Deep Purple ( B22 )

Former members

• Jon Lord – keyboards, backing vocals, string arrangements (1968–1976, 1984–2002; died 2012)
• Nick Simper – bass guitar, backing vocals (1968–1969)
• Ritchie Blackmore – guitar (1968–1975, 1984–1993)
• Rod Evans – lead vocals (1968–1969)
• Glenn Hughes – bass guitar, vocals (1973–1976)
• David Coverdale – lead vocals (1973–1976)
• Tommy Bolin – guitar, backing vocals (1975–1976; died 1976)
• Joe Lynn Turner – lead vocals (1989–1992)
• Joe Satriani – guitar (touring member 1993–1994)
• Nick Fyffe – bass guitar (touring member 2011)

Concert tours

Deep Purple are considered to be one of the hardest touring bands in the world. From 1968 until today (with the exception of their 1976–1984 split) they continue to tour around the world. In 2007, the band received a special award for selling more than 150,000 tickets in France, with 40 dates in the country in 2007 alone. Also in 2007, Deep Purple's Rapture of the Deep tour was voted number 6 concert tour of the year (in all music genres) by Planet Rock listeners. The Rolling Stones' A Bigger Bang tour was voted number 5 and beat Purple's tour by only 1%. Deep Purple released a new live compilation DVD box, Around the World Live, in May 2008. In February 2008, the band made their first ever appearance at the Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia at the personal request of Dmitry Medvedev who at the time was considered a shoo-in for the seat of the Presidency of Russia. Prior to that, Deep Purple has toured Russia several times starting as early as 1996, but has not been considered to have played such a significant venue previously. The band was part of the entertainment for the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2009 in Liberec, Czech Republic.

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