London is in many respects the home of hard rock and heavy metal music, and countless bands were either born there or found their home in its many avenues and alleyways. This is what makes musical odysseys and private tours around London so unique.
Some of these, such as Queen and David Bowie, were born here and started their trek across Denmark Street’s Tin Pan Alley, whilst other bands such as The Beatles and Black Sabbath moved from elsewhere but made their home in the capital for many years.
Deep Purple were a little bit of both, as whilst they were an international supergroup whose most famous song was about a fire that burned down a casino in Montreaux, Switzerland, they spent many of their early years in the London music scene as a headquarters for what was amongst the most chaotic stories in the history of rock music.
Known at one point as the “loudest band” in the world, Deep Purple were the archetypal heavy metal band, both on stage with their innovative combination of heavy metal and classical music, but also the intra-band turmoil and chaos behind the scenes.
Here are some of the Landmarks that were pivotal to those early days.
304 Holloway Road
Whilst Deep Purple have rather famously had dozens of members, two of the most critical to the band’s early career are keyboardist John Lord and guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, both of whom would establish Deep Purple’s then-unique sound.
Mr Blackmore first broke through with The Outlaws, the house band of record producer Joe Meek’s studio on Holloway Road, in 1962. He would even live in a flat nearby for several years to ensure he was close by for recording sessions.
After Joe Meek’s life ended in tragically violent circumstances caused in part by his mental health issues, Ritchie Blackmore would be invited to join a band then known as Roundabout, before becoming Deep Purple in 1967.
The building itself still exists, currently a series of flats above a Ruyam Food Centre, with a Blue Plaque commemorating the “Telstar Man” who “lived, worked and died” there.
25 Newman Street
Much like The Beatles did with Apple and Led Zeppelin did with Swan Song, Deep Purple eventually formed Purple Records in 1971, based at 25 Newman Street, now the home of a Scandinavian sports bar.
Newman Street was an ideal location for Deep Purple’s management at the time, and a lot of press releases, interviews, photography sessions and band meetings were held in this building.
When Deep Purple split up for the first time in 1976, the building became the home of the Oyster Records imprint for Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow and the Ian Gillan band, but eventually the building was sold.
Rainbow Theater
The Rainbow Theatre, now an Evangelical Church, was a fascinating former cinema that was converted into one of the most important music venues in London in the 1970s, up until 1982.
One of Queen’s most celebrated early live shows took place there, but possibly the most impactful concert to take place there was by Deep Purple on 30th June 1972.
The concert became somewhat legendary and led to a Guinness World Record for the loudest band in the world, an accolade that other bands would strive for decades later.
Handwell Community Centre
In 1969, Deep Purple formed what would become known as their most famous lineup, nicknamed Mark II by fans and the music press. However, the band was also at a crossroads.
Whilst the band performed an entire album with a philharmonic orchestra at John Lord’s request, Ritchie Blackmore wanted to move the band towards a much heavier sound, and Henwell Community Centre in Ealing was one of the few places in London that would let them be as loud as they needed to be.
The result was Deep Purple In Rock, one of their most beloved and celebrated albums, developing the sound that would be perfected on later albums such as Fireball and Machine Head.
Which Other Notable London Landmarks Are Connected To Deep Purple?
- Cadogan Gardens, South Kensington, where the original Mark I incarnation of Deep Purple started writing music together.
- Royal Albert Hall, where the group would perform Concerto for Group and Orchestra with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
- Brixton Academy, the only London stop on their huge Machine Head tour, as well as one of the last venues Ritchie Blackmore played with the band.
- 13 Second Avenue, Acton Vale, was one of the early residences of the whole band before their first tour of the United States in 1968.
- The Speakeasy, 48 Margaret Street, is a former nightclub where Deep Purple played their first concert in their Mark II incarnation.
- Gaumont State Cinema, then the biggest cinema in England, was where the Mark III incarnation of the band performed Live In London in 1974, the only officially released full UK show, and even then, it took nearly a decade.
