So, off to Birmingham for the last night of the UK Tour. After Cardiff, could I expect any bonuses?

Well, the first was that I had a seat and so didn´t have to endure Lizzy and Styx.

Downside – it was the NEC and this damn building seems to leach sound and atmosphere from any audience, but they insist on coming here so I´ll have tp put up with it.

Purple came on Stage at 9:30 and opened with Pictures of Home – in other words, no variation on the Cardiff set. Never mind, they were (despite the venue) on fire – still smiling, still playing so well that at times I watched the video screens in absolute awe as each member of the band proved their versatility.

Gillan´s voice was still on the button; Paicey was the powerhouse he always is; Glover providing the perfect counterpoint to the fluent drums; Airey (apart from losing his temper when the keyboards failed during Hush) was able to take the Lord compositions and make them his own.

And Morse? – the man is an absolute revelation. No matter how many times I see him play, his virtuosity, humour and sheer genious complements and enhances all of the numbers. He can take a Blackmore (who?) riff or solo and pay homage to the original while totally transforming it into his own Morse code (groan!).
I have never, and I mean never, heard his solo and Well Dressed Guitar played so well. Even the Guns and Scirrosis riff didn´t spoil it.

So, the other bonuses were that they played ´a blinder´ again plus we had Bernie Mardsen join them for Smoke. Always a pleasure to see Bernie play, just a pity he doesn´t release more or tour more than he does.

The end of another tour – only two visits for me this year due to work commitments (dammit!).

Let´s hope that they come back soon (a la France) with a revised set list… Yes, they played a blinder, but I will yet again voice what so many fans want: a set list covering more than Mk2 and the odd Morse era is now needed to keep the fans truly happy – yes, we will stick by you through thick and thin, but listen to the people that matter, fellers!

Regards
Tom Dixon

My name is Jennifer Brown. I am 22 years old. I went to the concert in Newcastle Arena on 21st April.

I have never seen Deep Purple before and was not expecting to enjoy it, however the set was fabulous and not what I expected! [That´s the spirit, expect nothing and be thoroughly surprised. 😉 Rasmus] They came on and bounced the air into your ears and I´ve never heard a band like it before! It was amazing!

My favourite song has to be Clearly Quite Absurd although Rapture Of The Deep live just took my breath away…

The icing on the cake was meeting Steve Morse after the show and having our picture taken, cortousey of Peter and Margaret Howon-Brown (my mum and dad) and who by the way wants to say thank you to Roger Glover.

Hopefully they are going to be around for a long time yet as I´m just getting into then now!

Lots of love, and keep on rocking!

Jen, xxx

P.S
I have included my most treasured picture of Steve Morse and myself!

I don’t know what do they feed him in Japan, but here he is again, talking. About his school, The Outlaws, Deep Purple, Rainbow, Purple reunion, and perils of playing hard rock. I’m sure you’ve heard many of these stories elsewhere, but there they are from the horse’s mouth. This interview was taken circa 1997. Continue Reading »

Steve Hoare emailed us that he has started a petition to nominate Ian Gillan for the rank of the Member of the Order of British Empire. British citizens and residents can sign petition online at the Prime Minister’s web site. Deadline is March 4, 2008.

MBE rank does not entail knighthood, but is nevertheless a very prestigious award. You can read more about it at the Wikipedia.

One of the Styx crew members is blogging from the current tour with Deep Purple and Thin Lizzy. You get to know why Styx only played a 15 minute set in whichever town it was and you get goodies like this:

During the ride last night on the European tour front, a crew bus sideswiped a car going down the road. Freakin’ perfect. Luckily, no one was hurt, although the car pretty bunged up. Yesterday, a truck driver passed out cold on the dock (later diagnosed with dehydration), and this AM a tour catering girl mashed her hand in a door badly enough to be sent off to hospital.”

http://thisgigsucks.com/blog.html

My good lady and myself turned up really wondering what sort of night was in store for us – we were not to be disappointed!

Thin Lizzy on at 7pm … Great to hear the old standards but they were a little “thin” and never really seemed to get the crowd on their side – even though we were sworn at to do so… Enuff said about that 40 odd minutes.

8pm Styx, must say did not know anything about them – however they won both of us over after the first couple of songs – very energetic, excellent musician who typically American put on a high speed high energy show. They got the crowd going.

I was told by a fan that they had done mostly older songs – anymore than that I’m afraid I am not in the position to commment, only to say that we would go and see them as headliners if they ever come back to the UK.

Then the main event. About 9.30pm the boys appear – they hit the stage running and never stopped – this was one of the best gigs I have seen of them – they were enjoying every moment and sounded great – (for the NEC).

Not a word from Ian untill after ‘Strange Kind of Woman’ then a quick helllo, but like all the best bands they let their music do the talking – many could learn a lesson from that.

The set list was the same that has already been seen here so I will not bore you by running through that, but why oh why do they have to play the same old songs every time around? Machine Head, Machine Head and Machine Head.

I know this is personal opinion but with such a great back catalouge why play the same old standards, instead of more newer stuff? ‘Rapture of the Deep’ was excellent on the night. I would also like to hear songs from Perfect Strangers for example – for me they could do a show based on that and I would be happy. Anyway that’s that.

My good lady loved Steve’s bit – I would like to see the solos done as part of the songs – it would help the flow of the show IMHO – but he is an amazing player.

They introduced a guest for Smoke on the Water, ex-Whitesnake Bernie Marsden played along side Steve – and had a couple of solo’s, as always with that large affable smile on his face. I have always enjoyed Bernie so it was great to see him on stage even for a short time.

Of course they finished off with ‘Black Night’ – they did stay around for the applause and seemed to really enjoy the recpetion they recieved. Ian said Good night and added “look forward to seeing you again soon” or something very close to that so we all got the impression they will be back.

In summary a wonderful night of entertainment – take the time to listen to some Styx. Purple were ‘Into the Fire’ on fire. Can’t wait to the next time.

Bob & Linda Barfield

I caught the start of Lizzy’s set who came on as many were still arriving at the venue. They delivered a competent 40 minute set but there was no spark and I’m not sure what the future holds for them as a viable force.

I meant to watch Styx but the bar was too attractive an alternative.

Managed to get down by the stage for the main event where it was good and loud. The band seemed really up for it and it soon became apparent that we were going to get their best Scottish performance since the Barras in ’96.

Gillan’s voice was in fine fettle and Don Airey seems to bring out the best of Steve Morse. Fortunately, the Machine Head concept was ditched and it was great to hear ‘The Battle Rages On’ and ‘Into the Fire’.

Otherwise all the usual numbers were played with flair including a crunching version of Space Truckin’. The only small gripe was that only two songs were played from ‘Rapture’, their best album in decades. Most of the UK audience were veteran Purple fans and those I spoke to were expecting more – maybe next time.

Andy J

Photo: Jim Corrigan

Jon has posted the following update on the Runboard’s Deep Purple Fan Forum:

Hi everyone

(Regarding From Darkness to Light being performed in Trondheim, Norway. Already posted on the Jon Lord section, and also just to say “Hello – yes I am still alive and actually not retired!”)

From Darkness to Light was performed in its original version, which was written specifically for an amateur Church Choir, in my, then, local village Church in Hambleden in Buckinghamshire, England. It was played in, I think, April of 2000 and again at Fawley Court, Henley on Thames in July of that year. It has since been extensively re-written, and is now about ten minutes longer than the original, as well as being much better IMHO, and is also now intended for professional performance. It will be played in Hereford Cathedral in England on the 11th of May, and then at the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim on the 1st of July.

Boom of the Tingling Strings and Disguises are both recorded, mixed and ready to be released, as soon as we can arrange a London concert to play the pieces to hang a publicity hat on – probably late 2007/early 2008. In the mean time the piece I have been working on since just before I left DP – Durham Concerto – is nearing completion, and will be recorded in Liverpool with The Royal Liverpool Symphony Orchestra at the end of July. The recording is being released to coincide with the premier in Durham Cathedral in October. Once all that is out of the way, I shall continue to write for The Gemini Band and get myself back on stage – Hammond included – as soon as is possible.

Thank you all so much for your interest, and your input; your passion and your humour, and thanks for all the years of support. Please keep the faith and try not to be TOO hard on a band that, in spite of what some of you seem to think, does what it does out of love, and belief in the power of music to unite us all. See you down the road apiece – God bless and Kindest regards

Jon

Thanks to Daniel Bengtsson for the info.

This is a clip from the (in)famous performance of Lucille in Sydney on Dec 13 1984 when the late George Harrison came on stage to jam with Purple. Continue Reading »

Here are Mk.3 interviews from May 1974 also known among collectors as the Leeds Polytechnic Project. Parts 1-5 contain interviews with the band (including Ritchie Blackmore!) in the dressing room. Parts 6-8 include fragments of live Space Truckin’. Continue Reading »