who was the original lead singer for deep purple
Deep Purple In March 1968, Lord, Blackmore, Simper and Woodman moved into Deeves Hall, a country house in South Mimms, Hertfordshire.[24][25] The band would live, write and rehearse at Deeves Hall, which was fully kitted out with the latest Marshall amplification.[26] According to Simper, "dozens" of singers were auditioned (including Rod Stewart and Woodman's friend Dave Curtiss)[19]until the group heard Rod Evans of the club band The Maze, and thought his voice fit their style well. Tagging along with Evans was his band's drummer, Ian Paice. Blackmore had seen Paice on tour with The Maze in Germany in 1966, and had been impressed by the 18-year-old's drumming. The band hastily arranged an audition for Paice, given that Woodman was vocally unhappy with the direction of the band's music.[21] Both Paice and Evans won their respective jobs, and the line-up was complete.[27]