An intriguing group of four original autograph contract signature fragments relating to the legendary rock band Deep Purple, accompanied by a contemporary archive envelope from Deep Purple (Overseas) Ltd.

The signed fragments comprise:

• Jon Lord (Deep Purple co-founder and keyboardist)
• Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple bassist and vocalist)
• Martin Birch (renowned Deep Purple producer and engineer)
• Bruce Payne (long-time Deep Purple manager and business associate)

Each signature appears on an original legal document execution section bearing the signatory’s typed name, for example “SIGNED by the said JON LORD” and similar wording. The fragments have been trimmed from larger legal documents and survive as autograph contract sections.

Included is the original typed archive envelope reading:

“The enclosed envelope purports to contain letters dated 27th June 1980 from Ritchie Blackmore and from Roger Glover to Deep Purple (Overseas) Ltd.”

This envelope firmly associates the group with a genuine Deep Purple (Overseas) Ltd. archive and potentially dates the material to June 1980, during a particularly important period in the band’s history. The date coincides with the well-known legal disputes surrounding the unauthorised “New Deep Purple” / Rod Evans touring line-up, although the original documents themselves are no longer present and a direct connection to that specific litigation cannot be proven.

The presence of signatures from Lord, Hughes, Birch and Payne suggests the fragments originated from corporate, management or legal paperwork connected with the business affairs of Deep Purple during the post-breakup years.

An unusual surviving group of Deep Purple legal archive material, offering considerably more historical context than standalone autograph cuts.

A fascinating Deep Purple archive lot combining autograph, legal and corporate history from one of rock music’s most influential bands.

Provenance: 

One of c.2,500+ items once from the collection or dealer stock of Winifred A Myers (Autographs) Ltd, St Martins Lane, London, evidenced by the quantity of Myers pre-printed envelopes and paper folders and the general ‘presentation’ of the items, many having Myers identification notes in pencil. 

Winifred Alice Myers (1909 – 1985) served as ABA (Antiquarian Booksellers Assoc) president, 1950-1952. See the ABA website for an extended article on Myers. Myers left her business, in 1985, to Ruth Shepherd, who traded from home until 2004. 

Deep Purple are a British rock band formed in London in 1968. They are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although their musical style has varied throughout their career. Originally formed as a psychedelic rock and progressive rock band, they shifted to a heavier sound with their 1970 album Deep Purple in Rock. Deep Purple have been referred to as being part of the “unholy trinity of British hard rock and heavy metal in the early to mid-’70s”, alongside Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. Listed in the 1975 Guinness Book of World Records as “the globe’s loudest band” for a 1972 concert at London’s Rainbow Theatre, they have sold over 100 million records worldwide. Deep Purple have also generated several successful spinoff bands, including Rainbow, Whitesnake, and Gillan.