Liner Notes: Inside the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio — 'Machine Head'

Liner Notes: Inside the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio is part storytelling tour, part listening session, exploring the legendary albums recorded in the "Sistine Chapel of rock 'n' roll." Step back in time and experience Machine Head as it was recorded through the RSM.

Guided by one of the National Music Centre's talented musician-educators, each tour will highlight a different landmark record from Deep Purple, Fleetwood Mac, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and more. Hear the music on vintage equipment, uncover the stories behind the recordings, and enjoy a live interpretation by your guide.

Conceived by Rolling Stones tour manager Ian Stewart and built in 1968, the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio (RSM) helped redefine how—and where—albums could be made. For this session, we turn to Machine Head by Deep Purple, a landmark album born out of disruption, famously recorded in Montreux after a fire at the casino forced the band to improvise its recording setup. That moment of chaos became legend in “Smoke on the Water,” which directly references the Mobile Studio parked outside the burning venue and the band capturing ideas in real time as the scene unfolded. Across the record, that intensity does not let up, from the unstoppable momentum of “Highway Star” through to the explosive, sprawling charge of “Space Truckin’.” It is a band completely dialed in, pushing volume, precision, and urgency right to the edge.

Please note: this session includes mature themes and may be best suited for older audiences.

ABOUT THE ROLLING STONES MOBILE STUDIO

Step into music history and listen to iconic albums as they were recorded through the historic Rolling Stones Mobile Studio. As part of this event, you'll get exclusive access to the RSM guided by the National Music Centre's studio engineer.

Dubbed the “Sistine Chapel of rock ’n’ roll,” this historic mobile recording studio was used by British rock legends Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and The Rolling Stones. Conceived by Rolling Stones tour manager Ian Stewart and built in 1968, the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio (RSM) was the first-ever professional mobile recording studio, built to accommodate the band’s wild 24-hour lifestyle. Equipped with a state-of-the-art Helios recording console, the RSM soon gained popularity among other musicians, leading to the creation of countless classic rock albums. Acquired by National Music Centre in 2001, the RSM has since been restored to its former glory and is now parked next to the King Eddy stage where it’s available for artists to record. Many legendary albums were recorded using the RSM, including:

• Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street – The Rolling Stones
• Zeppelin III and Zeppelin IV – Led Zeppelin
• Penguin and Mystery to Me – Fleetwood Mac
• Machine Head, Burn, and Live in Europe – Deep Purple
• Harvest – Neil Young
• Live in Italy – Lou Reed
• Moonflower – Santana
• Live! – Bob Marley and The Wailers
• Alchemy: Dire Straits Live – Dire Straits