Deep Purple Songs with the Best Drumming

Ian Paice is a very underrated drummer in general - the main reason is that Deep Purple are pretty underrated. What makes things worse is that his best drumming isn't on Deep Purple's most known songs.

He's also a very underrated drummer compared to his counterparts from Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and The Who - John Bonham, Bill Ward and Keith Moon, respectively.

For me he's the first metal drummer - he used beats and drumming techniques that later became widespread in metal. And he was a very fast drummer for the standards of the 60s and 70s. Fast, aggressive and powerful drummer - this is metal drumming in a nutshell. Plus, he used some pretty complex beats.

Ian Paice has been the only Deep Purple drummer since 1968 and all Deep Purple songs are with his drumming.

The Top Ten

1 The Mule

A really complex beat for its time (1971) that is almost a melody. And Ian Paice keeps it perfectly during the entire song. It's a very interesting beat that he plays with a lot of power (play the song sample to hear it).
Currently progressive metal bands use similar complex beats - check out the intro to "And Plague Flowers the Kaleidoscope" by Ne Obliviscaris (2012).

Among drummers, I rate Ian Paice the highest. His drumming on Deep Purple's live album "Made in Japan" is particularly awe-inspiring, and includes a spectacular 6-minute drum solo on "The Mule".

2 Fireball

It's the first metal-related song with double bass drumming (1971). His double bass drum kit (if we can even call it a "kit") was very primitive - Ian Paice just put a second bass drum next to the first one and played them both like crazy.
There's a YouTube live video where you can see how it was in the beginning - Deep Purple just brought a second drum onstage and "installed" it: Deep Purple - Fireball (Live in Copenhagen 1972) HD

I was gonna be angry if Fireball wasn't at least in the top three. The drumming is so aggressive and propulsive. I'm always amazed that he does it without running out of steam, if you get what I'm saying.

One of the first songs with double bass drumming I think.

3 The Unwritten Law

Play the sample - you'll get part of the idea. I absolutely love it.

4 Dead or Alive

This drum beat is one of the most used beats in metal, especially power/speed metal. Not a complex beat but heck, it's fast all the way. And Ian Paice shows his stamina.

5 Burn

This is one of the most underrated early metal songs, 1974. His drumming is great.

6 Flight of the Rat

Play the song sample to hear part of it. The song ends with a long drum solo (the last 2 minutes of the song highlight the drums).

7 A Twist In the Tale

Again, this is pure power metal drumming that is very fast (as you can hear).

8 The Cut Runs Deep

One of their most underrated songs that happened to be one of my favorite songs by them. I like it mostly for the rhythm and Ian Paice is the main reason for liking it. The climax of drumming is in the middle of the song, right after the guitar solo (3:25-4:00). I can't get enough of this section and usually play it on a loop several times.

9 Lucille