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Fire in the sky – KB Hallen RIP

KB Hallen on fire

On Wednesday, one of Scandinavia’s most classic venues burned down. KB Hallen in Copenhagen has seen many stars raise the heat in the hall and was of course the venue where the classic Deep Purple DVD from 1972 was recorded. Purple has played there many times after that. The latest DP related concert in the 3.000 capacity hall was Black Country Communion this summer.

There are now discussions between the owners of the hall and the city of Copenhagen if the hall can be rebuilt again. The hall has been rebuilt once before, when it was bombed by Danish nazis in 1944. Since it’s opening in 1938 lots of prominent names in music has played the venue, among them The Who, Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Black Sabbath, Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie and Led Zeppelin.

Deep Purple backstage at MK. III’s first gig in KB Hallen, December 9, 1973. (Photo: (c) Jørgen Angel)

Deep Purple KB Hallen 1974

Highway Star live in KB Hallen 1972.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_-4-dLJjpI

Pictures from tv2.dk and Scanpix.



24 Comments to “Fire in the sky – KB Hallen RIP”:

  1. 1
    Mads Rud Larsen says:

    It’s so sad! My parents were supposed to go to the Whitesnake concert in K.B. Hallen 22/11-2011, but it’s now moved. (Surprise!) I went to the Deep Purple concert there in 2009. It’s their latest show in there, and it was my first DP show ever!

  2. 2
    Marcelo Soares says:

    The Mk3 gig was in December 9, 1973 (not 1974). Amazing pic!

    According to the data I’ve collected in a spreadsheet, DP played, in all, 8 concerts at the place.

    March 1, 1972 (Mk2)
    Feb 10, 1973 (Mk2)
    Dec 9, 1973 (Mk3)
    Oct 1, 1998 (Mk7)
    Nov 30, 2003 (Mk8)
    Jan 28, 2006 (Mk8)
    Aug 6, 2008 (Mk8)
    July 13, 2009 (Mk8)

  3. 3
    Marcelo Soares says:

    Fond memories here of the day I visited the place in the noble company of Rasmus Heide, three years ago.

  4. 4
    Svante Axbacke says:

    Thanks, Marcelo. I’ve updated the date.

  5. 5
    Kasper/Denmark says:

    It’s so sad. I’ve seen some of the best Deep Purple shows there. The 2006 show as a personal favourite, if my memory is correct.
    The man in Black played there too with his last Rainbow, can’t remember the exact date.
    As a protected building it will propably be rebuild again as “we remember it”! But so sad!

  6. 6
    Robbo says:

    Add Jimi to the list of legends at this historical venue!

  7. 7
    tony lind says:

    I cant remember, but did ” Roundabout” (DP’s first name) also play there in 1968 ???

  8. 8
    MacGregor says:

    It always makes me wonder how people controlling a camera, have absolutely no idea, as to what they should be filming at a specific time! If Lord & Blackmore are hammering a solo, why film Gillan standing there shaking his head? I know thatrecording live concerts was a new thing back then & we understand some naivety in this at the time, but surely the person holding the camera would have some idea, obviously not! Sad, but that has ruined in many ways, what IMHO would be a definitive concert film of the MKII lineup!

  9. 9
    Dirk says:

    @ Marcelo Soares

    … I find more concert dates with Mark 2 in K.B. Hallen – look at my website

    14 Nov 1970
    23 Apr 1971
    9 Feb 1973

    Deep Purple Tour Page
    http://www.purple.de/dirk/purple/

  10. 10
    James from Katowice says:

    Deep Purple with Ritchie Blackmore played also show on 13.11.1993 there during the Battle Rages On Tour – one of the last’s with MKII . I remember great Black Night and huge speakers also.

  11. 11
    stefan says:

    So sad…a classic venue where I´ve seen many great bands over the years….DP, Whitesnake, Heaven & Hell and just recently…..BCC july 12th ! I hope they rebuild it after the original plans, it was originally built in 1938 ! I fear it will be a scandalous modern monter of a building though…..I sincerly hope I´m wrong…!!!!

  12. 12
    Doug says:

    I was at the 2003 show – it was a better venue than many!
    Hopefully they’ll build a suitable replacement.

    cheers
    Doug

  13. 13
    Per says:

    Lots of good memories from KB-Hallen with DP – also backstage. It seems they felt at home and enjoyed to perform here year after year. I saw the last 5 shows, and went to the shows of the first 2 tours in 72 and 73 the day after in Odense. In 1973 MK III were supposed to play their debut in Aarhus Dec 8, and we travelled a couple of hours but no one came. Cancelled. So the first show happened in Copenhagen and I missed it.
    Other highlights: Black Sabbath Sept 1989 when Gillan suddenly jumped in at the encores for Paranoid and SOTW, I think.
    Ritchie came in 95 with Rainbow, and I got to see Dio in 07 with Heaven & Hell.
    A unique venue with a lot of heritage.

  14. 14
    Soren Slaug says:

    RB’s Rainbow played there October 6, 1995…

  15. 15
    Craig Neely says:

    I was at the August 6, 2008 show, having travelled from the States on a pilgrimage to this seemingly holy site. All of the rooms in Copenhagen being occupied, we spent the rest of the night wandering the streets of Copenhagen, hearing Deep Purple in the background of nearly every bar in which we wiled away the night/morning, and basking in the glow of a great Deep Purple show at a hallowed venue. Sad to hear; but, so glad I was there.

  16. 16
    Rasmus Heide says:

    A sad day for Copenhagen concert goers.

    Hopefully a rebuild can rectify the often difficult acoustics of this classic and rather charming venue. Being just around the corner from me, I’ve seen quite a few shows there – incl. Purple, Rainbow, BCC, Dio, etc, etc.

    In 1973, Mk3 must have opened up with Burn……

  17. 17
    Mads Rud Larsen says:

    @ James From Katowice:

    In 1993 Deep Purple played in Valbyhallen. 🙂
    I don’t think they played in KB Hallen too.

  18. 18
    Kim Veng says:

    I´m so sad. K B Hallen is down. I have been there since my first show with Deep Purple 1. Marts 1972. 10 years old. Always follow you in Denmark, Sweden and Germany. I´m going to Gøteborg in december 2011. See You. My favorite band on earth.
    I can tell you that a new K B Hallen will be build, so be happy and we will return.

  19. 19
    Carsten Ankjær says:

    to James the gig on the 13 november 1993 was not in KB hallen but in Valby Hallen Copenhagen

  20. 20
    Dirk says:

    @ James from Katowice
    Deep Purple with Ritchie Blackmore played also show on 13.11.1993 …

    this is not correct – Deep Purple played this shows

    12 Nov 1993 – Copenhagen, Valby Hallen – DENMARK
    13 Nov 1993 – Stockholm, Isstadion – SWEDEN

  21. 21
    Henrik says:

    The purple gig in 1993 was not in K B hallen, it was in Valbyhallen! My first and only concert with mk 2, and the best concert i have seen.

  22. 22
    Blackmorse says:

    #10
    It was not not in KB-hallen, but in Valby-hallen. Great show btw.

  23. 23
    Kasper/Denmark says:

    Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow 6’th of October 1995 ( and Motörhead the day after )

    Deep Purple 1’th of October 1998

  24. 24
    Eirik Solum says:

    Have they played that many shows in KB Hallen, when it’s only a 3000 capacity hall? In 93 and all those mk8 dates?

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