Deep Purple – Smoke On The Water

Introduction:

Deep Purple’s iconic song “Smoke on the Water” originated from a dramatic event in Montreux, Switzerland, in 1971. The band had traveled there to record their sixth album, Machine Head, at the Montreux Casino. During a performance by Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention, an audience member fired a flare gun at the casino ceiling, sparking a massive fire that quickly consumed the building. The band watched the scene unfold from across Lake Geneva, witnessing smoke rising above the water—an image that would eventually become the song’s unforgettable title and central lyric.

Forced to change recording locations, Deep Purple set up a makeshift studio in the nearby Grand Hotel, using The Rolling Stones’ mobile recording unit to complete the album. The song’s riff, created by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, is one of rock’s most recognizable. Combined with bassist Roger Glover’s title suggestion and lyrics by Ian Gillan, the song recounts the fire’s events, honoring Montreux’s Claude Nobs, who helped evacuate people from the burning casino.

Although initially released in 1972 as part of Machine Head, “Smoke on the Water” wasn’t issued as a single in the U.S. until 1973, when it reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Today, it remains a rock anthem and is commemorated by a plaque at Montreux. The song not only embodies Deep Purple’s raw sound but also serves as a musical narrative of an unforgettable moment in rock history

Video:

https://youtu.be/F7ZF2xaNhyw?si=xJAk68T7Nv78h6B7

Deep Purple – Smoke On The Water (Live) (https://youtu.be/F7ZF2xaNhyw?si=xJAk68T7Nv78h6B7)

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