The TRUE Story of Smoke On The Water - GH Shorts #1

The Guitar Historian Presents a new series: GH SHORTS! Rock history in quick, tiny bite sized pieces!
Did you know the lyrics of Deep Purple's "Smoke On The Water" told a true story?
Backing Track:
"Overdrive Ride" by Dan Lebowitz
From the KZbin Free Music Library

[@Raydio6]

Imagine if that guy didn’t shoot off that flare!.. one of the most famous hard rock songs of all time wouldn’t have existed.. a true example of cause and effect

[@Tonydodd1962]

Exactly brilliant story 👏

[@JasonSpitzMI50]

This is something like if I never caught my 1st wife cheating on me I never would have found the true love of my life which is now my 2nd wife going on 40 years + married now😊.

[@PlanetRockJesus]

LOL!

[@indahsuria5572]

Thats right

[@DutchVai]

...and the many other things that would/wouldn't have happened due to the ripple effect.

[@flemingcourt]

WE ALL CAME OUT TO MONTREUX!!! Just Listen to the WORDS!!!

[@paulspalace]

You've missed out that they next tried a place called the Pavilion where they laid down the backing for Smoke on the water, before the police forced entry to kick them out, they then went to the Grand Hotel.

[@thearab59]

Funky Claude Nobs was, luckily, a volunteer fireman in Montreux as well as Director of the Montreux Jazz Festival. So he knew the dangers, and insisted everybody leave the building.

[@milosdunjic8718]

The most iconic rock song ever

[@DutchVai]

Are you sure that it wasn't Look What the Cat Dragged In by Poison 🤔😂

[@leftinlister829]

Never get tired of this story, which verges on the supernatural (with Glover fever-dreaming the images and title). Thank you!

[@lesliehilesgardener6959]

13 yrs old and loved it thanks for the story.

[@JasonSpitzMI50]

I've always wondered was there some truth to the lyrics of this song, but this is the first time in over 60 + years I found that it was. Thanks a bunch 👍.

[@Tonydodd1962]

Me to lol I was 60 in may and just seen this story

[@Tonydodd1962]

Amazing story thanks I'm working at deep purples concert in Manchester uk this week first time I've seen them

[@sigouinfb]

Erratum : Lake Léman ;) Great vid!

[@dirkblocker7356]

I was there. Nice piece here with more info than I was aware of, but I'd disagree that there was very little panic. At least where I was situated, people were frantically rushing for the exits with some screaming, some crying while there were those so high that I guess they might not have panicked, but the rest of us most definitely were.

[@toneyisaiah408]

Released on Warner Bros Records, 1972.

[@randolfo1265]

The unit is currently owned by the National Music Centre in Calgary, Alberta, Canada (Cantos Music Collection acquired it in November 2001)

[@TheGuitarHistorian]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJaxoIuXp5WbaMk

[@TheRjb2010]

Do we know if the Casino took any legal action against "Some stupid with a flare gun."

[@lionelalias4561]

Rainbow didn't play the song with Dio or Bonnet. That came later with Turner and Glover.

[@sandramorrison4811]

Sweet!

[@ZPDSurvival]

The first song I learned on the guitar at age 5. Much later in life I found myself going to the last 5 Frank Zappa concerts.

[@Tonydodd1962]

One of my first songs I learnt on guitar 🎸

[@Gonzo62]

great stuff as always. love it

[@anyamarie42]

Smoke on the Water Song by Deep Purple Songwriters: Ian Gillan / Jon Lord / Ritchie Blackmore / Roger Glover / Ian Paice We all came out to Montreux On the Lake Geneva shoreline To make records with a mobile, yeah We didn't have much time now Frank Zappa and the Mothers Were at the best place around But some stupid with a flare gun Burned the place to the ground Smoke on the water, a fire in the sky (Smoke) on the water, you guys are great They burned down the gambling house It died with an awful sound Funky Claude was running in and out He was pulling kids out the ground now When it all was over Find another place Swiss time was running out It seemed that we would lose the race Smoke on the water, a fire in the sky Smoke on the water Burn it down We ended up at the Grand Hotel It was empty, cold and bare The Rolling truck Stones thing just outside Huh, making our music there now With a few red lights and a few old beds We made a place to sweat No matter what we get out of this I know, I know we'll never forget Smoke on the water, a fire in the sky Smoke on the water (I can't hear anything) one more time (Smoke on the water) hey! FYI according to Ritchie Blackmore the the guitar riff is Beethoven's 5th played backwards backwards

[@CaptainCraigKWMRZ]

If you ever redo this video, you might add info on Frank's guitar being rescued.

[@jamesgordon8072]

hell yeeees 🤘 fangs out

[@CaptainCraigKWMRZ]

Great video. Keep the stories alive!

[@jah8859]

Short sharp and informative. I did know the fire story but you've added more interesting titbits around it. Love to see more like this. cheers

[@TheGuitarHistorian]

You da man! Thanks 😊

[@kasunprageeth4339]

Thank you

[@toneyisaiah408]

Machine Head album from the group Deep Purple.

[@paulscushschofield1288]

i saw rainbow a few times.twice with dio..they never did smoke on the water...they did mistreated and a short rendition of lazy..but thats ir..in other line ups only the same version of lazy

[@Dibbdroid]

They did 'Smoke' on the Joe Lynn Turner tours and added 'Burn', 'Perfect Strangers' post Deep Purple fall out II

[@KOPPPP1]

The riff was plagiated from a music composed by Carlos Lyra called "Maria Moita" at 1964.

[@anthonyso3486]

May be, or just coincidentally ? Have to ask Blackmore.

[@toneyisaiah408]

Who doesn't ?

[@RafaelSilva-tg4yt]

The riff was stolen from a brazilian bossa nova called Maria Moita!!

[@davidmacleod9313]

I really liked the story but hated the annoying music going on while you’re talking. You have a great voice…you don’t need the crappy music. It wasn’t even “Smoke On The Water”. Lol 😊😊😊