How did it Start, by Whom, and Why?

[Lady Nicolette]

In my time, people used to always ask for "Smoke On The Water," by Deep Purple and also "Down By The River," by Neil Young...Kind of funny when you think of Ritchie Blackmore's latest incarnation with his Renaissance band, Blackmore's Night.

[renfairephotog]

"Smoke On The Water" is a better song than "Freebird." I'd rather hear that.

[Welsh Wench]

"Smoke On The Water" is a better song than "Freebird." I'd rather hear that.

Here's a trip down memory lane, RFP!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jp3de50_d8

I asked my kids if they knew who Ritchie Blackmore was and they both said (separately)
"Yeah, Deep Purple!" 

So proud of them!

[VIII]

At the White Horse Tavern, at day's end, the Queen and I would come by to hear Zilch the Tory Steller sing "Wild King" and occasionally "Free Bird" with period-appropriate lyrics.

"If I leavest here tomorrow,
Wouldst thou still remember me?"

[Hibernian]

The Lost Boys do an excellent cover of the song about an unfettered fowl.

[Suzie the Moderately Red]

What's an "album" my kids ask.

A giant black breakable frisbee, right? 

I once explained it to my campers as "a really big, black CD that you coudn't burn or rip".