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When Roger Glover learned that he was due to be removed from Deep Purple, he reacted by handing in his resignation, leaving (along with singer Ian Gillan) after a show in Osaka on June 29th 1973, and bringing to an end the most successful period in Deep Purple’s history.
His connections with Purple’s managers remained and they asked him to write music for a musical version of The Butterfly Ball, Alan Aldridge’s classic 1970s illustrated book. This resulted in a major European hit single ‘Love Is All’ (sung by Ronnie James Dio, still with Purple Records label act Elf) but plans for a fully animated movie got no further than a promo film for the single. There was one live performance (at the Albert Hall in October 1975), which was filmed (but disowned by all when it was spliced with poor live action sequences). The show was notable for a large gathering of “Purple family” guests; Coverdale, Glover, Hughes, Lord and Gillan all taking part. It was Gillan and Glover’s first live gig since leaving Deep Purple. Glover was then asked to produce the first Ian Gillan Band album ‘Child In Time’ and almost joined the band but decided against it (although he stayed long enough to make one German TV appearance with them in late 1975). Instead in 1976 he released his first solo album, the decidedly different ‘Elements’ (originally named ‘Eyes Of Omega’), four long mostly instrumental pieces. It was then back to producing with a vengeance (with the occassional guest slot), working with Rory Gallagher, Judas Priest, Strapps and many more, including David Coverdale’s first two solo albums. His talents both in the producer’s seat and as a writer saw him approached by Ritchie Blackmore to produce Rainbow in December 1978. Once there it wasn’t long before he joined the band full time, playing bass, producing and helping to give the band the commercial edge they needed to break into the charts. Again he had immediate success, with the 1979 hit album ‘Down to Earth’ which spawned two huge hit singles: ‘Since You Been Gone’ and ‘All Night Long’ (co-written by Roger). He became the longest serving member of Rainbow after Blackmore himself. This left him little time for other work, though he did produce a Michael Schenker Group album in 1980 and finish a second song-based solo album, ‘Mask’, which appeared in April 1984. [photo: Roger Glover in the studio with Nazareth, 1973]
The release of this was swamped in the publicity which surrounded the reformation of Deep Purple. Since then Glover has produced or co-produced most of the Deep Purple reunion albums (albeit reluctantly at times), only bowing out in 2003 when the group finally brought in an outside producer. Roger also worked on a joint project with Ian Gillan, 1988’s “Accidentally On Purpose”, a record which many felt had a lot of commercial potential, but which Deep Purple’s work-load prevented them exploiting. Glover has released just one more solo album since, ‘Snapshot’, in 2002.
.... 1973-2006 Roger Glover Discography ....
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Roger Glover Production List 1971-2006 ....
....Roger Glover, Further Reading....
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Roger
flew home and stayed there for three months, rethinking his next move.
Deep Purple’s managers asked him to stay with them as an A&R man, and
he also chose to work out of the public eye as a producer. He and Ian
Paice had been interested in this side for some time, and had co-produced
the first Elf album together in 1972. He now took up the trade with
determination and had early success working with Nazareth, for whom
he produced their first two big hit singles.
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2006 DPAS/Darker Than Blue.
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