#68 - Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers
Deep Purple's "Perfect Strangers" reunion story - how the classic lineup's 11-year feud created their biggest 80s hit with groundbreaking digital recording techniques.
Story Behind "Perfect Strangers"
They Hadn't Spoken in 11 Years - Then Magic Happened
They hadn't spoken in 11 years. When Deep Purple's classic lineup finally reunited in 1984, the tension was so thick that Ritchie Blackmore and Ian Gillan communicated only through intermediaries during early sessions. Yet this animosity sparked unexpected creative magic. "Perfect Strangers" emerged from their fractured relationships, with Gillan later admitting, "We were literally perfect strangers to each other again, which gave the song its emotional core."
Writing Through Creative Warfare and Medieval Obsessions
The song's creation began with Blackmore's hypnotic guitar riff, inspired by his obsession with medieval music and Renaissance lute compositions. Gillan crafted lyrics about estrangement that perfectly mirrored their own situation - five former bandmates who'd become strangers. The recording process took 73 takes because the band kept arguing about arrangements, with Roger Glover serving as diplomat-producer to channel their creative warfare into their most powerful composition in over a decade.
"Perfect Strangers" Recording and Production Details
Digital Revolution Meets Analog Power
Recorded at Stowe Studios in Vermont using cutting-edge digital technology, "Perfect Strangers" was among the first major rock albums to fully embrace digital recording. The band used a $200,000 Fairlight CMI sampler and Sony's new digital multitrack system, giving Jon Lord's keyboards crystalline clarity. Blackmore insisted on recording his guitar parts through his vintage Marshall stacks, creating a unique blend of analog warmth and digital precision.
Layered Architecture and the "Wall of Purple" Sound
Blackmore layered 12 separate guitar tracks to create an orchestral wall of sound, while Lord combined his signature Hammond C-3 organ with new Yamaha DX7 synthesizers. The rhythm section of Glover and Paice was recorded using gated reverb techniques popularized by Phil Collins, giving the track its distinctive 80s punch while maintaining Deep Purple's trademark heaviness.
Notes About "Perfect Strangers" by Deep Purple
Release Date: October 1984 (on Perfect Strangers)
Duration: 5:29
Genre: Hard Rock / Heavy Metal
Chart Peaks: #4 UK, #39 US, #1 Germany, #7 Canada
Label: Mercury Records / Polydor
Producer: Roger Glover
Certification: Platinum (US), Double Platinum (Germany)
Recording Takes: 73 (due to creative disagreements)
Deep Purple "Perfect Strangers" Era Band Details
Album Details
Album: Perfect Strangers
Release Date: October 1984
Label: Mercury Records / Polydor
Recording Location: Stowe Studios, Vermont
Producer: Roger Glover
Recording Budget: $850,000 (massive for 1984)
Band Members/Personnel
Ian Gillan - Vocals
Ritchie Blackmore - Guitar
Roger Glover - Bass, Producer
Jon Lord - Keyboards, Hammond Organ
Ian Paice - Drums
Album Production Notes
First Deep Purple album to use fully digital recording technology
Marked the Mark II lineup's reunion after 11-year hiatus (1973-1984)
Combined 70s hard rock foundation with cutting-edge 80s production techniques
Achieved both critical acclaim and massive commercial success across multiple continents
Proved veteran rock acts could adapt to new technology without compromising artistic integrity
Interesting Facts About "Perfect Strangers"
The MTV Video That Saved Their Career
The stark, futuristic "Perfect Strangers" music video cost $180,000 and became an unexpected MTV phenomenon, introducing Deep Purple to Generation X audiences who'd never heard of them. MTV initially rejected it for being "too serious," then placed it in heavy rotation after viewer requests flooded in. The video's success proved that 40-something rockers could compete in the video age, directly influencing comeback strategies for Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and The Who.
The Reunion Template That Changed Rock History
"Perfect Strangers" became the blueprint for classic rock reunions, proving original lineups could create successful new material rather than just nostalgia tours. The album's success directly inspired reunions by Black Sabbath (1997), Judas Priest (2003), and countless others. Rolling Stone called it "the greatest comeback album in rock history," while the song remains Deep Purple's most-streamed track with over 250 million plays across platforms.