Reviews
Wolf Schneider
Axel Ortgies
Thomas Monreal
Philippe Joseph

12 CD box set - 6 complete shows

March 2001
9 - Melbourne, Australia - Rod Laver Arena
13 - Wollongong, Australia - Entertainment Centre
14 - Newcastle, Australia - Entertainment Centre
20 - Hong Kong, China - Coliseum
24 - Tokyo, Japan - Hall A, International Forum
25 - Tokyo, Japan - Hall A, International Forum

The Australian shows included a three-man brass section and three female backing vocalists. The two Tokyo shows featured a Japanese orchestra conducted by Paul Mann and special guest Ronnie James Dio, along with both a brass section and three female backing vocalists.

As opposed to the last box set, with this one you don't have to worry about the sound quality. All six shows were recorded officially by Deep Purple's sound engineer extraordinaire, Moray 'The Engineer' McMillan and are presented here in glorious stereo.

Soundboard recordings of "Fools", "Mary Long" and the two spellbinding Japanese "Concerto" shows with Ian Gillan singing "Pictured Within" should be enough to satisfy anyone. Or how about Australian rocker Jimmy Barnes belting out "Speed King" and "Highway Star" with Ian Gillan and the boys?

Visually the box set may not be up to par, but this type of project is hitherto unseen in Purple Land and it's still an excellent deal, so get out there and support your local (Australian!) box set compiler.

In this special you can read reviews of the box set, check out the track lists for the individual CDs and relive the shows by reading the original reviews of the tour.

Submit your own review of the box set.

Comments and corrections welcome.

Rasmus Heide