Don Airey took part in the recording of a classic Beatles song Help, which will be released on March 11 at the first anniversary of earthquake in Japan. The earthquake was one of the strongest in recorded history and Japanese people are still experiencing it’s impact. Population of the affected area has not been able to completely return to their everyday live and the people are still grateful for help. All income from the project will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross.

The EP single Help! For Japan will include the following four tracks:

1. Help!
2. Help! (Tommy Heart version)
3. Help! (guitar version)
4. Help! (extended version)

Musicians involved: Don Airey (keyboards and piano), Leo Leoni (guitar; Gotthard), Neil Murray (bass), Hena Habegger (drums; Gotthard).

The singers: Tobias Sammet (Edguy, Avantasia), Bob Catley (Magnum), Andi Deris (Helloween), Torstein Flakne (Stage Dolls), Marc Storace (Krokus), David Readman (Pink Cream 69), Claus Lessmann (Bonfire), Oliver Hartmann (Hartmann), Bernhard Weiss (Axxis), Michael Kiske (Unisonic), Tony Mills (TNT), Carsten Lizard Schulz (Evidence One) and Tommy Heart (Soul Doctor, Fair Warning).

Solo guitar players: Cede Dupont (Downspirit), Kyoji Yamamoto (Bowwow), Helge Engelke (Fair Warning), Roland Grapow (Masterplan), Leo Leoni (Gotthard), Henny Wolter (Nitrogods), Robert R. Rodrigo (Airless).

All ‘Help!’ versions produced and mixed by Tommy Heart, Tommy Remm and Rene Schostak (Valicon). Vocal arrangement by Tommy Heart. Solo guitar arrangement for Help! (guitar version) by Helge Engelke. Audio mastering by TMM/Tom Müller Berlin/Germany. Cover artwork Help! For Japan designed by Kai Swillus.

Project’s website and Facebook page.

Thanks to Bravewords for the info.

Brazilian website Wikimetal has featured Ian Gillan in podcast #50, released on November 28 (the interview starts at 15:30 into the podcast). You can listen to the podcast using Blabbermouth player or directly here (69MB mp3).

Elinor Bostock has started an online petition to get Jon Lord and his music featured at the BBC Proms:

While the programme is probably set already for 2012 there is always a chance for future years. It was partly the Financial Times’ idea actually. Their review of Deep Purple’s O2 concert ended with “Go on Proms: book Deep Purple for next year”. Jon is perhaps a more likely candidate. I am sure I don’t need to convince any of you that this is a worthy cause.

The initiative has already received support from Jon’s management and JonLord.org.

Sign the petition here.

The long awaited biography of former Deep Purple and Rainbow tour manager Colin Hart finally dropped onto my doorstep the other day. Although very much looking forward to it, I was however slightly nervous as to the content.
After all, despite his many years of service, the parting of the ways between Colin and DP probably wasn’t handled all that well in the end, and it would be easy for this biography to descend into a bitter tale of regret.
My fears, thankfully, were in vain. This is an affectionate reflection on a 30 year + love affair, that despite it’s final outcome stands as frankly the best book yet written about Deep Purple and Rainbow.
As with the best of biographies it’s as if Colin is with you, just chatting away. But without the regular looks over your shoulder to check on his band of merry travellers.
Just buy it, eh?! You know it makes sense.
For those of you who use English, you can buy the book on the link to the right, Wymer UK. Head there now and you should hopefully get the book in time for Christmas. Happy reading 🙂

Roger Glover became a grandfather again today, December 8, when his daughter Gillian gave birth to a baby girl Aranea. Our warmest congratulations to Roger, Gillian, Aranea, Trevis and Xavier.

Thanks to RogerGlover.com for the info.

The Perfect Strangers of Finland will hold it’s 4th Purple Night on January 14, 2012. The party is dubbed All Night Long and will be dedicated this time to Rainbow. Rainbow music from 1975 to 1995 will be performed by a house band and guest musicians.

The house band consists of musicians who have played with Graham Bonnet and Doogie White on their Finnish tours: “Lacu” Lahtinen (Popeda, Michael Monroe) on drums, Mika “Lamppari” Lamminsivu on guitar, Klaus Wirzenius (Manzana, Pate Mustajärvi N.Y.T.-tour) on bass and Okke Komulainen (Leningrad Cowboys, Sleepy Sleepers, Bomfunk MC) on keyboards. The vocalist Jukka ”Jay” Lewis has played bass in Graham Bonnet´s Finnish touring band as well.

In addition to the house band, the evening will feature guest vocalists Peter James Goodman (Conquest, Purple Society), Jukka Jay Lewis (Yö, OZ), Jukka Nummi (Myon, Rainbow Shakers, Angry Machine) and from the US Tom Oh (Red Car Driver, Rock Rooster). Special guests on guitar will include Nikolo Kotzev (Brazen Abbot, Glenn Hughes, Joe Lynn Turner), Anssi Kela and Juha Tikka (Shades of Purple). As melodic hard rock night needs backup vocals too, Riitta ”Ritchie Millhill” Myllymäki and Päivi ”Daisy Pinehill” Petäjämäki both have experience in classical music from opera choirs and they also sing rock and folk music.

What: Purple Night 2012 – All Night Long
When: 14 January 2012, show starts at 8 pm
Where: Tavastia Club, Helsinki, Finland
Tickets: Tiketti €13 advance, €15 at the door.
Age limit: 18

Thanks to Jari Kaikkonen for the info.

The Chopin’s Story DVD is finally out. It is a documentary about life of Polish composer Frédéric Chopin narrated and presented by Ian Gillan. We wrote about it before. The DVD will feature a brand new, exclusive interview with Ian done on the set of the film.

Copies can be ordered by sending you full name, mailing address and the number of copies you would like to receive to jerzy.szkamruk@tvproject.eu or marcin.rybacki@tvproject.eu. The prices for Europe (excluding Poland) are in Euro whereas for the rest of the world in USD. If you order more than 5 DVDs the shipping fees will be discussed individually via e-mail.

Poland:
1pcs. 22 zł plus 5 zł shipping
2pcs. 43 zł plus 6 zł shipping
3pcs . 64 zł plus 6 zł shipping
4pcs . 83 zł plus 6 zł shipping
5pcs. 100 zł plus 7 zł shipping

Europe (including Russia and Israel):
1pcs. – 4,50 EURO plus 3 EURO shipping
2pcs .- 9,00 EURO plus 4 EURO shipping
3pcs. – 13,00 EURO plus 4 EURO shipping
4pcs. – 18,00 EURO plus 4 EURO shipping
5pcs. – 21,00 EURO plus 5 EURO shipping

North America, Africa:
1pcs. – 6,50 $ plus 4,00 $ shipping
2pcs. – 12,50 $ plus 6,00 $ shipping
3pcs. – 13,00 $ plus 6,00 $ shipping
4pcs. – 24,00 $ plus 6,00 $ shipping
5pcs. – 26,00 $ plus 8,00 $ shipping

South and Latin America, Asia:
1pcs. – 6,50 $ plus 4,00 $ shipping
2pcs. – 12,50 $ plus 6,50 $ shipping
3pcs. – 13,00 $ plus 6,50 $ shipping
4pcs. – 24,00 $ plus 6,50 $ shipping
5pcs. – 26,00 $ plus 9,00 $ shipping

Australia, Oceania and Japan:
1pcs. – 6,50 $ plus 4,50 $ shipping
2pcs. – 12,50 $ plus 8,50 $ shipping
3pcs. – 13,00 $ plus 8,50 $ shipping
4pcs. – 24,00 $ plus 8,50 $ shipping
5pcs. – 26,00 $ plus 12,50 $ shipping

The DVDs will be shipped by priority registered mail after payment to:

TV Project Sp. z o.o.
Czarnieckiego 57
01-548 Warszawa
Poland

Bank account number:
BIC Swift-code: INGBPLPW
IBAN PL81 1050 1038 1000 0023 2687 7475

Thanks to Marcin Rybacki for the info.

Date: 03.12.2011

: Gerry Weber Arena

: Halle

: Germany

This was the second time I saw DP with the orchestra this year, first concert was in Gelsenkirchen this summer. I was really impressed about the gig in Gelsenkirchen, but this one last saturday was much more better – unbelievable good.

The orchester was perfectly involved now and it seems that they enjoyed any minute of the concert. And so did the band. As a lot of reviewers mentioned Don Airey is more and more a regular band member and he is truly on of the highlights now.

The big suprise to me was that they included The Mule into the programm, which also means the Drum solo by Ian Paice.

I have the same impression as a lot of reviewers: The get better and better….

Looking forward to see them again next November, and I would not complain if some new songs would be played then – from the 2012 record.

40 years ago, on December 4, 1971, Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention played a gig at the Casino de Montreux. You know the rest. In case you don’t, read on at the Darker Than Blue blog.

MontreuxMusic.com has videos, pictures, and press clippings from the event that changed music history. Check them out.

And the “most subtle piece of rock memorabilia” award goes to Bathroom Wall T-Shirts for their very topical today Casino de Montreux. Live Music. 4 December 1971. number. I’m so getting one myself.

A well written review, in which the author goes to see the Purple show a tad sceptical, but comes out totally enthusiastic.

If anyone tells you that Deep Purple’s Concerto for Group and Orchestra (1969) wasn’t a masterpiece then they’re an idiot. In fact, it was, more or less, the only successful use of an orchestra with a rock band ever. Now, 40 years on, a pensionable Purple have hit the road again with a full symphony orchestra. But they’re not playing the Concerto. They’re playing their hits. And, critically, they’re performing them without founding keyboardist, Jon Lord, and guitarist, Ritchie Blackmore. And so, at 8.30pm when support band Cheap Trick had failed to ignite the room, even with a five-necked guitar, a 12-stringed bass and a lead singer looking like Dave Lee Roth, it looked like this might be another nostalgia night for music past its sell-by date.

Read the whole thing at The Arts Desk.