Rodney Appleby is a bass guitarist who was part of Ian Gillan's backing band on the Deep Purple frontman's US solo tour in August and September 2006. In November 2006, Appleby was shot in the jaw. Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre.