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Purple with violin
24/07/2011 Dolina Charlotty, Slupsk, Poland
What a pity. I didn’t know my brother would be in Slupsk. I’d buy three tickets, the more so as he’s never seen Deep Purple live, although he’s their fan, too. When we reached the venue, all tickets had been sold out.
Kruk, the support, surprised me a lot. I haven’t heard such music for years. They played famously! What’s more, their last song, Black Sabbath’s “Heaven and hell”, was dedicated to Deep Purple. An unbelievable band.
As for Deep Purple, they played very well as usual, although there was something wrong with Ian Gillan’s voice. He avoided high keys, sometimes spoke instead of singing, even sang out of tune (Woman from Tokyo)… “Hard lovin’ man” was too slow. “Maybe I’m a Leo” came out better, but the ending sounded very poor. “Rapture” was played too slowly again, and a bit dully. A few phrases were missing in “Knocking at your back door”. And Mr Gillan behaved unnaturally. He may have been overworked lately.
Well, since we’ve already grumbled at the weak points, let’s talk about the strong ones, as in general the band didn’t disappoint us. Those brilliant solos from Don and Steve! That unbelievable play from Roger before “Black night”! The fragment of the As major polonaise was much longer than usual, maybe on the occasion of the Chopin’s Year we celebrated in 2010.
But the biggest surprise of the year was a guest performance of that brilliant violinist. So far I’ve heard only “Smoke” with a violin. On 24th July more songs were played with that lovely instrument: “Lazy”, “Contact lost” (what cool solos!), “When a blind man cries”… It was fantastic.
Ian Gillan, after having a rest during Steve’s solo in “Lazy”, started singing quite well. “No one came”, “Space truckin’”, “Smoke”, “Hush”- sounded much better. People who don’t listen to rock often ask me if I shout and wave my hands during rock gigs. Yes, from time to time, but my husband does it better. I prefer singing and dancing, and I did it this time, too. Many people did it, the benches we were sitting on didn’t be any obstacle. Yes, Dolina Charlotty is an excellent venue for rock festivals.
Two hours of Deep Purple show, one hour of the support before, it was my best evening of the year. I only wish I could get some autographs from the musicians, especially from Roger Glover who has just released his new solo album. Maybe next time?
Many thanks to my brother for giving us a lift! If not for him, we couldn’t get out from the venue, as there is no bus communication there. By the way, although he couldn’t be at the show, he heard everything from his car. He was surprised by the repertoire, as he didn’t expected so many songs he’s fond of. He says he liked the show very much, so when the opportunity occurs, we’ll take him to another one.
-Joanna Ostrowiecka
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
These guys wrote the music. Yes, they are able to play it slower or faster if they like it… 🙂
July 27th, 2011 at 19:25Gillan avoids high notes now because he tries to sing more economically. But appart from that I also get the feeling that he’s loosing a lot of his wonderful voice at the moment, mostly his strength. It’s a lot more apparent when I listen to live clips from shows they did two or three years ago. Although they dropped keys which is good it still isn’t what it should be to my ears.
I hope that he gets better. I fear that if not Deep Purple will loose their singer the next time to come and if that happens the chances are good for retiring – which would be a real pity because the band still plays one hell of a show. In this case I don’t know if a younger singer wouldn’t bring a lot of fresh air to the band and music. At least they should try. Don’t get me wrong, no offence to Gillan at all. Just thinking …
July 28th, 2011 at 01:50Lazy would sound cool played with a dobro, or citar.
July 28th, 2011 at 10:25Ian Gillan said in an interview on the 2006 Montreax live DVD…”If I ever have a break I won’t know if I ever come back especially at my age”..There is a great fear in having a break…I wonder why!!…Is it the fact that they are playing in smaller venues and they have to gig three times a week to make ends meets and raise enough money to keep the band wagon going!!!…All I know that no other singer in his age bracket or calibre is working near as hard as Ian…Ask Jagger or Plant to do the same and they will lose their voice in few month with all respect to them…Ian Gillan is one hell of rock singer that desperately needs a proper break…It’s about time they toured less and used bigger venues but that won’t break even
July 28th, 2011 at 21:58financially I think in my own humble knowledge….DP is finished without Ian..Not even MK3 reunion could keep it going!!!!
To Josh: Oh, yes, it’s a licencia poetica 😀
July 29th, 2011 at 08:30To Tommy: Of course I don’t! What I think of it, the band shouldn’t play so many shows. They are overworked.
To Buttocks: Fine idea! I’d like to hear it . Maybe next time 🙂
@2 No Gillan on vocals would never be the same. Emagine Zepplin without Plant, the Who without Daultry.
July 29th, 2011 at 10:37@ 4, 6:
I know, that Deep Purple wouldn’t be the same without Ian Gillan. He is one of my heros. But today I ask myself if it would be better or worse without him. On the one hand his personility on stage and on vocals is very important and instantly recognizable but on the other hand the show looses with the decreasing power of his voice. It’s good and bad to witness a singer gaining more and more character but loosing his strength at the same time. Hard Rock is a music of strength especially according to vocals. I ask myself till today how his voice survived over the years and I think that for example Robert Plant has never had a strength in his voice which can be compared to Gillan. But for every singer the time comes were he can’t do it anymore and I think it’s better to give somebody else how fits to the group a chance than disband entirely. I simply say that I don’t know if a new singer wouldn’t be an improvement at all. It’s nobody’s fault that I somehow miss those high pitched screams and wild singing Gillan did so well years ago.
July 29th, 2011 at 16:44From what Ive heard and seen on YOU TUBE , Gillans voice is better and stronger than it has been for a long time . But yes they should tour a lot less .
July 29th, 2011 at 17:52Quality not quantity!!
NO GILLAN NO PURPLE!!!
RESPECT FOR THE VOICE OF ROCK!!!
July 29th, 2011 at 21:15Funny, as Ian has sung much much worse on other tours in the past, he sounds fantastic compared to some of the more recent tours since 2003.
July 30th, 2011 at 02:13Much has been made about the quality of Gillan’s voice in recent years. We all age and are not as capable at things as we used to be. Sometimes, concessions, sacrifices and compromises have to be made to that end. Even though each musical key has a ‘color’ to it, to the layman it is just a matter of pitch and dropping the tuning down a semi-tone or so is inaudible to most people. These guys are still the best in the business.
Having said that, the reviews for the American tour were extremely positive. One can appreciate the toll that traveling has, and we can forgive a bout of flu or cold–or even jet lag–from time to time. Certainly, changing hemispheres so quickly is an opportune time to pick up a bug–something much more noticeable in a singer than a musician.
If at some point Gillan decides that enough is enough and (semi)-retires on his own terms, it is likely that the rest of Purple as we know it will fold as a final tribute to the long-time and most revered of the Deep Purple vocalists. A new album is needed before that happens.
On the other hand, Deep Purple has never been the rock of stability as far as its members are concerned. The band has replaced singers a couple of times before. There are many more Roman numerals left for ‘mark’ designations.
In the meantime, for those people who are within range, enjoy the shows. Each one is history in the making.
July 30th, 2011 at 15:27@6…
Or Sabbath without Ozzy…..or….DIO…..or….Martin…..or….Hughes…..or…..Gillan…..etc.
You are correct though about it not being the same. It all seems wrong until that’s what you have, and then it winds up right. When the right replacement takes place, it’s friggin’ magic. There are gems from every line-up of Sabbath, just as with Purple. Whatever change that took place, once given a chance you realize ‘it’s all good’…and yes, never the same.
Cheers
Cheers
July 30th, 2011 at 15:32@ 4 @ 6
I.M.O. Mk3 reunion would easily blow away the last 15 years of Purple and bring in the crowds too.
I’m glad DP is a multi-tiered band, all the singers and line-ups have had their great moments.
July 30th, 2011 at 19:04@13
July 30th, 2011 at 22:11Maybe a Mk3 reunion will “blow away the last 15 years of Purple” for the general classic rock fan, but I don’t think it will for a Deep Purple fan. At least not for me! For me the Steve Morse era is one of the best! Better than Mk3, but even though not every DP fan thinks that, I think they respect the era.
gillian u r fucking the best always have been always will b
July 30th, 2011 at 22:26A MK III reunion would probably disappoint us I’m afraid.
I’m arguably the biggest Blackmore fan out there, but I realised that after “Difficult to cure” he lost his magic Sound…magic Touch…and it’s never been the same since (not even on Perfect Strangers). He always seemed extremely bored after the reunion, and he sounded like shit on many gigs.. totally lost it and played well below his capacity. Probably because his poor guitar sound didn’t inspire him to play smooth and with passion and blues any more. Just a cold hard midrange sound.
(Compare to “Rising” and you’ll see what I mean in terms of agression and sound) I know there were moments and sounds during “TheBattleRagesOn”, but sadly lost again when he recorded “Stranger in us all” with Rainbow.
Then there’s Coverdale, I’m sorry but it wouldn’t work, we might as well face it. (as he should)
Paice, Huhges and Lord still sound their best and would steal the show! I think the other fellows know and they have a hard time facing that. So a Mark III reunion won’t happen!
July 30th, 2011 at 22:56IT’S NOT THE OLD DAYS. THEY CALL THEIR OWN SHOTS. GILLAN DOES HOWEVER HAVE ROUGH VOCAL PERIODS. YOU GUYS ARE RIGHT. NO ONE ELSE THAT AGE WILL EVEN ATTEMPT THIS. LET’S NOT EVEN TALK ABOUT RETIREMENT.
July 31st, 2011 at 00:35@ 16
I guess you never heard Blackmore’s performances on Slaves & Masters and the accompanying tour……
Oh yeah, I forgot the rules. Mk V doesn’t count as Purple.
Silly me……..
July 31st, 2011 at 15:30As usual, a very wide and varied array of opinions that run across the entire spectrum. Some are downright brutal!
I agree that Blackmore’s sound post 70’s is quite different than it had been in the halcyon days; however, I believe that is more a matter of evolution, technological changes in equipment, and deliberate progression than inability. One could make a case he is a better guitarist today than he ever was–cleaner, much more controlled, and consistent. But no, he doesn’t scrape around on an ES-335 anymore.
Regarding Mark III vs. Today, this is an interesting comparison as the styles are worlds apart and a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then. Certainly, Purpendicular was a more sophisticated production than anything during Mark III and possibly the Reunion Era. The current band has evolved beyond the blues-tinged riff burners of old and have gone into more elaborate songwriting at times. For some, that might be contemporary Purple’s weakness. For others, it continues in the tradition of Purple progression. I have long been an advocate of the current band playing “Burn,” even if as an instrumental or as part of a medley. Mark IIb used to slip the riff into “Speed King”. I would like to hear Morse and Airey’s take on the solos.
On the other hand, Mark III only made two studio albums, most of which were classics (particularly on Burn). Credit also goes to the fact that in concert, they had dropped most of the songs from the previous line-up and went with songs from their then-current album–something Mark VIII is not able to do.
Despite some warts and bumps along the way, Purple have maintained a standard that few have reached without the accolades which they deserve. Each version of the band has had its strengths and weaknesses. The bottom line, though, is that they are still touring. All that’s needed is that new album. Discussions about Gillan’s inconsistencies have come up before, often followed by reviews of Gillan’s greatness and energy. The front guy is always going to get more scrutiny.
I am glad, though, that despite my favorite songs, albums, mark–and guitarist–that I consider myself fortunate to enjoy every incarnation of this band, from Mark I to Mark V and the current line-up. The only criticism is that they do not record as often as they should and tour too much with the same basic setlist when they have such a repertoire from which to draw songs.
One thing that I think most can agree on is that in the history of DP, it is never a dull moment.
What next? “Smoke on the Moon Lunar Tour 2020”?
We all went up to the Moon Base…on the Sea of Tranquility shoreline…
August 1st, 2011 at 01:41Deep Purple need David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes!
August 1st, 2011 at 08:07If Gillan is retired, I want Jeff Scott Soto to fill his shoes. A great rock singer ever..
August 1st, 2011 at 17:26Anyway, Gillan’s voice are very good right now (look, it’s only according to YT; will be more waved if there is a proper recording of recent shows). And I can convince my self he will be there for 3 years more..
@17 -Gillan has had “rough vocal periods” -his entire career, what are you saying that’s new here?
August 1st, 2011 at 18:40214 -Exactly, word for word. What part of this don’t some people understand? I have no idea.
August 1st, 2011 at 18:44Opps, that was @14
August 1st, 2011 at 18:44@18
You’re right, he did actually have a better sound around there! I agree.
I still think his playing had lost the excitement and the energy. Avoiding to play riffs the way they should be…almost to the point that it ruined the songs, and stuff like that. He seemed plain bored (even though he got rid of Gillan.) He also left during the last song I saw on that tour and refused to do an encore… He said afterwards that he was disgusted with his own performance and therefore left.
In my opinion it was a long time since he played something that made me want to go and buy a ticket. Compared to the total elegance, fire and finesse he used to deliver I just happen to think it’s gone.. Perhaps he’s regained some of it with Blackmore’s Night, but after the two first albums I just had enough of the music.
Still can’t see a MK III reunion happen though…
August 1st, 2011 at 22:27@18…
S&M does count obviously as DP, but it was a cut throat album toward the end of the Blackmore era whereby even he had to eat crow and renig on firing Gillan, the greatest front man in the Purple realm. Funny how JLT was let go after just 1 album due to quick recognition of a poor decision by TMIB. That had to hurt. The True Purple Front man was re-commissioned, and the rest is history. So long Ritchie…..Hello Good Times…..’Truth Hurts’. HAPPY LIFE, HAPPY LIFE. We still have Purple. If up to Ritchie, there would have been no more when he left for the first time for Rainbow in 1974. He obviously needed Purple again in 1984 and repeated his same crap in 1993/4. Meanwhile the ship still sails, with Morse at the axe helm. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it, and thanks to those whom carried on and joined in, we have gotten a lot of great music and performances since.
The ‘Cut Runs Deep’ through and through….No Ritchie, No drama. Thankfully, Purple still reigns. But then again, so does Ritchie. You just have to accept the fact that He has left the Building along with his lute. I think there was a Ritchie sighting in the Black Forest. He was playing his lute and Elvis was singing “Love me Tender” while Candice was playing a skin flute….(not sure who’s though). It was a ‘Flute, lute, poot’ trifecta at ‘Disgrace-land’….oh, and there was some sort of ‘poodle’ looking critter running around that jumped off of Ritchie’s head. It made me think that it is time for Roger Glover to do his sequel to his “Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper Feast”. This new one could be…”The Poodle head plays his lute, at the Grasshopper Ball”….(no Butterflies allowed WITHOUT A FLUTE)….LOL.
“Thank you, thank you very much…”
Might be time to lay off the whiskey……
Cheers
August 2nd, 2011 at 00:05Anyway, I think it doesn’t depend so much on the singer if Purple ever retires. To me Ian Paice is the true key element to any line up, as he has been part of all of them. His druming is, like for example John Bonham’s, unique. It wasn’t in any way my intention to bash Gillan for having a bad day which is absurd and really silly. I hope that the new upcoming record will proove to me that Gillan is still on fire as it’s impossible for me to personally attend a show. The bits and pieces I saw and heard from recent gigs left the impression that he struggles big time.
August 2nd, 2011 at 23:14No other singer outside other Deep Purple MKs could replace Gillan…so we have Coverdale which is not in better shape than Gillan, JLT, which was essentially an error or Simper which is lost nowhere (I would never imagine Hughes alone)…if Ian Gillan will retire than the band will stop…that’s “the way it is”
August 5th, 2011 at 23:08@ 28
I suppose you meant Rod Evans : (
August 8th, 2011 at 21:49Hey Roberto,
If Roger left Purple, Hughes could come in, play bass, share the singing with Gillan as he did with Coverdale. Since I remember you constantly complaining about Gillan not being able scream anymore, Hughes could lend a hand there, and they could bring back ‘Child in Time’. I’d pay big to see that show…..
Cheers
August 9th, 2011 at 14:18And I d need earplugs : )
August 10th, 2011 at 21:06Chair, based on half your postings, it’s obvious you listen to most your music wearing ear plugs. Pull them out, get the Real Sound so you can make true, objective statements regarding….
Cheers
August 12th, 2011 at 02:06I never wear them, they ‘re bad for your health.
August 12th, 2011 at 21:00