[ d e e p P u r . p l e ) The Highway Star

The Joint at
The Hard Rock Hotel
Las Vegas, Nevada
August 29, 1998

I've waited all my life to see this band. I feel very fortunate to finally see them in such a small venue. They did not disappoint. I don't recall ever going to a concert with so much anticipation. It's not every day that you get to see legends "IN ROCK." I was a little worried at the outset having read the reviews of the previous two shows in Milwaukee and Denver in which IG's voice was starting to fail him. Although your could see that he was laboring from time to time, he was nothing short of fabulous. As a matter of fact I only saw him openly cough once on Highway Star during the encore.

This band was even more crisp and tight than I ever tought they'de be. Glover and Paice were like a well oiled machine dishing out bottom that you could feel in your stomach all night long. It's no secret the John Lord is the best keyboard man in the world (it's like being in the presence of God) and Mr. Morse does more than just "fill in for Mr. Blackmore. He is a welcome addition that infuses this band with energy. You can see how much fun they are having. Everything was flawless from start to finish. It was the fastest ninety minutes that i've ever spent in my life (1 hr 45 minutes including the encore of Hush and Highway Star).

Guys, thank you for playing Woman From Tokyo, Smoke On the Water, Strange Kind Of Woman, Lazy, Hush and Highway Star as well as the "new stuff" from Abandon. Again, I've waited all my life to see this band and it was all that I had hoped it would be. Thank you so much for letting me finally "Come Taste The Band".

Bruce Perras


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