You can follow Deep Purple on their Facebook page here, or visit their website for band news and information. near the ending of Smoke on the Water at a March 1972 concert recorded for the BBC, available on the excellent EMI 2CD set Deep Purple in Concert. Here they are, Ian Gillan, Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, Roger Glover, and Ian Paice aka Deep Purple, singing their ultra classic hit “Smoke on the Water” LIVE in New York in 1973. In fact, according to the interview on the video with Lord, the band thought their single “Never Before” was the hit, and their American record producers insisted it was “Smoke on the Water.” In 2004, the song was ranked number 434 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest songs of all time, and was listed as number 4 in Total Guitar magazine’s Greatest Guitar Riffs Ever. The author with Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan. “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple was released in May 1973 and was off their successful 1972 album Machine Head. Story behind Deep Purples Smoke on the Water On December 4, 1971, one of the greatest rock bands in the world, created a classic out of fire. There’s also a nice little interview with the band’s keyboard player, the late Jon Lord, at the beginning and end of the video, who seems truly baffled at why people keep asking him more than 30 years after “Smoke on the Water” was released what the song’s about? Really? In the end he simply says he tells people, “If you want to know the story, listen to the words.” (Probably not, but still looks like it.) And it’s just five guys and their instruments: no light show, no pyrotechnics, no outrageous costumes or makeup and no back-up dancers. What strikes me as I watched this video several times is, well, first off it looks like they’re playing in a high school auditorium. We found a great video from 1973 when the band played in New York. On the other hand, how often have to seen it performed LIVE by the band, back in the day? Not as often? There, I said it! Seems like it’s on about once an hour, more often at peak drive times. Who fired the flare gun smoke on the water Is Smoke on the water a true story What year did Deep Purple Release Smoke on the Water How many lead singers. Let’s say this right off the top: “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple is probably the most overplayed song on classic rock radio.