Rodney Appleby who was playing bass on Ian Gillan’s album “Gillan’s Inn” and also was on tour with Ian a few month ago, was shot in the jaw recently, as we reported about a couple a weeks ago. He is currently recovering in his home in Buffalo, USA and he would like to let fans know that he is doing well and is very grateful for their support. Doctors expect him to fully recover in time for the Ian Gillan tour in Australia, which starts January 19, 2007.
Thanks to Classic Rock Revisited and Scoot for the information

The Norwegian singer Jorn Lande (ex. The Snakes, Ark etc) has a new album coming out called “Unlocking The Past” (February 1, 2007). The CD is a cover album and it has several songs which are familiar to Deep Purple fans. He does Perfect Strangers, Burn Rainbow’s “Kill The King” and Whitesnake’s “Fool For Your Loving”. If you are interested of the album, you can find it here…

Benny Holmstrom

Last night in Odense, Denmark, Jon Lord witnessed an impressive performance of his piano concerto ‘Boom of the Tingling Strings’ performed by the Odense Symphony Orchestra conducted by Paul Mann and featuring Nelson Goerner on piano.

The near-sold out concert was a resounding success with a prolonged standing ovation, for which Jon Lord joined Mann, Goerner and the orchestra onstage. The full programme was the ouverture from Weber’s ‘Bride of the Hunter’ (Jægerbruden), Jon Lord’s ‘Boom of the Tingling Strings’ and Carl Nielsen’s ‘Symphony no. 4′.

After the concert, patrons were invited to a Q&A session in the next-door Carl Nielsen Museum. Here orchestra manager Jesper Lützhøft introduced ‘the Mann and the Lord’ to an attentive crowd of around 60 people. Over glasses of red wine, Lord, Mann and Goerner answered questions about their music.

Paul Mann asked how many Deep Purple fans were in the crowd …

… and remarked how loyal Deep Purple fans and rock in general are compared to fans of classical music. Jon Lord stressed how he doesn’t see his music as either or, as it is his ambition to break down as many musical barriers as possible.

At the end, Jon Lord signed autographs to fans young and older. This lady said how much she had loved the concert – but she’d never heard a Deep Purple record.

Look out for a more detailed report of the Q&A session.

During next week, Paul Mann, Nelson Goerner and the orchestra will record ‘Boom of the Tingling Strings’ and Jon Lord’s ‘Disguises’ for EMI Classics.

Update: Interview with Jon Lord (in Danish).

Rasmus Heide

The new Whitesnake album “Live…in the Shadow of the Blues” (Released November 24) has 4 new studio tracks. One of them is called “Ready To Rock”. Here you can watch the video. The new studio album from Whitesnake has set “Good to be Bad” as the title. It’s planned to be released next summer.
Thanks to Blabbermouth.net for the information.

Tonight in Odense, Denmark, Jon Lord witnessed an impressive performance of his piano concerto ‘Boom of the Tingling Strings’ performed by the Odense Symphony Orchestra conducted by Paul Mann and featuring Nelson Goerner on piano.

The near-sold out concert was a resounding success with a prolonged standing ovation, for which Jon Lord joined Mann, Goerner and the orchestra onstage. The full programme was the ouverture from Weber’s ‘Bride of the Hunter’ (Jægerbruden), Jon Lord’s ‘Boom of the Tingling Strings’ and Carl Nielsen’s ‘Symphony no. 4’.

After the concert, patrons were invited to a Q&A session in the next-door Carl Nielsen Museum. Here orchestra manager Jesper Lützhøft introduced ‘the Mann and the Lord’ to an attentive crowd of around 60 people. Over glasses of red wine, Lord, Mann and Goerner answered questions about their music.

Paul Mann asked how many Deep Purple fans were in the crowd …

… and remarked how loyal Deep Purple fans and rock in general are compared to fans of classical music. Jon Lord stressed how he doesn’t see his music as either or, as it is his ambition to break down as many musical barriers as possible.

At the end, Jon Lord signed autographs to fans young and older. This lady said how much she had loved the concert – but she’d never heard a Deep Purple record.

Look out for a more detailed report of the Q&A session.

During next week, Paul Mann, Nelson Goerner and the orchestra will record ‘Boom of the Tingling Strings’ and Jon Lord’s ‘Disguises’ for EMI Classics.

Update:
Watch tv interview with Jon Lord prior to concerts.

Okay. There is a gap in the Deep Purple story books. There is a deafening silence during Deep Purple documentaries. There is a man who is still the voice of Deep Purple every time he sings “Hush” on classic rock radio in the U.S. and elsewhere (it still gets a lot of play in the States, dunno about elsewhere).

Rod Evans.

[to the tune of “Hush”]:

Rod, Rod
I thought I heard you worked as a doctor
Rod, Rod
You goofed in ’80 but we love you ever after

Where is Rod Evans? I don’t know, and I have been looking for Rod for years. Do you know? If so, get in touch. If you are Rod, and you’re reading this, *please* get in touch. All is forgiven. The 1980 thing was half a lifetime ago.

Come home, Rod Evans. Your public awaits.

If you happen to know where Rod Evans is now, we would love to know. Rod hasn’t said much about his time in Deep Purple or Captain Beyond or Mercy Hospital, and what stories he must have. Ha ha!

If you’re a detective or a spy or anything that involves investigation (but not radiation poisoning), maybe you could use your investigative skills and resources to (legally) find Mr. (Dr.)? Evans.

Give the Deep Purple historians a holiday present. Let’s find Rod Evans. We just want his anecdotes. We’ll have a 1980 moratorium.

Jo

Jon Lord will take part in an all-star celebration of the late Jim Capaldi, solo musician and member of Traffic. The show will take place Jan. 21, close to the second anniversary of his death, at London`s Roundhouse. Tickets go on sale Dec. 18.

The Dear Mr. Fantasy concert, named for one of Traffic`s best-known albums, will celebrate the life and work of Capaldi, who died of cancer Jan. 28, 2005, at the age of 60. The event will raise funds for the Jubilee Action Street Children Appeal, a charity in which Capaldi and his wife Anina were active.

The show will be presented by BBC Radio 2`s Bob Harris. Already confirmed to appear are Steve Winwood, Capaldi`s longtime collaborator both in and out of Traffic; Pete Townshend, Paul Weller, Bill Wyman and other such performers as Joe Walsh, Gary Moore, Simon Kirke, Dennis Locorriere, the Storys, Andy Newmark, Ray Cooper and keyboardist Paul ‘Wix’ Wickens.

No, no, I won’t sing the Righteous Brothers song. I . . . well . . . I hate the Righteous Brothers. There, I’ve said it now. Shame about the tenor. He’s passed on. (Righteous Brother Bobby Hatfield August 10, 1940 – November 5, 2003. RIP).

On to today’s topic. Purple members who have gone over to the other side, passed the pearly gates, sleep with their fathers in Sheol, have joined the choir at Canterbury, sleep with fishes, are crossing the River Styx. (The fallen of Styx: John Panozzo September 20, 1948 – July 16, 1996; John Curulewski October 3, 1950 – February, 1988. RIP).

Here are a few memories of Purple members and family members who have left this veil of tears for a place that always has cold beer in an ice bucket in the dressing room and plenty of clean towels. And rest rooms that don’t stink like tom cat spray. And a favorable babe-to-skank ratio in the crowd. And monitors that [censored] work once in a blankity-blank while. Not that it matters if the sound man is drunk again. Oh, and you go to get paid and Billy’s the only one who can pay you and Billy won’t talk to anybody who won’t bail him out. Again.

But I digress. Tommy Bolin died 30 years ago today.

A survey of our dear departed musicians:

A young Cozy Powell (December 29, 1947 – April 5, 1998) playing a jazz set. I think. I’m not a musician but one of my other personalities is. Oh, Jeff Beck is on this too.

Tommy Bolin (August 1, 1951 d. December 4, 1976) with Deep Purple in Japan ca. 1976. Tommy died soon after. Deep Purple was on life support in this video.

Brian Connolly (October 5, 1945 d. February 9, 1997) and the Sweet. Google around for the connection!

Before Dave Sutch (November 12, 1940 d. June 16, 1999), Blackmore was a really normal guitar god. Sutch pushed him over the edge.

This guy and the Mothers were at the best place around. Frank Zappa (December 21, 1940 d. December 4, 1993).

So there they are, a few of the greats who have crossed the Purple path. And a string o’ Strats, killed by Ritchie Blackmore. Oh, and a camera.

Jo

This request has been put out on behalf of Paul Weaver (Head of the Blackmore’s Night UK Street Team):

Would UK fans (reading this message) please be kind enough to take a look in their local cd shops (HMV, Virgin etc) and tell us how many copies you have seen on the shelves? If you would be kind enough to do this AND POST THE INFORMATION ON THE MESSAGE BOARD that you are currently reading this message on, the information can then be seen and collected; and passed onto Paul Weaver. Thank You!

Since we at The Highway Star really are not equipped to collect this info, we suggest that you get in touch with the UK Street Team directly.

Thanks to Mike Garrett for the info.

Glenn Hughes latest solo album, MUSIC FOR THE DIVINE, will receive its long-awaited U.S. release on January 30, 2007 via Demolition Records. The CD, which is available now in Europe on Frontiers Records, was recorded in Chad Smiths (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS) house in Los Angeles and again features Smith on drums and longtime Glenn Hughes collaborator JJ Marsh on guitar. Also featured are RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS guitarist John Frusciante and Mark Killian, who has provided the string arrangements and keyboards.

Also, an eight minute audio interview with Hughes, conducted recently by Norways Metal Express Radio, has been posted online.

Glenn recently announced his new touring band as Jeff Kollman on guitar, Mark Mondesir on drums and Anders Olinder on keyboards.

Thanks to Mike Garrett for the info.