Deep Purple fans are buzzing with excitement after discovering the fascinating origin story behind one of the band’s most iconic tracks, “Highway Star.” This legendary song isn’t just a staple of classic rock; it’s a prime example of spontaneous creativity at its best.
Hailing from London, Deep Purple is celebrated as part of the “unholy trinity†of British hard rock in the ’70s, alongside titans like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. Formed in 1969, the band has experienced multiple lineup changes, but it’s the “Mark II†configuration that truly defined their sound. This lineup, featuring the unforgettable talents of Jon Lord, Roger Glover, Ian Gillan, Ritchie Blackmore, and Ian Paice, produced four groundbreaking studio albums that continue to resonate with fans.
Among these staples is the 1972 classic, Machine Head, which kicks off with the exhilarating track, “Highway Star.” Renowned for its relentless energy, Ultimate Classic Rock has even said it’s “possibly the best summation of everything that was great about the best Deep Purple songs.†The performance showcases each member “on top of their game,” making its creation story even more intriguing.
What’s particularly enthralling is how “Highway Star” came to life. As recounted by Rock Reflections, the song was conceived on a tour bus en route to Portsmouth in 1971. During an interview, when asked about their songwriting process, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore began to riff on an acoustic guitar, playing a repetitive ‘G’ note. Vocalist Ian Gillan jumped in, improvising lyrics, and just like that, the magic happened.
Blackmore’s blistering guitar solo was later recognized as #15 on Guitar World Magazine’s list of the 100 greatest guitar solos in 2008. In a candid moment with the magazine, he expressed his intention to make it sound like “someone driving in a fast car.†This level of artistry captured the imagination of fans around the world.
Recently, a Deep Purple enthusiast shared this enchanting piece of trivia on Reddit, prompting a wave of admiration from fellow music lovers. “[Today I learned] that Deep Purple wrote one of their best-known songs, Highway Star, on the spot during an interview on their tour bus,” the user posted.
TIL that Deep Purple wrote one of their best-known songs, “Highway Star”, on the spot during an interview on their tour bus. A journalist asked Ritchie Blackmore how the band wrote songs. So they started jamming, came up with the song and performed it live for the first time that very night.
byu/capribex intodayilearned
The story captivated audiences, and fans responded with amazement. One remarked, “When your on-the-spot is better than most bands’ whole careers.†Another chimed in, recognizing the unpredictable spark of creativit“There’s talent and then there’s ‘we can’t even fake being bad.’†Many agreed Jon Lord’s contributions on the keyboard were particularly outstanding, with one fan proclaiming it could be their favorite Deep Purple song, despite never knowing its creation tale.
The whole Machine Head album is cherished as a masterpiece, and it appears that spontaneity continues to fuel Deep Purple’s legacy. One commenter even drew a comparison to Black Sabbath, noting how they wrote “Paranoid” under similar pressures from their label executives, highlighting that sometimes great art emerges from unexpected moments.