Date: 2012-02-11

: John Labatt Centre

: London, Ontario

: Canada

Where to start? I live near Toronto and had hoped to see DP at Massey Hall. But all the decent tickets were gone in no time at all, so I was left accepting I\’d not see my favourite band. I had wanted to take my entire family so the kids (three 14 year olds) could see what a great rock band was all about. But it seems that is not to be.

But as it happens I did have to drive my 14 year old daughter to London, Ontario for a three day hockey tournament. Its cold and a snow storm is coming in. And on the radio we heard DP was playing in town that night. So I call and get a pair of tickets – seventh row floor, centre aisle. I’m amazed at my luck and worried about attendance. What happens if DP plays to a half empty hall? They’re pros, but who wants to play to a half empty hall?

Well, I needn’t have worried. Despite the snow and cold, the place was reasonably full (around 1,200). There was a lot of grey hair in the audience, but also a fair number of younger adults. There were very few kids.

The opening act was “Monster Truck”, taking the stage at 7:30. They were fun and enthusiastic, and the guitarist was effusive about opening for DP. My daughter and I agreed that they were good, exceptionally tight and entertaining.

Around 8:30, DP took the stage, opening with Highway Star. And from the opening it was clear they were ON. Recent posts have suggested Gillan has struggled at times but tonight, despite wearing a walking cast on his right foot, he was in great form. (Though late in the show his voice did exhibit some strain.) And the other members of the band repeatedly hit their marks. Their playing was amazing.

I didn’t memorize the set list order (sorry), but I was really pleased to hear old chestnuts like “When A Blind Man Cries”, “No One Came” and “Never Before”. They also played the stuff you’d expect – The Mule, Strange Kind of Woman, Lazy, Hard Lovin’ Man, Perfect Strangers, Smoke, Space Truckin’, Hush, Woman From Tokyo, Black Night, and Rapture of the Night. Each of them also took a solo.

And as to my daughter. She was amazed. It was the first time she’d seen a band where everyone is an exceptional talent. No better way than a DP show to have a real music experience.

One odd moment. After the first few songs, Gillan mentioned they would be working on a new album. I must admit the body language exhibited stage right suggested a lack of keenness. Perhaps it was the lighting. Or the cold Canadian winter.

What a great evening, and even better I could share it with my daughter.

Sterling

The Chronicle Herald from Halifax, Canada, did an interview with Roger Glover. He spoke about the way things are done in the band, the “new” guys, and, for some reason or another, the question of Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame popped up again:

I don’t think we ever will because if they ever ask us, we’ll just say ‘No thanks’. It’s fraught with political overtones and it could get a bit uncomfortable because if we were going to do it, for a start, Ritchie would have to be involved.

Relationships with Ritchie, by his choice, are non-existent, and it wouldn’t be a very pleasant experience. But look at all the other acts that haven’t been inducted either. We’d probably just say, ‘Thanks, but see ya.’

That makes it two for two so far.

Read more in The Chronicle Herald.

Thanks to Monika Schwarz for the info.

Halifax Metro has published a short interview with Roger in anticipation of the February 4 Deep Purple show:

When asked by fans if he thought 40 years ago he’d still be performing today, Roger Glover doesn’t hesitate in his reply.

“Yes, it’s all going according to plan.”

Though the Deep Purple bassist makes light of his bumpy journey, he is grateful for the ride.

“I feel fortunate to have been born at the time I did,” he tells me over the phone. “I was in a band, living a dream and it wasn’t a dream.”

Read more in Halifax Metro.

Thanks to Monika Schwarz for the info.

Black Country Communion will release its live concert CD, Live Over Europe, on February 28 on the Joe Bonamassa’s J&R Adventures label. This two-disc CD follows up the October 2011 release of the two-disc DVD by the same name.

No further details on the source, mix, etc, of these recordings are available at this time.

Track listing

Disc 1

1. Revolution Of The Machine
2. Black Country
3. One Last Soul
4. Crossfire
5. Save Me
6. The Battle For Hadrian’s Wall
7. Beggarman
8. Faithless
9. Song Of Yesterday
10. I Can See Your Spirit

Disc 2

1. Cold
2. The Ballad of John Henry
3. The Outsider
4. The Great Divide
5. Sista Jane
6. Man In The Middle
7. Burn

Thanks to Blabbermouth for the info.

In a new interview with The Nervous Breakdown Glenn Hughes tals about his book, how come he ended up wearing goat pants, does a bit of name dropping, and answers an either/or quiz:

Blackfoot or Molly Hatchet?
Ah, Blackfoot, yeah! No knock on Hatchet, they’re great, but Blackfoot.

Kool & the Gang or The Bar-Kays?
Ooh, I love them both. Kool and the Gang were a little more pop but Bar-Kays, they had that groove, man.

Ozzy or Dio era Sabbath?
Well, one was my dearest friend and the other I’ve known all my life. Dio was just such a good mate. It’s like Eddie Trunk said — both were valid. Both deserve to be Sabbath.

Absolutely. Bootsy or Lemmy?
Bootsy! Lemmy’s my good mate. As a human, Lemmy. On bass, Bootsy is the man.

Led Zeppelin IV or Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life?
Songs in the Key for the music. When that came out I was hanging with Stevie and he was a mentor to me in many ways. Zep IV for the memories. Bonham must’ve played that for me a hundred times before it was released and I’ve got some great memories from that. So one for the music, the other for the memories.

Read more at The Nervous Breakdown.

Thanks to Blabbermouth for the info.

There will be a Meet and Greet event with Ian Paice in the afternoon of February 8, between 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm at the Dave’s Drum Shop. Admission is free. Dave’s Drum Shop is located at 390 Gladstone Ave., Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 0Z1.
Continue Reading »

As the Canadian tour approaches, musician’s profiles and interviews start appearing in local media.

Niagara This Week has Steve Morse’s profile titled The Morse Code.

London Free Press (that’s London, Ontario) has a rather interesting interview with Ian Paice where he does not mince his words:

I believe that we have another good record in us and I believe we’ll make it this year. A couple of years ago there were a couple of guys in the band who just didn’t see the point. And when it’s like that there’s no use trying to push it. But there’s been a change of heart.

Shouldn’t you be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

Yes we should. But as it’s taken so long, I’ve a mind that if it ever comes up, I would probably refuse it. I think it would probably be insulting. That’s my personal view — I’m not speaking for the other guys in the band. But I’ve seen so many nonentities get into it that I’m not sure it’s that hallowed a place anymore.

Read more in London Free Press.

Send us the links with interviews, reviews and profiles appearing in your local media

Thanks to Richard Hutton for the info.

Musicianews caught up with Steve Morse at this year NAMM to chat about his project, his plans, his gear, and the changing face of the music business:
Continue Reading »

The five summer dates — two in Italy, one in Poland and two in Germany — that we mentioned as contradicting with the band’s summer studio plans are now listed on the ticket vendors’ sites either as cancelled or postponed until 2013. Well, as far as someting can be cancelled that was never confirmed in the first place. This clears the band’s touring schedule wide open from the end of Canadian tour in late February until the (so far very much unconfirmed) Russian dates in late October. For the first time in many years, we must add.

Studio, here we come?

Thanks to Marin Stoikov for the info.

Ian Paice will hold a drum clinic in Toronto on Monday, February 13 at 2:00 pm. The clinic will take place at Just Drums located at 137 Willowdale Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M2N 4Y3. Admission is free. There will be raffle tickets on sale at $5 each, $10 for 3, with no limit, for the Ian Paice signature snare drum as the main prize.

Thanks to Jim Irons for the info.