Deep Purple or Rush?

[WildRanger]

Which classic rock band do you prefer or which classic rock band do you consider better between these two?
Vote and discuss.

[El Barto]

I sense a blowout coming on.

[Zydar]

I like me some Deep Purple, but Rush is... Rush.

[WildRanger]

I sense a blowout coming on.

In whose favor?

[bl5150]

I sense a blowout coming on.

In whose favor?

Rush.

For me -  Deep Purple 

[WildRanger]

For me -  Deep Purple 

Wise choice, sir.   
I'm absolutely a big fan of both bands, but although Rush have many strong albums in their discography and they're more consistant than Purple during their classic period, they haven't made an album that is so great, inventive and groundbreaking as Deep Purple In Rock. DP gets my vote for In Rock alone(that album crushes any Rush album in my book).

[Stadler]

I actually came in here lamenting this, because I feel like it's comparing Kate Upton to Paul Williams, or Frank Sinatra to Anthony Keidis.   

I know for me, I love both of them, but Ritchie Blackmore is my favorite musician of all time, ever, and  while there is some hit or miss stuff in the catalog - and Deep Purple could learn a thing or two from Rush in terms of "band relationships" and "how to respect your partners" - I'm a Purple man. 

Interesting, because "Hemispheres" is in my top five albums of all time, and Deep Purple probably doesn't have ONE album that reaches that level, but Purple has about 6 or 7 that are just a hair below that, and so...

Purple. 

[ProfessorPeart]

I like me some Deep Purple, but Rush is... Rush.

This. Couldn't have said it better.

[jjrock88]

I like me some Deep Purple, but Rush is... Rush.

[romdrums]

Rush. Rush.  Thought I heard you calling that name now, Rush. Rush.  There's no way you can say they're the same now, Rush. Rush.

[Nick]

Anne Frank could see the outcome of this poll.

[Setlist Scotty]

I like me some Deep Purple, but Rush is... Rush.

This. Couldn't have said it better.

So much this. I was introduced to both bands at roughly the same time by listening to the hard rock radio stations back in the day (1979-80). While there were some tracks from DP that I really enjoyed, Rush grabbed my attention far above and beyond them and every other band I heard. They were my first favorite band, and have firmly stayed as a close second all these years later. DP, as great, legendary and influential as they are, have never come close to making it in my top ten bands ever.
 
 

Anne Frank could see the outcome of this poll.

Don't you mean Helen Keller? 

[Cool Chris]

Anne Frank could see the outcome of this poll.

Don't you mean Helen Keller? 

I did nazi that coming!

[LudwigVan]

Deep Purple. 

I love the improvisational/jam factor that they brought to their live performances.  There is an element of unpredictability and combustibility with DP that you just don't get with Rush (love them as I do). 

[TAC]

While I think Deep Purple has the most iconic moment/album (Made In Japan). between the two bands, their influence really only spans across the first Mark II and Mark III Eras. What is that’? ‘71-76?

Rush would be so much more influential over a so much longer of a period with a far more consistent discography.

[Mladen]

Rush. By far. Interestingly enough, however, I've never considered them classic rock.

Deep Purple is an iconic band, but I was actually never TRULY blown away by anything they did. Sure, some songs are great, some albums as whole are pretty darn good, but nothing ever struck me as genius or perfect. And that's coming from a guy that has been listening to Deep Purple for more than 10 years and saw them live.

[The Walrus]

One of these bands gives me a rush, the other I haven't explored deeply.

Rush, easily. 

[King Postwhore]

I've seen Rush 31 times live.  Deep Purple 2.

You have my vote.

[Stadler]

While I think Deep Purple has the most iconic moment/album (Made In Japan). between the two bands, their influence really only spans across the first Mark II and Mark III Eras. What is that’? ‘71-76?

Rush would be so much more influential over a so much longer of a period with a far more consistent discography.

That short sells the Morse era.  You wounldn't be the first to do so - thus you're right about "influence" - but Abandon is as good as anything that came before.

[TAC]

While I think Deep Purple has the most iconic moment/album (Made In Japan). between the two bands, their influence really only spans across the first Mark II and Mark III Eras. What is that’? ‘71-76?

Rush would be so much more influential over a so much longer of a period with a far more consistent discography.

That short sells the Morse era.  You wounldn't be the first to do so - thus you're right about "influence" - but Abandon is as good as anything that came before.

Um...the Morse Era short sells the Morse Era. 

[Stadler]

While I think Deep Purple has the most iconic moment/album (Made In Japan). between the two bands, their influence really only spans across the first Mark II and Mark III Eras. What is that’? ‘71-76?

Rush would be so much more influential over a so much longer of a period with a far more consistent discography.

That short sells the Morse era.  You wounldn't be the first to do so - thus you're right about "influence" - but Abandon is as good as anything that came before.

Um...the Morse Era short sells the Morse Era. 

HAHAHA, that got a laugh out loud.  Nicely done.

[AngelBack]

Easily Rush but Purple probably gets shorted in terms of influence on the rock genre.  Woman from Tokyo was the prototype for rock mini epics to this day.

[Zantera]

Rush probably has a stronger discography overall but I'm gonna have to go with Deep Purple. I think their best stuff (Made in Japan comes to mind) stands on a level above anything Rush has done.

[busty sinclair]

i've got to go with Rush. I love both bands but rush to me is transcendent. They capture my imagination in a way that deep purple will never do and alot of that comes from neils lyrical contributions.

[Lowdz]

Both.

But Rush

[wolfking]

Rush, by miles and miles.

[ChuckSteak]

Hard to say. I don't know the whole discography of neither. Based on what I know, I prefer Rush. But not by much.

[Mister Gold]

Rush by a country mile.

[King Postwhore]

Rush by a country mile.

That mile driven in a Red Barchetta?

[KevShmev]

Rush would get my vote over any other band, but this one isn't close.  Deep Purple has a dozen or so songs I like a lot, but they were never a band I was nuts about or binged on. 

[bosk1]

I'll just be right here searching for the "neither" button. 

[Cool Chris]

I am not a big fan of blanket statements like "Rush, because they are Rush" but in this instance I will go with Rush. And I am only a 1976-1981 fan of theirs. But I would put that stretch up with any band's whole discography.

DP's history seems to... scattered(?) with all the line-up changes and periods of inactivity/limited activity. They definitely have some high points in rock history, but on the whole they fall short of the elite tier where bands like Rush reside.

[TAC]

And I am only a 1976-1981 fan of theirs. But I would put that stretch up with any band's whole discography.

As would I.

[Big Hath]

Rush, by miles and miles.

this.

and I do like me some Deep Purple

[Mister Gold]

Rush by a country mile.

That mile driven in a Red Barchetta?

And then another mile driven by a Caravan!