Deep Purple at Mohegan Sun Arena

Hard rock pioneers Deep Purple began their career in 1968 and are considered, alongside Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, to be the "unholy trinity of British hard rock and heavy metal in the early to mid-Seventies". The group began life as a prog rock band, but they embraced a heavier sound over the next few years and in 1972 at a concert at London's Rainbow Theatre they made the Guinness Book of World Records as "the globe's loudest band". Deep Purple have experienced several changes in line-up throughout their career and they embarked upon an eight year hiatus from 1976–1984, but they remain one of rock's most influential bands and they have sold over 100 million albums worldwide, including 8.5 million certified units in the US.