From their progressive roots with The Book of Taliesyn, to the classic albums In Rock, Fireball, Machine Head, and Made in Japan, Deep Purple epitomized the sound of hard rock for a whole generation. Michael Heatley's account of one of the bestselling British rock acts of all time looks in detail at every album of the band's original incarnation, from Shades of Deep Purple to Come Taste the Band and Made in Europe. Heatley also covers the recording sessions and the tours, the comings and goings of band personnel, the feuds between Ritchie Blackmore and Ian Gillan, and the final break-up. The career of each band member after the split is also covered (Whitesnake, Rainbow, and more), as well as what may lie in the future for Deep Purple and their fans.