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2000
Sep-Dec
May-Aug
Mar-Apr
Jan-Feb

1999
Nov-Dec
Sep-Oct
July-Aug
May-June
Mar-Apr
Jan-Feb

1998
Nov-Dec
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1997
Nov-Dec
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NOTE: This is news. Talk to Joanna for the latest rumours.

For upcoming releases please check here
If you have any news, please send them to the news crew

February 20
Roger Glover on German TV
Uwe Fischer reports:
On Wednesday February 23 at 0.05 AM CET until 0.50 AM CET (the night to Thursday) on German channel N3 (Nord 3) there will be a program called "Musikladen" which features Roger Glover. "Musikladen" was a German TV show during the 70's whith groups playing live or playback in the studio (it's similar to Beat Club and I think it started when Beat Club stopped). The original date of this was 20.08.1975 and therefore I guess it has something to do with Butterfly Ball.

February 20
Roger Glover on Dutch TV
The Connoisseur Collection website reports:
"Dutch friends look out in June for a twenty minute TV documentary 'Single Luck' on NPS about the making by Roger Glover & friends of Love Is All from the enhanced CD of the Butterfly Ball."
Thanks to Peter Simons for the information.

February 20
"Smoke on the Water" - 20th Century's Most Memorable Riff
Readers of the UK guitar magazine "Guitar Techniques" voted Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water" as the most memorable riff of the 20th Century. As a result, the riff's composer, Ritchie Blackmore, is featured on the cover of the February issue of the magazine. The issue transcribes the whole song, and has a backing track to play along to on the accompanying CD. The current lineup of the band also get their picture on the cover, as there's a chance to win the new 2CD live album from the Royal Albert Hall concerts.
More info: http://www.futurenet.com/guitartechniques/magazine/iss.htm
Thanks to Gary Poronovich for the information.

February 20
Ian Gillan mentions new album in German magazine
In an interview with the German music magazine "Good Times" Ian Gillan promised a new Deep Purple CD for September of this year.
Thanks to Jörg Nier for the information.

February 20
Obscure Deep Purple mentions on US TV
The words "Deep Purple" has been mentioned twice on US TV this week. First on WABC during "Who wants to be a millionaire":
Sunday, Feb 13 2000 at 09:03 PM
Regis: U're a big music buff, aren't you?
Contestant: Yeah, yeah.
Regis: Follow deep purple? ......
Then on MSG during "NHL Hockey":
Friday, Feb 18 2000 at 08:02 PM
......game? He couldn't see straight out.
Sam: Oh, man.
John: Was it swolen and nasty.
Sam: It's a deep purple right ......
Thanks to Mark Bojanowski and TVEyes.com for the information.

February 18
New items in the Deep Purple online store
Deep Purple, Live with the London Symphony Orchestra has arrived at the Deep Purple Online Store. The DP Store reports a street date of March 21st for the US release date of the Mark I Re-Masters. Sorry, but we have no additional release date info on the Deep Purple MKVII Deluxe photo book, the Live w/the LSO DVD, or the India 95 and MKVII Live Retrospective Video, "Out & About: Around the World 1995-1999" but as always, stay tuned for the latest news as they come our way.

February 18
Deep Purple track featured in new movie
The movie "East is east" directed by Damien O' Donnell features the Deep Purple track "Strange kind of woman".
Thanks to Max Distaso for the information.

February 13
Steve Morse at the NAMM show
Bass player Tony Levin (King Crimson, Peter Gabriel, Liquid Tension Experiment etc.) has some photos of Steve Morse at this year's NAMM show in Los Angeles on his website: http://www.papabear.com/tlev.shtml.
Thanks to Fedor de Lange for the information.

February 12
Deep Purple on religious morning TV show in the UK
From the BBC website:
"10:00am The Heaven and Earth Show
     Magazine programme about religion, presented by Kevin Woodford and Toyah Willcox. Paul Ross looks at the superstitions that surround births, deaths and marriages, and Alice Beer talks to veteran rockers Deep Purple."
This is on Sunday February 13, 2000. Sorry for the late notice.
Thanks to Richard Poustie and Jerry Witherstone for the info.

February 12
British Ian Gillan fanzine
The Perfect Stranger is a 24 page glossy magazine dedicated to Gillan the man and Gillan the band. Issue 3 was available last September and included a retrospective look at 1981 "Future Shock" album and tour, Ian Gillan interview with Radio Trent, a questions and answers session John McCoy undertook with the fanzine's editor Jerry Witherstone, latest Deep Purple news, and loads of other articles and photos.
Issue 4 is due out April 2000 and will include a feature on the RAH weekend, a look at 1982 - Magic etc., an interview transcribed which Ian did for Radio 2 just before the RAH shows, competitions etc.
Mail Jerry Witherstone for more information about subscription rates etc.

February 11
News about remastered WDWTWA and Burn
Our contact at EMI in London reports that the remastered edition of "Who Do We Think We Are" is penicilled in for a June release and at the moment they are just waiting for the artwork. The tracklisting is as follows:
1/ Woman From Tokyo
2/ Mary Long
3/ Super Trouper
4/ Smooth Dancer
5/ Rat Bat Blue
6/ Place In Line
7/ Our Lady
8/ It's Only Make Believe
9/ I've Got A Smelly Botty
10/Woman From Tokyo ('99 Remix)
11/Woman From Tokyo (alt.bridge)
12/Painted Horse
13/Our Lady ('99 Remix)
14/Rat Bat Blue (writing)
15/Rat Bat Blue ('99 Remix)
16/First Day Jam (excerpt)
EMI also added "Burn will come sometime next year" and that some kind of 5 CD 12"X12" book format deal related in some way to the remasters might be released in November. Yes, that is all the info we have about that at the moment. Stay tuned to this website for updates as they arrive.

February 11
"Total Abandon" DVD available
The long awaited Total Abandon DVD in Dolby Digital 5.1 sound now available for sale through the Deep Purple Online Store. The DVD is currently available in PAL format, but a mid-February release is scheduled for the NTSC version.

February 11
"Daze may come..." and "Last Concert in Japan" deals closed
Mike Drumm of the Tommy Bolin archives writes on their website:
Simon Robinson called the other day and we closed the Deep Purple deal!!!! All that is left is to exchange documents, put the final contract together, and GO! What this means is that TBA [The Tommy Bolin Archives] will be the official North American distributor for the all newly remixed complete "Last Concert in Japan" CD that will be renamed. I have heard the new mixes, and at 110 minutes, with all of the set included, it is radically different from the vibe of the 40 minute poorly mixed original version. This is an eye opener for all Bolin/Purple fans. To my ears, the perfromance is more interesting than the King Bisquit set, and the fidelity is MUCH BETTER than the King Bisquit set. We will also be selling through the Archives the special English 2 CD set of the DAZE MAY COME rehearsal tapes... So we will be developing a new newsletter that we hope to send out in March announcing all of this, with the ordering info.

February 11
Fun with your mobile phones
Try this on some models of mobile phones from the following manufacturers:
"Smoke on the water" for Nokia:
4c1 4#d1 4.f1 4c1 4#d1 8#f1 4f1 4- 4c1 4#d1 4.f1 4#d1 4c1 2- 8- 4c1 4#d1 4.f1 4c1 4#d1 8#f1 4f1 4- 4c1 4#d1 4.f1 4#d1 4c1 4-
"Smoke on the water" for Ericsson:
gpp#app+Cpppgpp#app+#c+Cpppppgpp#app+Cpppp#appG
"Black night" for Ericsson:
EgeDbdEgeAGEDEppppppGEppppppDeeeeeee
Thanks to Jürgen Osthues-Senn and Tatti Östling for the info.

February 8
Dixie Dregs/Dream Theater show shut down
This just in from the UACM newsletter, the official Dream Theater website newsletter:
"Concert at Palace Theater (02-04-2000) gets shut down
(News : Dream Theater)
The concert at the Palace Theater (Los Angeles, CA) on February 4th, 2000, was unfortunately shut down by the fire marshalls an hour into the band's performance.
Apparently, the Palace Theater had over-sold the venue and the fire marshalls insisted that the show would be stopped. The band, however, refused to leave the stage and continued to do "The Spirit Carries On", with Mike Portnoy and the audience singing.
They continued to play as the electricity on stage was cut off, and the police squad was brought in to force the audience out of the venue.
Letters from fans who were at this concert can be read on the website at:
http://www.dreamtheater.net/palace.htm
The concert at the Palace Theater on February 5th came off without any problems."

February 7
More Deep Purple on German TV
After the performance on "Gottschalks TV Welt" this week, Deep Purple stayed to do some interviews and performaces for a 45 minute special to be broadcast on German TV channel ZDF on March 11 at 01.20 CET (the night between March 11 and March 12). The band performed "Ted the mechanic", "Woman from Tokyo", "Bloodsucker" and one or two other songs. "Black night" and "Smoke on the water" from the Gottschalk show might be used for the special too.
Thanks to Walter Jahn and Michael Joseph for the info. "Gottschalks TV Welt" photos by Bruce Payne.

February 7
Mr. Methane and Howard Stern
From http://www.marksFriggin.com/:
"Mr. Methane, pronounced ME-thane, (almost had his own farting TV show over in England) did a few more performances before he left. He played Deep Purple's 'Smoke on the Water' and you could almost hear his ass singing 'Fire in the sky'. Amazing! He didn't just fart randomly, he actually changed pitch and played along with Robin's (co-host) singing. Mr. Methane then moved on to play [Play! - Ed.] 'Green Sleeves'."
Thanks to Gary Poronovich for the info.

February 7
Ian Paice appearance in Italy
Ian Paice will do a drum clinic at Music Academy 2000 at Via T.Tasso 13 in Bologna, Italy on March 13 at 5 PM. Paice is also going to play a Deep Purple set with the Music Academy Band featuring guitarist Max Magagni ("Italy's Fender Guru") at Estragon Club, Via Calzoni, Bologna al 10 PM. For more details please mail info@musicacademy2000.com or call 001-051-63.13.706.
Thanks to Max and Susanna G. at the Music Academy 2000 for the info.

January 29
New Deep Purple photo book
Another exciting project from the producers behind "Total Abandon" is a photo book that will be released in time for the world tour starting in March. The book will feature photographs from the 1999 Australian tour as well as the Royal Albert Hall rehearsals and concerts.
Thanks to Drew Thompson for the info.

January 29
Media promotion for the RAH CD
Keep an eye out for appearances by some or all members of Deep Purple on TV and radio stations throughout Europe the coming weeks. We don't have many details but reports are coming in about planned appearances on "Big Breakfast" on Channel 4 in the UK on Tuesday February 1, some German TV appearances, VH1 Europe. Keep your eyes open on your local TV listings as we won't have the time to list all the details here.

January 29
Update on new Deep Purple video
We received this from the producer of the new Deep Purple videos:
DEEP PURPLE "OFFICIAL LIVE VIDEO BOOTLEG" MERCHANDISING RELEASE:
"OUT & ABOUT" AROUND THE WORLD 1995-1999
TRACK LISTINGS FOR COMPILATION VIDEO:
19 MARCH 1995 CHILD IN TIME SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
8 APRIL 1995 ANYA SPACE TRUCKIN' BOMBAY, INDIA
22 JUNE 1996 SPEED KING MOSCOW, RUSSIA
19 MARCH 1997 FIREBALL SAO PAOLO, BRAZIL
30 JANUARY 1998 BLOODSUCKER SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE SCREAMING CALIFORNIA,USA
8 FEBRUARY 1998 NO ONE CAME WHEN A BLIND MAN CRIES SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA
2 JUNE 1998 HUSH ISTANBUL, TURKEY
26 NOVEMBER 1998 WATCHING THE SKY FINGERS TO THE BONE BUCHAREST, ROMANIA
28 NOVEMBER 1998 LAZY SOFIA, BULGARIA
20 APRIL 1999 SMOKE ON THE WATER (DIRECTORS CUT--PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED) MELBOURNE, VICTORIA
Thanks to Drew Thompson for the info.

January 24
EMI in £12bn Warner merger
And now over to the business desk for the latest:
Deep Purple's European record company EMI is poised to announce a £12bn merger with Warner Music Group in a move that will create the world's largest record company and make EMI a majority owned subsidiary of Time Warner.
Source: electronic Telegraph
electronic Telegraph editorial comment

January 23
New Deep Purple videos, DVDs and Minidisc
If all goes well, a new line of material is being prepared for the online store and merchandising for the March tour.
At present, the Australian producer who gave us "Total Abandon" is working on a new live video and DVD which features Deep Purple live in India 1995. It is a great show , highlighting Steve's presence as the new guitar player with the band. The band were at the time writing "Purpendicular" and the showcase is a sensational version of "The Purpendicular waltz"
Also, hopefully in time for the tour, there will be available a fans only compilation of live tracks taken from 1995-1999. Shows will include South Korea 1995, Moscow 1996, Costa Rica 1997, Bulgaria 1998,& Bucharest 1998.
Finally, for all those fans who have been crying out for Deep Purple on Minidisc, there will be a limited release of "Total Abandon" with a bonus 30 min interview with Ian Gillan during the Australian tour, and a modified booklet highlighting the Asian 2000 tour dates.
Thanks to Drew Thompson for the info.

January 23
Deep Purple appearance on German TV
Deep Purple will appear on the German TV show "Gottschalks TV Welt" on channel "ZDF" on Thursday, February 3, 2000 at 20:15 CET (GMT+1) to promote the RAH CD. This channel is available throughout Europe via the Astra satellite.
Thanks to Gerald Heinrich and Nigel Young for the info.

January 23
New Dixie Dregs live album
A new CD with Dixie Dregs (featuring Deep Purple guitarist Steve Morse of course) will be released in the USA by Zebra Records on February 1. The CD is a liverecording of the shows at the Roxy Theater, LA on August 26-28, 1999. Special Guest on the Dregs' cover of Frank Zappa's "Peaches En Regalia" is Dweezil Zappa on guitar.
Fans who preordered the CD through Zebra Records' website will be listed in the "Thanks to" section of the CD booklet. I am sure readers of this website will recognise a name or two...
Thanks to Walter Jahn and Zebra Records for the info.

January 19
Update from the DPAS
The Deep Purple Appreciation Society reports:
We will soon be taking orders soon for the RAH DVD and video. These are scheduled for release in mid-February, but there may be a slight delay.  The Live at the RAH CD is still due Jan 24th and the remastered CDs on Feb 7th. You can order these now via the DPAS order page. The first Steve Morse track is missing from the CD to make way for Quicktime video clips from the gig. New Years greetings from all at DPAS

January 19
Deep Purple on North American TV(!)
There is a new hit TV show called "The Sopranos" (a made for TV "Godfather" of the 90`s (2000`s)... In a scene where one of the main characters is "blacking out", "Smoke on the Water" is loudly playing.
Thanks to Gary Poronovich for the info.

January 15
Even more new releases
A new issue of the Deep Purple Appreciation Society magazine "Darker than blue" is out and they have some info on releases we are waiting for and releases we didn't know we were waiting for. The remastered version of WDWTWA is scheduled for a possible release in April and the new Bolin stuff ("Days may come..." and the full "Last concert in Japan") is just waiting on the final checking of contracts.
Of more interest, there are two videos due out - the one hinted at by Joanna is the Bombay show from 95, but there is also a second tape planned with various songs from 95 to present, probably including:
Child in Time, Seoul, March 95
Anya, India, April 95 (I suppose this is from the same as above, unless they filmed both nights)
Speed King, Moscow 96
Sometime I Feel..., House of Blues, LA, 97
No One Came, Costa Rica
Strange Kind of Woman, Istanbul, 98
Lazy, Bulgaria, 98
Fingers to the Bone, Bucharest
Pictures of Home, Adelaide 99
These will be sold at gigs and hopefully in the Cyber store. If they sell well, other post 84 stuff should also be released.
Thanks to Doug MacBeath for the info.

January 15
Details on the remastered Mk.I albums
"Shades Of Deep Purple", "The Book Of Taliesyn" and "Deep Purple" will be released in Europe on February 4 as remastered mid-price CDs. It doesn't look like there will be any vinyl versions of the albums. Each CD has 5 bonus tracks. More details about the bonus tracks here.

January 15
New album with interviews
EMI will release a CD called "In Profile" which will contain interviews with the management, producers and band - naturally not all of them - with music too. It is upposed to be part of a series on UK bands - Maiden, Tull etc..
Thanks to Nigel Young for the info.

January 10
New releases from the "Total Abandon" project
The planned Total Abandon DVD release is due for release very soon in both PAL and NTSC formats.
Also, due next week will be the limited edition/collectors' new shaped CD single of "Smoke..." (Australia '99, from "Total Abandon") and an enhanced video file of "Smoke..." (from the "Total Abandon" video/DVD) - the shape will be cut in the classic DP logo from the "Perfect Strangers" tour.
Thanks to Drew Thompson for the info.

January 5
So long Cisco!
American actor Clayton Moore AKA the Lone Ranger passed away last week. Deep Purple fans who saw the band live on the 1996 tour might remember Ian Gillan's introductions to the song "Hey Cisco" and how a news story about Clayton Moore and his fight against his old movie company inspired that song off the 1996 "Purpendicular" album.
Thanks to Rich Shailor for the info.