I took my 18 year old daughter to see my favorite band of all times last night, and I was totally blown away!

They keep getting better and better. This was the third time that I saw them live but what a concert! They are really true legends.

Thank you for a fantastic evening of great music!

Etienne Lejeune

I just went to the Sydney Deep Purple double trouble show with Status Quo and support act Swanne.

It was unreal! I was front row against the stage barricade. I caught a pick off Roger Glover and a pick off Steve Morse. I got both signed after the show.

I was filming Steve Morse in solo in Highway Star with the camera on my phone; and Ian Gillan was on my left swinging his mic stand around like he does. The mic stand came loose flew across the stage and hit me! It didnt even bruise me, but Ian came over really concerned asking if I was okay. He said sorry again after the song.

After the show we waited backstage for autographs. Chatted with the whole band. They apologized for hitting me. Ian explained his personal mic stand had been stolen and the new one wasn’t any good. They gave me and my two mates free tickets to the show the next night! It was so awsome!

Both shows totally rocked! The first show Jimmy Barnes guest appeared in Smoke On The Water. He’s a well known famous Aussie rock legend from Cold Chisel.

I can scan in all the stuff I got autographed, pics, album covers and tickets if you’d like to see them 🙂

Woo!

Deep Phantom

Just want to let you know that I went to the Deep Purple/Status Quo concert last night (10th May) and I have to say that the whole experience was totally awesome.

When Roger Glover personally bent over, looked at me and threw me his pick, I could of died of heart palpitations right then and there, and when Ian Gillan and I had a blow kissy moment at one another, well… you can’t imagine my total rapture!

I have loved these guys since 1970 when I bought my first Deep Purple album and when I saw them in Sydney at the end of 1984 I was awestruck. They have always been and will always be the very best band in the world to me.

Thank you guys for a superb, brilliant performance as usual. I love you all and truly hope to see you again as soon as I can!

Bye for now and keep up the brilliant work

Your devoted fan for ever!

Lorraine Ebdale

Thanks to Deep Purple for a great show at the Hordern Pavilion on the 9th May in Sydney.

The Hordern has the worst acoustics in Sydney. It also has 1970’s style lighting and seating. But, in spite of the venue, Deep Purple rocked big time.

I went to the gig as I’m a big fan of Steve Morse. I’m now also a big fan of Deep Purple.

Ian Gillan’s vocals were outstanding. An absolute joy to listen to. I liked his intros and the tribute our trapped miners was appreciated.

Roger Glover’s bass line was aggressive and passionate. Ian Paice is one hell of a drummer.
Unfortunatly, much of Don Airey’s playing was lost in the poor Hordern acoustics. It was only in the solo that I was able to hear what a great player he is.

As for my reason for being at the show, Steve Morse, he is a genius.

Thanks again,
Your new fan,

Malcolm Clark

A cold Wednesday evening in Sydney, light drizzle but Purple were red hot.

Set list
1. Pictures of Home
2. Things I Never Said
3. Wrong Man
4. Strange Kind of Woman
5. Rapture of the Deep
6. Fireball
7. Contact Lost
8. Well Dressed Guitar
9. Lazy
10. Perfect Strangers
11. Space Truckin’
12. Highway Star
13. Smoke on the Water
14. Hush
15. Black Night

Set-list and content variety. It was different to last night (better). The encore of Hush and Black Night were as good as I have ever heard. Paicey’s single handed drum solo was a highlight.

Had front row in the “mosh pit” and this time the lights seemed a little brighter (in the eyes) and the stage sound was louder, especially from Fireball onwards.

Bring on the Wollongong, Newcastle and Canberra road trip. Too much Purple is NEVER enough!

Graeme Milton

If you think the old moves died … Sydney Morning Herald interviews Ian Gillan.

It was very, very good. Wished I had taped it. Got some good photos (surprised myself). Merchandise wasn’t too bad, especially some of the signed stuff.

Didn’t see Swanee and watched half of Status Quo.

Set list
1. Pictures of Home
2. Things I Never Said
3. Wrong Man
4. Strange Kind of Woman
5. Before Time Began
6. Mary Long
7. Contact Lost
8. Well Dressed Guitar
9. Lazy
10. Perfect Strangers
11. Space Truckin’
12. Highway Star
13. Smoke on the Water
14. Hush
15. Black Night

A number of highlights:
1. It wasn’t too loud
2. Steve Morse’s playing
3. Don Airey’s solo (especially intro)
4. Ian Paice’s drumming during Space Truckin’
5. Jimmy Barnes helping out with vocals during Smoke on the Water

Looking forward to Wednesday (Horden), Friday (Wollongong), Saturday (Newcastle) and Sunday (Canberra).

Too much Purple is NEVER enough!

Graeme Milton

Purple were supported by Status Quo and Cosmic Storm.

The set list was slightly abbreviated due to time restraints and unfotunately we didn’t get to hear Living Wreck, a song I’ve waited a long time to hear live (dang!)

A friend and I commented that Purple would have to be on their toes tonight as Quo gave quite a performance with a rousing rendition of Rockin’ all Over the World which had the capacity crown really pumping… They really finished on a big high.

Unfortunately Purple started with Steve Morse having terrible problems with his sound. It seemed to take quite a long time for Purple (and the crowd) to recover from the shaky start.
Perfect Strangers was great as was Highway Star. The crowd was livening up and sang a great Black Night riff! SOTW went down a treat with more great singing from the crowd.

The show ended ok but we couldn’t help feeling that Quo had had the best of the night. All in all it was an average performance from Purple (which in reality is still better than most!).

If you want well played, loud, heavy, tight music then by all means you wont be disappointed, but I’ve seen Deep Purple enough times over the last thirty-something years to expect something a little extra from this band and tonight, by their standards, they didn’t really deliver.

Having said all that.. I’ll still be first in line for the next show!

Mitch

I consider myself lucky to see Purple again and enjoyed listening to a gig of very professional musicians. I enjoyed the venue again in which they played (Brisbane Convention centre) and I thought the sound was very clear and precise. All the members of the band were in top form and like always seemed to be having a great time. Steve and Roger with their constant smiles.

I suppose it’s always hard to please everyone with the set list but I felt a little disappointed that Ted was not played and I was a little hopeful for SIFLS as well. I thought the strongest song of the night was ‘Wrong Man”; which was heavy, clear and powerful. The new songs went down well, and the classics were played with enthusiasm. Ian Gillan putting in 100% in every song and actually looked and sounded much younger than the previous Purple gig. Ian much better choice in clothes as well.

Deep purple are always great, but any show with Steve Morse are fantastic! It doesn’t get any better.

Clear sound and good vibes all around. The only downfall I had was the idiot in front of me (the one who climbed the stage twice). I had a great seat about eight rows back but was stuck behind him. To make up for it I sat beside a very pretty girl who was lucky to receive a drum stick from Paicey!

Ian Gillan jumped off the stage and walked around the front during Black Night and was greeting the crowd. At the end of the show he mentioned that the security needed re-training. I think I agree with your there.

Dave Chakley

A friend and I flew up from Wellington on Thursday afternoon (after seeing Deep Purple there the night before). The venue in Auckland was a small theatre, which I think is a much better choice compared to Wellington’s Events Centre. So much more intimate and purpose built for usic so better acoustics.

We arrived in the rain at the Logan Campbell Centre well in time before Purple hit the stage but after the opening act. Certainly a different make up of punters here tonight (generally older and more ‘hardened’ compared to the Wellington crowd). Upstairs was sold out but there was still some space downstairs.

What can I say about the gig. Wellington was good but Auckland was VERY good! The sound quality was an improvement, notably clearer if not ear-splitting loud at times (especially during Morse’s guitar solo). The band seemed to really be enjoying themselves with beaming smiles all round and the usual complimentary comments to the crowd from Gillan.

There was a slight change in the set list tonight with Rapture of the Deep and Mary Long replaced early in the set with Before Time Began and Living Wreck. And further into the set Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye was replaced with Junkyard Blues.

During Smoke On The Water some crazed fan managed to jump on stage and give Ian Gillan a big hug. It took a few seconds for security to react and guide him off stage. Gillan took it all in his stride. Steve Morse’s solo part was different and longer to Wellington, perhaps more emotional sounding.

Just before the start of the encore ‘Hush’ Gillan commented ‘We found this sound under a rock’ ‘It’s off the first Deep Purple album… from 1968!’. It’s amazing how they keep playing those old classics with the same level of enthusiasm year after year.

So in reflection I think the quality of the performance outdid the previous night, however this is probably due to a better sound quality in the venue.

Hope to see the Purps back in New Zealand soon!

Ben Doyle