Jon Lord was in Stockholm last Monday to be involved in the Polar Prize Ceremony. He read the citation to one of the recipients, Led Zeppelin. At the dinner, Jon sat with the Swedish crown princess Victoria and Led Zeppelin guitar player Jimmy Page, as seen on this picture. Jon can also be spotted in the tv broadcast of the event, available at the Polar Music Prize website.

In other Jon Lord news we see on the DPAS site that Jon’s work “Boom of the tingling strings” will be performed by the Odense Symphony Orchestra in Odense, Denmark on December 7. The orchestra will be conducted by Paul Mann who is the current conductor for the Odense Symphony Orchestra. Paul Mann is of course the man who had a vital part in the resurrection of “Concerto for group and orchestra” in 1999-2000. Jon Lord will be present at the concert but will not perform. Tickets are available through the Odense Symphony Orchestra website.

The week after the concert in Denmark, EMI Classics will record “Boom of the tingling strings” and Jon Lord’s work for string orchestra, “Disguises”, for release on CD in 2007.

On a night flight in Japan, Steve Morse took some time off and wrote a letter. Here is a few bits:

“I got to play a little bit with some of the guys from Living Loud, and we worked on some new music, which does sound good.”

“Every time I play with musicians like Joe or Eric, it is a lesson in humility on my part and experiencing their finesse.”

“I heard one of my favorite lead singers say this into my ear. “This is the best Japanese crowd, ever.””

Read the full letter here.
Thanks to Steve Morse for the information.

Don Airey plays keyboard on Gary Moore‘s new album, “Old, New Ballads Blues” He also did brass arrangements with Gary. You can buy the CD in our shop.
Thanks to Gary Moore for the information.

A well packed house was what I arrived to just before Swanee took the stage. unfortunately they were pathetic with both guitarists making major mistakes onstage.

Then came Status Quo who I am not a fan of, but they were fantastic. Quo really had the place rocking and gave us our money’s worth. The crowd really got into their music and I was super impressed. It was a smooth transition then to the main act everyone had come to see.

Purple were just sensational. They were really on! I have never heard either Ian Gillan sound better.
It was the first time I have seen Don and he was fantastic, really did a superb job on Space Truckin’.
Morsey was hot tonight. The solos were the finest I have heard him do in the three times I have seen this line-up of the band.

I hope this is not my last time in seeing the boys play. It really left me speechless. I guess one more time would still not be enough. When the end of the set did come everyone wanted more and people were reluctant to leave.

Mick Jones

As I live in Canberra I was rather peeved that a Canberra concert was announced long after I already bought the ticket for Wollongong and I couldn’t make a change. It cost a lot more for the ticket and then the travel – but it sure was worth being there.

Also added bonus of seeing Status Quo on the same night. Not enough though, about 100 minutes of DP.

They were all in good form and still appear to get on very well together. Starting straight into the opening drum roll of “Pictures of home”, till the end. I just wish they would shelve a bit more of their old material and give more emphasis on the material since 1984. By now we know what all the old well-known ones sound like.

I wonder why they don’t do “Rapture of the deep”. That is a great song. I’d prefer to hear them do “Bad Attitude” or “Mitzi Dupree”, as much as hearing “Lazy” or “Black Night” yet again.

Even so, it was great fun and I enjoyed it from the 6th row view.

Philip Veerman

Let me preface this by saying that I am a Deep Purple fan from way back. I first saw them back in about 1984 at the Ent Cent (with Richie and George Harrison), again in the 90s, live in Singapore 2002, 2004 at Star City and then again at the Hordern 2006. I saw the Ian Gillan Band in 1992 at Dee Why and I saw Whitesnake at the Hordern in 1996.

I thought they were very disappointing at the Hordern this time. Ian Gillan seemed to lack energy. In the short 75 minutes on stage they filled up a lot of time with Steve Morse’s (Contact Lost) and the Don Airey’s solo. Solo’s are not something you want to hear in such a short concert.

Deep Purple seem to play the same set of songs at each concert (i.e. Smoke on the water, Pictures of home, Lazy, Highway star, Hush, Space truckin’, Black night). All great songs but they need a change.. say, Never before, Maybe I’m a leo, Into the fire, Bloodsucker or Speed king to name a few.

Unless they change, this will be last time I see them, too predictable and becoming a bit boring. Harsh words I know, I’m just giving my honest opinion. I am interested to know what others think?

Bill Bradbury

I have seen Deep Purple in concert a few times, but last Sunday night was a memorable end to the Australian 2006 tour – you guys rocked!

I’d also like to thank you for being so kind to your fans, it was a thrill for my husband and I to meet the band as you were making your departure (out the back door of the National Convention Centre).

Still star struck!

Sharyn Gaffney

Canberra was the last stop on the Australian part of the tour. Opened by Mandrake, then Status Quo, who put in a solid performance.

Then Deep Purple came on. And it was fantastic. Opened with Pictures of Home and rocked from there. If they resent playing so many of their earlier works, it didn’t show – the sound was fresh, they seemed to be enjoying themselves, and the audience certainly was.

Perfect Strangers and Rapture of the Deep were both performed. Amazing solos from Don Airey and Steve Morse.

Worth every cent and then some…

Erika

This is more a comment than a review. Do with it what you will.

It is with interest that I have read the poor reviews coming out of Australia. I would like to state that in no way do I speak for the band and can only comment on the Brisbane show on the 7th May which I attended.

I was backstage after the show and got to speak to Gillan, Morse and Glover. But more about that later.

I watched the show side stage left, standing at the monitor mixing desk, so I had a perfect view of the boys at play and they seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely.

At the time the show seemed very pedestrian and some what disjointed, but I put that down to where I was watching the show from, and not getting full impact of their glorious sound, but my wife commented on how lacklustre the crowd was in response to some of the songs (full house-6000+). It was very loud, (what else would you expect from Deep Purple?) even from backstage, and friends that were out front commented they wanted to leave because of that fact. (And we have all seen Motörhead at some point in our lives.) It didn’t bother me when I went out front during the encore, but I was already pummelled into submission.

The bouncers were over bearing, stopping people from even standing, and this was a great cause of disgust for the band. Talking to Roger after the show he told me the centre management went to the FOH sound desk and asked the band be turned down. Can you believe that! I doubt this is a first, but highly unusual.

From my point of view this is what I believe to be the problems from the early part of the tour:

1. Status Quo.
It looks good on paper, Purple/Quo, but in reality it is not a good pairing. Status Quo did nothing for me after 15 minutes, and from other comments on this board I’m not alone. They should have been restricted to 45 mins tops instead of the almost 90 they played in Brisbane. They are a cabaret act for crying out loud.
They played a tourist resort the night before for $35.00 a ticket, where the usual performers are Elvis impersonators and washed up country artists. They don’t belong on a Purple tour. I would have preferred to see a young up and coming Australian band, who would have brought in just as many people and had the flow on effect of a new generation of Purple fans.

2. The age of the crowd.
While there were a lot people in their 40s-50s, there where also a lot touching 70! I kid you not there was a guy and his wife and friends, front row, centre who must have been over 70. They left half way through Purple’s set, leaving four vacant seats front row, centre, This must have an effect on any band, Don’t care who you are.

3.Shorter set.
Due to Quo running over, Purple’s set was rushed (90 mins incl. encores). Not enough time for Deep Purple. Almost everyone here has seen a full blown Purple show, two hours minimum, and it is a beautiful thing.

I saw them last year at Milwaukee Summerfest (USA) and they blew the roof off, and that was an outdoor gig! 10,000 mad Americans went away truly satisfied, and they played 2hrs 15 with two encores! Two days later, from all reports they blew them away at Live 8. That was less than a year ago. Now we see our heroes doubling up with second rate cabaret acts, and hear of people walking out of shows?

I could go on, but what I would say to those who felt cheated in Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide, is Deep Purple will be back in Australia. Everyone is entitled to a perceived bad week, even if you are Deep Purple. From all reports the Sydney, Newcastle and Canberra shows were great. And let’s face it an average Purple gig is still better than anything else going around!

Pete Schuptar

Last night in Canberra was Deep Purple concert number seven and Status Quo concert number four for me.

Staus Quo have still got it after 40 years. Purple must have loved having them as the support act for the Australian leg. From the first song people were on their feet. Well done guys.

Purple were also good, but…

Steve Morse is a brilliant guitarist. No question there. And I am well aware that he is not Ritchie Blackmore. And I also know that Steve Morse has his own style. But, for me, I found that on some songs, HS and SOTW in particular, the balls the guitar sound needs just weren’t there. They are both songs that are a hard driving guitar riff based songs and that’s what was missing.

This was their last Australian show, and it showed. It was like they just couldn’t wait to get off stage. Everything seemed to be done in a rush.

I saw Don Airy with Rainbow and Whitesnake and he is a much better keyboard player than what was seen last night. Roger Glover is himself. Always solid, always stable.

Ian Paice was solid but looked like he had had enough and just wanted to go to the horse races.

Ian Gillan is like the rest of us who were there for the Fireball tour, just getting on in years.

Was I disappointed? No. Was I over the moon? No. Have I seen worse performances?? Yes. Have I seen better?? By Purple, Hell yes.

All tours these days seem to be focused on stadiums. It is nice to see that there are still some honest down to earth musos who still do it (or appear to) for the people that matter the most, the paying public.
Will I go again? I honestly don’t know.

James Livingstone