Deep Purple - Highway Star Apr 2026

The song contains two of rock's most celebrated solos. Both Jon Lord’s organ solo and Blackmore’s guitar solo are heavily influenced by Johann Sebastian Bach , utilizing harmonic minor scales and arpeggios that were revolutionary for rock music at the time.

It was reportedly written on a tour bus in 1971 while the band was traveling to Portsmouth. When a journalist asked guitarist Ritchie Blackmore how they composed music, he began riffing on an acoustic guitar, the band joined in, and the skeleton of the song was finished by the end of the journey. Deep Purple - Highway Star

Ian Gillan’s performance is noted for its range and "vocal belting," even though he was reportedly recovering from bronchitis during some recording sessions. 3. Notable Versions & Legacy Significance Studio Original Machine Head (1972) The definitive, fastest studio track on the album. Live in Japan Made in Japan (1972) The song contains two of rock's most celebrated solos

Recorded in Osaka; often cited as the superior version for its raw energy. TV Broadcast (1971) When a journalist asked guitarist Ritchie Blackmore how