With enormous success across five decades, this book is centred on the band's break-through album 'Deep Purple In Rock', which proved to be a milestone in the history of rock music, influencing countless groups and musicians. It not only defined the band's new direction, but firmly established them as one of the biggest rock bands of the seventies.This book covers the build up to the album and the widespread chart success. It follows the highs of hit single Black Night, as well as the lows of riots, illness and exhaustion. Generously illustrated throughout, Jon Lord, Roger Glover and Ian Gillan have contributed to the story, as have studio personnel, former managers and others.As Ian Paice recalls: Purple should never have worked. Basically we had five egomaniacs. There was just a magical chemistry. I can't think of any other band that's been allowed that much freedom for all the members to do exactly what they wanted.