The Road of Golden Dust

Book excerpt: A comprehensive story of Deep Purple's golden years 1968-76, which saw the band come from nowhere to have a top 4 US hit with its debut single. Within two years the band was in the throes of potentially dissolving when the record company went into liquidation. Fortunately, focussing on their homeland in Britain, in 1970 they re-launched their career with the groundbreaking In Rock LP - the platform that ensured by 1973 Deep Purple was the biggest selling album artists in America. Band break-ups and in-fighting continually rocked the boat before finally calling it a day in 1976 after a brief UK tour. The Road of Golden Dust documents the ups and downs, drawing on the author's interviews with various band and road crew members including founding members Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord and Nick Simper, as well as interviews with Roger Glover, Glenn Hughes, roadie Ian Hansford and tour manager Colin Hart. Co-operation from the management company Deep Purple (Overseas) Ltd, including access to previously unpublished interviews, all help to unveil new stories that help to explain the whys and wherefores that shaped one of the greatest and most influential rock bands of all time.