List of Deep Purple members

(left to right) Nick Simper (top), Ritchie Blackmore (bottom), Ian Paice, Jon Lord and Rod Evans

(left to right) Jon Lord, Roger Glover, Ian Gillan, Ritchie Blackmore and Ian Paice

(left to right) Glenn Hughes, David Coverdale (top), Tommy Bolin (bottom), Ian Paice and Jon Lord

(left to right) Ian Paice, Roger Glover, Steve Morse, Don Airey and Ian Gillan

(left to right) Roger Glover, Ian Paice, Ian Gillan, Don Airey and Simon McBride

Deep Purple, from top to bottom, in 1968 (Mark I), 1970 (Mark II), 1976 (Mark IV), 2013 (Mark VIII) and 2022 (Mark IX).

Deep Purple are a British hard rock band originally from Hertford. Formed in March 1968, the group originally included vocalist Rod Evans, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, bassist Nick Simper, keyboardist Jon Lord and drummer Ian Paice ("Mark I"). In mid-1969, Evans and Simper were replaced by Ian Gillan and Roger Glover ("Mark II"). After four years, Gillan and Glover departed by the end of 1973, replaced by David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes ("Mark III"). Tommy Bolin replaced Blackmore in 1975 ("Mark IV"), with this lineup continuing until Deep Purple broke up in July 1976. The group reformed in April 1984 with the "Mark II" lineup of Blackmore, Lord, Paice, Gillan and Glover. The current lineup, dubbed "Mark IX", features Paice, Gillan, Glover, guitarist Simon McBride and keyboardist Don Airey.