Lazy

Hey there, Zoo Freaks, it’s your groovy Zoo Crew spinning the righteous vibes of “Lazy” by Deep Purple from their iconic 1972 album Machine Head! This track is a seven-minute-plus jam that kicks off with a killer instrumental, featuring Jon Lord’s overdriven Hammond organ and Ritchie Blackmore’s searing guitar riffs. The song’s got that lazy, bluesy swagger, with Ian Gillan’s vocals and harmonica sliding in after a four-minute instrumental buildup—talk about taking it easy! Trivia time: the live version on Made in Japan stretches past 10 minutes and includes Blackmore weaving in a bit of Hugo Alfvén’s “Swedish Rhapsody #1” during his solo, while Lord tosses in a riff from C Jam Blues. Guitar nerds, listen up—Guitar Player magazine’s Jesse Gress pointed out that Blackmore’s bluesy riff in “Lazy” echoes Eric Clapton’s “Steppin’ Out” from his Bluesbreakers days, giving it that sweet swing-sixteenth G blues vibe.

Here’s a cool story from the Roger Glover archives: when Deep Purple recorded Machine Head in Montreux, Switzerland, they were set to use the Montreux Casino with the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio. But, as told in “Smoke on the Water,” a fan fired a flare gun during a Frank Zappa show, burning the place down! The band scrambled, eventually recording in the chilly, empty Grand Hotel, where they stuffed mattresses against the walls for soundproofing. Songfacts notes that “Lazy” was a group effort by the Mark II lineup, and its loose, improvisational feel made it a live staple, often extended for maximum freak-out. Blackmore’s guitar solo was so epic it landed at #75 on Guitar World’s all-time solo list in 1997. Oh, and dig this—some fans on Reddit call “Lazy” underrated, with one user saying it’s their fave on the album for that long, lazy intro and Gillan’s cheeky “just stay in bed” lyrics.

Let’s rewind to how Deep Purple got rolling. Formed in London in 1968, they started as a psychedelic and progressive rock outfit, but by 1970’s Deep Purple in Rock, they’d cranked up the heavy, helping pioneer hard rock and heavy metal alongside Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. The band’s origin story begins with drummer Chris Curtis pitching a “supergroup” called Roundabout to businessman Tony Edwards, envisioning a revolving lineup like a musical carousel. Edwards, with partners John Coletta and Ron Hire, bankrolled the project, and after some early lineup shifts, the classic Mark II crew—Blackmore, Gillan, Glover, Lord, and Ian Paice—locked in by 1969. Their big break came with 1970’s In Rock, which smashed charts and set the stage for Machine Head’s monster success. Known for their blistering live shows, they once held the Guinness record as the world’s loudest band in 1972 at London’s Rainbow Theatre. Over the decades, they’ve sold over 100 million records and spawned offshoots like Rainbow and Whitesnake.

Want to keep up with Deep Purple? Check their official site at deeppurple.com for tour dates and news on their 2024 album =1. They’re active on Facebook, Instagram, and X, sharing throwbacks and updates. For Zoo Freaks who can’t get enough, dive into fan communities like The Highway Star, a killer fan site with news and forums, or join the Deep Purple Fans group on Facebook to connect with fellow heads. Now, crank up “Lazy,” stay in bed, and keep it groovy, Zoo Crew style!