[hand] [face]
The Original Deep Purple Web Pages
The Highway Star

A matter of fact

A Matter of Fact cover; image courtesy of Wymer

Jerry Bloom of More Black Than Purple fame will be publishing his new book Deep Purple: A Matter of Fact on May 4 via Wymer Publishing. If his Blackmore’s biography is anything to go by, this is the one to look forward to.

Press release reads:

DEEP PURPLE A MATTER OF FACT is the perfect companion to Deep Purple’s music. Full of bizarre, obscure and amazing facts that have surrounded the band throughout its career of over forty years. If you have ever had disagreements with fellow fans about various facts or want to test the biggest fan on just how good their Deep Purple knowledge is, then this is the book for you.

  • How did Ian Paice and Rod Evans end up supporting Deep Purple?
  • Why did Ritchie Blackmore’s country and western guitar playing save him from a beating?
  • Why did Dire Straits’ Mark Knopfler review a Purple gig?
  • Who first recorded versions of several Deep Purple songs, complete with an orchestra?
  • Did Deep Purple’s explosive performance at Plumpton really prevent Yes from performing?
  • Who did Deep Purple sue for selling bootlegs?
  • Which big rock star did the band get in a spat with at Knebworth?
  • Why did the Bee Gees receive Purple’s lifetime achievement award?
  • What was Deep Purple’s involvement with a film about a sixteenth century naval explorer that never got produced?
  • Why were some of Deep Purple’s recent gigs illegal?

The answers to all these questions, and many more amazing facts are revealed in this captivating book, which includes a foreword by tennis legend and Purple fan Pat Cash. Based on interviews with band and road crew members, contemporary press articles, and drawing on management files, A Matter Of Fact helps to clarify the truth behind several stories. It also dispels some untruths once and for all, as well a few previously un-revealed new stories that will appeal to even the most diehard fans.

Jerry Bloom does an amazing job of collecting a collage of information and stories of the band members when they were in and out of their various bands before, during and after Purple. The stories will keep any Deep Purple fan enthralled. As anyone in showbiz will tell you there’s always a whole lot more going on than it appears. This book is not just about the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle but an insight in to the tough day to day grind of a group of amazingly talented artists all with differing personalities.

Pat Cash

The book will be available from Amazon in North America and UK, and all other major retailers.

Title: DEEP PURPLE A MATTER OF FACT
Author: Jerry Bloom
ISBN: 978-1-908724-06-9
Pages: 194
Price: £14.99
Publication date: 4 May 2015

It can also be ordered directly from the publisher’s own web store. All orders from that site will include a free colour booklet of previously unpublished Deep Purple photos (while stocks last).



16 Comments to “A matter of fact”:

  1. 1
    Sal says:

    “Black Knight” was an excellent read. Hopefully the book will complement other biographies of our beloved band.

  2. 2
    Neil Davies says:

    Who’s this Jerry character ?

  3. 3
    Héctor de San Martín says:

    Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyy !!!! When a DP book will be published in Spanish language? Many people is waiting for it …

  4. 4
    Scott W. says:

    Just when I was wondering what Mr Bloom was up to… I really miss the Blackmore mag ‘More Black Than Purple’ as I really looked forward to getting it in the mail. As I was a subcriber (sometime contributor) since the mag’s inception, a void has been left regarding Ritchie’s career since the mag is no more. I also must give the excellent ‘Black Knight’ bio a re-read!

  5. 5
    byron says:

    I can’t wait for it..
    Black knight is a fantastic book,the best bio I’ve ever read.(with Bob Daisley’s autobio)
    Jerry Bloom’s knowledge is amazing.

  6. 6
    Yvonne says:

    @ 3 – A book in Spanish is available

    Un Mundo Púrpura (Biografía completa de la Saga Purple)

    http://www.lenoir.es/deep-purple-mundo-purpura-biografia-completa-saga-purple-p-1376.html

  7. 7
    Héctor de San Martín says:

    @6 – Thanks Yvonne! I know “Un Mundo Púrpura” and is coming out another book about Made in Japan. But I meant books originally published in English translated into Spanish.

  8. 8
    Jerry says:

    Thanks for the kind comments. I try my best. 🙂

  9. 9
    Scott W. says:

    @3 I have the book “Un Mundo Púrpura (Biografía completa de la Saga Purple)” and it is massive. I do not even speak spanish but I collect ALL DP books. It is like a phone book for a large city (size wise) and worth it for the MASSIVE family tree! I contacted the author and he sent me the family tree as a print out as well and, taped end to end, it stretches out to about 50 feet long! I wish there was an english version as it is well laid out with photo sections as well.

  10. 10
    henrik says:

    Jerry, could you make it an e-book?

  11. 11
    Hadely says:

    Nice little gift for my 50th birthday

    We ll probably try to attain it through e bay or something alike.

    We , my DP family and family friends have weird experiences with trying to get a membership a few years ago.

    Several people tried to get through but to no avail.

    First I though it was me he had developed a dislike for but the other unknowns came around with the same experience.

  12. 12
    jeff says:

    Hi since Mr bloom has commented here..
    Any news on the continuation of the rainbow Deluxe editions?

  13. 13
    russ fleenor says:

    I will have to get a copy when it’s released. Ritchies bio was a superb read, just left me wanting more.

  14. 14
    Vicente Rojas says:

    To Héctor de San Martín: There are some recent DP books published in Spanish language, like you I indicate below. All very interesting. Good Luck with your purchase at the Editorial indicated.

    JOSÉ GALVÁN VILLASOL “UN MUNDO PÚRPURA (BIOGRAFÍA COMPLETA DE LA SAGA PURPLE)”. LENOIR EDICIONES ISBN 9788493816353. 2011

    JORDI BIANCIOTTO “DEEP PURPLE. LA SAGA”. QUARENTENA EDICIONES 9788415191643. 2013

    CARLOS FERNÁNDEZ “MADE IN JAPAN – EL DIRECTO QUE CAMBIÓ LA HISTORIA DEL ROCK”. QUARENTENA EDICIONES 9788416229017. 2014

  15. 15
    David Sanderson says:

    I’ll buy this. Some of this trivia might come in useful at some point! The Knebworth question? I know Meat Loaf was upset at the reception he received from the audience. For the record I thought he and his band played a decent set and the bottling was well out of order. There was a bit of a sour aftertaste (and given what some of the bottles probably contained I’m not surprised). A couple of years later he recorded ‘Rock N Roll mercenaries’ which he later revealed was an attack on DP. Also Mark Knopfler was I believe a music journalist at one time which answers another question.

  16. 16
    byron says:

    If only Jerry could do the same fantastic job with a Ken Hensley/Heep bio-matter of fact…

Add a comment:

Preview no longer available -- once you press Post, that's it. All comments are subject to moderation policy.

||||Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
© 1993-2024 The Highway Star and contributors
Posts, Calendar and Comments RSS feeds for The Highway Star