Burn (Deep Purple album)

Burn is the eighth studio album by English rock band Deep Purple, released on 15 February 1974, by Purple Records internationally, and Warner Bros. Records in North America. The album first features then-unknown lead singer David Coverdale. The group's Mark III line-up for their recording debut included Coverdale, Glenn Hughes) (joining from Trapeze)) on bass and vocals, Ritchie Blackmore on guitar, Jon Lord on keyboards, and Ian Paice on drums.

Background

In the early 1970s, Deep Purple was the best-selling group in the world, particularly in North America. Their 1973 album Who Do We Think We Are was commercially successful, though the tour supporting it was cut short. Tensions between then-lead singer Ian Gillan and guitarist Ritchie Blackmore escalated, resulting in Gillan leaving the group on 29 June 1973 in Osaka, Japan, after their tour had concluded. Gillan described the Who Do We Think We Are recording sessions as elusive, prompting him to announce he was leaving the band. At the time, they were able to dissuade him from quitting. However, in early December 1972, he wrote management a letter declaring that he wanted to leave on 30 June 1973; the decision was made "not impulsive[ly] but [after] at least six months of thought". Gillan also predicted in his letter that the group would eventually disband after his departure. Bassist Roger Glover had also planned to leave the band due to the band's refusal to consider his ideas for songs. Blackmore insisted that Glover go at the same time Gillan departed. Glover recalled his talk with the band's manager shortly about his departure, writing:

Background

“My relationship with the band was changing. I was doing my work properly, playing well, yet I got this coldness, I finally confronted the manager about it and he denied everything. I wanted to know why I was unpopular. When we came offstage in those days the decision to do an encore wasn't just Ritchie's, it was everyone's. All of a sudden I wasn't involved anymore. The manager finally told me that Ritchie had said he would stay in Deep Purple if I left and I said, "What have I done?" He said it was nothing personal but Ritchie feels the band has become stagnant and he wants new blood in the band. I was really hurt by it and thought it was totally unfair. I said, "I'm not going to get pushed out. I'll leave."

Burn (Deep Purple album)