Deep Purple - Legacy

Legacy

Deep Purple are cited, along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, as pioneers of hard rock and heavy metal. The group have influenced a number of rock bands, including Metallica, Queen, Aerosmith, Van Halen, Alice in Chains, Pantera, Bon Jovi, Rush, Motörhead, as well as many New Wave of British Heavy Metal bands such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Def Leppard. Iron Maiden's bassist and primary songwriter, Steve Harris, states that the band's "heaviness" was inspired by "Black Sabbath and Deep Purple with a bit of Zeppelin thrown in." Lead vocalist of Def Leppard, Joe Elliot, has stated, "In 1971, there were only three bands that mattered, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Deep Purple." In 2000, Deep Purple were ranked number 22 on VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock" programme. In 2011, they received the Innovator Award at the 2011 Classic Rock Awards in London. A Rolling Stone readers' poll in 2012 ranked Made in Japan the sixth best live album of all time.

As of October 2012, Deep Purple are nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. There have been criticisms in the past over Deep Purple not having already been inducted. Toto guitarist Steve Lukather commented, "they put Patti Smith in there but not Deep Purple? What's the first song every kid learns how to play? ...And they're not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? ...the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has lost its cool because of the glaring omissions." Former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash expressed his surprise and disagreement for the non-induction of Deep Purple; "The list of people who haven’t even been nominated is mind-boggling..(the) big one for me is Deep Purple. How could you not induct Deep Purple?". When asked what band he'd like to see inducted into the Rock Hall, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich lobbied for Deep Purple.