[hand] [face]
The Original Deep Purple Web Pages
The Highway Star

Perfect Strangers Live due in October

Perfect Strangers Live cover art; image courtesy of Eagle Vision

As has been already strongly hinted by DP(o), a complete show from the Perfect Strangers tour will be released on DVD. Release is due on October 14 via Edel’s imprint Eagle Vision. The show was recorded in Sydney, Australia, on December 12, 1984.

Track list

  1. Highway Star
  2. Nobody’s Home
  3. Strange Kind Of Woman
  4. A Gypsy’s Kiss
  5. Perfect Strangers
  6. Under The Gun
  7. Knocking At Your Back Door
  8. Lazy (including Ian Paice drum solo)
  9. Child In Time
  10. Difficult To Cure
  11. Jon Lord Keyboard Solo
  12. Space Truckin’ (with Ritchie Blackmore guitar solo)
  13. Black Night
  14. Speed King
  15. Smoke On The Water

Bonus feature: Tour documentary

Running time: 141 minutes

Thanks to Blabbermouth for the info.



89 Comments to “Perfect Strangers Live due in October”:

  1. 1
    Power Metal-Mark M says:

    Awesome I Can”t Wate I Hope It’s Going To Be On Blu Ray

  2. 2
    George says:

    Great! one of the best period of DP history.

    Is it the particular show featuring George Harrison, or is it from another night?

  3. 3
    Svante Axbacke says:

    @1: No, Harrison was on the next night.

  4. 4
    HZ says:

    Great news!

  5. 5
    Felix Gauloises says:

    blu ray/dvd and cd please

  6. 6
    Larry Toering says:

    Should go nice with my pair of tickets to that show. I really like things that are well worth more than the price. In fact I recommend buying at least two of these!

  7. 7
    Michael says:

    Fantastic News, One of purples best periods….

  8. 8
    Tommy H. says:

    FINALLY! I literally waited for the release of a full reunion concert video for years!

  9. 9
    Kevin Clarkson says:

    Fantastic. Best news ever!!! I hope there’ll be a DVD/CD combo.
    Long live Deep Purple!

  10. 10
    AL says:

    wow! Now this is great news !

  11. 11
    EirikSolum says:

    Perfect!
    Just hope the thing has been properly mixed!

  12. 12
    ao says:

    +1 for CD release.

  13. 13
    purpledaniel says:

    Great! I had serious doubts about this release materializing but I see this is for real! I will be ready to order in the first day of release!

  14. 14
    T says:

    A complete show from the Reunion Era is a welcome relief from the constant bombardment of official releases of Morse Era shows with frustratingly similar set lists (Before the haters respond, I also welcome a new live recording featuring the many great songs from Now What?!).

    What needs to be sorted out, however, is the documentary footage shot for the “Perfect Strangers” video. The aborted program could be embellished with current and contemporary interviews from those involved. That, combined with the tour documentary, would have made great bonus material.

  15. 15
    Vladimir says:

    Come to take a look on my art piece. Psy Art page – “Deep purple. The Machine Head” at http://www.dientra.com
    Vlad

  16. 16
    MacGregor says:

    Excellent news, I was at that concert the night before the Harrison gig appearance. We were kicking around the city as you do, & we all had tickets for the next night & I said to a few friends, this is crap, here we are wandering around pubs etc & Purple are over there in concert. Thankfully, to our delight there were tickets still available, so in we went. I may buy this for nostalgic reasons, it is a good memory indeed! I have a few photos that were given to me from the next nights concert, but unfortunately not a photo with ‘Arnold’ George from Liverpool. Bummer! Cheers.

  17. 17
    Rob says:

    FINALLY!!!!!!!!

  18. 18
    Mircea Hugyecz says:

    FUCKING AWESOME !!!

  19. 19
    John Tob says:

    As a Sydney-sider who attended the 3 shows at the Entertainment Centre
    this will bring back a flood of memories. Gawd, has it been nearly 30 years since the Purple re-union wave hit good ole Sydney town? At the time Polydor/Polygram Records were promoting KAYBD as the 2nd single and stating that the shows would be taped. But, the venue also had their “in-house” video recording system to project the stage action to the patrons in the nose bleed seats. Be interesting to see what recording is used. Will be wiping a tear away when Jon has a wrestle with the Hammond.

  20. 20
    Gordon Kerr says:

    that is a great song but it should be played by the real line up. of that time no other can play like it or ever will why don’t you put it back together and do it right .don’t destroy this for with out Richie black Moore there what is deep purple but lost in a mist of illusion .put the egos aside make up and do it like it should be done with out Richie there is no deep purple and that is the truth .

  21. 21
    purplepriest1965 says:

    All that time it was withheld.

    WHY?!

    Probably because it would detract people attention from the current activities.
    Now, when Gillan is almost dead it has become time for some more cashing in.

    Or did it take almost 30 frigging years to beef everything up? 🙂

  22. 22
    Robert says:

    +1 for the blu-ray release.
    I see little reason not releasing DVD/BD simultaneously except that fans are expected to pay for the DVD and again for BD in few months…

  23. 23
    HardRockPete says:

    That’s great, great, GREAT news indeed 🙂

  24. 24
    Ted The Mechanic says:

    Great news. And I’ll be able to finally see Smoke from that tour. The night I saw them, The Man in Black had a backstage hissy and they did not come out for an encore. 18,000 people exiting the arena rightfully pissed off.

    But an otherwise great gig. :>

    Peace,
    Ted

  25. 25
    rik_uk says:

    Amaaaaaaaaazing! Wonder why the wait? …29years!

  26. 26
    Svante Axbacke says:

    Can someone explain to me the advantage of having this on BD? The source is a nearly 30 year old recording on, I guess, video. Hardly HD. 🙂

  27. 27
    Milan says:

    @svante

    Is this show the one they took Black Night from on “New, Live and Rare 1984 – 2000” (Track 2 on that VHS/DVD release) released back in 2000? The tracklist only says “Sydney, December 1984”.

    I think that would be worth mentioning, if that was the case, as that could be considered as somewhat of a first teaser for this new release. Could give people an idea of the quality of the source material.

  28. 28
    Russ says:

    Regarding bluray…..

    As Svante mentions. This is a 29 year old video release. DVD will bring out as much detail as there is. If this was 35mm film Bluray would be essential. I’m fine with DVD.

    As an ealier post mentions…I wonder what happened to that 2 hour documentary that was shot for MTV back in the day. That was supposed to include a lot of footage of the recording of the album and such. I wonder what happened to all of that?

  29. 29
    Tracy Heyder (Zero the Hero) says:

    This is really cool. Though they state that it’s the only full recording from that era which is false. The well circulated TV broadcast of the Rockpalast Gig in 1985 is available for them to rework also…..

    Look forward to this. Saw them at the Hollywood Sportatorium in Florida during this tour. What a great show. Will be great to watch this in my Theater Room with all the speakers blairing…..

    YEAH BABY, YEAH!!!!!

    Ch-BeerZ?!

  30. 30
    Russ says:

    @27 Milan

    Yes the Black NIght clip from the NL&R DVD is from this show.

  31. 31
    Leo Tukker says:

    Can’t wait to see this show. I’ve been to this tour on July 24 1985 in the Limburghal in Genk (Belgium). Great album, great show.

  32. 32
    Anthony says:

    Great news indeed!! Geez aren’t we being spoilt now with the upcoming releases this year. I was at the 1993 infamous Birmingham show ( which is on DVD ) but the band were subdued mainly with Ritchie throwing a hissy fit and he playing very conservatively. This 1984 Sydney show looks amazing and all members of the band on fire!!!

    Can’t wait to buy it!!

  33. 33
    Mattia says:

    wow!
    love the Perfect Strangers era!!!

  34. 34
    Svante Axbacke says:

    Yeah, Tracy, but as bad as Gillan is on that Paris recording, I don’t think that will ever get a proper release.

  35. 35
    Russ says:

    Well there still is the show from Providence RI ’85 that hasn’t been released. And the audio bootlegs from that show sound like the band was hot.

    I would pass on the Alpine Valley ’85 show though as Gillan had a cold that night as well.

    The Sydney shows are probably the best from that tour that was filmed. I’m glad this is coming out. I got into Purple in early ’85. So this makes me excited like a little kid.

  36. 36
    MacGregor says:

    Blabbermouth & Classic Rock websites are saying it is a Melbourne gig. I couldn’t find any info at Eagle Rock web site either, I guess we will just have to be patient (what’s that) & see when it is finally released! Yes, I agree with the Blue Ray comments also. What a con that rave can be with ‘older’ movies of any description, HD no way. A marketing con just like so many to lure in the big money! Cheers.

  37. 37
    Kim says:

    Just can’t wait to see this concert. I went to see them in Malmø, sweden, on the same tour! One of the best DP concerts I have been to!

  38. 38
    PurplePerson says:

    I’ve seen bits of that on YouTube, and it didn’t sound that good. Playing down under was their warm-up for the world tour and it didn’t sound that tight from what I heard. Hopefully it’s mixed well and has some highlights

  39. 39
    AL says:

    @ EVERY ONE!,I’m getting really greedy here but does anybody of you guys know,if there’s any shows recorded,or “quality bootlegs” from 1987-1988 tour?I mean I’m referring here to the “Nobody’s Perfect ” tour release,even though that is a worldwide mix of song.Are we ever going to see a “proper mix ” of the House Of The Blue Light ? I love that album,even though the band dismisses that one,and this for the reasons that we know already,fights btw Gillan-Blackmore! I have a problem with the mix and the volume with that one,always had to turn on my volume to the max,but I worn that Vinyl out back in the day ! lol

  40. 40
    AL says:

    recorded means,TV and Cameras in the show!

  41. 41
    stoffer says:

    This will be great viewing, although I saw the show when it rolled thru the old Keil Auditorium in St. Louis, I was of course younger and partying so I don’t remember all that much. I am glad I still have the tour program as well some notes I wrote in it about the show (also newspaper review). I can’t wait to see Child In Time……..awesome…………….

  42. 42
    Phil says:

    Prior to Sydney they kicked off the tour in Auckland. I remember it for two reasons. Blackmore’s no show for Smoke on the Water encore ( Jon did the into ) and the local bikey gang terrorising everyone and grabbing all the headlines the next day.
    Concert not bad either.
    Cheers
    Phil

  43. 43
    John H says:

    Finally. Gillan was on it in Long Beach (and no so much Ritchie) , and that awful Paris show where he had a cold doesn’t do this era justice at all.

  44. 44
    Mike says:

    Eagle rock are releasing the Freddie mercury tribute concert on SD-blu-ray this fall so it’s possible that they release the purple concert on blu-ray aswell. There are advantages to be made from blu-ray aside from being in hd. The main advantage is the clear full resolution hd-sound, the other is interactive menus so you can continue watching at the same time as you make changes to the settings. Also, you can put much more content on a bd-disc. If the shows where filmed using 35 mm (which equals 4k roughly) they should be able to do a really nice hi-def version. If it was filmed using current video cameras the resolution is sd but can be unconverted to fit the 1080p format. Looking forward to the release anyhow!

  45. 45
    Joerg says:

    According to the promotion agency which is handling the German release of “Perfect Strangers Live”, the concert will also be available as a double CD.

    Source: http://www.germusica.com

  46. 46
    MacGregor says:

    PurplePerson@38- Yes, they commenced their world tour here in Oz & firstly in NZ. But I don’t recall being disappointed at all with the band that wasn’t on song. Either did anybody else I talked to after the gig, they (Purple) were fresh, so Gillan’s voice was strong & that was what some people were concerned with, as he had problems around the 1982/83 period. It will be interesting viewing the concert after all this time. If it is the Sydney concert that I was at, will it still sound great, looking at it 3 decades after the event. It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of a live concert, which is a good thing. One thing about a recorded ‘live’ performance, is that it can get repeatedly listened to & that is where we can get too critical at times, hearing mistakes & songs played differently & other things & then to possibly be critical of the band on those little things. At the actual concert, you only get to hear it once, so that in many ways is an advantage. Cheers.

  47. 47
    ltia says:

    In truth, the Sydney shows are probably the only ones good enough for release – Gillan lost his voice and Blackmore lost interest very quickly in the 80s. They had more bad shows than good, I think, but these early ones are stormers. there’s the odd show here and there later, but none recorded as far as I’m aware.

  48. 48
    MacGregor says:

    Mike @ 44 – Yes, the sound is the most important aspect to a concert, so Blue Ray hopefully will help deliver that in decent quality.
    I always think of the visuals first for some reason, when ‘older’ films are released as Blue Ray, maybe I am too cynical regarding the marketing of such material. It may surprise us this release, hopefully. Cheers.

  49. 49
    Kevin Clarkson says:

    They had more bad shows than good?

    I disagree Itia.
    From the many bootlegs I’ve heard, there’s more good shows than bad one’s.

  50. 50
    Russ says:

    These shows are all filmed on video. The only 35mm filming was done during the one Sydney show during KAYBD and some random shots for the promo video. One of the camera men from that night is a member of one of the DP forums.

  51. 51
    ao says:

    This is turning out to be a great year for Deep Purple! Between the excellent Now What?! release and the announcement of this DVD and CD from the Perfect Strangers tour, I’m pretty darn excited. Now all I need is a USA tour announcement!

  52. 52
    mitch5501 says:

    I saw them in Adelaide prior to this Sydney show and they were awesome.As the intro to HS began Big Ian walked out on stage (last) and came right over to where a mate and I were standing and waived his fist in our face then stood back up,pointed at the MIB and said “Ritchie Blackmooooore!!”(they seemed like best mates that night! believe it or not) I gotta tell ya,the roar the crowd made at that moment as HS blasted into the first verse will stay with me till my grave.One of those incredible moments that I’ll never forget.I’m looking forward to this release big time.

  53. 53
    Anthony says:

    @47 The 1993 Birmingham ( UK ) concert titled “Come Hell Or High Water” is officially on DVD/ CD..famous for Ritchie throwing water at a camera man and the obvious tension on stage.

  54. 54
    Lea says:

    Blu-ray please, even if it will only be up-scaled from DVD quality it would be less compressed and the sound quality would be better on the Blu-ray in HD.

    A standalone CD release would be welcome too.

  55. 55
    Lea says:

    Does anyone know what happened to the Perfect Strangers Deluxe Edition 3-CD set that was supposed to come out last year?
    Maybe they are holding it back for the 30th anniversary next year.

  56. 56
    macfan says:

    F I N A L L Y ! !
    I always wondered what happened to the footage.
    I saw some footage (“Nobody’s Home” and Smoke) in a german TV special called “Deep Purple in snow” where they met Ian Gillan, Jon Lord and Ian Paice skiing in Switzerland (IG told the interviewer that they’ve just been voted as Britain’s No.1 new band!).
    I also have special memories of the Sydney shows: my father happened to be down under Nov./Dec. 1984. I told him on the phone that DP are touring Australia and he replied how could this be DP don’t exist anymore and then I presented him the news that they’ve just reunited (the official release of Perfect Strangers was Nov.1984 accompanied by several radio-specials here in Germany) and I asked him to grab any newspaper article/review of their shows.
    Later, back home in Germany, he presented my an article of the Sydney show with George Harrison, a tour T-shirt and a signed tour book and a signed $20 note with Jon Lords signature on it.
    My father actually stayed at the same hotel in Sydney as DP! He sat in the bar one night when he discovered them next to him. He had a chat about Hammond Organs with Jon Lord (he knew that JL was my idol) and because nothing better at hand let him sign the $20 which Jon first didn’t want to do because of the value of the money but my father told him not to worry and that it’ll be worth much more in the future, Jon liked that answer ;-).
    The next day my father went to the entertainment centre where he bought the T-shirt and programme. And at night he again met Jon at the bar and let him sign the programme and Jon took care that the other band members signed it as well (even Ritchie did it!). Since July 16th 2012 my father’s probably able to have a chat with Jon again …

    When I watch this DVD I’ll honor it to my father and Jon.

  57. 57
    dirie says:

    @macfan: Thank you very much for that wonderful and heartwarming story. I hope your dad and Jon are well, wherever they are.

    At jpc in Germany there is an edition for preorder that contains both 2LPs and 2 CDs besides the DVD. Had to order it at once.

  58. 58
    Russ says:

    Thanks for the heads up Dirie.

    I want this thing on CD as well. Still no listing on Amazon yet.

  59. 59
    ao says:

    @57

    Can you post a link please?

  60. 60
    purplepriest1965 says:

    After all………

    It is finally due.

    30 years of yapping, moaning, cryiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiingggggggggggg

  61. 61
    micke says:

    I was at the gig with George Harrison and it will forever be a great memory. Will of course get this one since I’m part of it!

  62. 62
    MacGregor says:

    Another website saying the 1984 dvd concert footage, is from the Melbourne gig! Sydney, Melbourne, Melbourne or Sydney???????

    http://www2.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/News/en-us/Deep-Purple-Live-DVD-Due-Out-in-October.aspx

  63. 63
    stoffer says:

    The setlist from my notes of Feb. 12, 1985 Sold Out Keil Auditorium St. Louis MO
    Highway Star
    Nobody’s Home
    SKOW
    Gypsy’s Kiss
    Lazy
    Perfect Strangers
    KAYBD
    Child In Time
    Space Truckin’
    encore #1 medley: Woman From Tokyo, Burn (riff only), Jesus Christ Superstar, Maybe Next Time
    encore #2 Speed King
    encore #3 SOTW

  64. 64
    Svante Axbacke says:

    @59: http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/poprock/detail/-/art/Deep-Purple-Perfect-Strangers-Live-2Lp-2Cd-Dvd/hnum/2697247

    Good price!

  65. 65
    Russ says:

    It is Sydney Dec 12 not Melbourne.

  66. 66
    ao says:

    Will this DVD be an all region compatible release?

  67. 67
    Moreblack says:

    Ohhhh At last!!!!Thanx God!!!

  68. 68
    purrfect stranger says:

    Saw both shows at Long Beach Arena on this tour. It was Friday Night and Saturday Night. Both completely SOLD OUT. Saturday was easily the better show. The whole band was DIALED IN. Maybe not as great as the Machine Head Tour at the ARENA in 1973 but with more modern video and recording equipment this DVD is a must buy or steal or borrow. Makes you want to turn back the hands of time and relive it all over again. Thanks to the powers that be for finally releasing some truely quality video. You guys remember that video from Copenhagen where for some unknown reason the camera was on Gillan playing congas during the entirety of the lead guitar solo of Blackmore? If we have proper cinematography and none of that MTV ERA one second from shot to shot video this should be amazing.

  69. 69
    Kevin says:

    Is there any reason why this (and it appears, Rainbow Black Masquerade) are being released in Europe by Eagle Rock, in NTSC rather than PAL video ???

    Both Australia (for Perfect Strangers Live) and Germany (for Black Masquerade) use PAL video (or certainly used PAL to record the concerts…), so why convert them to NTSC for sale?

    I’m not even sure that my UK DVD player will even play NTSC discs…and I am sure converting to the inferior NTSC standard (PAL = 720×576 resolution. NTSC= 720×480 resolution) will result in picture quality loss…Just seems a really strange thing to do, when the recording is in PAL anyway.

    Why not just release it in PAL anyway, in the PAL using countries (most of Europe, Australia etc), and sell the NTSC converted version to the US/Canada?

  70. 70
    Russ says:

    Strange there is no PAL edition.

    I used to have a $40 DVD player that played anything and everything from NTSC to PAL and Mpeg4. Now the $200 Bluray player I have won’t touch a PAL disc. Very irritating.

    All I know is I have been waiting for this since I first heard of the filmed shows in ’85 and read about the MTV documentary that was done.

  71. 71
    Kim Peters says:

    I want this DVD NOW!! 🙂

  72. 72
    Anthony says:

    Just read that the show is actually from one of the 3 nights in Melbourne..not sure which date though

  73. 73
    Jim Murphy says:

    Currently #1 on Amazon’s classic rock chart at time of this post.

  74. 74
    Russ says:

    @72

    I doubt it. The press release also said this was the ONLY pro shot show from that tour which we know is wrong.

  75. 75
    Anthony says:

    Well theres one thing I guess we can all agree on is that it was filmed in Australia 🙂

  76. 76
    purpledaniel says:

    Yep, I believe it is Sydney as well. I really doubt a Melbourne film would have remained in obsurity for decades without any knowledge of it. Plus, some footage of the Sydney gig has allready been released in the 1984-2000 video compilation.

  77. 77
    Russ says:

    The one that surprised me was Alpine Valley ’85 with Space Trucking from the 1984-2000 video compliation. I never knew that show had been filmed. The drum solo from that show is on the Ian Paice Not for the Pros DVD. It figures that Gillan had a cold that night as well.

  78. 78
    Roberto says:

    the first Melbourne show has been reported as the best one of the australian tour…would have been great to have that on dvd too…and yes
    Sydney gig has allready been released in the 1984-2000 video compilation ‘new live and rares’

  79. 79
    Purple Person says:

    Dear Bruce Payne and Highway Star Editors,

    The official Video Single for Nobody’s Home. What concert is that taken from, and can That whole concert please be released on DVD too?

    thank you from long-time Purple Fan

  80. 80
    Russ says:

    @79

    They played 2 nights in Providence RI March of ’85. During one of the nights the video for “Nobodys Home” was filmed. The other night the whole show was filmed (by MTV I believe) and was supposed to be release with a full documentary. Unfortunately that doc was never released. “Space Trucking” from the show was broadcast on French TV and can be found on youtube.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0dtHHV4GZQ
    and
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DRZydTeCpE

  81. 81
    Anthony says:

    @79 I hope the whole concert will be released…I have seen the live video for Nobody’s Home and the concert venue looks huge!! ( wherever it is ) Ritchie’s solo is well tasty!!

  82. 82
    Purple Person says:

    Thank you 80. That version of Nobody’s Home is great, with everyone playing and singing brilliantly. Hopefully that whole Rhode Island show gets released in 2015, after they sufficiently market and sell the Australia show

  83. 83
    Beardawg says:

    I see on Amazon that this DVD is NTSC Region 2 (Europe). Does this mean that it won’t play on USA DVD players?

  84. 84
    purpledaniel says:

    @ 83,

    A DVD coded region 2 won´t play on a USA region 1 player. But buy the 2CD+DVD set…that DVD is region free.

  85. 85
    purrfect stranger says:

    Rumor has it that Steve Irwin was at the Sydney show. Gorgeous. Unfortunately, he is not around to buy the new DVD come October.

  86. 86
    purpledaniel says:

    I believe some clips can be seen in the vh1 Behind the Music documentary available on youtube. Sound and video quality relatively good.

  87. 87
    Russ says:

    @86

    It is that same show as the Black Night clip from the NL&R DVD. So the quality should be good. During the credits of the Behind the Music they showed a bit of HS as well from the show.

  88. 88
    Claus says:

    Here is a nice picture shot after the Sydney gig with George Harrison:

    http://rollingstone.es/img/imagecache/r_650_440_george.jpg

    from left to right: Jon Lord,George Harrison, Ian Gillan (with sock) and Phil Banfield (I.G.’s manager)

  89. 89
    john says:

    the show was filmed in Melbourne 1984
    (correction)

Add a comment:

Preview no longer available -- once you press Post, that's it. All comments are subject to moderation policy.

||||Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
© 1993-2024 The Highway Star and contributors
Posts, Calendar and Comments RSS feeds for The Highway Star