the source of inspiration for the Deep Purple song “Smoke on the Water.”

As the classic rock legends – who now count guitarist Simon McBride among their ranks – played the instantly recognizable riff to an audience of 5,000, the curtain at the back of the stage dropped to reveal the lake and a setup of actual fire – and smoke – on the water.

Frontman Ian Gillan then instructed the crowd to take over singing duties for a crowd sing-along moment. This performance marked the 10th time Deep Purple have performed at the festival.

On the eve of the recording session, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention were playing in the casino’s theater. However, at the beginning of King Kong‘s synth solo, someone fired a flared gun towards the ceiling, and the casino caught fire – alongside the Mothers’ equipment.

The following morning, I was in my room alone and I woke up with those words on my lips, and I said them out to an empty room. And then I kind of really woke up and I said, ‘What did I just say? Smoke on the water?’ No idea what it meant. I mentioned it to Ian [Gillan] and he said, ‘Yeah, sounds like a drug song. Better not do that.’”

As the classic rock legends – who now count guitarist Simon McBride among their ranks – played the instantly recognizable riff to an audience of 5,000, the curtain at the back of the stage dropped to reveal the lake and a setup of actual fire – and smoke – on the water.

Frontman Ian Gillan then instructed the crowd to take over singing duties for a crowd sing-along moment. This performance marked the 10th time Deep Purple have performed at the festival.

On the eve of the recording session, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention were playing in the casino’s theater. However, at the beginning of King Kong‘s synth solo, someone fired a flared gun towards the ceiling, and the casino caught fire – alongside the Mothers’ equipment.