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Ian Paice


Member

1968- Deep Purple - drums  
1980-1982 Whitesnake - drums  
1982-1984 Gary Moore - drums  

Guest musician

1990 Pretty Maids - drums  

Personal information

Born on: 29.06.1948

Ian Paice (born 29 June 1948 in Nottingham, England) made his name as the drummer with seminal heavy rock band Deep Purple. As of Jon Lord's departure in 2002, he is the only founding member of the band still performing with the group. Paice is known as one of the most gifted hard rock drummers throughout the genre's entire history.

From 1979-1982 he was a member of Whitesnake. Ian was asked by David Coverdale to join on the Japanese Tour for the 'Lovehunter' album in 1979. He appeared on the albums 'Ready An' Willing', 'Live in the Heart of the City', 'Come An' Get It' & 'Saints and Sinners'. This incarnation of Whitesnake also featured Jon Lord as three members of the Mark III lineup of Deep Purple were in Whitesnake during this period. Following musical differences with David Coverdale he left Whitesnake in 1982.

Ian joined Gary Moore's Band from 1982-1984 until he rejoined the Deep Purple Mark II reunion.

In the summer of '92, Ian Paice guested at a Leukaemia Research charity concert in Oxford, with members of Bad Company and Procol Harum which included a rendition of "A Whiter Shade of Pale".

He guested on Paul McCartney's Run Devil Run (1999) rock'n'roll album. Steve Morse says about Ian Paice: "He's like a real heavy Ringo. He's just so good on the drums, but doesn't want to make a big deal about it."

Ian Paice is married and has three children: James, Emmy and Calli. His wife, Jacky, is the twin sister of Jon Lord's wife, Vicky. Paice lives with his family in the United Kingdom.

He is almost always seen wearing blue (or occasionally green or purple)-tinted spectacle lenses.

Ian uses Pearl drumkits as his main performing drums, incorporating Paiste cymbals and Promark sticks. A devotee of Ludwig kits during the seventies, he switched to Pearl around 1984, which he still plays. He also prefers a single bass drum set-up, both live and in the studio. Also he uses a double bass drum pedal just for "Fireball". Pearl Drums produce his signature snare drum.

He has also released a solo DVD which is aimed at both drummers and music fans in general.

On 5 November 2007 at the Classic Rock Awards, Jacky and Ian Paice received the Childline award in recognition of their philanthropic work with the SunflowerJam raising money for children with cancer. Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden presented them with the award. It was the first time the award has been given.