Much can be said about Deep Purple. To begin they are a legendary band in the history of rock & roll. Just the name Deep Purple is known all over the world and to a great age span of people. Very few people have never heard "Smoke on The Water." Who hasn't heard that song. It is even programed into electric keyboards. Deep Purple is a name that all rockers of all ages know and will always know. Deep Purple just has songs and music that have set some of the basic standards for not only rock & roll but for the evolution of heavy metal and other offsprings of rock music. As far as I'm concerned they even have one of the top live albums ever made "Live in Japan." If you love the electric guitar then you must know who Ritchie Blackmore is. If instead you like the Hammond keyboard then you know who John Lord is. Drums? What drummer doesn't know of Ian Paice. Voice? Ian Gillan, not only the voice of Deep Purple but also of the famed movie "Jesus Christ Superstar." Lyrics and bass? Roger Glover is the man. These are names that have made history and will always be not only the history of Deep Purple but of rock & roll music for ever!

The has had such a strong influence in rock & roll that even through its difficult times of fighting and breaking up the band kept on surviving through the years with great replacements like Ronnie James Dio, Glen Hughes, Joe Satriani, and so on. The greatness of Deep Purple is it just can't die, and other musicians would give and arm and a leg to keep it going. And so has it been.

I was fortunate to get involved with Deep Purple after photographing a drum clinic held by Ian Paice. I was the official photographer of the event and therefore had to communicate with Ian. Ian Paice and I hit it off immediately while we were sitting down in an Italian bar downing some beers and sharing our stories. He gave me "cart blanc" and has always invited me to every concert he has had in Italy with Deep Purple and in his clinics. Therefore, I have had the opportunity to meet the entire band, be back stage with them, attend their VIP parties, and photographic entire concerts of Deep Purple when no other photographer is allowed to do so. I am fortunate and honored to have had this opportunity and to have been giving permission by the band and its manager to be considered their private photographer. Deep Purple is one of my favorite rock groups and they are a must in my rock & roll repetuor!