Nick Simper
| Nick Simper | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Nicholas John Simper |
| Born |
3 November 1945 Norwood Green, Southall, Middlesex, England |
| Genres | Rock, hard rock, blues rock, psychedelic rock, heavy metal, progressive rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Bass, vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1960–present |
| Associated acts | Johnny Kidd & the Pirates, The Flower Pot Men, Lord Sutch's Savages, Warhorse, Deep Purple |
| Website | nicksimper.com |
Nicholas John Simper (born 3 November 1945) is an English bass guitarist, who was a co-founding member of Deep Purple and Warhorse. In the 1960s he began his professional career in bands such as Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, The Flower Pot Men, and Lord Sutch's Savages.
Simper was born in Frogmore House Maternity Home, Norwood Green, Southall, Middlesex. Prior to co-founding Deep Purple in 1968, Simper played for a number of bands, including The Renegades (1960–61), The Delta Five (1961–63), Some Other Guys (1963–64), Buddy Britten & The Regents renamed Simon Raven Cult (1964–66) and Johnny Kidd & The Pirates. Unfortunately, within a few months of his joining The Pirates, Simper and Kidd were involved in a car crash that took Kidd's life and left Simper injured. After recovering, Simper briefly reactivated The Pirates as a tribute band to Kidd (1966–67) before joining the Garden, the backing band for The Flower Pot Men (1967–68), where he played alongside Jon Lord. (It was Lord who initially suggested that Simper be asked to join Deep Purple when that band was first forming.) Simper also had a brief spell with Lord Sutch's Savages.
Simper played bass on three Deep Purple albums from 1968 to 1969. He was fired from Deep Purple in mid-1969 together with original singer Rod Evans. When new singer Ian Gillan from the band Episode Six was sought as a replacement for Evans, bandmate Roger Glover tagged along to play bass at some rehearsals and recorded the single "Hallelujah" for Deep Purple without Simper even knowing. Deep Purple's drummer Ian Paice soon suggested that the band hire Glover along with Gillan.Ritchie Blackmore had also stated in interviews that he felt Simper's bass playing was too old fashioned and more suited to old style rock 'n roll than the hard rock direction he wanted to take the band in.
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