In 2024, Deep Purple celebrated the fortieth anniversary of its 1984 reunion by releasing the hugely successful =1. 

 

This book chronicles the band's sometimes bizarre post-reunion story through its music and, to an extent, touring. Neither was always completely successful, as the band seemed to be either searching for synergy in their sound or for a commercial product that didn't sacrifice artistic integrity. The lyrics are especially valuable as they reveal the hardship of the road and insights into the band's own growing frustrations with society. 

 

This late phase of Deep Purple’s development makes for a fascinating tale of a band that didn’t just resurface but wrote a whole new story for a new audience. 

   

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Phil Kafcaloudes is an author and journalist who was an arts editor at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, reviewing music, theatre and film. He presented the ABC’s international breakfast program for nine years, interviewing James Bonds and rock stars as well as presidents and prime ministers. In 2011, his novel Someone Else’s War was published in Australasia and translated into Greek for Europe. His adaptation of the novel was shortlisted for the Cooper Prize for Playwriting and had its first public performance in 2024. He plays drums and bass, although not nearly as well as the people he writes about.