A Good Name for a Rock Band: At a band meeting to pick a name, Blackmore suggested the standard "Deep Purple", because it was his grandmother's favourite song and she would often pester him to play it. Everybody else agreed to the suggestion.
Creator Backlash: Ritchie Blackmore disliked "When A Blind Man Cries".
Fan Nickname: Mark <insert Roman numeral>; the current incarnation of the band is considered to be Mark VIII. Also, Man in Black for Ritchie Blackmore, due to his name and his preference for darker clothing.
Name's the Same: No, bassist Glenn Hughes of Marks III and IV isn't one of the Village People. And the album Stormbringer may not be related to Michael Moorcock's work, or at least David Coverdale claims.
What Could Have Been: Joe Satriani was asked to fill in for Ritchie Blackmore after he left the band for good in the middle of a tour. The band asked him to formally join, but contractual obligations prevented him from doing so.