I believe we're at Mk VIII!
Mk I - Evans/Simper line up, it's 1968, Deep Purple are a band manufactured by three business men, hand-picked players with an excellent gigging reputation, but so far no commercial success
Mk II - the other three decide that Evans and Simper are not cutting it, Rod Stewart is not considered good enough to be their Robert Plant, Glover/Gillan line up, the golden era ...
Mk III - Gillan has had enough, Blackmore wants a new, more aggressive bass player (a decision he will regret), Paul Rodgers refuses an offer, John Lawton misses an audition, Hughes/Coverdale line up
Mk IV - Blackers hands in his notice to go over the Rainbow, Bolin blinds everyone at an audition he really doesn't want to go to and introduces DP to the fallacies of heroin addiction, Purple eventually split in early 1976
Mk V - Gillan decides he cannot compare to Joelene who, alora!, comes from over the Rainbow New Joisie after DP's first choice - Survivor's Jimi Jamison - isn't allowed to join by his (Italian) management ...
Mk VI - Gillan is begged to return by everyone except Blackmore, technically it's Mk II again (or Mark 2.3), but Blackers throws a tantrum before the planned Japan tour, Satriani - another Italian - helps out, recommended by Mr Udo, their Japanese promoter ...
Mk VII - Satriani returns to his solo career, Morse's devoted vegetarian question whether he will have to wear leather on stage is answered in the negative, after a few test gigs in Mexico and South Korea he joins
Mk VIII - Lord is tired of touring and wants to devote time to other music, but the band doesn't want to slow down, Don Airey gets a call ...