In a recent YouTube video, Metallica’s Lars Ulrich called Deep Purple’s 1972 album, *Made in Japan*, the best live hard rock record ever. The video was shared on Deep Purple’s official channel to promote the album’s 50th anniversary release.
Ulrich shared his love for the album, saying, “I have heard it just about 18,000 times, and every time I hear it, it just gets better and better and better, and it’s so crazy cool.” The new mix features recordings from three shows in Japan in 1972. Two of the shows took place at Festival Hall in Osaka on August 15 and 16, while the third was at Tokyo’s Budokan on August 17. Universal Music released the Super Deluxe Edition on August 15, marking 53 years since Deep Purple’s first concert.
Ulrich noted how each performance was unique and praised the band’s influence on him since childhood. Deep Purple’s lineup includes Ian Gillan on vocals, Ritchie Blackmore on guitar, Jon Lord on keyboards, Roger Glover on bass, and Ian Paice on drums. They delivered classic hits like “Smoke on the Water,” “Highway Star,” and “Space Truckin’.”
The album quickly gained popularity, reaching No. 6 on the charts and going platinum in the U.S. and much of Europe. Fans can celebrate the 50th anniversary by picking up the 5CD/Blu-ray pack or the special 10LP black vinyl set, available from the band or UMG D2C shops. A 2LP version featuring just the new mixes was also released on August 15.
The big set includes some rare tracks, like a German version of “Black Night” and a Mexican edit of “Space Truckin’.” The entire album is now available on streaming platforms.
