Deep Purple: Fire in the Sky

Book excerpt: These days Deep Purple's 'Smoke on the Water' is such a ubiquitous rock anthem that it almost seems as if it's been out there forever. Yet the story of how this most famous of metal tracks came into being is shot-through with chance incidents, any one of which could have seen the recording stifled at birth, leaving music writers to scrabble about for another "best riff of all time" contender (and five hard-working musicians considerably less well-off.) Fire in the Sky looks in detail at this crucial period in Deep Purple's history and the making of their break-through album 'Machine Head'. The basic fact that a fire destroyed the Montreux Casino during a Frank Zappa concert is well known to most music fans, leaving Deep Purple to find somewhere else to record, but this book brings much new information to light. And although 'Smoke On The Water' was laid down while the Swiss Police hammered at the door of a roller skating rink, the band were then forced to move again, ending up at the Grand Hotel where they built a studio in the corridors using old mattresses and egg cartons for sound-proofing. In the chaos, 'Smoke on the Water' was almost forgotten. The band only roughed it out as something to play to their Montreux host, Jazz festival organiser Claude Nobs, who told them it was far too good to leave in the can. This book looks back at the events which led up to Deep Purple's bizarre and Heath Robinson-esque 'Machine Head' recording sessions in the winter of 1971. And as for that "hit to be"; 'Smoke On The Water' was not even tried out on stage, and might never have been played live at all were it not for a request from the BBC for a radio session. It went on to sell 12 million copies when issued as a single in 1973 and is probably the only record to ever generate a gold disc presented to a city. And yes, there really is a music shop in London which threatens to fine budding guitarists should they dare to try out the riff in-store. And in these times of economic hardship, isn't it inspiring to know that punitive tax rates back home were responsible for Deep Purple being in Montreux in the first place? The book moves on through 1972 and takes in the subsequent debilitating American tours where 'Machine Head' quickly became a massive selling album, even as the relentless gigging pulled Deep Purple apart. Memorabilia and many rare and unseen photographs illustrate the story, including remarkable images of the Casino fire and aftermath, and Ian Gillan with his notepad writing the lyrics to 'Smoke On The Water' in the studio. Members of the band have spoken, as well as associated crew and studio staff. The music and gigs are covered while appendices include tour dates and a discography, as well as a map showing the sites connected with the recordings. Several myths are also laid to rest: Many fans trekking to Montreux visit the wrong Grand Hotel altogether, while down the road the wealthy owners of luxury apartments sit blithely unaware of the musical history made in their living rooms. During research for this book the authors revisited the site of the recordings in Montreux with bass player Roger Glover to gain a unique insight into the album's history. As a result of this visit locals are preparing a heritage plaque to mark the site.