Rock legends Deep Purple have announced they are going back on tour after splitting 42 years ago.
The seventies group, who have rock hits Smoke On The Water and Black Night, were one of Britain’s most influential bands with a staggering 100million records sold worldwide.
The band are now set to return to the stage with their 1 More Time Tour, supported by 90s indie-rockers Reef.
Deep Purple became one of the most innovative groups in rock history after shifting their sound from a progressive rock to a heavier metal sound in the form of their seminal 1970 album Deep Purple in Rock.
The group were once listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as ‘the globe’s loudest band’ following a concert at London’s Rainbow Theatre.
Rock legends Deep Purple have announced they are going back on tour after splitting 42 years ago (pictured in 2023)
The seventies group were one of Britain’s most influential bands with a staggering 100million records sold worldwide (pictured in 1975)
The Hertford-formed group are referred to as the ‘unholy trinity’ of British hard rock and heavy metal, alongside fellow hard rock giants Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath.
Since first appearing in the music industry almost 60 years ago, the popular band have been through a number of highs and lows as well as line-up changes.
The one-time lead guitarist for the Deep Purple, Tommy Bolin, died of a drug overdose in a Miami hotel room in December 1976 at the age of 25.
Eight years later in April 2018, the band made a triumphant return with their eleventh album Perfect Strangers, which became one of their most successful records.
Current group members are Ian Gillian, 78, Ian Paice, 75, Roger Glover, 78, Don Airey, 75 and Simon McBride, 44.
In 2016, the group received their long awaited honour into the prestigious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The success for the group still continues, with their last album 2020’s Whoosh! becoming their highest charting album in 46 years, peaking at number 4 in the UK Album Charts.
The multi-platinum rock act have been touring consistently since the 1960s, and will be returning to the UK later this year.
The band are now set to return to the stage with their 1 More Time Tour, supported by 90s indie-rockers Reef
Their first stop in the UK will be at Birmingham’s Resorts World Arena on November 4, followed by London’s 02 Arena on November 6t, Leed’s First Direct Arena on November 7 and Manchester’s AO Arena November 9.
The group will be completing their UK leg of the tour on November 10 at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro.
Ahead of performing in the UK, the band will take to the stage in Munich, Brussels, Amsterdam, Luxemburg and Paris.
02 Priority and Three Venue Presales will go on sale on March 21 at 10am. General sale tickets go on sale March 22 at 10am.
Current group members are Ian Gillian, 78, Ian Paice, 75, Roger Glover, 78, Don Airey, 75 and Simon McBride, 44 (pictured (L-R) Ian Gillan, Ian Paice and Roger Glover in 2023)
