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The grandest of intentions
Louder Sound reprints online a Classic Rock short feature on Paice/Ashton/Lord that originally appeared in issue 249 (May 2018) of the magazine.
Paice Ashton Lord are the neglected branch on the Deep Purple family tree. Not surprising, given that their existence amounted to just one studio album and a handful of live gigs. But it started with the grandest of intentions.
When Purple dissolved in 1976, drummer Ian Paice and keyboard player Jon Lord had two choices: they could start a soundalike band, or they could head off in a different direction entirely. “We thought: ‘If we carry on doing what we’d done before, it’ll be likened to Purple and it’ll never be accepted properly,” says Paice. “So we decided to do something completely different.”
Ditching Purple’s Hammond-driven grandeur, the pair envisaged their new endeavour as a hybrid of the blues groups, jazz outfits and big bands they had grown up listening to. The secret ingredient was singer and keyboard player Tony Ashton.
Continue reading in Louder Sound.
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
Certainly rapt I managed to get the rare live DVD, a wonderful concert, even with Tony’s quirky inebriated performance. Some of the best Ian Paice filmed performances too, all things considered. At the peak of his drumming big time for the ‘big band’ scenario. It also shows a rather good Bernie Marsden all round performance. A good singer was Bernie and as we know a fine guitarist and co- songwriter. Jon Lord is in top form also, they all are, Paul Martinez and the brass section along with the McKinley sisters. One of those classic and rare ‘one-off’ lineups. Cheers.
July 7th, 2026 at 07:32Great great short lived BAND! Got original LP, Reissue double LP (with half of abandoned 2nd LP included), CD, live CD BBC DVD concert with the famous documenty…OK OK ‘PAL’ was a dog food brand at the time!! Bernie shines as ever not just on guitar but dual vox with Tony! Happy listening guaranteed on evey spin! Cheers – PJ
July 7th, 2026 at 08:21PAL Malice in Wonderland and Ashton/Lord First of the Big Bands are 2 favorites of mine. I have to admit I enjoy the more than most Rainbow and Whitesnake albums!!
July 7th, 2026 at 08:43I absolutely love Paice, Ashton, Lord. They might be neglected in the wide screen of DPF Tree, but musically and in execution their idea was top-notch, reaching to the “Mad Dogs And Englishmen” sonic concept. Live performances by PAL were maybe shaky for obvious reasons of Tony’s not-feel-like a frontman stress, but the studio record is simply excellent, most brilliant as much, as it’s not Purple style at all (and for the better if it musically!).
Ghost Story, Remember The Good Times and On The Road Again, Again sway like a true rocking horses, they just groooove left to right and backwards. Silas And Jerome is knock-down hilarious with Ashton’s absolute genius of audiobook storyteller, helter skelter. “This is my boyfriend Silas, man! and my big brother called Jerome! Aww, shhhh…..ame on you!“…
I’m buckling down, chuckling and giggling – every time this is on.
And the title track at the end – this is 7 minutes of Paice-Lord heaven. What Jon does over last 120 seconds of it or so, both on piano and the Hammond – is a pure GOD-LIKE Lord. An absolute mastery of drive, boogie, swagger, fire and keyboard scorch. I miss that Man so gad-dam much……
July 7th, 2026 at 09:03