Deep Purple have had several line-up changes and were broken up for eight years from 1976 to 1984, with drummer Ian Paice being the band's only constant member. The first four line-ups, which constituted the band's original 1968–1976 run, are officially indicated as Mark I (1968–1969), Mark II (1969–1973), Mark III (1973–1975) and Mark IV (1975–1976). Mark I comprised the founding members of Deep Purple, Ritchie Blackmore (guitar), Rod Evans (vocals), Jon Lord (keyboards), Paice (drums) and Nick Simper (bass), while Mark II was the most commercially successful line-up, with Ian Gillan and Roger Glover replacing Evans and Simper respectively. Mark III saw David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes replace Gillan and Glover respectively, while Mark IV featured Tommy Bolin replacing Blackmore. The band split in July 1976 and Bolin died from a drug overdose five months later. In 1984, Deep Purple reformed with the Mark II line-up, which remained in place until Joe Lynn Turner replaced Gillan in 1989. Gillan rejoined in 1992, with Blackmore leaving for the second and final time the following year. He was replaced temporarily by Joe Satriani and then permanently by Steve Morse. In 2002 Don Airey replaced Jon Lord, which saw Deep Purple settle into its longest running line-up, unchanged for the next twenty years, until Morse announced his departure from the band in 2022. His place was taken by Simon McBride. Paice, Glover, Gillan, Airey and McBride comprise the current line-up of Deep Purple.
Deep Purple were ranked number 22 on VH1's Greatest Artists of Hard Rock programme] and a poll on radio station Planet Rock ranked them 5th among the "most influential bands ever". The band received the Legend Award at the 2008 World Music Awards. Deep Purple (specifically Blackmore, Lord, Paice, Gillan, Glover, Coverdale, Evans, and Hughes) were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.
Junkyard Blues
Deep Purple Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Making one last appearance in a heap of old cars
Brambles and weeds flourishing amongst
Lines of empty bottles and rambling drunks
Junkyard blues sounds familiar
I'm never alone
Always remind me of home
Once of a dozen covered with stains
Blistered and stinking was all that remained
Cannibalized machines, mysterious bones
Unwanted contents of anonymous homes
Those junkyard blues sounds familiar
Take me back
Always remind me of home
Mangy old dog scratching in the dust
Burned out Mercedes surrendering to rust
All this stuff was good for something
But here it is now, good for nothing
Junkyard blues sounds familiar
I'm never alone
Always remind me of home
The song "Junkyard Blues" by Deep Purple speaks about a dismal place filled with broken down cars, empty bottles, and wandering drunkards. The junkyard is a place where broken relationships and abandoned possessions are left. The lyrics describe the surroundings as crawlers, and one can visualize the neglected machines and rotten objects strewn across the yard. While the view is nothing but depressing, it invokes a sense of nostalgia within the singer. He identifies with the junkyard, as it reminds him of his roots and where he comes from. He finds solace in the familiarity of the space, and this seems to bring him peace.
The chorus is particularly poignant, indicating how the harmonious melancholia of the space serves as a kind of comfort. It is a place of significance for the singer, and he embraces it wholeheartedly. Furthermore, the lyrics indicate that even though these broken-down things have lost their usefulness, they still have a purpose in reminding the singer of their home.
Overall, "Junkyard Blues" is a testament to the power of connection between people, spaces, and inanimate objects. It is a reminder of the happy memories we hold on to and the importance of recognizing the significance of the things that may seem trivial.
Line by Line Meaning
Broken down relations, beaten up guitars
Families and friends no longer connected or functional, and their instruments of expression, also beaten up and old
Making one last appearance in a heap of old cars
Individuals attempting to salvage one last chance among a pile of abandonments
Brambles and weeds flourishing amongst
Nature reasserting itself among the products of human disregard
Lines of empty bottles and rambling drunks
Signs of neglect and despair among those who sought solace or escape among the discarded items
Junkyard blues sounds familiar
The feeling of hopelessness and being discarded is a common one
I'm never alone
Others have also fallen into the same situation
Always remind me of home
The familiarity of the surroundings offer comfort no matter how bleak
Once of a dozen covered with stains
One of many similar items, but marked by signs of heavy use
Blistered and stinking was all that remained
Worn out and smelling of rot, with no viable purpose left
Cannibalized machines, mysterious bones
Pieces of the machines scavenged for recycling, along with unidentified remains
Unwanted contents of anonymous homes
Leftovers of those who have left or died, without anyone to claim their belongings
Take me back
The familiarity of the surroundings offer comfort as a reminder of where they came from
Mangy old dog scratching in the dust
A neglected and abandoned animal searching for food or companionship
Burned out Mercedes surrendering to rust
A once prestigious item, now left to decay
All this stuff was good for something
The items, now discarded, served a purpose or held value at one point
But here it is now, good for nothing
Without a useful function, the items now simply take up space in the junkyard
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Don Airey, Ian Gillan, Ian Anderson Paice, Roger David Glover, Steven J. Morse
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ольга к
Красивый блюз! Шикарный вокал! Gillan FOREVER!!!!!
majk2006
It has one of the best solos in the entire Deep Purple discography.
Rodrigo Rodrigues
mito bom esse som from the sky
Martymus
Don Airey is God of Organ!
João Belo
Deep Purple are coming to Portugal in 14th of july and im going to see them ^^
João Belo
@Steve Christie they were amazing, I was really close to the stage. A friend of mine managed to catch a Morse's pick. Being a good friend and knowing I play guitar, he gave it to me. It was a very memorable day
Steve Christie
How were they?
chito valite
Sounds like Perfect Strangers,awesome album.
Maciste
U re drunk. Perfect strangers was a solid album 1985. This album was totally a flop 2006.....alot of uninspired songs
lw48wp4
@ragnaros9 Deep Purple are coming to Germany at 15th of July and I'm going to see them!^^