June 29

 Ian Paice

June 29, 1948

As the primary drummer and founding member of Deep Purple, Ian Paice established a reputation for fast, explosive shuffle rhythms. He helped form the hard rock outfit in 1968, tracking powerful grooves on early records like Shades of Deep Purple and Book of Taliesyn. As the lineup shifted, his frantic stickwork on the 1970 album Deep Purple in Rock and the 1972 release Machine Head cemented the signature sound of the group. His swing-influenced style was a prominent feature on the seminal 1972 double live record Made in Japan.

Following a temporary dissolution of his primary group in 1976, he co-founded the short-lived quintet Paice Ashton Lord, recording Malice in Wonderland. He then joined the blues-rock band Whitesnake as an official member in 1979, contributing to major studio efforts like Ready an' Willing. He performed with them until 1982, eventually spending time backed by guitarist Gary Moore before Deep Purple reformed in 1984. He has remained behind the drum kit for his original band ever since, playing on every single album and live concert tour up to the present day.

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Bob Brunning

June 29, 1943 – October 18, 2011

Emerging from the vibrant late sixties club scene, Bob Brunning served as a temporary session player on bass guitar for the blues rock band Fleetwood Mac during their formative weeks. He handled the bottom end for their debut performance at the Windsor Jazz and Blues Festival and laid down tracks for their premier single and debut album before stepping down.

He subsequently joined Savoy Brown as a session player, contributing to the single Taste and Try Before You Buy. Dedicating himself to creating steady records throughout the next decade, he anchored the rhythm section for Tramp alongside his own outfit, the Brunning Sunflower Blues Band, which tracked studio albums like Bullen Street Blues and Trackside Blues. He finished out the decade performing with the DeLuxe Blues Band, continuing his dedication to local blues performances into the next century.

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Eric Wrixon

June 29, 1947 – July 13, 2015

Eric Wrixon helped establish the initial foundation of Thin Lizzy, joining as an official member in 1969. He provided the vital organ and piano textures that defined their earliest club performances, staying with the group into 1970 to play on their debut single recording before financial challenges caused him to depart. He also played piano for Them at separate intervals during their active years. He spent much of the following decade performing and recording studio albums with the Belfast blues rock outfit Trixons. He finished out his active recording career by reforming a touring version of Them in 1993, performing with the ensemble across Europe on and off for the next decade.

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