Police Detective Discovers Unreleased Deep Purple Tracks Hidden in Abandoned Los Angeles Apartment
Los Angeles, CA – May 20, 2025 — A routine investigation into an abandoned apartment in downtown Los Angeles took an unexpected turn this week when a police detective uncovered what appear to be previously unreleased music tracks by legendary British rock band Deep Purple.
Detective Luis Ramirez of the LAPD was responding to a report of suspicious activity in a long-vacant unit on South Alameda Street. Inside the apartment, amidst dust-covered furniture and boxes of old electronics, he discovered several reels of analog tape labeled with dates ranging from 1974 to 1976 — an era widely considered a creative peak for the band.
“I noticed an old tape machine and several canisters stacked near it,” said Ramirez. “Most were unmarked, but a few had ‘DP’ followed by song titles I didn’t recognize. Being a fan, I knew I might have stumbled onto something rare.”
The tapes have since been handed over to a forensic audio team and music archivists for verification. Early analysis suggests the tracks include alternate takes, demo recordings, and at least three complete songs that do not appear on any known Deep Purple album.
Music historian Dr. Rachel Klein, who has been consulted in the preliminary evaluation, called the find “potentially monumental.”
“If authentic, these tapes could offer a rare window into the band’s creative process during the mid-’70s,” said Klein. “It’s extremely rare to find this kind of material completely untouched and unknown.”
The apartment’s previous tenant, believed to be a former audio engineer who worked in various Hollywood recording studios during the 1970s, has not been located. Authorities are trying to trace ownership and determine how the tapes ended up in the abandoned unit.
Representatives for Deep Purple have not yet issued an official comment but are reportedly in contact with local authorities.
The tapes are now under secure custody, pending legal review and authentication. If verified and cleared for release, fans could soon hear a collection of unheard Deep Purple music nearly 50 years after it was recorded.
