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The Nashville diaries

Deep Purple in a studio in Nashville, June 2012; photo courtesy of Edel/EarMUSIC

Part 1 of Roger Glover’s diaries covering recording of the new album have been published online. The published portion covers June 24 to July 25, 2012, with hints of more to come.

24 June Sunday
Nashville. Our first day in the Soundcheck rehearsal studio. The setup is similar to Werne, so it’s fairly comfortable and quite spacious. After a jam to warm up, we start going through the list of songs. IG, who wasn’t in Werne, needs to hear all the latest ideas. We discuss the keys that each song is in and we occasionally try tuned-down guitars. Bob Ezrin stops by to welcome us to Nashville. He is a ball of energy and very enthusiastic.

Read more at deeppurple-nowwhat.com.

Thanks to Andrey Gusenkov for the info.



39 Comments to “The Nashville diaries”:

  1. 1
    Tracy(Zero the Hero)Heyder says:

    Man, what a great re-cap of the recording sessions for this album. Sure does pump you up for it. Pisses me off though, reading about all the time they spent just an hour from where I live and I didn’t head down to try and hang with them. What was I thinking?? One thing I am hoping for though after reading all of Roger’s attraction toward his experience here….. There will be ‘hell to pay’ if they skip Nashville when they tour the States. With Bob Ezrin actually living there and the connection they felt and friends made, I think they will finally play a venue I don’t have to drive 8 hours to see…. Hey Bob, book them at the ‘Wild Horse Saloon’. Great venue. Saw Uncle Ted, Foreigner, UFO, and JLT with Scrap Metal there. Perfect venue for Purple.

    CheerZ?!

  2. 2
    MacGregor says:

    Tracy @ 1 – You really think they would let you ‘hang with them’? You really do live in a dream world Tracy, by the way, it was known for a while they were recording there, so why didn’t you ‘hang with them’? I bet you they would have said, who is this ‘groupie hanging around here & a member of the crew would have been instructed to remove you quickly, big time!

  3. 3
    purplepriest1965 says:

    Always nice to read this kinda stuff but it would have been better if it not was served up many months, almost a year, later.

    Maybe they indeed were afraid to see fans coming around for a talk?

  4. 4
    al says:

    ouch Mac Gregor,people are allowed to dream aren’t they ? Take it easy with Deep Purple family bro lol
    Cheers mate !

  5. 5
    Andra Thompson says:

    Terrific stuff ?!

  6. 6
    Mike Airey says:

    Yep! Any strange fans would have been removed. quickly! In a most polite manner of course!! Many fans, came and chatted and many friends were made. Thats what the bands all aboout..! We had a blast in nashville, and myself and the band met many new friends..x Nice to read Rog’s Diary-had forgotten many of the great nights we had surrounding the recording sessions.. Heres to the next!! Mike

  7. 7
    stoffer says:

    @ 2 – lighten up a little, and anyway, aren’t we all groupies in our own way!?

  8. 8
    MacGregor says:

    stoffer @ 5 – Yes that is correct, we are all groupies indeed! The word has a few different meanings, but yes it is about a following of sorts, an obsession with, a ‘hero’ worship perhaps? Or at worst, to most people a desire to do almost anything to be with their ‘hero'(s)!

  9. 9
    James Gemmell says:

    MacGregor: They would’ve let him in and got him a beer. Purple People are pretty down-to-Earth.

  10. 10
    Tracy(Zero the Hero)Heyder says:

    Hey stoffer @5,

    You missed the opportunity to set Ms. MacGregor straight. He apparently is unaware that I have spent many moments hanging with Purple. You were at the last event as a matter of fact. The Ravinia in Chicago. Hey Ms. MacGregor, all I can state here is do your homework. Go to the ‘Tour Review’ archives and read my many reviews, along with pics with the band. Priest will confirm. Not that it matters, but you never know who are chatting with on these blogs…..

    CheerZ?!

  11. 11
    Black Sheep says:

    @6 Agreed about the band always being very welcoming and warm. Well, at least apart from that Don Airey, he’s a rotter! 😉

  12. 12
    stoffer says:

    Yes Tracy you are correct, I missed an opp. MacGregor, I met Tracy at the Ravivia show Chicago, he had backstage passes he scored from knowing our boys personally, he didn’t brag or boast about it, he didn’t have to, it was evident he had an “in’ with the band. He is not living in a dream world, he is living the truth (he is quite lucky I think we would all agree). So, you never know………..sorry Tracy, I “tip-toed” in when I should have HAMMERED

    cheers & lets get some US tour dates?!?!?!?!

  13. 13
    kraatzy says:

    Reading the whole report of the studio work it makes me astonished about the fact, that our friends in Purple get a call that Jon has died …

    Are they not attend at Jon´s funeral ??

    Hmmmm ????

    LLRnR

    LL Jon Lord

    kraatzy

  14. 14
    micke says:

    Been to the states a few times and the “40% musicians discount” Roger is mentioning is one of the things I absolutely love about America. If you get along with people over there you have so much to win!
    And I usually do..

  15. 15
    Wiktor says:

    I wont join the pie-throwing party, but what caught my eye was Don´s name appearing with Roger´s everyday off studiotime, the ol Rainbow guys going out for a drink, a meal, a show, more drinks, more meals and so on and more drinks…I wonder what Gillan did at night….lol

  16. 16
    Svante Axbacke says:

    @11: I don’t understand. How would they get the news if not someone called them? It would have been weird if RG had written, “we read that Jon had died”. The funeral is usually not where you find out that the one going into the ground is dead…

  17. 17
    MacGregor says:

    Tracey @ 10 – I am not going to lower myself to the name calling, boy, girl, boy, girl etc, etc, School is many decades behind us! Backstage passes, big deal, a zillion people do that sort of thing at live gigs, so what! I have met some of the Purple guys at times over the years, so what, & other big names from the great bands of our time, It doesn’t mean anything to any one else. Meeting bands at gigs would be a bit different to trying to hang around a recording session or two I would imagine. Regarding the ‘homework’ clap trap, I don’t visit this website to read about you, from your perspective, I am simply drop in here to annoy you, haven’t you worked that out yet? Seriously though, as you stated in that post “not that it matters” Enough! We do what we do, to most people it means nothing! It is what it means to oneself that matters! Cheers!

  18. 18
    Dan Russell says:

    I was surprised as well that they didn’t leave for Jon’s funeral. Then again, I’ve never seen anything on the net regarding when or where that event took place. Never know, maybe there’s a special urn lodged deep in the touring gear.

  19. 19
    Tracy(Zero the Hero)Heyder says:

    Look #17,

    Lowering yourself would be where this started at #2 above. I made a personal comment #1 that wasn’t aimed at you nor anyone else in relation to the topic. You chose to chime in with your remarks that I decided to clarify for you at #10 before you delved further into your ignorant quivel, but instead you chose to continue at #17. So I will now take it a step further. Roger Glover has become a good friend. When I attend their shows, I and my wife receive comp tickets and Meet & Greet passes. Period. We get to chat with the band there. Got plenty of pics with the band and tons of stuff signed. Plus from time to time we meet up afterwards in a local pub for further catching up and downing a few pints. That’s as much clarity as I will offer here. More than you deserve. You can read about it in the Tour Review section if you find yourself losing sleep over it. Like I stated elsewhere, ‘not that it matters’. Nothing matters except the truth. See ya at the next Purple Meet & Greet….NOT! The truth hurts.

    CheerZ?!

  20. 20
    Black Sheep says:

    Ooooo, MacGregor! You sound jealous!!

  21. 21
    purplepriest1965 says:

    It finally dawns upon me…

    It is all Tracey’s fault!

  22. 22
    al says:

    @Tracy,@McGregor,can we please move on already guys ! you re both better than this !
    @ Tracy Hook me up with some comp tickets man ! lol
    let’s just have a beer sometimes and argue live,it is more fun ! lol Cyber connection could mess things up worse!
    Cheers mates !

  23. 23
    Andrey Barabanshchikov says:

    Tracy (aka Meet&Greet King) Heyder.

  24. 24
    al says:

    @ Hey Tracy
    Where can I check the pictures of you and the band man ! Can you pass me the sit name again please.

  25. 25
    Tracy Heyder (Zero the Hero) says:

    al @24,

    Here’s one for ya…..

    http://www.thehighwaystar.com/reviews/2007/07/17/wine-and-cheese-beer-and-cheer-long/

    Hey editors, as I was searching through the Review Archives, I noticed many of the reviews (not only mine) are missing the attached pictures. I seem to remember the site going through a revamp a while back and you guys stating that some stuff was lost. Should we resubmit pitures from our reviews?

    CheerZ?!

  26. 26
    MacGregor says:

    I am trying to repeat from my short term memory, a previous comment that didn’t seem to go through when I sent it, symbolic perhaps, before any one comments in regards to that! LOL. I apologised to the moderator at the “premiere of new material” section on March 13, in regards to incessant raving at times.
    I am moving on, as al @ 22 – correctly recommends. But before I do, nothing serious, just to clarify a few comments.

    Jealous I am most definitely not, in regards to other people meeting & greeting rock band members, no matter how popular! It is not something I am into, years ago, yes I have chatted with a few here & there. I just don’t get into it anymore, others good luck to them!
    I often think the ‘celebrity’ can look uncomfortable doing this, but at other times they are relaxed & into it, it just doesn’t matter to me! As long as fans are not paying ridiculous amounts of money for this purpose, it is harmless one would think! Some of the prices these days for so called ‘meet & greet packages” are unbelievable!
    Purple in town for the business of recording new material, would be low key I would have thought. They wouldn’t be looking for any distractions or the like, in any way. That is what I was pertaining to with my comment. I noticed Glover released his comments on the journey, many months later after they had left town. May be I am wrong.
    Tracy, the ‘groupie’ comment was not intended as a typical groupie comment! It just came out like that, I apologise if that came across the ‘other’ way! As stoffer commented & I replied, “we are all groupies” etc!
    In regards to the ‘clarify’ comment, I am not interested in what goes down, & I doubt that most other people would be either. Good luck to you in regards to your socialising with Purple members. I have now moved on! Cheers.

  27. 27
    Svante Axbacke says:

    @25: Tracy, I’ll have a look. It might not be the files that are gone, maybe just some broken internal links after that redesign. I’ll let you know if we need something resubmitted, thanks.

  28. 28
    AL says:

    @26 Mac Gregor
    I am against the adulation and craziness myself too.I’m not comfortable with this meet&greet the band idea,but it is just me ! Maybe I’m too awkward and shy by nature to force something out,I’d rather sit down and maybe have a beer in a more spontaneous way,like I’m pretty sure lots fans in here did and have fun and joy with it ! And like you said in nowadays I can barely afford a ticket,let alone buying those packages,Don’t want sound depressing and boring but I guess things change when you become a parent,and it is hard to do or listen to anything lol I’m just happy they re still around ,since they ve been the soundtrack of my life for a very long time(Deep Purple ) and people they had the occasion to meet and talk to them should cherish those good happy moments with their heroes!It is fun to read your guys reviews and insights and I’m proud to say that rockers are a very special breed ! lol
    Cheers

  29. 29
    AL says:

    I am talking about old school ( good school ),not the new crap and new metal crap that is out there now !

  30. 30
    Tracy(Zero the Hero)Heyder says:

    MacGregor @26:

    Glad to read your first paragraph. Unfortunately you circumvented all of its worth with the rest. I will do the honor of more clarifying. First off I am not ‘into’ meet & greets with rock bands. Especially due to their ‘popularity’. I happen to be a ‘semi-musician whom thoroughly appreciates the Kraft. I have been listening to Purle since I first heard HUSH in ’68. As I got older and more aware of music and having some talent of my own, I became more and more respective of these amazing players. They weren’t just a great band. They each were masters of their Kraft. ‘Virtuosos’ is the term most would use. I happened to be in the right place at the right time and wound up hitting it off with RG and since then he has been gracious enough to come through with comp tickets and after show passes when I am able to make the trip and attend their shows. We have hooked up after some shows if they are sticking around long enough to hit a local pub. I have been able to throw in my 2 cents toward my view of things and he has shared some pretty cool stuff with me over the years. I got my Ian Paice Signature Snare drum head personalized by Mr. Paice. Had many a fine conversation with all from the band, including Jon Lord. I am honored to be considered a friend of the band. You can call me ‘groupie’ all you want. I know the difference. As for my remarks about missing them in Nashville, I was eluding to bumping into them at one of the many establishment Roger made mention of. I have frequented most of those places he visited. Nashville isn’t a huge city. It would have been a hoot to have been able to bump into them down there and throw a couple back. That’s what I was expressing back where this whole thing got started. So there, you don’t have to go out of your way and do any research. There you have it. Yeah I realize as you stated in your last paragraph… ‘you aren’t interested in what goes down’ regarding clarification. Hard to believe that when you have done nothing but confront me and my entry where all of this originated at the beginning of this subject up @ #2. I’d say you totally got your panties all up in a wad right off the bat for somebody who isn’t interested. Seems like you still do. Sorry for that bro. Me? I guess I’m just one happy groupie.

    Svante Axbacke @27:

    Thanks

    CheerZ?!

  31. 31
    AL says:

    @30 Hey Tracy
    You think we have any chance in this lifetime to see Ritchie to make a rock album one more time ? I know he is very happy where to he is at now,singing lullaby to his recent born kids,but I would love to see him making one more rock album!

  32. 32
    purplepriest1965 says:

    Kraft!
    I really like their mayonaisse : )

  33. 33
    Tracy(Zero the Hero)Heyder says:

    #32,

    Actually I prefer their Miracle Whip over mayo…

    #31

    I have no clue as to whether or not Mrs. Blackmore will ever give Ritchie his pants back. One would have to think he has got to have some sort of desire to do something again in the rock vein. If it ever comes to pass, I’d rather see him do a hard blues album than a rehashed Rainbow type effort. Being the master of his ‘kraft’, it sure does seem rediculous for him to have taken this long though. Not a good sign.

    CheerZ?!

  34. 34
    Tracy(Zero the Hero)Heyder says:

    Adding to #33…

    #31:

    It’s been 20 years now that TMIB has been away from Rock and into ‘Lute-ville’. That’s actually been his longest running commitment. Way far and above his previous Purple or Rainbow commitment. I’d say Mrs. Night has a pretty firm grip on the Man in Tights Cod Piece. At least when Jon Lord made his break from Purple, he chased his classical dream but also took time out to collaborate with other realms of music such as the Blues with ‘the Hoochee Coochee Men’, the Blues Project and with Gillan /Iommi with the ‘Who Cares’ thing. I guess that’s the benefit of not marrying a ‘Yoko Ono’ type. There is no way TMIB doesn’t argue with himself….”Do I stand up to Yoko or not”? Purple’s latest album is purfectly titled….’Now What?!’ Ritchie should title the next BN album….’What the F..K, here I go again’. That’s what his fans are asking. It’s simple. The ‘YO’ (Yoko Ono) syndrome. “Relinquish thy cods to the lady in charge”.

    CheerZ?!

  35. 35
    MacGregor says:

    Tracy @ 33 & 34 – Yes the album we have all missed is the possible Lord & Blackmore album that they were both talking about doing a few years back, when they both had time to commit to it! Bummer indeed at that never happening. I imagine that album having a typical Blackmore/Lord feel to it, classical, blues & no doubt a bit of rock as well.
    Regarding the missus wearing the tights, no way is Blackmore not in control, he picks the setlist, the musicians too no doubt, he was the one with all the experience & connections also & he comes up with the music! The business side of it would possibly be run by you know who, with Blackers keeping an eye on things! Regarding the not rocking thing, he would be tired of the rock n roll circus, some musicians from that era retire from the professional life when they hit 60 or so. Some mellow out & kick back doing something they want to do with a relaxed atmosphere to it! Good humour imagining her with the cod piece on though!
    The ‘new’ Purple album name could have a few different meanings, Now What? are we going to do perhaps, or Now What? is going on here, etc etc! Hard to tell with Gillan’s sense of humour! Cheers.

  36. 36
    purplepriest1965 says:

    What is The Miracle Whip? : )

    Btw, it is not exactly 20 years ago.

    For example :
    He was touring with the last Rainbow outfit, featuring Jon Micelli(Ex Blue Oyster Cult)on drums in 1997.

    Real treat is the DVD; Palo Alto, 1997 live pro shot.

    Currently under some debate because a wonderful person made a new version of it with improved sound.

    To be found @ : http://perfect-purple.com/

  37. 37
    Tracy(Zero the Hero)Heyder says:

    MacGregor@35,

    Glad to see you finally getting my ‘tongue & cheek’ sarcasm. But, the funny thing is that you have to watch this 13 minute interview below with Ritchie and Candice which is where I got the ‘YO’ thing from. The statement comes in at about 4:04. Actually a pretty good interview once you get past the ‘goo’.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7argNMNvmM

    PP @36,

    Miracle Whip is a tangier type of mayo. It’s labeled as ‘Dressing’. Has a sweeter taste with a slight wang. Really good though. Mayo is a little bland.

    CheerZ?!

  38. 38
    al says:

    @37
    Great interview Tracy,I haven’ seen this one. Ritchie is the man!

  39. 39
    MacGregor says:

    Tracy @ 37 – Yes, I watch & read Blackmore interviews always with an interest, but I always fast forward past her as I cannot stand her. Blackmore talks music & history, she talks rubbish & mimics him in many ways! She annoys me so much I don’t even listen to the first 2 discs of BN anymore. I haven’t seen that interview before, thanks for that, Blackmore is a classic for ‘tongue in cheek’ & or sarcasm.
    It’s the old story that has been going on for centuries, rich, successful man, meets younger inexperienced woman. Well not in the John & Yoko story, but that story is rarer than this sort of one. Man manipulates the situation to suit his needs, younger woman follows him around everywhere. You can just imagine the situation back when Blackmore ‘eyed’ her. Who is this young piece etc, she would have thought, hmmmm. he is rich & famous & I am a nobody, etc, etc! I hope I don’t sound jealous in any way, it probably does, but not for that sort of woman! Anyway, good luck to him, at least we have all his rock music from before he started to mellow! Cheers!

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