Introduction:
“Smoke on the Water,” one of rock’s most iconic tracks, was inspired by a true story involving Deep Purple’s time in Montreux, Switzerland, in December 1971. The band had planned to record their album Machine Head at the Montreux Casino using a mobile studio they borrowed from the Rolling Stones. However, during a Frank Zappa concert, an audience member ignited a flare, which quickly set the venue ablaze. The band watched the casino burn from their hotel, and bassist Roger Glover later coined the phrase “smoke on the water” to capture the scene as smoke drifted across Lake Geneva. This phrase would become the title of their famous song.
With their recording location gone, Deep Purple scrambled to find another site. They initially tried a theater but were interrupted by local police because of noise complaints. Finally, the Grand Hotel, empty for the winter, became their makeshift studio. Despite its freezing conditions, they managed to complete Machine Head there, including “Smoke on the Water.” Ritchie Blackmore’s unforgettable four-note guitar riff laid the foundation, while Glover and Ian Gillan contributed lyrics that recounted their experience of the fire and the band’s struggles to record.
“Smoke on the Water” initially wasn’t intended as a single; however, its compelling riff and narrative propelled it into rock history. Though not immediately successful in the UK, it became a hit in the U.S. in 1973 and later gained worldwide fame. Its simple but powerful riff and autobiographical lyrics make it a classic rock anthem that endures as one of Deep Purple’s defining songs