Smoke On The Water - The Amazing Recording History

[@garageworker]

The lady who opened doors for you is an MVP. People like that who take time to show others history are amazing.

[@itsrob2321]

I was 10 years old when my older brother bought the album, Machine Head. I would listen to the record with head phones on, read the album notes, and enjoy that masterpiece. When I was 15, of course we played Smoke on the Water in our first band. How could you not? Great job Paul on the story!

[@jed1166]

In 2014, I rode the train from Geneva, to Crans-Montana… riding on the lakes edge, and past the Hotel, I felt a real sense of history, and THE riff was stuck in my head for days… cool!

[@jeffwinzeler4814]

Hey Paul - thank you for laying out the story. I moved from the US to the Montreux area in 2020 and it is so great to see the history of Deep Purple, Queen, and others that have contributed to the town's reputation for music. Love the original clips and interviews you included for the story, and watching you fulfil a guitarist dream - playing Smoke on the Water in the very place it happened. Cheers!

[@chrishalemusic]

Glad to see this song getting discussed I feel like Deep Purple largely gets forgotten in guitar circles.

[@Turquoise636]

True, one can learn a lot by playing Blackmore's solos

[@TheLocalFuzz]

Not by me!

[@youreallygotmenow4855]

'forgotten in guitar circles'? Who do you usually talk about music with? Mickey Mouse? 😂 Blackmore is still regarded as one of the most important rock guitar players of all time fifty years after the release of Machine Head! I mean, he's rightly revered as one the fathers of hard rock guitar as we know it and every guitarist on Earth still plays his riffs and melodies to this very day. Talk about being 'forgotten' lol.

[@chrishalemusic]

@@TheLocalFuzz Same here.

[@chrishalemusic]

@@youreallygotmenow4855 so yeah I’m saying I agree with what you’re saying about Blackmore. I feel strongly that Deep Purple is on my Mount Rushmore of bands and Blackmore had stronger influence than most of us can imagine. I guess Im saying that if you go to top ten lists or online guitar channels you rarely hear the name Deep Purple. Every musician I’ve played with absolutely knows, but overall in the guitar culture I don’t hear their name often enough.

[@ΤεσταροΤηφαση]

The king of riffs. The starting point for countless of guitarists. This riff is pure genius. Simplicity is its power.

[@lonewolfsystems]

Thanks!

[@sorliej]

Awesome!

[@bernardverkouille8416]

Bedankt

[@grahamrhodes5985]

This is the BEST documentary production I have ever seen. Paul, you deserve an Oscar, a Grammy, or whatever the highest corresponding award would be. THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!

[@loisheirich6319]

Can't believe I got to see you there! Thanks for taking a pic with me, it was really nice of you (Shout out to Martina who appears at 0:34, she's on Martin Miller's group which did a show in the Casino of Montreux that day) Bye bye from Switzerland

[@RandalSmith]

When they rebuilt the Casino, they put in a country bar in the basement, complete with swinging batwing doors. I played there in the mid-nineties, I believe it was September of 1994 but I could be wrong, I’ve slept since then. It was an experience I’ll never forget. Switzerland is a beautiful country, one which I’d love to see again. The lake, the city and the Alps combine to make one of the most unforgettable places on earth.

[@frankgoodmanbuzzholland7517]

Fascinating storytelling. Paul Davids does it again!

[@maxschwitzky2592]

Best ad for an electric guitar course! 🤩

[@howlinguts]

Paul, you always make creative and interesting work. This is a great documentary, slicing together archive footage with interviews and surprise locations. Damn fine!

[@TomStrahle]

This was great. I love these stories. And you got to go to Montreux!!!

[@TenMillionYearProgram42]

It's everyone's first song on the guitar! Love this man keep it up Paul!

[@CristiNeagu]

Not mine, actually. The first thing I played on the guitar was a riff my dad misremembered from a Shadows song, and which I only mangled further as a novice. I couldn't even tell you the name of the song, to be honest.

[@NdeeSevn]

So fun to see you filming my hometown, I can't wait to see the other videos you made during that weekend !

[@Timberwolf69]

I knew the basics of this story, but never was sure about what of it was legend and what was true. Now I know. Thanks, Paul.

[@DonTheGuitarGuy]

Great stuff. The "Rolling Truck Stone" mobile recording unit is now in Calgary Alberta, fully restored and in operation backstage (a museum I think?) where you can use it.

[@charaiveti-charaiveti]

i never knew the full story of this iconic song, and paul delivered it in his passionate and elevated manner - thanks, paul! and speaking of elevation, yep, i'm one of the humble students of the electric elevation course, how could i not be?

[@robcreel4257]

This story never gets old. I do have to say the first song I learned on acoustic was Stairway. The first song on the electric guitar was Smoke on the Water.

[@rdb9936]

Paul, this was great. I’ve been a massive Purple fan for years and didn’t know some of the stuff you covered in this video! Would love to see more of this docu style videos!

[@Hallalo]

Cool that you’re visiting Montreuxs! My parents have a flat in Switzerland and Montreux is only 1 hour away from the flat. Montreux is the France part of the Switzerland and Bern or the “Berneroberland” is the last stain of the German based Switzerland. We went to Montreux last year in August and visited also the studio where Freddie Mercury recorded with Queen. So many legends played by this Lake… greetings from western Germany!!

[@gregoneil3523]

Great riff and great album. Eagle Music have Classic Album DVD of the making of this album. And DP are still rocking out on tour in Europe at this time.

[@b0kkeee]

I really love this path your channel has taken! It's time for a full documentary by you!

[@bigl6322]

Yup…. I bought a six string electric guitar in a pawn shop for $50 in 1974 and learned that riff… (me and the other 9 bazillion)… Excellent to be able to put imagery in my head to go with all that… I knew a lot of the pieces (did not have the Claude reference- there’s the rock star for sure) but to see the actually view they had when writing that..wow.. I actually just dug into your electric guitar course last night. I’ve liked your teaching style every since your “anyone can play funk” video. Being a self taught ADD individual, I have some patchy music theory and understanding, but it looks like you have some stuff there I can get without knowing how many augmented 13th’s are breaking over the bar on the back beat…. Thanks for posting this!! Edit… shared this with a friend who had seen an interview with Richie Blackmore in which he shared that the riff was just Beethoven inverted and he owed Beethoven a lot of money…lol Today years old when I learned this… doh!!…

[@warren4110]

I’ve known 90% of this story for years; however, I’ve never seen the locations. This beautiful, informative video has filled in all the gaps. Thankyou!

[@scillyautomatic]

Great story and great video! Thanks, Paul!

[@sector13studios]

Some call Deep Purple Rock or Hard Rock but call them one of origins of Heavy Metal. No matter what you call it Smoke on the water is one the greatest songs in Rock history because of the story behind it and the fact it is a kick ass song.

[@martinablazeska]

0:34 omg it's me, hi 🙋🏻‍♀️🙈

[@fte4319]

Great, thanks a lot! We are living in interesting times, most of the veteran musicians that created so many big songs are still alive, as well as the technicians, producers and so on and the stories can be captured and shared. Even more fun to watch if these stories are done in the way Paul does it. 😀👍

[@smileridedrum]

Great video, great tribute to the history of hard rock music!!!

[@batphink2655]

A great video Paul and what a beautiful location and that theater wow just gorgeous!

[@thomasarth2458]

My uncle is a big Zappa fan who lived in Geneva at the time (lives in Canada now) and was at the concert when the fire happened.

[@musik.man6113]

It’s so interesting hearing the backstory behind songs, especially one as legendary as Smoke on the Water! Thank you for posting this, Paul!

[@sirhilaryflange]

I visited Lake Geneva a few weeks ago, made a visit to the now re-built casino…such an iconic song

[@stevefielding8324]

Thanks Paul brilliant as always!

[@coolguitarchannel]

Awesome video! Dig the Deep Purple love!

[@mjdejong]

I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall on that trip. Great video Paul!

[@villehytonen7279]

Sadly, stories like this are not made anymore. Legendary.

[@augustomacchioli2172]

Long Live Deep Purple..the best band from the 70's..very underrated! But they were fantastic!

[@CFAinNoVA]

Great video! Iconic album. Nice job Paul.

[@deeperwithgod7932]

So good!

[@RosewoodMahogany]

What an awesome guitar! Sounds like its made of very rare old wood!

[@dejawuguitars6767]

Haha, that's how the underground sounds! 😄

[@TheLocalFuzz]

Hopefully this video will inspire many viewers to listen closer to Deep Purple. They are, for my money, the most underrated band in history.

[@villehytonen7279]

And Ritchie one of the most underrated guitar players. He is never even mentioned when talking about the worlds best guitarists.

[@chapodepaille28]

The first time i saw Deep Purple was in Montreux in 2016, first act was Dweezil Zappa, the son of Franck. It felt cool.

[@scottkidwellmusic9175]

Thanks, Paul! Appreciate the tour and history lesson. I'd play it under those circumstances, too. I don't know that I'd play it ever again, after all the times I've played it in cover/ bar bands over the years... Be good to you 🤍

[@stevehughes275]

Thanks for this im a huge Deep purple, Ritchie Blackmore fan 👍

[@EdgarMiraflores]

No way!! You're in Montreux?? Wish I had seen you, I live here!!

[@wildniscamper7276]

0:40 "fire on the lake"🤣🤣🤣 awesome

[@sledzeppelin]

“Some stupid with a flare gun” is the most hilarious lyric ever.

[@grobbler1]

Thank you for this very cool mini-documentary. There is a (much-delayed) book due out this year, called 'Fire In The Sky,' which is the story of the recording of Machine Head and Smoke On The Water. It's by Simon Robinson and Stephen Clare from The Deep Purple Appreciation Society.

[@auslanderbassmusic]

This video is a real serious documentary packed into video shorter then 10 minutes! To be able to see and show as all this is a really nice history lesson. This should be in school programs!

[@aheldfl]

Same bday as Ritchie so this history lesson was a big thrill for me. Thanks...and this was also a mild reminder to get back to section 2 of your Electric Elevation course.

[@chriskona7652]

Super cool mini documentary. I love it!

[@steveangell7724]

Love this. I’ve known this song since I was about 12 thanks to my Dad copying the 1980 Deepest Purple vinyl onto a cassette in the early nineties; from then on Deep Purple were ‘my’ first band! I’ve been able to tell the story of the song to people but now I need to go see the places for myself. I’ll be driving past Montreux later this month on a work trip so maybe I should go there and find the plaque and maybe meet that kind lady and get into the room! Another great video Paul 💪🏻

[@Etruska5256]

As a current student of your acoustic course, I have to say you’re an amazing teacher. I look forward to learning more in you’re newest course when I finish this one. Please please do more of these kind of videos (Jimi Hendrix please🙏) LASTLY, I have always want to learn more jazz and thought it would be a good idea for you to put out a Christmas Jazz course. Food for thought. Thanks!

[@lanceperkins4555]

Fascinating history, thank you for sharing your quality content. So inspiring.

[@steelfabric]

History coming back to life again. Thanks, mate. Really enjoyed this.

[@saxophool]

I made my own pilgrimage to Montreux trying to find the sights named in the song. Every hotel in Montreux claimed to be "the" Grand Hotel. Finally, a cute gal at the tourism shed who was not even born until long after the record was made pointed me to the now residential hotel shown in this video. (A short bus ride outside town.) Montreux is a beautiful, wonderful place. Recommend it to all.😎

[@timtime9167]

This was very interesting. Excellent job.

[@metramaks]

Thanks for another awesome video, Paul! And please, cover more Deep Purple songs.

[@Saturax]

Sweet lady for opening up the doors of the hotel!

[@yoanboschung9466]

It's crazy tha you were at the MIGS ! I didn't know you were coming, I was here on sunday. It's so funny to see those very familiar landscapes on one of my favorite KZbinr ! Thanks for the cool video Btw 😍

[@Goofypikz]

Great to see/ hear the full story behind that iconic riff. Thanks!

[@emanuelediiorio-gp7wl]

It wasn't a flare gun. It was a match that got caught in a sort of bamboo ceiling. The parents of my daughters mother were there that night. Kurt and Agnes Sigrist (he is a swiss artist who just turned 80). Kurt has told me the story many times, it happened right in front of him. A guy was lighting matches and throwing them around. One of the matches got caught in this bamboo ceiling. When Kurt saw the fire he took Agnes by the hand and they left the building way before Frank told the audience.

[@michaelkarlsson5966]

Thank you Paul for doing this! I've read and heard this story about how "Smoke on the water" was made but I've never seen anyone doing what you've done: visit the place and show us the buildings. Thank you! :)

[@nicksilver_music]

Shot in the field, what a video production, amazing 👏

[@nellatrab]

Hey Paul...I saw Deep Purple at the July 2008 Montreux Jazz Festival, right where you are...as well as many other great acts that week. A trip I will never forget! Very nice work. Thanks for the memories 🙂

[@stijn4771]

Pfoh Paul, de top 2000 docu's zijn er niks bij. Wat top! Doe dit vaker, want dit heeft erg veel potentieel samen met je gitaarkennis. (English: There's a famous tv programme in the Netherlands which makes music documentaries and I'm basically saying he is already surpassing that level and that this could be something special together with his guitar knowledge)

[@Hobbietone]

Thank you Paul.

[@dar.k-jk]

Always a good day when Paul Davids uploads.

[@SilvaAdventures]

Just wonderful! Thanks for producing this!

[@johnbohland]

What a great video. Thank you Paul.

[@calvinpillay9993]

I absolutely loved the version he used

[@serenitynow66]

Awesome Paul!!

[@ccolson4072]

Babe wake up, Paul Davids uploaded.

[@jimmcdougall9973]

A great, short history, of one of the greatest guitar riffs ever. Well done Paul!

[@DanielRieder-d6k]

Welcome to Montreux, Paul. It's a beautyfull place. I will be there in July again at the Montreux Jazz Festival 2023. An I recommand your newst course. Thanks for your good job. Greetings from Switzerland.

[@johndoe8182]

Imagine Davids jumping out of a trachcan in downtown LA holding a Frankenstein behind the spot where Eddie Van Halen dumpster dove to get the master piece stripped guitar we all love. Just a thought ya know

[@stevenpitcher5585]

I like the use of Bruce Dickinson's delivery of the "Funky Claude" line, from the Rock Aid Armenia compilation.

[@offcourserock]

Amazing video! 🤘

[@CR0SSJ]

I heard the song a million times, and played it sooooooo much when I started playing guitar but never thought it'd ACTUALLY be their journey on making the album. I just thought it'd be one of those "Hey let's just make some stuff up" kinda lyric XD

[@aoestarreicha]

Lovely video, thank you Paul!!

[@the_original_Bilb_Ono]

3:10 The pictures text reads _"He saved saved several young people.."_ saying "saved" twice. Dang it! Lmao i do that too.

[@fishypaw]

"Hard Rock" is a term I don't hear a lot these days. When I was a teen, there was "heavy metal" and there was "hard rock", I was a hard rock guy. Bands like Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, ACDC were hard rock, while bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Saxon were considered heavy metal. I liked both, but preferred hard rock. Today, there is still a lot of heavy metal about but not enough hard rock, I think.

[@seanbaines]

I think terminology changed over time. When I was a teenager in the 1970's, I initially remember using the terms almost interchangeably, but heavy metal became the term for the hardest hard rock. We considered Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and AC/DC heavy metal just as much as we considered Judas Priest and Black Sabbath heavy metal. Sabbath was considered the most extreme band of the form, but Zep was the most important and iconic. In fact, a 1978 special edition of Creem Magazine on heavy metal called Led Zeppelin "the High Priests of Heavy Metal," and referred to Led Zeppelin II as "quivering chunks of white hot metal". The definition started to shift in the 1980's as new bands came along with more extreme sounds. I think your distinction between Zep, et. al., and Iron Maiden, etc. shows evidence of that happening.

[@fishypaw]

@@seanbaines Yea, it's all rather subjective and open to interpretation, and the terms meanings have changed a lot. I wasn't a big fan of "hair" and "glam" metal (in the 80's), so I considered myself a rocker (hard rock fan). I'm not a great fan of modern metal either. All sounds a bit similar to me, with extreme high gain guitars and weird vocals.

[@ThorPughet]

You were so near, and I didn't get the chance to see you... Sad. Hope you enjoyed the Swiss Riviera!

[@NicCom-di4tr]

I really can not understand how this video has below 100.000 views. I think it was very informativ and very nicely done.

[@nielsensejltur]

I am an eyewitness. I was there that night. I saw the smoke and the fire. The old casino burned down. It was later rebuilt. But the new casino just wasn't the same as the old one. Later I became a journalist for the French magazine Jazz Hot and I had the opportunity to interview both Claude Nobs and Quinsy Johns. Frank Zappa saved our lives. Without his calm action, it could have ended in a real disaster. Nobody got hurt. But the two stoned hippies with their firework, deserved a slap. Or even two. One to the left and one to the right.

[@nielsensejltur]

One detail of the story you didn't tell, is how Claude Nobs unrolled the fire hose. But there was not enough water pressure to reach the ceiling. Meanwhile Frank Zappa had started to evacuate the hall. I escaped across the stage. That was the shortest way out.

[@mjallenuk]

Solid choice of musical history to delve into

[@geckobaldy]

Those double stops are the same ones used by George Harrison for the riff in She Loves You by The Beatles.

[@srpskihayk]

Wasn't the riff riffed from a jazz song that Jon Lord played in a band he was in before DP? Of the guitar riff itself, there are at least 3 different versions of how Blackmore played the riff, all discussed by Blackmore himself.

[@philipatoz]

Ah, what a spectacularly beautiful place is Montreux!

[@ROKZLEON]

Always enjoy your storytelling. Well done!!! 👍🏻

[@DarkVelizar]

In an interview with Sonic the movie, actor Jim carrey said that the interviewer needs to listen to the machine head album of deep purple, which is a great jam album and lazy is a great jam song.

[@EthanWilkinss]

Great video Paul! 👌🏻

[@strat0871]

I knew the story, but it's much better told at the right place ! Cheers from France.

[@douglaspate9314]

I know the story though loved to hear it from your perspective. Beautiful. And I still have the vinyl, received as my 14th bday present in 1972!

[@edgardoperone8983]

It would be great if you could play more of Blackmore riffs. He's an amazing guitar player and has had a prolific career.