DEEP PURPLE - ROYAL ALBERT HALL,LONDON 26/9/99
In the afternoon we had the DPAS convention. A superb event where I met even more people than I had the previous two days. Lots of Purple vids, audio clips and a fine quiz where I was beaten into second place by the superb Nigel Young. Even Ian Gillan turned up and said a few words. Only sour note was that the Newcastle Brown was warm at the start of the afternoon, though a quick word with a barmaid ensured a few bottles in the fridge for the rest of the afternoon.
And so after a food trip it was time for the second night. Again the Orchestra started things off, followed by the friends set. The set list was the same as the first night, though tonite Sam Brown was simply outstanding, she really put everything into it. Gillan had ditched the Elvis jacket in favour of looking like God, and "God's Singing the Blues" was his best number tonite. Steve Morse was again excellent, but once again the honours were taken by Ian Paice and the Kick Horns. They should do a whole show with this set up, or even an album.
Tonite the Concerto was free from audience noise and was very well performed, again Paice took the honours with a stunning solo. Longer than the previous night and well deserving of the standing ovation.
The final portion of the evening was better than the previous night, with Dio almost getting the second verse of "Smoke" right. And then it was all over, we left only to find the Pub shut and the rain coming down.
Again hello to everyone that I met, Bruce A., Mike R., Pierre C., Charles L., and all the rest, but really the people I want to thank the most are Simon Robinson and everyone who organised the Convention. A big thanks to all of you for making a special weekend even more special. What other band in the world could attract so many people from all over the world to one place. The whole weekend will stay with me for ever, and I've not mentioned the train journeys with Callum+Big Chairlie, or the real reason Company of Snakes was cancelled was that the club they were playing in had a gay disco on that night, or the Spice Girls watch [The what?! Details, please! - Ed.].
It wasn't just the concerts it was the whole event, the whole three/four days. And for the benifit of the American couple on their honeymoon, OK I admit it your team won the golf in the end.
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