“Smoke on the Water” is dead

CLEAR LAKE, Iowa — The song Smoke on the Water is dead — well at least at Iowa State football games.

It was becoming clear that Deep Purple’s 1972 hit wouldn’t be returning as the Cyclones’ entrance song over the past several weeks but head coach Matt Campbell slammed the coffin and hammered in the nail during Wednesday’s Cyclone Tailgate Tour stop in Clear Lake.

“I don’t even know Smoke on the Water, so that’s out,” Campbell said with a laugh. “We’ve been going anywhere from WWE to, potentially, some good rap. You know, we’ll figure it out.”

The Cyclones ran out to “Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s intro music for the spring game last month but the permanent song hasn’t been decided.

“It will be cool,” Campbell said. “I can promise you that.”