Here are seven excerpts of Gillan singing that illustrate his vocal range:
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Jon Lord & The Hoochie Coochie Men have a new website, launched in time for release of their new album, ‘Danger, White Men Dancing‘.

Find info about the band, video clips and – most importantly – sound clips from the forthcoming album with guest appearances by Ian Gillan, Jimmy Barnes and Jeff Duff.

Check out www.hoochiecoochiemen.com.

The August 23rd and 24th 2007 shows in San Antonio and Houston make shows 12 and 13 for me since first seeing the band in Dallas in 1985.

The band continues to be in fantastic form, having fun and radiating enough energy to alleviate any need for oil imports. After this many shows, I wasn’t sure I’d have anything new to share, but a couple of highlights are worth mentioning.

First the set list for the two nights. Highlights were getting three songs from “Rapture of the Deep” as opposed to just two as many of the recent reviews have shown. The sets were identical with the exception of switching the first encore song from “Speed King” in San Antonio to “The Battle Rages On” in Houston.

If you haven’t seen the tour, the Montreux 2006 CD/DVD will give you an excellent taste (and four ROTD songs!)

Set list San Antonio, August 23rd 2007:

Pictures of Home
Things I Never Said
Into the Fire
Strange Kind of Woman
Rapture of the Deep
Woman From Tokyo
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
Contract Lost/Morse Solo (no background explanation)
The Well Dressed Guitar
Knocking at Your Back Door
Lazy
Airey Solo (With Yellow Rose of Texas)
Perfect Strangers
Space Truckin’
Highway Star
Smoke On the Water
– – –
Speed King (Encore)
Hush (Encore)

Set list for Houston, August 24th 2007:

Pictures of Home
Things I Never Said
Into the Fire
Strange Kind of Woman
Rapture of the Deep
Woman From Tokyo
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
Contract Lost/Morse Solo (no background explanation)
The Well Dressed Guitar
Knocking at Your Back Door
Lazy
Airey Solo (With Yellow Rose of Texas)
Perfect Strangers
Space Truckin’
Highway Star
Smoke On the Water
– – –
The Battle Rages On (Encore)
Hush (Encore)

Highlights:

I drove from Houston to San Antonio and was staying at a hotel across the street from the Majestic Theater – beautiful old time ornate theater – amazing. A couple of hours before the show I went down to the Riverwalk, a waterway that winds through downtown San Antonio, lined by bars and upscale cafes, still dressed in my workclothes.

I was looking for somewhere to eat and came around a corner and stepped into a construction corridor about 40 feet long with plywood sheets forming a floor and ceiling with metal poles in between. Down at the far end was someone taking a photograph through the construction area towards me. I didn’t think much of it at first.

As I got closer and started to pass the photographer, I did a double take. He was wearing a ball cap and sunglasses and I wasn’t certain but his build and trim beard looked awfully familiar. “Mr. Glover?”

“Yes,” he said, lowering his sunglasses. Now this is the stupid part. I’ve met him twice before – once through the window of a limo and once back stage in New Orleans but I was nearly dumbfounded and not wanting to impose on what looked like some private chill out time, I was nearly speechless.

“I’m looking forward to the show tonight!” I said. “I am too,” he replied.

We started to move on and I added, “The new album’s fantastic, by the way.” He thanked me warmly, we shook hands and went on in our respective directions.

Should Roger or anyone else affiliated with the band read this, let me just add MY thanks for all the years of fantastic music and for continuing to write fresh new songs! I got to say it ten years ago, but in my stupor didn’t think to this time.

So thanks for all the tunes and two fantastic shows this weekend. They were simply superb. Purple live is unbeatable. I listen to their live recordings at least as much as the studio albums but even then it’s like going to Paris. No matter how amazing the Arc de Triomphe or the Eiffel Tower look in pictures, there’s no comparison to being there in person. So to with a Deep Purple show. Nothing like it. Thanks guys.

Something funny happened during Highway Star in San Antonio. (What is it with Highway Star anyway? When I saw them in New Orleans in 97, some kid tried to crowd surf. He leapt on stage, turned and dove off. The crowd parted and he smacked straight into the floor!) This was more amusing. Early in the song a young woman got on stage and started running around and eventually got chased off by roadies.

A minute or so later, as the guitar solo was about to come up, another young woman jumped on stage but stayed near the edge and just started to dance, twisting and slowly turning in a circle. Starting into the solo, Morse crossed over to her and leaned his right shoulder against her as he noodled away. The woman then started to really shake it, leaning forward and showing off some serious cleavage.

At this point, her well dressed and somewhat irate boyfriend leaps on stage and shoves her back into the audience. As he’s about to follow her back into the audience, Ian Gillan comes up behind him and taps him on the shoulder. When he turns around Ian takes his hands and starts to waltz around the stage with him, finally sending him off the side of the stage.

After nearly two years, I was starting to fear the ROTD tour would never make it to Texas. Now that they’ve been and gone I’ll be waiting anxiously for the next album. And the next tour. And the next album. And……..so on.

Thanks again to band! It was two fantastic shows.

Scott Holman

Since reviews from fan sites and media alike have generally been favourable (if not glowing at times) I wasn’t too worried about this show, but still and all I hadn’t seen the band live since 1996 and like many others I have seen more than a few classic rock bands on summer (nostalgia) tours they probably shouldn’t have undertaken.

However, Deep Purple proved they are still a vital band. Oh sure they played the obligatory greatest hits, but the new material was strong as was the performance level and musicianship.

Highlights for me were the blues sensibility of Steve Morse which was showcased to great effect on the bluesy romp “Lazy”, an outstanding arrangement on “Woman from Tokyo” incorporating some really nice keyboard and guitar transitions, and Don Airey’s solo piece leading into “Perfect Strangers” (which always gives me chills live).

The sound and mix at the Verizon Wireless Theatre were good and I would say the place was about 80 percent full.

For those keeping score the setlist was:

Pictures of Home
Things I Never Said
Into The Fire
Strange Kind of Woman
Rapture of the Deep
Woman from Tokyo
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
Steve Morse solo -> Well Dressed Guitar
Knockin at Your Backdoor
Lazy
Perfect Strangers
Space Truckin’
Highway Star
Smoke on The Water
——-
The Battle Rages On
Hush

My only criticism was that at ~1:35 this was perhaps a shorter show than it could have been.

There was a non-announced opening act – Maneaters of Tsavo (a band from San Antonio) – who were fine but clearly knew their purpose on the night and played a tight and suitably short 25 minute opening set.

Jim Corning

Saturday night the boys of Deep Purple ended the U.S. leg of their 2007 “Rapture of the Deep” tour at the Dallas House of Blues.

The venue was a smaller auditorium that held 1625 people. I’m not sure if it sold out, but it was hard to find an empty set in the house. Down on the floor by the stage was “standing room only” which I thought gave the band that little extra feedback kick.

Fans like me were soaking up the moment. Everyone surging closer to the stage anytime one of the band members approached close to where we stood. Plowed over when a pick or stick was thrown. It was great! It was loud! Huh? IT WAS LOUD!!! It was Deep Purple!!!

Ian Paice did a one hand drum roll… Amazing! Steve, Roger, and Don were on their game, but the man behind the mixing table (whoever that is) could use some more balancing skills on the guy’s levels. Oh yes, and remember to turn on Ian’s mic!

I would agree with the San Antonio review about Mr Gillan’s health. He did look a tad sqeemish, and seemed to often be shaking his arms as if to remidy carpal tunnel syndrome. At the end of one line in “Woman from Tokyo” he was obviously out of breath… so the fans helped out.

I also noticed during a song jam Ian Paice asking Gillan how he felt? (I was lip reading – so not certain.) Gillan shook his head, yes, and said I’m fine. This led me to believe that maybe Gillan wasn’t feeling too well. But the man never held back when the moment of a song was ready for his signature screaming, and he never stopped interacting with the diverse age range of the fans in attendance.

Jeff Hutsell

San Antonio: The Majestic was about 3/4’s full but roudy and still amazed at the age spread to see the boys.

The show was fantastic! I have self-christened myself to be the number 1 fan from Texas (Austin – Houston) since 1968. This concert was the closest I have been to them.

As usual, the chops are still top notch. I am a fellow musician, and I can confidently say there is no better group of musicians on this planet. However, last night I noticed the mix was I little unbalanced. Steve was over-powering and Ian’s vocals were sometimes unintelligible.

Don could have been a little louder too. I am a keyboard player myself and Jon has always been my idol. Don’s technique is flawless and seems to be putting on a much better show than he did on the Bananas tour in 2001.

I am also concerned about Gillian [Who she? Gillan? – Know-It-All-Ed 😉]. He looks frail and skinny and at times was having difficulty reaching high notes. But otherwise still has that trademark special voice. I feel he might be arriving at the end of the line.

Paicey is still the smooth professional as always and Roger, well what can I say, is still ripping up those bass lines.

Of course Steve still blows me away, but put more ‘feeling’ in to his licks. I guess since it was the end of the tour, tiredness was setting in.

Great show guys and you guys always have a special place in my heart till I die.

Your number one Texas fan,
George Ives Hall

Not a month after the previous ones, the new Notes from the road appear on Steve’s site. The joys of home, sweet home, ice machines, 24-hour convenience stores and private jet — read all about it on stevemorse.com.

Thanks to Daniel Bengtsson for the info.

As previously reported, Deep Purple’s management Thames Talent has contracted Paid Inc. to run a brand new Deep Purple’s Official Fan Community website. The site went live a few days ago so pay them a visit at www.deeppurple.org.

Thanks to Gordon Dale for the info.

Tour dates for the next European leg of the tour have been confirmed by the Deep Purple management. Compared to the information we had previously, several dates in Eastern and Central Europe have been added to the beginning of the tour. It starts on October 31 in Romania, will visit Bulgaria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Austria, after that — off for three dates in Italy and then 11 dates in France with Liege, Belgium sneaked in between them.

As always, make sure to check or tourdates listings for complete timetable.

Thanks to Tatti Oscarsson for the info.

The Sunflower Jam 2007 lineup has undergone some changes. Chad Smith and Beverley Knight will not be able to take part in the event. On the other hand, Steve White’s (from Paul Weller Band) appearance has been already confirmed and there are more artists to come.

To the best of our knowledge, Ian Paice, Jon Lord and Roger Glover are all confirmed.

Thanks to Jacky Paice and Gordon Dale for the info.