California Jam special on WPMD.org
Don Branker, the co-producer and stage announcer for 1974 California Jam and 1978 California Jam II, was a guest on the March 15, 2008 edition of WPMD.org’s “Rock 50″ radio show with Mike Stark. According to Mike, Don told “some great stories about both events including Deep Purple’s trashing of a television camera and a backstage story about Aerosmith that brings ‘rock ‘n roll arrogance’ to a new level.”
You can hear it at WPMD.org as part of the “on-demand” player that is on the homepage or directly at this location (160MB MP3 file).
Thanks to Daniel Bengtsson and Blabbermouth.net for the info.
Keywords: California Jam, Interviews
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
Ah. The ‘Deep Purple Sucks Years.’
It’s Gillan or nothing.
March 21st, 2008 at 03:21No no, The Great Mk III - years…DC & Hughes were awesome, gave the band a (then)much needed kick in the ass and a new(ish) direction.
Heaven & Hell are doing it, so could Coverdale, Hughes, Blackmore & Lord…it would be huge, and they would easily wipe the floor with the current Morse-Purple
Cheers, Sami
March 21st, 2008 at 07:17If (and that is a big if) they could “wipe the floor” with the current Morse-Purple, then why don’t they do it? Do you really think that Jon Lord or any of the others are interested in “wiping the floor” with the current DP? I think they are pretty much above things like that as everyone should be, just enjoy each MK for what they were. If (there is that big word again) there would ever be any MKIII reunion it would be great, extra music not a “wiping” competion, and if you don’t like the Morse-Purple era don’t buy or don’t listen. Cheers?
March 21st, 2008 at 14:40Dear Stoffer…’wiping the floor’ was meant tongue in cheek, don’t get so upset.
March 21st, 2008 at 17:32Any possible(or not possible)re-unions are not a rival thing of course, they would add nicely to the great legacy of DP!
Luckily we have Mr. Glenn Hughes who is doing a fantastic job in keeping the Mk III/-IV repertoire alive, which it truly deserves!!
I have listened and bought Morse era-Purple, even though they’re not my favourite line-up’s…Purpendicular & ROTD are fine albums, that’s for sure.
Have a good weekend everybody, Cheers?
Dear Sami thanks for clearing that up, have a great weekend yourself.
March 21st, 2008 at 18:39Ah yes, the California Jam at the Ontario Motor Speedway in SoCal. I was at that show and I was 15 years old, and I clearly remember Deep Purple tearing it up on You Fool Know One
Performances by all the bands were aired on ABC In Concert series a couple of weeks after the show. One of the best Blackmore shows I ever witnessed was at the Peppermint Beach Club located in Virginia Beach. It was a warm-up show for the Difficult to Cure tour and we had a little round table right in front of Ritchie. I remember I made a fool of myself taking photos of Ritchie and Rainbow and I even ran my index finder across his guitar strings behind the nut. I would like to thank the club for not throwing me out because I got to see an electrifying show that included a Jimi Hendrix version of Fire with Joe Lynn singing, “Move over Rover, and let Ritchie take over”. 
March 22nd, 2008 at 19:14A Blackmore/Coverdale/Hughes collaboration would be interesting indeed. Lord wouldn’t do it, but dueling Purples with different approaches…the competition could make it very, very, interesting.
March 24th, 2008 at 01:37These hypotheticals are always ridiculous, however I think Coverdale has lost it and isn’t good enough these days to get on stage with Blackmore and Hughes. Better idea for a Quasi Mark III line-up would be:
March 25th, 2008 at 04:34Blackmore Hughes Lord Rondinelli Turner.
Rondinelli?!?!?!? Turner!?!?!?!?
March 25th, 2008 at 19:58Are you serious, Mark? No, you’re not, of course…
Ian Paice is one and only, irreplaceable member of all DP lineups!! You just can’t put Rondinelli and DP in the same sentence!
And Turner is biggest mistake in DP history, just waste of time.
Nemanja, if you read the above part of the discussion, you’d see they were talking about two line-ups of Purple existing at the same time. Ian Paice is the best rock drummer of all time - no doubt about that.
Rondinelli is extremely good - a perfect mix of Bonham and Paice, therefore the perfect choice for this hypothetical parallel DP. Fortune Teller and Breakfast in Bed are the best songs since Perfect Strangers and The Unwritten Law. Turner does panzy around too much, but that doesn’t take away from his good voice.
March 26th, 2008 at 00:43How about Black Sabbath, they were there to ? But you can only see one or two songs on you tube . As a Sabbath fan as well it’s dissapointing there concert hasn’t been released . As well as some other footage from the other acts playing that day! It would be interesting to see more . But Deep Purple were red hot that night , hard sounding , blues , improvising Ritchie played one of best show ’s that night.
March 26th, 2008 at 02:14The only drummer that could have replaced Ian would have been Cozy Powell . He was a super drummer a madman behind the kit , he gave those drums a real hard hit.
I’m sure had Ian left at any stage when Blackmore was in he would have called him.
Rondinelli is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy above Morse, so stop saying crap.
I d prefer DTC/Straight between the eyes line up above any line up with Morse/
DP can,t be without Ritchie………
DP can be without Ian Gillan, my hero,MIND YOU!!!, Mark 3 has proven that. Hell, even Mk 1 has proven that.
What DP also can do without is the APPROACH TO SOUND FASHIONABLE, LIKE THEY DID WITH hobl, RUINING AN OTHER WISE EXCELLENT ALBUM……….
Only Tommy made an impact which was acceptable, pity he fucked up live………..
STYLE WISE, Morse is terrible for the DP sound.
It’s boring, annoying, disrespectful, ……..
CUT THAT CRAP!
It’s an insult to DP and everone who KNOWS what a DP sound should be………
It’s not enough Don makes an great effort to replace Lordy……….
I just can.t stand Morse and his monotonous solo’s, his wanking and doodling..
NO MAGIC!
NO EXCITEMENT, only boredom……..
Whatever……….
It’s late………
I drink some more wine and go to sleep………..
Hopefully not be “BORN AGAIN” TOMORROW……….
IAN THOUGHT HE DID WHILE drinking all those gallons of alcohol, smoking(I hate smoking! Go away , you filthy egotistic junkies!)) and pretending he ’s better singer than before…………
I hate it when people I really admire lose their credibility……………
What’s left after that?
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
March 27th, 2008 at 00:28Having listened to the broadcast and Mark III’s version of “Smoke on the Water” - I’m shaking my head in disbelief that anyone would believe this lineup is superior.
“Might Just Take Your Life” and “Sail Away from Burn still sound good after all these years, BUT, listening to Glenn Hughes at the end of SOTW - talk about embarrassing! Talk about self indulgent!
Glenn Hughes is a really talented guy and a great singer, don’t get me wrong. It must have been the times.
March 27th, 2008 at 18:27There is much more to Mark 3 than those 2 tracks and Glenn Hughes misplaced screamings…..
And that comes from some one who hated this kinda outings in DP after he first fell in love with Mark 2……….
You forgot Mistreated, BURN, You fool no one, a great live rendition of Space truckin’….., Soldier of fortune, Stormbringer, and much more……….
Talking about being very selective………
March 28th, 2008 at 01:09Steve Morse has saved the band from a earley retirement! It’s over a decade since he joined & they are still around. If he wasn’t the right man they wouldn’t be playing tours as we speak . He is playing better music than Ritchie at the moment who is lost in playing his Robin Hood medieval music!
March 28th, 2008 at 10:30Ritchie was a great hard rock guitarist with Dio but now his lost it. Steve gives the band a modern edge to it, Steve can play heavy if he wants but the whole band are older now & want lighter music. They could have got John Sykes or Yngwie Malmsteen but Morse was the man they were after.
I think most Purple fans has their own favorites, but to me it changes all the time. If I see Purple today they are great, then I listen to Made in Japan and then Mrk II is THE Purple line up. Next comes Mrk III and I just miss them so much. What I’m trying to say is that all the MRKs of DP are great in their own way.
March 28th, 2008 at 18:47I would love to see MrkII or III back for a tour or so, but I’m sure that the way they are having fun these day, makes it difficult - also with the sad fact that nothing (I’m sad to say) seems to get RB back with the Fender.
My only problem these days are that DP of today are to “safe”. No surprises at all. What is wrong with playing Mrk. III songs? They played “The boys are back in Town” some years ago and they still play Hush, which is NOT a DP song. It’s the same and the same and same every times they hit the road, but still it’s great to see them. They can just do it so much better!
Ho Hummmm….
Always the S.O.S. “I like Steve”…..”no, I like Ritchie”……..”No, I like Glenn”…….”No, I like David”……No, I like Joe”…..”No, I like Ian”…….
For God’s Sake…….Does Deep Purple realize that their present fan base has evolved into “Teen Magazine” Boppers whom cut out pictures of their favorite player and paste them on their notebooks for school? I’ve read the interviews from Mr. Gillan, whereby he states that their audiences are much younger now at this time. I now believe it. Proof is in the Blogs…….
Me personally? I like all things Purple, and each line-up hs it’s “Place In Line”, but again as usual, I’ll save that for a blog asking that. I could have sworn this one was regarding a particular subject…..Cal Jam. Everyone here has A.D.D. Can’t stay on the proper subject for more than 3 entries. Time to take your medicine now…….
Cheers.
March 28th, 2008 at 23:47In response to purple priest: Yes, “Burn” is a standout track, (though lyrically it’s a bit Spinal Tap-ish). High energy, great playing and stand out solos from Blackmore and Lord. “You Fool No One” and “Mistreated” don’t hold up so well for me. To each his own of course. I think that “In Rock”, “Fireball” and “Machine Head” are vastly superior to Mark III’s output.
As for the Steve Morse debate: He’s been a brilliant contributor to DP. Those people pining for the days of Blackmore should take a reality check. He lost interest in rock n roll quite awhile ago. And as good as he was as someone who could write cool riffs and shape songs - he was not what you’d call a “team player”. The people who play with him are quickly relegated to sideman status.
“Rapture”, “Bananas” and “Purpendicular” are fantastic albums!
March 29th, 2008 at 11:44I remember seeing the event on Television “Live” as it happened. By this time, I was already a Purple fan, having all of their records prior to MK-3. I played “Live in Japan” all day…..every day. What a great Live show MK-2 did. When “Burn” came out and I found that the line-up had changed I was devistated. I bought the album and it was so different from the previous, that I was truly unhappy. Then came “Cal Jam” on national Television. Even though I was disapointed with the current line-up, I had to watch this concert. Well I was even further disapointed. Blackmore, Lord and Paicey were astonishing in themselves. David was David and sang his songs well. Glenn made me want to do to my TV, what Ritchie did to the Camera during Space Truckin’. His off timed high pitched squeals were annoying to say the least (he still has a problem in that area to this day). The Machine Head tunes were diplorable from this line-up.
After the show, I cranked up “Live in Japan” and washed “Cal Jam” out of my memory. As time and years went by, I have grown to like and appreciate those years and now 35 years later I listen to all things Purple and all of it has it’s place. Most of all, the present line-up. I guest I can understand Gillan ignoring the MK-3 material when playing live, because the way Coverdale and Hughes sounded on the MK-2 stuff was like fingernails on a chalkboard and he probably doesn’t want to take that chance. Can you imagine the criticizm?Each MK is GREAT in it’s time, and the musicians can do a great job covering and crossing over, but the Singers performance is what is most criticised and the ego would be hit pretty hard if it was poorly done. So, that is why you go out and buy the records. Listen to each MK and enjoy the difference, but revel in whichever is the present line-up. They are all Great and all important.
There now…….
March 29th, 2008 at 16:11I never ask for Ian singing Mark 3 songs…………
Afraid that he does not do them justice?
Well, I just think those are not written for his voice……….
I might be wrong on a few of them?
He even could improve some?
Hell, I always say that they should redo badly produced albums which were in it self great albums.
Example : The House Of Blue Light
Ian might redo some Slaves and Masters tracks? Put on his own lyrics……..a proper martin Birch kinda production……….and a very well known banjo player……
RB could do it if he WANTED to.
It’s not that he can’t……….
Sob sob
hehehe
The(his , I suppose?)ego would be hurt if
he sang Mk 3 songs poorly?
He has gave a lot of poor singing over the years………
March 29th, 2008 at 16:46Throught it all the old majestic voice always did shine on……..Just to PAIN you and remember how excellent he could sing……….
To Tracy,
You have a very intelligent view and an impartial approach .Yet, we see already that your brave effort to get certain more open minded and understanding ,is changing in a lost attempt.Some don’t catch (or don’t want to ) the point of your reply. Still,while reading those other empty, boring’ repeated reply’s’ of certain are a complete waste of time , it feels so good to enjoy your wise thoughts! Thanks a lot for the pure air!!!
Cheers!
Tracy, do you know perhaps on the youtube ‘vocal range of IG’ what the last icy high melody is called? We also had put also a little question for you in blog ‘ Someone stole my guitare’. Be sure, we cross the fingers for all luck for the LOzT COAz performances’
March 30th, 2008 at 19:29http://www.myspace.com/californiajam74
March 31st, 2008 at 01:21????????!!!!???????
March 31st, 2008 at 15:24Hello again Mike and Charlotte….
Thanks for the kind words……don’t get that too often from the pinpointed narrowheads. Most folks just don’t get it.
Sorry, can’t help you with the “Icy High” name per say. I call it “Yeowwwwwwww!” Those were the days when he could hit those. Luckily he still does a great job with all the rest. I’ll check out the other Blog for your comments. “LOzT CAUz” is on hold right now. Looking for new Guitarist and Bass. Starting new in a new state.
Cheers
Sami, does that clear things up?
April 1st, 2008 at 03:13Hello Tracy. Don’t need no clearance here, mate…
good luck with your band,
Cheers from ‘the pinpointed narrowheads’
p.s. Keep those posts coming, Priest…
April 1st, 2008 at 13:33you’re a breath of fresh air!
Yes, CAL JAM was amazing , but only because of RITCHIE , IAN , & JON … they made it great , and the mark 2 version of DP totally obliterates mark 3, mark 4 , etc….. c’mon , people , you just gotta realize …. DEEP PURPLE IN ROCK, FIREBALL, MACHINE HEAD, MADE IN JAPAN , WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE……. LEGENDARY PERFORMANCES THAT WILL FOREVER REMAIN SO……. ‘NUFF SAID….
April 7th, 2008 at 20:11oh yeah , almost forgot, PERFECT STRANGERS also another excellent album from the CLASSIC DP line-up…. and for me , the last great one …… sigh……..why do bands have to change because of ego or musical differences ?? why can’t the song remain the same ??
April 7th, 2008 at 20:17Cal jam has it’s place in Purple History.
I remember seeing it happen on TV and even though I wasn’t happy with the change in line-up, I was exillerated beyond belief.
That being said, if you must remain a MK-2 fan and totally discredit the rest of Purpldom, then by all means, crank up the old records and live your little boxed in life to the fullest. That is your right.
Before MK-3, yes there was MK-2. they were wonderful. Before MK-2 there was MK-1. Wonderful also. Each MK has it’s place. None as important as the one that is present. All great. All important. Now is who they are and I suggest you just get over it.
Cheers.
April 16th, 2008 at 03:04