He and drummer Ian Paice were the only continual band members during the period from 1968 to 1976, and also from when it was reestablished in 1984 until Lord's retirement from Deep Purple in 2002.

Ulrich has also named other heavy metal drummers such as Ian Paice and Bill Ward as influences on his playing.

During this time Ian Paice was also heavily involved in doing sessions for various artists from the stable of the famous 60s producer Derek Lawrence.

In July 1989 Ian Paice took part in George Harrison's recording session at Friar Park, which resulted in three songs " Cheer Down ", " Cockamamie Business " and " Poor Little Girl ", which also featured Jeff Lynne, Jim Horn and Richard Tandy among others.

They have also released two studio albums on both of which Ian Paice has guested.

The band also featured Paul Martinez on bass who had played alongside Ashton and Paice in Paice, Ashton & Lord in 1976 / 1977.

Since 2006 Paice is also involved in The Sunflower Jam, a London-based charity founded by his wife Jacky Paice and also involving actor Jeremy Irons.

Birch has also produced and engineered albums for numerous artists, such as Deep Purple-related projects ( Rainbow, Paice, Ashton & Lord, Whitesnake, Roger Glover, Jon Lord ), but also Fleetwood Mac, Black Sabbath, Wayne County & the Electric Chairs and Blue Öyster Cult.

Initially, the London business comprised the accounts and goodwill transferred to it from an old family friend, Nathaniel Paice, a London merchant who was retiring, but also much business came from John and Charles Baring & Co. and other Exeter merchants who required a London agent.

One album was recorded by Paice, Ashton & Lord, and also a video in which the band were shown recording their first album in the studio recording sessions.

Eager to pay off a huge tax bill upon his return the UK in the late-1970s ( Purple's excesses included their own tour jet and a home Lord rented in Hollywood from actress Ann-Margret ), Lord joined former Deep Purple band member David Coverdale's new band, Whitesnake in August 1978 ( Paice joined them in 1980 and stayed till 1982 ).

He was joined by Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Paice and Jon Lord, who would later form Deep Purple.

Deep Purple, Ian Paice 1970In 1966 Paice joined The MI5, which soon changed its name to The Maze and produced a number of singles, recorded mainly in Italy and France.

In November 1982 Ian Paice joined Gary Moore for an album date (" Corridors of Power ").

In March 1999 Ian Paice joined Paul McCartney at Abbey Road studios for the recording of Run Devil Run, released in October that year.

On 21 June 2004 Smith and Paice joined forces at the launch of the London Drum Company.

Ian Paice joined Tony Ashton at two performances at the Hell Blues Festival on 10 and 11 September 1999 in Norway.

On 31 March – 1 April 2006 Ian Paice joined Don Airey, Thomas Blug and Thijs van Leer at impromptu performances held during the ProLight + Sound fair in Frankfurt, Germany.

On 6 September 2009 Ian Paice joined Neil Murray, Doogie White, Jonathan Noyce, Clive Bunker and Phil Hilborne at a " Night with Jethro Tull and Deep Purple " concert in Turin, Italy.

Deep Purple's Jon Lord joined in the summer of 1978 and, after recording Lovehunter in 1979, Dowle was replaced by Ian Paice.

In 1982, Neil Murray and Ian Paice both joined Gary Moore for a very successful 2 years.

Ian Paice and Jon Lord, Deep Purple's drummer and keyboardist, joined Tony Ashton, a British keyboardist and singer, for this project ; the band was completed with Bernie Marsden on guitar and Paul Martinez on bass.

Later on, Paice played in Gary Moore's band before he and Lord joined the re-formed Deep Purple in 1984, where Paice remains to this day.

The band featured Rod Evans, who alongside Paice was to form the original line-up of Deep Purple in February 1968.

Ian Paice got his first drum kit at 15.

In 1974 Ian Paice was among English rock musicians invited by Eddie Harris, an American jazz player, to take part in the saxophonist's London sessions at Morgan Studios.

On 19 June 1992 Ian Paice was among guest musicians performing at the Leukaemia Research charity concert in Oxford.

On October 20, 1992 in New York, Ian Paice played at the John Bonham Tribute alongside Jason Bonham, Tommy Aldridge, Denny Carmassi, and Frankie Banali among others.

Ian Paice entertained more than 1000 people at a special charity concert in Reading on 13 January 2006.

Ian Paice appeared at the Pearl Day ( Pearl drums event ) which was held on 1 June 2008 at the East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham, UK.

On April 2, 2012 Ian Paice performed at the Buddy Rich 25th Anniversary Memorial Concert at the London Palladium.

* September – UK, London – charity concert at The Sunflower Jam, organised by Jacky Paice

* 20 September – UK, London – concert at The Sunflower Jam, organised by Jacky Paice

* 25 September – UK, England, London – charity concert at The Sunflower Jam, organised by Jacky Paice

* 24 September – UK, England, London – concert at The Sunflower Jam, organised by Jacky Paice

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.

On April 2, 2012 Ian Paice was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Buddy Rich 25th Anniversary Memorial Concert at the London Palladium.

Ian Paice is married and has three children: James, Emmy and Calli.

Murry and Paice recorded three albums with Moore: Corridors Of Power, Victims of The Future and Rocking Every Night-Live In Japan.

From September 2004 until his return to government, Paice served as Shadow Minister for Agriculture, a post he later took up in government.

Original Deep Purple drummer Ian Paice has played with members of Deep Purple tribute band Purpendicular in 2002, 2004 and 2007, and the whole band in December 2008 & March 2012 ( which included a surprise appearance of Original Deep Purple Bassist Roger Glover in Switzerland ) on European tours.