Mainly because it was the first live band I saw around the time of 'In Rock'. Child in time remains a high point for me.
However, I dont think they did any album to match Led Zeppelin 3.

Zep any day

Because of a combination of factors (Led Zeppelin's stable line-up followed by retirement when John Bonham died... their pioneering of stadium rock... ) we tend to view Deep Purple as also-rans, but back in the early Seventies they were anything but. In fact, you'd be just as likely to find Deep Purple in Rock and Machine Head in a mate's record collection as Led Zeppelin II, III or IV, and for two or three years at least "Smoke on the Water" was even more likely to be played very badly in a guitar shop than the intro to "Stairway to Heaven".

At the time, I would have said Purple too. I much preferred Blackmore's solos to Page's and Gillan's wailing to Plant's. And although in retrospect he was no Bonzo, Ian Paice was a hell of a drummer too.

I love both bands and simply cannot place one above the other.

I do have fonder memories of discovering the Purps though. My mate Gary was a great fan. I recall spending the bulk of the school summer holidays over the year's 1978 to '80 riding up the hill on my bike to his house to waste the entire time either noodling on his guitars or playing snooker badly while 'Burn', Who Do You Think You Are' and 'Machine Head' soundtracked the background.

That vast 60's Hammond noise alongside the peerless Ian Paice on drums. My favourite drummer by some margin.

The first Deep Purple album I heard was Burn. I was probably 12 or 13 and my friend's Dad had a copy. I can still remember hearing the title track for the first time. It was like nothing I had ever heard before, and is still my favourite Purple song. Gillan was good but Coverdale was great.

curiously perhaps, had a certain lightness of touch and a dexterity that was missing in the clumpier elements of Zep- listen to the sheer sonic attack of the live 'Highway Star' for instance from 'Made in Japan'. That would have made mincemeat out of any Zeppelin performance. But, I do appreciate that Zeppelin were more diverse and that they had some wonderful moments such as 'Ramble On' and 'The Battle of Evermore' which were probably outside the reach of Deep Purple. So, let's see-
Plant was the better singer, Paice the better drummer, Blackmore the better guitarist ( technically at least ) and it's probably a score-draw between JPJ and Jon Lord.
They both demonstrated their restlessness and ambitions in spectacular ways- Zep through the curious but enjoyable 'Led Zeppelin 3' and the less than happy 'Houses of the Holy' and Deep Purple through the daft pudding that was the 'Concerto for Group and Orchestra'.
At the end of it all, Purple are probably the most enjoyable.
Oh, except for that bloody Concerto.

I'm not big on heavy rock or heavy metal (I know Led Zep aren't really metal but there's a link) - the chest baring wailers and cock rockers. But for some reason Led Zep appeal - though not the whole of their oeuvre. Partly because they are much more than just heavy rock - more varied stylistically, venturing into folk and psychedelia areas. There's an imaginative drama to their best stuff - it's often so well composed and structured. I prefer the first two albums but there's stuff on the subsequent recors I enjoy too. On Led Zep IV I find a lot of it overblown and lacking light and shade - apart from 'When The Levee Breaks' which is one of their greatest moments for me. While Plant can be a bit self indulgent with his ad-libbed 'baby baby baby oooh yeah oooh yeah' carry on, I just can't get on with Gillan - I am just not engaged at all. Anything too macho I find a bit off putting, delicate flower that I am, but Led Zep allow in a bit more subtle sensitivity as I see it.

Purple were my first love through. A mate and I used to come home from school, close the curtains, get out a tennis racquet, some knitting needles and cushions, turn the lights off and put on 'In Rock' or Machine Head. I vividly recall falling flat on my back while reaching the climax of Blackmore's solo on Pictures of Home.

I'd like to add that I think Ritchie Blackmore is one of the great guitar players. He doesn't get enough credit for his classic period work with DP.

DP was the first internaitional act I ever saw and in rock is still there in the vinyl but to put DP in the same league as LZ is taking nostalgia a little too far

Methinks this would be a great audience participation game for the next 'Word in your ear' event...a mixture of 'Runaround' and 'Juke box jury'.

"The question is....Led Zeppelin or Deep Purple? Those for Zep move to the right, those for the 'Purps to the left". I would to the right.

For me...

...it's got to be Zeppelin, hasn't it? I know Deep Purple were popular and influential, but Ver Zep are one of those top-five-of-all-time acts, aren't they? Even if you're not that keen, just the number of bands who've ripped them off is incalculable.

Needless to say, like all the other heritage rock acts (hell, all acts ever) they were doing some pretty handy rippings-off themselves.

Sure Purple has had numerous line-up changes and some not so good albums. But it's all about finding 'the gems', the tracks that take over your body and soul for that 6-10mins (sometimes 25mins on a live track) and for me, Purple have countless more than Zep.
'Good things come to those who wait' Example: The Gillian screams in Child in Time not good, Richie's Solo that follows (from Live In Japan) is pure brilliance in every sense.

Saw DP in Berlin last November and it's time Gillian stopped challenging himself to Highway Star - especially as the opener anyhow. The voice aint there anymore

But I'd always got the impression that Deep Purple weren't to be taken seriously. It seems that I was wrong, so I'll endeavour to check them out.

the Coverdale/Hughes era. A tad less raucous and hysterical than the Gillan lineups.

is the very first two albums - Shades of... and Book of Talesyn.

Groovy!

I love both bands - the first four albums I ever owned, in the early 70s, included Zeps 2 & 4, and Deep Purple In Rock. To this day I still think "In Rock" pretty much defined hard rock, and laid the foundations for speed metal, which then lay waiting to be rediscovered (and branded as such) many years later. However... "In Rock" was a towering pinnacle for the band; the nearest they ever came to equalling it was "Machine Head", though that's a far patchier album than memory initially suggests. Zep, on the other hand, produced a classic in LZ2, followed it with another classic in LZ3 (whilst simultaneously widening their palette enormously), then capped the whole lot with "4 symbols". After that, "Houses Of The Holy" was a relative disappointment, though actually STRONGER than memory suggests. But then they topped everything that came previously with the titanic "Physical Graffiti". So by my reckoning, they managed to produce 4 iron-clad classics, sustaining their peak in a way that eluded Purple. "In Rock" and "Physical Graffiti" would be two of my Desert Island Discs, but in LZ's case, it would be a tough choice.

I find it hard to beat the BBC recording of Deep Purple's 'In Concert' performance from 1974 with the Coverdale and Hughes lineup. Jon Lord introduces himself as 'Rick Emerson', and Richie goes absolutely mental on 'You Fool No One'. Highly recommended, if you can find it.

However, if only for the utter perfection that is Led Zeppelin 2, an album that never ceases to deliver, I have to give my vote to 'ver Zep.

have some songs that I like.

Zep, sorry, have none. No, not one.

DP were an out an out rock band. They mustered a full on rage with songs like Highway Star and Child In Time. LZ were more diverse, and tended to be less hard edged. Zep also had a swing to them; DP just went for the throat.

Was a huge fan and still play them regularly. Never got into Zep, not a fan at all.

And as for who was better, Blackmore or Page, the answer surely is ... Bolin.

With a better singer.

With a better bass guitarist.

With a lead guitarist at least the equal of the best of both bands.

With more 'funk' than both bands combined.

I give you...

Have an "up" fella.
And The Drummer was no slouch either.

I wouldn't mention Free in the same sentence as LZ & DP. Free had taste, feel, emotion, warmth; all qualities lacking in LZ & DP. I'd rather listen to Black Sabbath than LZ & DP - at least they had a sense of humour, whereas the others seemed cold & calculating.

I never listened (willingly) to LZ & DP at the time, probably because there was so much really good stuff around. Since then I have listened & appreciated some of their tunes (Since I've been loving you/When the Levee breaks, for example).

My take on LZ: I have 2 vinyl copies of "Truth" by Jeff Beck, one still unplayed. That'll do me.

Seriously, it's got to be Led Zeppelin. There's just no comparison.

Deep Purple have a couple of nice pop tunes, I suppose, but there are few bands on planet Earth who have matched the range of Led Zeppelin's musical achievements.

You could make a mix tape out of a whole host of lesser-known Led Zeppelin moments and it would still knock any other pretender out of the ring: "Poor Tom", "That's The Way", "Candy Store Rock"... can anything seriously match this?

Your classic line up of Deep Purple and thee Led Zeppelin are playing in your town, tonight, same time.
Which one you gonna see?

I prefer Zep on ellpee but I'd go for the Purps as they were a better live band and I know I'd come away with a big grin on my face.
Still to hear a Zep performance that I really get with.

as concerned friends would be saying to me at this point. However, Purple in the Gillan / Glover era got to a pre teen me over Zep, and early impressions seldom shift. Purple felt more playful musically, like a very loud jazz band I always thought, everyone having a turn, making a really thrilling living dynamic of distinct musical personalities: Lord's overcranked Booker T hammond, Paice's groovy jazz swing drumming, Blackmore's - I dunno, what superlatives did they used to use in Sounds? - guitar playing.

I liked Zep and knew they were good but they were bloody dark and mysterious to this boy.

The main thing that unites the 2 bands in my mind is that their lyrics were complete codswallop for the most part. But you still found yourself singing them.

So far I make it:

Deep Purple - 12
Led Zeppelin - 9

(unless I have miscounted)

Come on Led Zeppelin fans! I know there's more of us!

Led Zep for me. I prefer the songs and the singer; neither lead guitarist really does it for me, great though they both are in their own ways; rhythm sections both stonking. But ultimately it comes down to the songs and the singer. Gillan was powerful but sounded horrible when he was trying to do quiet. I don't think he could have even attempted Going To California or Rain Song without embarrasing himself.

for me too, their first LP is, I reckon the greatest debut of all time.

DP have had what, 4 lead singers?

Led Zeppelin simply because of the relentless power of the first 6 albums. Purp's work was a bit patchy at times. I only rate In Rock, Machine Head and Burn as top drawer classic rock albums. Their earlier prog/orchestral doodlings bore me. The reformed Mark II line-up produced a couple of decent records in the 80s. The more recent stuff with Steve Morse is a bit derivatve and uninspiring.

Man for man?

Ritchie Blackmore v Jimmy Page: Ritchie was the superior guitar player, a classical fluid style that delivered melodic soaring solos. Jimmy was a great innovator and master arranger of course, but he was a fumbler at times live. I've seen both live and Blackmore left me dumbstruck.

Robert Plant v Ian Gullan: tricky one, such different though equally compelling voices. Robert's earthy, menacing and rooted in the blues, Ian's more rooted in 60s pop rock though a wonderful instrument with a tremendous range. A score draw.

John Paul Jones v Roger Glover: No brainer. Jonesy every time. It doesn't even need explanation.

John Bonham v Ian Paice: Again its a no brainer. Paice's drumming was nothing spectacular on even the best Purple records. Bonham's primeval beat basically drove Zeppelin's sound.

Zep for me, but I've actually got some of their albums. With Deep Purple I only know the hits, though they're certainly good.

there will be Word bloggers on the trains, in cars and on the tubes with patches on their business suits, or with stencilled logos on their briefcases, saying 'Zep', or 'Purple'.

Tribes will form around the water-coolers and in the locker rooms of the nation. Newsagents across the country will be puzzled by requests for copies of 'Melody Maker', only to disappoint their customers who will have been unaware of its demise. Some people will even enquire about buying 'Sounds' or even 'Disc', just in case there's a full page poster of Jimmy or Richie in the middle spread.

Zeppelin could swing and in comparison DP were pedestrian. That is not saying DP are not good.

Zeppelin are incomparably better than Purple. I am quite prepared to accept that The Purps had their moments in their various pahases - and I like one or two others probably prefer the Burn era incarnation.

But seriously. You might as well ask who's the better between The Stones and Aerosmith. You could easily write a history of rock that didn't include Deep Purple but to write one without Led Zeppelin is unimaginable.

This is one of my favourite latter day Purple songs, the guitar part gives me goose pimples everytime I hear it.
Thanks for all the posts on this thread, a great debate and the battle rages on.............

both had more than their fair share of moments, but zep were the more innovative of the two and therefore take it.

I suspect we will never agree on this one and I like them both anyway so i don't care really. But I think one of reasons I really like the Purps is that they evolved....like this - funky, rocking, great vocal harmonies, amaaazing (man) guitar playing, doing it live. Lumpen my arse. certainly not yer average heavy rock band. WARNING palid pure pop fans, solo guitar and head shakage within.

just how good a singer/vocalist Gillan was that it took two to replace him, I'd love to hear Gillan and Hughes together, that would be very special