Deep Purple in Graz: a new guitarist in a band that keeps going

In summer 2023 Deep Purple played Graz on their European tour. It was a chance to see the line-up with their newest member, guitarist Simon McBride, who joined in 2022. Photos from the show are in the Deep Purple gallery.

A band from 1968

Deep Purple formed in Hertford, England, in 1968. With singer Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover joining in 1969, they recorded the albums that made their name: Deep Purple in Rock, Fireball and above all Machine Head in 1972.

Machine Head gave the world "Smoke on the Water", a song about a real fire. In December 1971 the casino in Montreux burned down during a Frank Zappa concert, the night before Deep Purple were due to record there. The band watched the smoke drift over Lake Geneva and wrote it into rock history.

Who is in the band now

Drummer Ian Paice is the only member who has played in every line-up since 1968. Ian Gillan and Roger Glover are still there, and keyboard player Don Airey has filled the late Jon Lord's role since 2002. Steve Morse played guitar for almost three decades before stepping back in 2022 to care for his wife.

His successor, Simon McBride from Northern Ireland, first stood in for him on tour and was confirmed as a permanent member in September 2022. He had played with Don Airey and in Ian Gillan's solo band before, so he was hardly a stranger.

Still touring

A band with members in their seventies could easily retire on its catalogue. Deep Purple keep recording and touring instead, and a guitarist a generation younger has given the old songs fresh energy on stage.

Graz

Austria's second city has a long relationship with big rock tours, sitting between Vienna, Ljubljana and Zagreb. For fans across the region it was one of the closest dates of the summer.

See the Deep Purple photos from Graz, or browse all concert galleries.