Here is David Coverdale’s response to the recent Glenn Hughes interview in which Glenn suggested that he had spoken to Coverdale, Lord and Blackmore through “third parties” and implied they all showed interest in a Mk.3 reunion.

Coverdale denied he has any interest in any lasting reunion, but he would participate in a one-off show featuring all surviving members of the band:

As disappointed as some may be, I am disappointed to have to keep repeating this, I have not agreed in any way, shape or form, to a reformation of Deep Purple Mark III, and my soul brother should be aware of that after our repeated conversations. Those of you who have followed and supported my for many years know how I feel about ‘going back.’ The only consideration, as I have said repeatedly in interviews, would be by willingness to be involved in a ‘one-off’ charity show which would feature all surviving members of Deep Purple.

As you all know who co-habit this little oasis of ours, I am entirely devoted to my band Whitesnake and have plans and ideas for the band that will take me as far as my rapidly maturing legs will allow and then some. I have nothing but the fondest and totally appreciative memories of my time spent with Purple and all the incredible adventures that continue to this day, related entirely to the opportunities I was given by the band. But, now it’s Whitesnake time, as far as I am concerned, and I am dedicated to fulfilling all my hopes, wishes and dreams to ensuring quality work for all involved in the Snake, and, along with the time I need to be with my family at home. That pretty much fills my years in the most satisfying way. If indeed there is a reformation, then I wish them every success, and perhaps Whitesnake could ‘special guest’ them somewhere!

Thanks to Blabbermouth.net for the info.

And once we’re on the subject of Mandrake Root, here is a collection of clips from the early Purple in all their glory: Continue Reading »

This is from a circa 1996-97 Japanese interview which long time ago I had on tape (that is, until I borrowed it to a friend and his kids taped it over). Considering how rarely Ritchie grants interviews, let alone on video, it’s a real treat. Continue Reading »

I didn’t catch the band in Paris last time (January 2006) because the tickets were too expensive. It was the very first time since 1985 I missed a DP show near where I live.

The last show I saw in June 2003 during the summer tour disappointed me with its lack of magic and its short and conservative setlist. It was also the first time since Steve Morse had joined the band.

So when I found that DP were playing in Beauvais (very easy to get to by car) and that this time it wasn’t so expensive, we decided (with my wife) to buy two tickets. We wanted to buy one for our son too (11 years old) but DP have often played very loud so we forgot this idea.

The venue was completely full and it was hard to find some place to watch from. At least on the stairs we found a nice wiew of the stage.

The band entered and started with Pictures of home and Things I never said (from the last album). The band was smiling, enjoying to play and received a warm welcome. Then Into the fire showed a very impressive Gillan.

Strange kind woman, Fireball, Rapture of the deep. The sound was good, the two screens on each side of the stage really add interesting views of the show.

When a blind man cries was very emotive. The parade was great and a good crowd-pleaser, and – surprise – it introduced The well-dressed guitar.

Don Airey is really a part of the band now and plays incredibly well. All the members show a high energy level.

The battle rages on is a nice surprise! I’ve always liked the song, and the interpretation this evening was superb, far better than during the 1993 tour.

Then Space truckin’ and Perfect strangers, and the weakest moment of the night: Higway star, which doesn’t suit Gillan’s voice of today. Even on an evening like this, where he’s in top form, he suffered and changed his parts to deal with the song. As a result he sounded exhausted.

But not for a long time, because he’s singing very well during Smoke on the water, and the two encores of Hush and Black night.

The show lasted about two hours.

Tonight Deep Purple were my heroes again: generousity, happiness, high energy, technical ability, a near perfect show.

I think they should kick Highway star out the show (like they did with Child in time some years ago) and replace it with a new number – Bananas or another one – which would suit Gillan’s voice better.

I would have been pleased to discover more new songs live, like Wrong man or Back to back or Before time began. Anyway, Big Ian really impressed me tonight, and the others too!

I don’t see any many other artists of this age showing as much power: Robert Plant still does, but who else?

Some friends of mine went to see Toto in Paris, and it was a big deception (and they’re younger than DP).

So, thank you the Purple guys, and see you next time!

Christophe Duflot

The gods of rock’n’roll played Pau!

First of all thank you very much guys for changing a little bit the setlist. Very clever idea because Toulouse and Pau are very close and only four months separate the two gigs. SO it’s good we could hear different songs.

In fact Wrong man and Kiss tomorrow goodbye disappeared and I am a bit disappointed of course especially for the second one, because I think is a big one on stage. But we got another strong one in The battle rages on. Good thinking because I think that was a good album.

Lazy was superb tonight – really superbe in fact. The show was really amazing. Toulouse was good, but Pau was excellent.

And of course Ian Gillan played with us. In fact when Don started is first solo I started to do like Ian did in Toulouse – my hands up playing air piano and as I was just in front of Ian (five-six meters from the stage) he saw me, gave me a kind sign and did the clown himself imitating Don. A pure moment.

You can see that even as an individual Ian can see each of us and give us love and respect. Very kind of you guys. I say guys because all of you guys give us love and happiness.

This time I didn’t go to the front row and was very happy about that choice, because the sound is much better five-six meters from the stage. But what a voice! What did you eat, Ian? Problably a bit of foie gras and fat duck. Amazing Ian, you scream like a teenager!

I love the shirt too ‘red flower’ one. Pirate Roger was superb too. Texan Steve was amazing as usual. (He didn’t do Sweet home Alabama man, pity!) But what can I say that was wrong? Nothing. Everything was superb as Ian said about us. But we are superb because of you guys. You put us on another planet, you make us dream for two hours.

I could see that the show was on the screens too. I hope you recorded it, because it was the best show I ever saw, and it was my sixth one. Good idea we could see Ian Paice playing and Don on the Hammond too. Very good.

As usual before the encore, I could not sing anymore but amazing how Ian sang Hush and Black night. Tell you what, man, you are like a good wine: you get better and better with the time.

All of you guys, thanks again. I hope to go to Montpellier now, so see you soon my friends. Have a good time in France and all over Europe.

cheers
Richard Legris

The gig was sold out in front of 6.000 people. A great rock show

Set list (in this order)

Picture of home
Things I never said
Strange kind of woman
Rapture of the deep
Fireball
Into the fire
Steve Morse solo
Well dressed guitar
When a blind man cries
Lazy
The battle rages on
Don Airey solo
Perfect strangers
Space truckin’
Highway star
Smoke on the water

Encores
Hush/drums solo/Hush (reprise)
Short bass and drums solo (introducing)
Black night

Best wishes
Yves Nauleau

On a cold pre-spring night in Normandy, Deep Purple put the fire into our hearts.

Pictures of Home smashed the audience with its drum attack.

Hilarious moment when Ian Gillan took the wrong tuned harmonica during the solo in Lazy.

I’ve expected so long to hear The Battle Rages On in the Rapture of the Deep Tour and now they are doing it! It was a dark and quite insane version…

What about the ‘golden ending way’ started with Perfect Strangers ‘til Smoke – What a blast! Roger Glover drove his bass like a hammer.

Black Night lead us to our car to go back home by the highway and we surely had stars in our eyes. Thank U guys !

Anthony Oussin

Rocknworld published an extensive interview that Glenn Hughes has given to them. He talks about his latest album, Music for the Divine, about how he overcame his past drug addiction and many other things. Of a particular interest to our readers would be the fact that he finally went on record speaking about Mk.3 reunion:

antiMUSIC: In your heart of hearts, do you think the long-anticipated reunion of Purple Mk III will ever happen?

Glenn: I think everybody…except Ian Paice….Ian is still in MkII. We’ve all spoken about it, through third parties. We’ve all spoken. I mean David and Jon Lord and I haven spoken about it at great length. Ritchie has now spoken to people. I mean….look I’d like to do it for two reasons. The first simply being to play with my brothers again and to complete the chapter. But you know I think it would be great to play with Ritchie again and David and Jon and Ian again. I think it would be really, really good. I think it would be a really great band. One last time, you know.

Read the full interview here.

Marking the end of the French leg of the tour, both Steve Morse and Roger Glover have published their regular messages for the fans. Steve’s notes from the road discuss the perils of international travel, French cuisine and being an opening act. Of particular interest is this passage about French audiences, which I’m sure to pour some new flammables on the old setlist debate:

All the crowds have been a treat for me. They have all heard Smoke on the Water, but not so many of the other tunes, so it works to our advantage with the new stuff. They enjoy it because they don’t know or care if it’s new or old, they just listen and enjoy. The quiet improv parts are especially fun, since there’s zero chance of getting the one guy who yells out…..they just don’t do it. They listen, and if they’re moved by it, spontaneously applaud. Everyone knows the tried and true devices for forcing an audience to applaud, but I really enjoy that unplanned kind of spontaneity when the crowd decides in the middle of a phrase that it’s a good time to clap. Anyway, the music will always be the highlight of touring, for me.

Read Steve’s notes from the road.

Roger in his message gives an update of the studio work he did between the tours: working with his daughter Gillian, mixing Dream Theater’s take on Made in Japan and progress of the his new solo album. Short and sweet, there it is.

As you probably have already heard, following the gig at the Radio City Music Hall on March 30th, Ronnie James Dio has announced that he is quitting Heaven and Hell tour for undisclosed reasons. Apparently Tony Iommi wants to fulfil the band’s extensive US and European touring commitments in April/May/June. He has asked Ian Gillan to step in for Dio if they rename the project Born Again.

Gillan, when caught backstage after the show in Limoges, confirmed that he had spoken to Tony and said he has to “think it over”, but he’ll probably do it if the schedule doesn’t clash with Deep Purple’s – and there’s no dry ice on stage.

Let’s see what does this boil down to (provided all the lawyers and managers can come to an agreement as well). Deep Purple are on tour in UK from April 21 to May 3, then on to the continent until May 27, practically non-stop. Which rules out the Born Again US tour. But at the moment it looks like Ian Gillan is available for the European dates in June.

Brace yourself, I like the smell of deja vu in the morning. It really was a meeting, the bottle took a beating. Ladies of the manor watched me climb into my car…

Thanks to Hubert Jesslilt for the info.