
5) They pioneered speed metal. See Cry Free and especially Fireball.
6) They pioneered arena rock. See Smoke on the Water and Woman from Tokyo.
9) Made in Japan set the standard for every single prog, hardrock and metal album afterwards; only few can approach the quality of MiJ.
10) When they tried other genres they pulled off magnificently: Anyone's Daughter, The Mule, Painted Horse.
11) Black Night is first class boogie; it kicks just more ass.
12) Strange Kind of Woman is first class barroom boogie; it kicks just more ass.
13) Demon's Eye is the gloomiest, swampiest song John Fogerty never did.
Until DP (Mark II obviously) enters the HoF I prefer to call it the Hall of Shame.
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