The paths of music and scientific discovery have crossed once again with new fossils named in honor of rock bands. This time, members of Deep Purple had their names used in the names of newly discovered specimens.
According to Loudwire , paleontologists combined the names of drummer Ian Paice and Joe Petagno , responsible for the artwork of Deep Purple, to create the scientific name Ophiopetagno Paicei for a 428-million-year-old brittle star fossil found on the Swedish island of Gotland. A second fossil was named Muldaster Haakei in homage to drummer Tomas Haake of the band Meshuggah .
Explaining the reason for choosing the names, the lead author of the research, Dr. Ben Thuy , who is a scientist at the Luxembourg Museum of Natural History and drummer for a metal band called Sleepers' Guilt in his spare time, said that "the music of Deep Purple and Meshuggah really helped us relieve tension, renew inspiration and calm our minds," so he decided on "the obvious choice of honoring two of my idols."
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