Aussie loves Purple in Prague
Being from Australia, I happened to be in Prague the night DP were playing at Telsa Arena. Deep Purple still have what it takes. They were amazing and again showed why they are still one of the best live bands. This was only my second DP concert, the last was in Sydney in 1999.
I went with brother-in-law and his two teenage sons including one who did not rate Deep Purple (modern heavy metal freak). After the concert we could not control him and now DP have another follower to the extent he purchased the only two live DP DVD’s in the Prague music shop.
There you go.. average age IS 18….. 😉
May 8th, 2009 at 17:09Happy to read a positive rewiew on this site.
May 8th, 2009 at 18:00Cant wait to see them in Dortmund on 10-6-09 and Amsterdam 17-11-09. In my opnion they are still amazing asswell.No doubt they aren’t in best shape every evening, but there’s still lots to enjoy.
No matter which version of Deep Purple you like….DEEP PURPLE ROCKS !!!
May 9th, 2009 at 02:16I was on both Czech shows, and I have to admit one thing – they did two exactly the same setlist, but the shows really were radically different. Almost in everything. They were better in Prague than in Ostrava, and I dont know who say that “exciting factor” isn´t there – he lies! Prague was really fantastic. I made some photos in Prague that you can see on my DP website.
Another thing – Deep Purple 2009 are lot more “blackmoreish” than on Rapture Tour. These are completely different Deep Purple, than in 2003 and in 2006 when I´ve seen them. Why? There is something like “nature anarchy” on stage. I don´t know how to describe it in english, but when you´ve seen them before they were like “proffesors of rock music” – tight as hell, everything was exact as it should be, biggest freedom had Steve Morse and he made a some things different each night, but NOW… It can sounds like critisize, but I mean that in really positive way – they are far more heavy and freedom band as instrumentalists (for example Rog played differently each night solo in Fireball and it had almost NOTHING to do with studio version, you wouldn´t recognize Ian Paice by his playing – it´s different drummer than in 2006 – he makes a drum changes every night – sometimes it seems almost confusing when you heard him, he suprised others in band with his toying with the songs – and everyone did it!)and they are not playing that stuff tight as before – they reminded me a lot The Battle Rages On Tour in 1993 (with one difference – everyone was toying with their songs, not just guitarist)! In fact, in 2006 it was really well oiled machine, now, that´s not – that´s the band of five members who are having fun on stage and who are playing whatever they wants in that tracks… like I said before – that seemed almost like small musicians anarchy on stage, and I loved that!
May 9th, 2009 at 09:27Yes, I agree with Tom. They were perfect! Big Ian was this evening in very good form (better than Ostrava two days earlier). Ok, he can not use his typical screaming, but his low tones were like a smooth! And the band? I do not need the words, simply amazing. A lot of improvisations, guitar and keybords battles, a lot of bass improvisation from Roger!!! and spot-on Ian Paice. Deep Purple is not boring shadow himself. I saw them 11 times and this show was better than 3 concerts before.
May 9th, 2009 at 12:38Hi Ptx,
a very interesting (re)view, I hope to witness that sense of freedom on stage too, when they come here…
Regards,
May 9th, 2009 at 18:37Max
Can’t understand why they keep on playng the same old songs, too boring…and Gillan can’t even sing them correctly…I wish they stop playing that kind of stuff…Gillan should make some acustic solo stuff, while the rest of the band in my opinion should stop be Deep Purple and do solo projects or something else…
May 11th, 2009 at 12:31they have become a pale shade of themselves…sad but true…
moderation? this is just an opinion! and it’s not offensive!
May 11th, 2009 at 12:34I would like to refer to #4
Hi Ptr,
I am glad you found the words I wasn’t able to write down, when I saw them in November in Kiel. You are using the term anarchy (in a positive way) for what you sense in their playing at the moment. For me it felt like a certain way of group improvisation/interaction that is possible only if you know your material and your bandmates so close as they know each other.
I followed the discussions on this page for a long time, and often there is complaint about the never changing setlist and the predictability in their interpretations. I don’t think it is that way. I believe they enjoy what they are doing, and they are doing it with the freedom of doing it otherwise every night (when inspired) or playing “auto-pilot” when not inspired. Perhaps the percentage of not-inspired nights has increased, I can’t judge.
When they play inspired it is a jaw-dropping pleasure to hear them play – it’s like a sound from a planet no one of us will ever reach and even more sad – no one will ever hear of again when this band will have reached it’s end.
But of course I am sad too that they are not more spontaneous. Doing more so they would increase the tension among all of us to not miss anything. The way they treat it at the moment it is like: going to their gig only reminds us of god’s greatness – but hearing it is no surprise.
And to the Highway Star: thanks for administration!
– Sometimes I feel like screaming –
May 11th, 2009 at 15:51I too find this website a much more enjoyable experience now that moderation is in place to keep anarchy in check. The comments are much more interesting to read now that posters focus on a point rather than on a lot of shouts and insults.
The anecdote above is fairly typical of Purple. As fans, we get a lot of flak for our devotion to this group. Young people often tell me, “What…Deep Purple? They’re an old hippie group” if they even know who they are at all. But once they HEAR them, there is often a complete change of attitude.
Deep Purple is a group that everyone knows. But many often do not know they know.
May 12th, 2009 at 02:351st : @7 roberto : nice to read you’re still having fun and enjoying your life
2nd : @10 T : agree, moderation has made THS a more pleasant place to spend some time
Cheers to all
May 12th, 2009 at 19:30Yes , in fact I enjoyed so musch last Gillan album…hope they would do others solo records
May 13th, 2009 at 12:52