Highway Star <Official — 2026>

"Highway Star" has a legendary origin story. On September 13, 1971, while traveling to a gig in Portsmouth, UK, a journalist asked Ritchie Blackmore how the band wrote their songs. To demonstrate, Blackmore grabbed an acoustic guitar, began playing a repeating G-note riff, and Ian Gillan improvised lyrics on the spot. The song was polished and performed that same night. Musical Composition and Style

Released as the opening track on the landmark 1972 album Machine Head , "Highway Star" is widely recognized as one of the quintessential hard rock songs and a foundational influence on speed metal. It is a high-octane celebration of speed, featuring blistering musicianship from the band's classic Mark II lineup. Origins: Born on a Bus Highway Star