We have an unconfirmed report that Planet Rock radio aired an interview with Ian Paice on Saturday night, December 13, and it is supposed to be repeated again on Tuesday, December 16 at 6 pm (British time presumably). Planet Rock’s schedule lists My Planet Rocks show airing on Tuesdays at 6 pm, so you might want to stay tuned in there. This week’s show description is rather generic: “Your favourite Rock Gods head to the Planet Rock Studio to talk to Mark Jeeves and choose their favourite tracks”.

Thanks to Francesco for the heads up.

Summer memories: Sweden 2008

Me and my daughter (18 yrs) took a couple of rock trips this year. First chapter starts in Öja, Sweden where Deep Purple performed in August. When we went there (camping a few kilometers away from the venue). I had almost forgotten all about it since we bought our tickets as early as February or March.

I had no expectations but I completely lost touch with the ground for two hours when Deep Purple played. And as I was standing there, quite close to the stage, I realized it wasn’t Richie Blackmore on the guitar. It was this amazing guitarist (Steve Morse of course) who had this fantastic smile and he played so well you could hardly believe it.

The review of the Swedish paper the day after had the audacity of saying that the Swedish opening band Europe stole the show. How can they say a thing like that? There must be something seriously wrong with their ears! Europe song lyrics consist mostly of something like “Whoaw, whoaw” though Joey Tempest has a good voice and Norum is a pretty good guitarist.

As we didn’t get enough of the band and Steve’s guitar that night, we decided to go to Frankfurt to see them in November. They were my rock n’ roll heroes back in the seventies – and for dead sure – they still are.

(If you want to read more checkout www.hotasshell.com)

Photos from this show and Copenhagen 2008.

The Frankfurt concert was the only one that would fit into a rather busy schedule and so we were heading there by air from Copenhagen. I listened to The Aviator 10 times during the short flight. It’s one of the most beautiful songs I ever heard.

At the venue we were standing close to one of the huge speakers and the people in front of us gave up and stepped back because of the loudness and we ended up at the first row. I loved it, I want the heavy guitar riffs to make me vibrate inside, to dive completely into the music (no ear plugs).

When Purple finally came out on stage you just had to take a Deep breath. They we’re even better than I remember from Sweden. They started with Pictures of Home. I have to admit I couldn’t take my eyes of Steve Morse, it’s just this smile and the sound of his guitar – it bewitches me. I just love the way he’s bending the strings… It fits perfectly with the Deep Purple sound and with Gillan’s superb voice.

They’re all better than ever! I thought Steve looked right at me (you can never be sure can you?). We were wild with joy when they played Sometimes I feel like Screaming and nearly all of our favorite songs. The heavy riffs like Into the fire and Perfect strangers made me lift my arms touching the ceiling and circle around up there on top the world. What is it with rock music (I love it more than I can say) that makes you feel like that? I wonder if it feels the same for the bringer of such music as it does for the receiver?

They also seem to have much more contact with the crowd than other bands. And I just don’t understand how anyone can stand still, I just want to fly sky-high and I probably do… What also is very nice to see is the affection they seem to have between themselves. I loved to hear Ian Gillan say with such affection in his voice – ladies and gentlemen Steve Morse! How can I express my feelings? They were just so fantastic, their music is so massive so complete and it touches Deeply.

I wasn’t prepared for the hard landing after they left the stage, feeling so empty at the same time as being so happy. When will I be able to see them again? Now I know, thanks to The Highway Star, I’ve reserved tickets for Gothenburg and Copenhagen in July 2009.

Back in 1996 Tony Ashton recorded a song in tribute to John Lennon. The song is called The Big Freedom Dance and is named after Hamburg’s Grosse Freiheit Strasse, which housed the famous Star Club, showcase for many of Britain’s young musicians in the 60s. This was where the Beatles first made their mark, and where the young Tony Ashton, playing keyboards in another Brian Epstein band, The Remo Four, did his musician’s ‘apprenticeship’, as he put it.

Some years after John Lennon’s shocking death, Tony recorded this personal tribute to John — a song made even more poignant by the death since of his old friend George Harrison, and by Tony’s own death in 2001.

The song is being released by Tony’s widow Sandra and should be available worldwide on iTunes from this week.

Thanks to Drew Thompson for the info.

Although there has been no word yet from Thames Talent, it looks like the summer Deep Purple tour is shaping up. New tour dates are being announced by the local media and are trickling in almost on a daily basis. For some of these, tickets are already on sale or going on sale shortly.

So far we have a string of Scandinavian dates in July and one show in June, an open air in Bavaria, Germany. As the past experience suggests, time between them will hardly go to waste. Details will be posted as soon as we receive them.

If you have any further information — additions, correction, new dates, venues, ticket info — do not hesitate to let us know. And we will make sure the rest of the world knows too. 😉

Here’s a video clip from the finals of Slovakia Got Talent TV show. The performer is a 12 year old Rony Janeček, who has been playing guitar for 2 years. Between this kid, Los Gauchos, and the Japanese girls that rule, perhaps after all there is hope for the new generation.
Continue Reading »

On the eve of the first ever Whitesnake concert in Ukraine, David Coverdale appeared at a press conference in Kiev. Here we present you with the complete video recording of the event (about 20 minutes long). There’s quite a few of Purple reminicencies in there and plenty of trademark David’s joviality going on.
Continue Reading »

Russian promoters SAV Entertainment have announced that Ian Paice will visit Moscow to perform a drum clinic on February 8, 2009. The clinic will be at the Central House of Artists and tickets will be available via www.kassir.ru.

Thanks to Dmitry Zaretsky for the info.

Big Noize, featuring Joe Lynn Turner on vocals, together with bassist Phil Soussan (Ozzy Osbourne, Vince Neil), guitarist Carlos Cavazo (Quet Riot, Ratt) and drummer Simon Wright (AC/DC, Dio), have cancelled their tour of South America, literally hours before the first concert on December 4th in Lima, Peru. Band’s management and promoters are blaming each other.

On December 3, 2008, Argentina-based promoters 4G Producciones have issued the following statement:

Unfortunately, once again, for issues unrelated to our production, the band Big Noize decided to arbitrarily and unilaterally cancel the shows in South America without giving further explanations. We know the harm caused to those who bought their tickets and ask for sincere apologies for what happened. We also remain very hurt by the cancellation of two days of the show and having paid the cost of production and having met in a timely manner with our obligations towards the band Big Noize. It is available for the return of the money in places that were acquired sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused.

The next day, December 4, 2008 Big Noize and booking agent Sullivan Bigg released their side of the story:

Although there were several promoters involved, all of them were in breach of contract by failing to make arrangements and provide the funding as agreed, despite repeated requests from band management and agent. Big Noize waited to cancel until “the last minute” in good faith that flight/hotel arrangements and funding would show up. As of today, neither flight/hotel arrangements or funding has been sent to band management nor their agent. The members of Big Noize were looking forward to playing to fans on this tour. The band, management and booking agent are all sad and disappointed that this has happened but they are looking forward to an opportunity in the future to reschedule a tour to South America with more reputable promoters.

Thanks to BraveWorlds.com and Lisa Walker for the info.

French station Radio Mercure 93FM will air a 90-minute Blackmore’s Night special on December 5 at 21:25 CET. Radio Mercure also broadcasts online in a variety of stream formats.

Blackmore’s Night have a string of European dates pencilled in for the late January and early February. A tour of US South and West coast is planned between April 16 and May 6. Details are posted in our tourdates section as we receive them.

Thanks to Mike Garrett for the info.