Birmingham show on November 13th received quite a favourable coverage in the local press.

Debbie Bennett writes in the Express & Star:

…On the third night of the band’s UK tour, 64-year-old barefoot frontman Ian Gillan belted out hits and rarities at the LG Arena last night and was loving every minute of it.

The age range of last night’s crowd was wide (I took my 12-year-old for his first taste of Purple), and the so-called bus pass holders held in awe these die-hards of rock.

Followed by Birmingham Mail:

The rock legends put in a great performance… My advice to rock fans who weren’t there — don’t miss them next time they’re in town.

Last night in Amsterdam Warren Haynes of Gov’t Mule fame joined Deep Purple on stage for a jam over Black Night. Pictures and videos from the show are already surfacing:
Continue Reading »

In the anticipation of the Birmingham and London dates, Times Online has published a brilliantly eloquent piece on Deep Purple that surely will resonate in one a many hearts:

The exact date has long been wiped from the memory’s hard drive, but I can say with absolute certainty that it was a February evening in 1977. I was coming to the entirely amicable end of a three-year relationship and was on the lookout for a new romance.

It was my best mate Rob who introduced us and it was in his house that night that I found lasting love. It was a passion that was to burn brightly through the next six years and then, when I was older and thought we had both moved on, to reignite when fate threw us together again in the early 1990s. And even today the memory of the relationship still brings a nostalgic smile to my nearly 50-year-old features. It was the night I first heard Deep Purple.

Is there any love that burns more brightly than that between a teenage boy and his favourite rock group? From the moment that Ian Paice’s deceptively funky cymbals counted in Ritchie Blackmore’s ear-syringing guitar riff and Woman from Tokyo thundered out of the speakers, I was completely smitten. There was no way I was going to slink back to the doomed thing with Emerson Lake and Palmer.

Read more at Times Online.

Thanks to Stathis Panagiotopoulos for the info.

The set started with Prokofiev’s ‘Montague and Capulet’ from ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and it really built the atmosphere, and then Purple burst into a really fiery version of Highway Star with Glover and Paice driving it along much faster than I can remember from Wembley in 2007.

After Gillan’s altercations with Wembley stewards during “Things I’ve never said” in 2007, it was good to see him stay on stage throughout this time. Some have criticised the inclusion of this track but is does come from the “most recent” album and it certainly rocks.

A rousing “Not responsible”, which Gillan introduced by saying “We’ve only ever played this live twice … and that was this week” they belted into Strange Kind of Woman. This was the second major test, for me, of the state of the band. It’s a regular number so could they bring something new to it … and they did – verve and enthusiasm and, most of all, fun. The interplay between Gillan, Glover and Morse was a joy.

“Wasted sunsets”, beautifully lit, came next. His voice may strain but the passion was there throughout. At last a time to pause. Gillan announced that the new song would be the title track from their “recent album” and then said that it was time they got into a studio to record a new album and mentioned that February 2010 looked likely.

I love “Rapture” (although I’d love to see “Clearly quite absurd” sometime) – it growled and flowed with Don coming to the fore more than before.

The “quiet medieval ballad” that Gillan introduced morphed into a burning version of Fireball, Paice thundering out the drum line and Glover pushing the rhythm before the pace was slowed down for the exquisite Steve Morse section. “Contact lost” was moving and very sensitive before the stunningly wonderful “Sometimes I feel like screaming.” The interplay between guitar and vocals and then the layering of sound was stunning. A rousing version of “Well dressed guitar” had us all clapping and whooping – at time I got the impression that Airey and Paice were upping the speed but Steve managed to cope and the whole place bounced.

“Wring that neck” was introduced as being written by “Dick Turpin” and it was good to hear it live after so many years. The structure remains the same but the solos were quite different from the old Lord / Blackmore days. I felt that perhaps Don and Steve weren’t in their comfort zones for this but it will develop and deserves its place if only to show off the jazzy side of Purple.

“No one came” was delivered with lashings of humour by an obviously happy Ian Gillan. The lyrics lend themselves to humour and he milked them for all they were worth.

Don’s solo was a tour de force – Lord like in its interplay between classical and rock, a little like a game set for the audience – what piece am I playing now and where will it go.

“The battle rages on” was delivered with a driving intensity – this was classic rock music, Gillan growling out the lyrics while the band thundered behind him.

“Space Truckin'” was a shortened version but Glover’s bass playing was just stunning and, with Paice, together they lay down a mighty statement – find a better drum and bass combination anywhere!

And then to the inevitable “Smoke”. We didn’t get the endless audience participation of old but everyone was singing. Morse’s solo was quicksilver while Don wove layer upon layer of sound over his.

I had hoped for “Speed king” as an encore but it was not to be. After an interesting little intro based on an old Booker T number (I think) the band launched into “Hush”. It’s a good sing along number and they seemed happy enough with it. Roger’s soloing was brilliant – inventive and technical. A rousing rendition of “Black Night” brought the evening to a close.

Three days on and how do I feel? Still up there in the clouds.

Two very minor gripes in an otherwise outstanding evening: I do like to see a drum set on a podium of some sort, if only to bring the drummer up to the level of the standing musicians – Paicey was on the level stage and seemed a little out of it at times. Also, if you’ve got one of the best drummers in the world, a 30 second solo would have been nice.

But hey, I’ve just seen the best group in the world play the best concert I’ve ever seen (or am likely to see). Don now feels a really integral part of the band (at Wembley in 2007 it seemed as if he knew where he could involve himself) – here he was right in it.

Steve Morse commanded centre and the right of the stage from where we sat, (on the front row of the balcony directly over the sound mixer’s table), Ian Paice was mighty throughout and Ian Gillan was … well Ian Gillan – funny, enthusiastic and with boundless energy. His voice is showing signs of strain but he manages really well.

But, if I have to pick out one for special mention, it must be my favourite … Roger Glover. His bass playing is more inventive and powerful than ever and he is a man apparently completely at peace with himself – a broad smile across his face, enjoying the interplay with the other band members and the audience.

Deep Purple are back. The look of stunned amazement on my 15 year old son’s face at the end of the concert said it all. He’s seen a few bands and saw Purple with me at Wembley in 07. This left him speechless. We drove back listening to Live at Olympia with wide smiles across our faces.

Oh, and the support at, The Crave, were good as well. A 4 piece band, they played six numbers competently and look good for the future.

Thank God for Deep Purple. “Something spiritual …” Indeed!

Purple were on great form last night and their set list was the best in years. There were outings for Wasted Sunsets, Wring that Neck, No One Came, and Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming along wlth the usual classics.

The evening’s surprise inclusion was Not Responsible.

Morse was on fire and we got both Contact Lost and Well Dressed Guitar. The only disappointment was that Speed King was not played as scheduled due to some over zealous security.

The PA was really loud but maybe that was because we were right at the front. Took me back to the 70s anyway.

Like a fine wine they keep getting better with age and I hope they let loose like this on the new album.

1 Intro/Highway Star
2 Things I Never Said
3 Not Responsible
4 Strange Kind Of Woman
5 Wasted Sunsets
6 Rapture Of The Deep
7 Fireball
8 Contact Lost/Steve Morse solo
9 Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming
10 The Well-Dressed Guitar
11 Wring That Neck
12 No One Came
13 Don Airey solo
14 The Battle Rages On
15 Space Truckin’
16 Smoke On The Water

17 Hush
18 Black Night

I went along to this gig hoping that, for a change, it wouldn’t be a “greatest hits” show and I wasn’t disappointed.

From the opening Highway Star to the encores the band constantly surprised with their choice of material, and as the evening progressed the band got into their stride and delivered in spades.

Four numbers from the Morse/Airey era, two hidden gems from Perfect Strangers and Wring That Neck were highlights for me. The solo sections were excellent with neither Steve nor Don’s contributions being over wrought.

A word for Mr Gillan who tactfully got a fan who wouldn’t let go up on stage rather than have a tug of war with his arm – well done sir!

Great gig; hope they get to thoughtfully mine the back catalogue – it brought a freshness to their playing and they were obviously enjoying themselves.

Deep Purple threw in a setlist surprise last night in Manchester on the first date of the 65,535th leg of their European tour:

1 Intro/Highway Star
2 Things I Never Said
3 Wrong Man
4 Strange Kind Of Woman
5 Wasted Sunsets
6 Rapture Of The Deep
7 Fireball
8 Contact Lost/Steve Morse solo
9 Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming
10 The Well-Dressed Guitar
11 Wring That Neck
12 No One Came
13 Don Airey solo
14 The Battle Rages On
15 Space Truckin’
16 Smoke On The Water

17 Speed King (incl. Roger Glover solo and rock/pop medley)
18 Hush
19 Black Night

Wasted Sunsets has never been performed live by Deep Purple before. However, Gillan did it on his solo tour in North America in 2006. We’ll leave you with this video to wet your appetite:

That was Dean Howard on lead guitar.

British newspaper Express & Star has published an interview with Ian Gillan where he takes potshots at showbiz in his home country:

We’d play almost anywhere. But the climate in the UK is not friendly. Nothing wrong with the fans, they’re brilliant, and I’m looking forward to these shows in November. The band is hot right now. But we’ll literally be flying through and I don’t know when we’ll be back next.

I look back with great fondness on the long tours we used to do for the British fans, 28-36 UK dates – it was just brilliant. And, of course, we still see a lot of those fans now. But from ‘the industry’ there’s nothing.

The Highway Star also gets a name check. Read the rest of the interview in Express & Star.

Graphic artist Ioannis has more than 165 record covers under his proverbial belt, including some that you might know very well. He kindly agreed to answer our questions.

THS: Your work with Deep Purple included cover art for Abandon (1998) and Rapture of the Deep (2005), and graphic design for Bananas (2003). Anything else?

Ioannis: I was introduced to Deep Purple, specifically, Bruce Payne (their manager) and Roger Glover, by a good friend Jim Lewis. He at the time managed Yngwie Malmsteen (a client) among other acts. He was also the VP of A&R with Polygram in the early 80s and had worked with Deep Purple and Rainbow.

They had just completed Abandon and were running late in getting the cover art together. I sat at Bruce’s office and along with Roger, who has always been the art director for the band as long as I have worked with them, and discussed a series of ideas. About a week later I showed them several concepts, the cover that eventually became Abandon was one of them. I then was asked to design a tour book, which I did with Roger, merchandise and tour laminates. Since then I have worked with them on every studio release (compilations and best offs are usually designed in-house by the label and the band is not involved creatively). So to fully answer your question, yes I did the singles, merchandise, tour books and tour passes for the tours. I also was asked to design promotional posters during the Bananas tour.

THS: How much creative freedom did you have during these projects?

Ioannis: They pretty much let me run with it so they can see the first batch of ideas, then Bruce and Roger get heavily involved in the final. In the case of Bananas, they had the concept and presented me with two photos to work with. One was from a company in Hong Kong, I think, which became the tour book, and another was a photo Bruce took, which became the cover. For Rapture of the Deep, Roger had this cartoon that he found, he intended to use it as the basis for a concept he wanted but at the end we ended up using the cartoon. Ian Gillan liked it a lot.

On the tour book art I co-designed the first with Roger (Total Abandon) but the last two I did my own thing with direction from Bruce Payne. One of my most favorite images that I did was the singles cover art for Haunted off the Bananas album, which the band loved, and was also used as a T-shirt.

THS: Overall impressions from working with Deep Purple?

Ioannis: They are pros and really get involved in the final piece. Specifically, Roger. Bruce tries to keep it all moving along so we don’t miss deadlines.

Roger is extremely creative, always looking for the best approach trying to always keep it interesting, he is a good artist and photographer by the way. I always like the fact that he challenges me when we design, to do the best I can. He also is very easy going and has a great sense of humor.

THS: Was it any different from working with other bands?

Ioannis: Yes in the sense that like their peers that I also have worked with — Uriah Heep, Lynyrd Skynyrd, King Crimson, Blue Oyster Cult, etc — they take their craft very seriously and all aspects down to the art and packaging. I think it’s the generation they are from. It’s more spotty with contemporary bands, which I think is a huge mistake. Great packaging and branding can yield huge results if done properly with the band’s music — Yes, Pink Floyd, Iron Maiden are examples that come to mind — plus they pay huge dividends in the merchandise arena. The latter has become a big focus in today’s times.

THS: Anything else you would like to tell us?

Ioannis: Do you have an hour? 🙂 The last time out was a bit memorable, we were really behind schedule, so Roger would come to our office for about a week (we don’t live far from his house and the management) from morning until late afternoon, and we worked diligently on all the packaging configurations until it was all done. We had great laughs and amazing stories he told us, he even went one day to get us lunch at MacDonalds which was surreal, hah ha ha!

In closing I just want to say that this was an honor as I was a reader of The Highway Star before Deep Purple hired me. Me and my brother George, whom I run the firm with, have been DP fans since we first saw them as kids during California Jam. For me Machine Head was the first rock album I bought along with Uriah Heep’s Demons And Wizards. I now work with both acts.

Finally, as your readers know, we did commemorative prints when Deep Purple debuted playing Machine Head in its entirety, only 25 artist proofs exist, they are numbered and signed by me and the band. All income earned are being donated to the TJ Martell foundation to find a cure for cancer. I know times are tough but please buy one if you can, they are very valuable, come framed, matted and with a certificate of authenticity and it’s a great cause.

We would like to thank Ioannis for finding time in his busy schedule to answer our questions. We already wrote about the sale of the commemorative artwork, which can be purchased through his website Dangerous Age (directly to the artwork).

October this year saw both banjo players touring the Eastern part of the North American continent with their respective bands. Which gave some of us the opportunity to see Blackmore’s Night and Steve Morse Band within a matter of days.

Yours truly was busy with the so called real life, but finally got around to process pictures I took at both gigs. Here they are:

• Blackmore’s Night: House of Blues Chicago, October 17
• Steve Morse Band: Cosmo Music Hall, Toronto, October 18

Before you ask, all the pictures are published under the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial ShareAlike License.

Many thanks to Daniel Bengtsson for all his help, and to Minstrel Hall and T.J. for cooperation.