Newsgroups: alt.music.deep-purple
Subject: Deep Purple have invaded North America!!
From: goldfinger@jumppoint.com
Date: Sat, 23 Nov 1996 22:04:50 GMT

*Hush* - listen, do you hear it? Deep Purple is here!!!

Well, the time has finally arrived. Deep Purple are here and anyone who can see them should go. Sell your house, your car, quit your job, leave your spouse, well, ...maybe that's possibly a tad too far but by all means go see them, you won't believe your eyes and ears!!

I have seen Purple before (twice), but I must say that this was the best show for me. Yes, I miss Ritchie's showmanship but I realise now that he was only just a part of the band that I love. Listening to the head compressing thumpa thumpa of Rog's bass during the opening number, Hush, and Ian P's wonderfully, impossibly, fluid drumming, he is truly The Man, put a grin on my face that will never come off. I now feel the Joker from the Batman movies!

I just saw them in Toronto and the show was incredible. The set list was great and the band sounded very fresh and energetic. I couldn't believe that I was listening to a band that sounds as aggressive and powerful as they did back in the late 60's/early 70's. How do they do it? Voodoo? Black magic? Whatever it is, I want some!!!

I swear to god that little Ian looked right at me after he leaped from behind his drum kit and tossed me one of his sticks!! Wow, stuff of dreams man. Then Rog comes back on stage and hands Glen Miller a Heinekin! And who got the other drum stick? Jesse Flowers! Alright Jesse! Now go buy a drum kit and start playing!

Apart from a show that I will never ever forget, I just want to say that I met some of the nicest people on Wednesday. Jim, John, Glen, Colin and Colin, Jesse, Nick, Mark, Dave, Bill (from Montreal), who else? If I missed someone, no offense intended - I'm bad with names!

The band were incredibly warm and hospitable. Jim Corrigan has written a terrific summary of that day that I will never forget - thank you Jim! I was glad that you were there and that you wrote such a great report. I hope the DP boys get a chance to read it!

The highlight for me was all due to Dave Hodgkinson to whom I cannot thank enough. Dave arranged for us to get back stage and meet the band. Well I thought I would die. Here's Roger Glover standing next to me with that clear yet distinctive voice of his that I've heard so many times before in interviews and on video, laughing and smiling with us - WITH US!!!!! I couldn't take enough photos or get enough stuff autographed. I felt like a kid in a toy store I was so happy.

I must admit that I was very nervous being backstage with the band. What the hell do you say to them? Gee, I like your music? Nah, that sounds too trite. I was worried that I would just stand there like a 6' 2" dork laughing like Beavis or Butthead, you know, huh huh...heh heh...cool. Anyway, things went very well and I think I didn't act too stupid. Rog brought us each a Heinekin (sp?) beer while we were chatting to him. Glen Miller had a great idea and got Rog to sign his bottle! Brilliant! What a neat souvenir of the show, wish I'd thought of that.

Jim has written a summary of that night far better then I ever could so I won't repeat what he has said. All I can to summarize is that for this explosives salesman/drummer from Vancouver, flying to Toronto and waiting 3 hours outside the venue in freezing cold wind was worth it! I've now got photos of the band, autographs, a signed drum stick and a memory of a life time. I can die a happy man now! : )

If you have read all of this and you are still debating whether or not you should go, GO!!!! You won't regret it., I guarantee it.

Cheers to all,
Carl

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