If you ever wondered what does Joe Lynn Turner think about American Idol, here’s your big chance.

Thanks to Blabbermouth.net for the info.

Photo: Jim Corrigan

People in Herefordshire were treated on Monday to a 5 min feature on Jon Lord during prime time local news (Midlands Today 6.30pm), repeated in the late evening. Jon was at Hereford Cathedral, working with a variety of local schools.

The BBC Hereford and Worcester webpage has full details with opportunity to see the whole broadcast.

Thanks to Alexander Draper for the info.

A new Glenn Hughes interview has been posted on Metal Dreams (MP3). In it Glenn discusses Music For The Divine, his current musical direction, promotional videos and his upcoming live dates in the USA, status of the Hughes Thrall II CD, talks about Heaven and XYZ, and former Kiss guitarist Mark St. John (RIP).

Thanks to Chris Dugan for the info.

Virgin Radio Classic Rock will broadcast an interview with Ian Gillan on Friday May 25th 6-7pm GMT and then again Sunday May 27th same time. You can listen to this radio online.

Thanks to Steve Campbell from Caramba for the info.

This time was excellent, stranger than perfect even, just fantastic.

Last time I had seen Purple was in Lyons, France, at the start of the Rapture tour, and I must say I felt a bit apprehensive this time, because Lyons had been, well, great of course, but without much soul.

Geneva set list:
Pictures of home
Things I never said
Into the Fire
Strange kind of Woman
Rapture of the Deep
Fireball
Wrong Man
Steve Morse solo and Well Dressed Guitar
When a Blind Man Cries
Don Airey solo
Lazy
The Battle Rages on
Don Airey solo
Perfect strangers
Space Truckin’
Highway Star
Smoke on the Water

Encore:
Hush with Ian Paice solo
Roger Glover solo
Black Night

Deep Purple are welcome back to Geneva any time, the crowd was huge (by our standards), very enthusiastic.

The first three tracks were behind us before Ian Gillan talked to us, and he kept the chatter to a minimum, which was great, it means that we had solid music all evening.

There were some great intros to some tracks, keeping us guessing what was going to be played. Loved every second!

Martin Damary

We had a time of our life as usual, the more so as we met Ian Gillan at the Borders library. Not only “Smoke This”, but also “Get Away” and some of his newest CDs were signed. The singer was very amiable that day.

And the gig? Two supports as usual in England (sometimes there are three). Thin Lizzy started with some siren howling – a strange kind of entry by the way. It’s quite a good band, although a bit monotonous. All their songs could make you dance. Unfortunately there was no standing/dancing area at the BIC that night. Only seats.

Styx was the funniest group that evening, especially the organist who played a strange kind of rotary keyboard. He could go around, turn it and sit on it. He even stood on his head! I think the band has an interesting repertoire, more original than Thin Lizzy.

And at last our old Purple friends appeared. “Pictures of Home”, “Things I Never Said” – as usual. But the singer must have had an off-day because he sang them out of tune. “Fireball” was a bit better, and the rest of the songs came out quite well.

Unfortunately the scenery wasn’t very cool. No “Rapture” picture again. But the lights were unbelievable, for instance red, orange and yellow during “Into the Fire”. I felt as if I got into the fire indeed. I listened to that song with pleasure, all the more so as the band plays it so rarely.

No solo from Don Airey. What a pity. And why no “Perfect Strangers”? I was so disappointed. But there was a big surprise that night: “The Battle Rages On”! I thought I’d never hear it live. Thanks! I like this song so much. As you can see, Deep Purple never forget to give us some surprises… And they didn’t forget to play “Rapture of the Deep”, the best work of their latest album.

I only wish we were sitting close to the stage. We could hardly see the band. But independently of all we had a good time. Many thanks and see you later, Ians, Don, Steve and Roger!

Joanna Ostrowiecka

Last time when DP visited Brighton was on the Bananas tour, and it was a disappointing
experience. This time they gave a blistering, powerful and energetic performance.
Everyone in the band was in top form. The sound was brilliant and well balanced.

What I can’t understand is why they get teamed up with second rate derelicts from the
seventies as support acts. I think it’s a wrong road to go. Deep Purple is a major, living band tat has produced important major releases in this century.

Too many people out there are not aware of this fact. When they are teamed with something
as a Thin Lizzy tribute band, that only have one member left in the group, this could rub off…

Styx is very much down the same alley. They gave a competent performance, though and for the first time ever in my life I experienced a support act that played louder than DP.

However, DP totally dominated the show, and gave a fantastic performance. If I should nag, I’d love to hear more new songs in a very conservative setlist. But I really did enjoy Living wreck and The battle rages on – those two I heard performed live for the first time.
But nothing from Bananas and only two songs from the latest record – I really would have loved to hear Before time began, since I consider that as one of the best they recorded ever! I also would have wished for a set longer than 90 minutes.

But Brighton really rocked, and the pure pace of these 90 joyable minutes was breathtaking!

Per Lundblad

Seeing Deep Purple for the nth time since the age of 15 (I am 52 now!) never diminishes in excitement. And this year’s NEC show was no less a scintillating experience.

Also living part-time in the USA I was not unfamiliar with Styx, who must be my favourite USA band. So, to have my favourite British and American bands on the same bill was sheer joy! As for Thin Lizzy: sorry guys, give it up. Nice to see ya, but…

Styx, however, showed how to put on a rock show. I have always been amazed that they have never been ‘bigger’ in the UK and it irks me to see and read that so many rock fans know little about them.

Mention should go to the ‘cover’ version of The Beatles; “I am the Walrus” which the good people sitting next to me quite rightly stated was “better than the original!” A word to the Styx management: promote them more in the UK – they deserve it!

Then the headliners… and well worth waiting for. Deep Purple must be the most underrated rock band in British music history. They provided a solid performance with superb musicianship and, although not having the ‘flair’ of their support act, rocked the house with a well-balanced mix of old and new Purple classics.

They finished with a driving second encore of “Black Night” (which, incidentally, put me in mind of a 35-minute version played in Birmingham Town Hall in the 70’s that put the lights down! Oh, to be young again..!).

I was disappointed only with Ian Gillan’s choice of ‘costume’ – I have grown to like his white flowing gown of previous appearances; while I do think that it is about time the truly excellent Steve Morse developed a ‘persona’ of his own and came out of his shell somewhat… he still looks like the shy newcomer – even though he must by now be Purple’s longest-serving ‘axe-man’, whose brilliance as a guitarist is second-to-none. So dress the part Steve, and shine!

Keep coming back guys. Again and again. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We love ya…!

Stephen J. Smith
Birmingham UK and New Orleans USA

Every tour has to end, and this to me has been the best tour since Purpendicular at the Reading Rivermeade. That was the first time I was confronted by Steve Morse on guitar.

And today? Steve is the Deep Purple guitarist, and Don is the Deep Purple keyboard player, both gems in their own right.

I would love to see more of the new album, but hey, I can´t complain – this was quality throughout. I think the set also omits to show Steve´s contribution to the band for over a decade now. But he is still smiling so that can´t be an issue to him.

As with the second night of the tour in Manchester the only downside was that the night had to end.

I got a few pics but the ´jobs worth´ employed by the NEC appeared hell bent on stopping me taking pictures. He did not win… [And a job well done! Rasmus]

Andy Worthington

A brief note about the Glasgow gig. It´s a real pleasure watching the band enjoy themselves on stage.

Great versions of some of the songs (especially Lazy); the only gripe I have is the lack of post 1995 material. When you consider there is four albums worth of stuff to choose from, it´s a shame the band aren´t able to play more recent material.

I´d love to see a more up to date set with a couple of rarities thrown in (Hard Lovin´ Man anyone?). I know this may come over as a moan but I understand the band´s position on this and it won´t stop me looking forward to the next time.

Ivor Lloyd