Another one from the weird covers department — an anonymous Japanese 22 year old girl amuses herself by recording guitar covers and posting them on Youtube. And did I mention she can play? See for yourself: Continue Reading »

Monday December 1st, from 7:00-8:00 am (central time) Stormin’ Norm from KKFI 90.1 FM in Kansas City will be having John Herdt and Johnnie Bolin as special call in guests. Norm will be discussing all things Bolin, from the new guitar by Dean to the new books on Tommy and the new Hartman Pedal. Norm has hosted several Tommy Bolin related radio specials in the past. You can listen it online by going to KKFI.org and choosing broadcast stream (Win or MP3).

Thanks to Trace for the info.

My girlfriend and me, had trawelled from Denmark to see Deep Purple….and only for that.
Well we came early to Munich on Saturday and spent all the afternoon and night in Olympia Park..
It’s was a sunny day, like the evening should be.
The evening stared with Gotthard…. a german rockband…. and I can tell you… They kicked ass, but under the crowds influence…. it was hall with about 15000 people….
After an hour and a half… Purple get on stage… and what a performance…. It was stunning…I was exited to see if they could follow up the show as they did in Kiel 10 days before… and they could, indeed.
The sound was good and in my point of seeing, Stevie played like it was his last time but the other guys followed up on him…all I can say
What a concert

Thank you Deep Purple, the best band ever!!!

“We Wish You a Metal Xmas…and a Headbanging New Year” is the title of a Christmas album released by Eagle Rock Records back in October. Continue Reading »

I think, I am not the only one when I say: Yes, Deep Purple is really the best band ever! 😉

Well, I am 16 and I was with my friends and my dad in Basel at the Deep Purple concert. It was the second gig this year for me.

But before the show started, we are gone on a clinic from Steve Morse! It was very good, OK I don’t understand more then a half but I could look to Steve and Mike! ;D At the end from the clinic gaves Morse us autographs and we made pictures.

The gig was very very good! (Like every gig) ;D

My absolutly favorite songs were Strange kind Of Women, The Battle Rages On and Perfect Strangers…

I look forward to the next gig and hope we meet Gillan, Roger, Don, Paicy, Morse and…….Mike again! ;D

To start with the positiv things… I had the best view you can imagine for a concert. first row just in front of steve. good venue and a good setlist and the company of a wonderfull woman. everything perfect for a great concert………..

but it wasnt. it was much toooooo loud and my ears are still not ok. the mixing was catastrophic, in parts i have seen ian gillan singing but nothing was to hear only his lips moving, ´cause steves guitar has dominated all, even the drums were not clear to hear. maybe it was ´cause of the place we were standing, i dont know how it was in the back, but anyway there are professionals at the mixing table, they make soundchecks and everything so i dont understand why things like that happen.

steve morse is an excellent player, outstanding for sure. it was great to see him so close, but deep purple is not only him and i would prefer to hear a bit more of the rest of the band. i used to go to many live concerts but this one was really one of the worst in mixing. even during the support of gotthard it was better than for DP.

maybe the band should tour less. ian looked really `kaputt` and so skinny. most active part was steve. more or less i am a bit disappointed about the evening. for 50€ i expect something more than a lot of great songs that came out like mud sometimes.

great musicians with soundmixers that dont understand their job. maybe sometime a bit less could be more in the case of power and to be loud doesnt mean to be good. i have seen purple 1973 for the first time, last time 2006 at arrow rock holland… that was far much better than yesterday. give these boys a rest get and better people behind the mixing desk or what ever was the reason for that sound.

would have prefered to write something more positiv, but i am honest and that only my opinion.

nice day

Thomas

As usual I wasn’t disappointed. The show was cool, although I was standing in a poor place where too many basses were heard. [What? Roger’s and whose else’s? /Rasmus] I’ll choose a sitting place next time:).

It was so nice to hear “Contact lost” and “Perfect strangers” again. But the biggest surprise was “Wring that neck”- wow! When did Deep Purple play it for the last time? With Mr Blackmore??!

Another surprise was a new arrangement of “Hush”. Rod Evans used to sing it quite calmly, now Ian Gillan made it sound like a dynamite! The best performance I’ve ever heard live.

The band was in great form, although Ian seemed to be very tired. But his voice wasn’t. He was singing and screaming as ever. Steve, Don and Ian Paice (whom I could see on a screen only) were cool as well, but Roger was the most vigorous that night. He was literally here, there and everywhere!

Thus I had a great time. I was singing and dancing all the time. By the way, these billboards above the stage were a great idea. Who couldn’t be near the scene, saw the band on them.

Many thanks for “Perfect strangers” with an excellent original solo. For “The battle rages on”. For “Sometimes I feel like screaming”- it was the first time I heard it live. For an unbelievable version of “Hush”. For three songs from “Rapture”. And for “Wring that neck”- what a good idea!

A great show. I like Berlin, I like Max-Schmeling-Halle, and I like Deep Purple so much. I think I’ll go to Berlin again. See you next time!

– J.O.

New episode on CarambaTV:

In these cash strapped times it is heartening to know that the full value of the road crew is appreciated and taken into account when dealing with the band’s budget.

Continue Reading »

Speaking of Argentina… Ladies and gentlemen, we present you (pre)teen sensation — Los Gauchos De Acero (The Steel Gauchos). The Gauchos are brothers Jorge: Victor Emilio (age 15) on guitar and vocals, Martín Gustavo (age 12) on bass, and Agustin (age 11) on drums. Here’s their take on Child In Time, no less:

The brothers got into the spotlight back in 2006, when they recorded a video of several classic rock and heavy metal covers for audition at a local TV talent show. When it was rejected, their dad put the clips on Youtube and the boys turned into an overnight Internet sensation. Personally, I simply couldn’t wipe a stupid grin off my face while watching their clips. The sheer enthusiasm, ferocity, and, even without discounting for their age, skill of these kids are second to none.

The term boy band definitely takes a whole new meaning in the pampas…

Joe Satriani reflects on his Purple stint in a recent interview for Living Legends Music:

It was the easiest thing in the world to step into it. Because it’s just like sitting on top of a perfect wave that keeps carrying you along and giving you a great ride…

Here is the relevant part:

Thanks to Daniel Bengtsson for the info.