Mary Long

Zoo Freaks, get ready for some wild vibes as we spin "Mary Long" by Deep Purple from their 1973 album Who Do We Think We Are! This track is a fiery protest song aimed at British censorship figures Mary Whitehouse and Lord Longford, who were pushing moral standards in the early '70s. Bassist Roger Glover shared in a 2019 podcast interview that the band was fed up with these "pro-censorship" crusaders, whose names inspired the song's title as a cheeky mash-up. Vocalist Ian Gillan, who penned the lyrics with Glover, leaned into impressionistic wordplay, avoiding direct political preaching. He noted in a 2020 Louder interview that the song captured the hypocrisy he saw in figures like Whitehouse, especially when tabloids announced her pregnancy, prompting the sly line, "We really didn’t know you’d had it in you."

The song’s raw energy came from a tense time for the band. Recorded during sessions in Rome and Frankfurt in 1972, the Who Do We Think We Are album was born amid internal strife, particularly between Gillan and guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. Glover recalled in the same 2019 podcast that the band was exhausted from 18 months of touring, and Blackmore often skipped sessions or withheld riffs for his solo projects. Despite this, "Mary Long" stood out with its biting lyrics and bluesy edge, though it was the only track from the album performed live during their 1973 tour. Fun fact: the song’s chorus, asking "How did you lose your virginity, Mary Long?" raised eyebrows in the U.S., where such lyrics were bold for radio play, as noted in a 2002 review on Encyclopaedia Metallum.

Deep Purple kicked off their legendary journey in Hertford, England, in 1968, starting as a psychedelic and progressive rock outfit named Roundabout. The original lineup featured guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, drummer Ian Paice, keyboardist Jon Lord, bassist Nick Simper, and vocalist Rod Evans. Their debut album, Shades of Deep Purple, scored a U.S. Top Five hit with a cover of Joe South’s "Hush," but it wasn’t until 1969, when Gillan and Glover joined from Episode Six, that the band’s heavier sound took shape. This Mark II lineup, cemented with 1970’s Deep Purple in Rock, helped define hard rock and heavy metal alongside bands like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, earning them the title of the "unholy trinity" of British rock in the early '70s.

The band’s evolution wasn’t smooth—lineup changes and internal clashes, like those during the Who Do We Think We Are sessions, led to Gillan and Glover’s departure in 1973. Yet, Deep Purple has sold over 100 million records worldwide, with iconic albums like Machine Head and Made in Japan cementing their legacy. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016 and continue to tour and release music, with their latest album Whoosh! dropping in 2020. Connect with the band on their Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts for the latest updates.

For Zoo Freaks who can’t get enough, dive into the vibrant fan community! Check out Deep Purple Wiki for detailed discographies and history. Join discussions on the Deep Purple Fans Facebook Group, where enthusiasts share rare photos, concert stories, and trivia. Another great spot is The Highway Star, a fan-run site packed with news, tour dates, and archival gems. Keep rocking, Zoo Crew, and let’s keep the Deep Purple spirit alive!