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“Rock seniors took the festival by storm”
German newspaper Suedkurier has an article going into further details of the fascinating story of quick thinking, snap decisions and triumph of open mind that resulted in Deep Purple headlining Rock am See festival in place of Oasis.
Here is the English translation:
Deep Purple save the “Rock-am-See” festival
Oasis: Cancellation
Last Friday night, Oasis were supposed to play a concert in Paris. Shortly before their gig, the local promoters were informed of the cancellation. The game of domino had begun: At 0:30am, Dieter Bös, organizer of the “Rock-am-See” concert in Konstanz, received a phone call informing him that Oasis would not be playing there either. Bös says he started walking to and fro like a tiger in a cage, writing down names for possible replacement bands, but finally rejected them all. Then came the relieving idea: Deep Purple had played a gig in Arbon, Switzerland that Friday night…
Deep Purple: Confirmation
So at around 2am Bös calls the tour manager of the rock veterans. At that time, Deep Purple are en route to their hotel in Zurich. Negotiations ensue. Offers are exchanged. Every half hour, the telephone lines between Konstanz and Zurich are busy. Six phone calls and a couple of e-mails later, at around 4:30am, Deep Purple confirm that they will play the gig. Dieter Bös is relieved. He sleeps for three hours and is busy again at 7:30am, instructing his drivers so that Deep Purple reach Konstanz safely. Actually, the band was going to fly back to the US from Zurich.
Oasis have split — so what? For most of the about 20,000 fans at the “Rock-am-See” (“Rock at the lakeside”) festival, the news was no reason for bad spirits. They celebrated and enjoyed the nice weather and a strong line-up of bands.
What a night! Even one day later, Dieter Bös, business manager of the “Rock-am-See” organizers, can hardly believe what happened during the night from Friday to Saturday. “It was just surreal”, he says, tired, but relieved, during an interview with the Südkurier newspaper on Sunday. One day before, he had experienced the absolute worst-case scenario for a concert organizer: The infamous Oasis were to play the last gig of their world tour in Konstanz, Germany [It actually was the last but one. The very last one was a festival next day in Milan, Italy, where Deep Purple took headliner’s spot once again. — THS]. The media buzz was tremendous when the organizers announced the booking the well-known band — the joy and happiness lasted until about twelve hours before the start of the festival.
At around 0:30am (cf. chronology in the side bar), Bös received a phone call from Oasis’ management. The scheduled concert in Paris the night before had been cancelled, and the band around the constantly fighting brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher would not be playing in Konstanz either. Guitarist Noel Gallagher had announced earlier that night that he would quit the band, just three gigs before the end of their world tour. One week before, Oasis had cancelled their gig as top-act of the well-known Virgin festival in the UK. At that time, the official reason was: the singer Liam Gallagher is suffering from a laryngitis.
The organizers from Konstanz watched all of this closely. “I had hoped that they would end their world tour in a decent way” says Bös. It is pretty impossible to book a top band on a “maybe”-basis. “That doesn’t work. No band will play along with that” says Dieter Bös. So he took the chance, the anxiety grew with every passing day, and finally, Bös delivered what will probably be his organizer’s masterpiece: Within four hours, he brought a replacement headliner on stage — despite the difficulty that the expectations of fans of Oasis and Deep Purple are quite different. “Still”, says Bös, “I went to the festival area with much more anxiety this year. I had no idea how the crowd would react.” Would lots of plastic glasses be thrown onto the stage? Or would the crows just stand there in silence during Deep Purple’s gig? Oasis fans had traveled a long distance, even from Hamburg — how would they take the anger and the frustration?
What’s amazing: the rock seniors (average age: 61) took the festival arena by storm. Admitted, a part of the audience (about half of the crowd according to the police) left the area shortly before or during the Deep Purple gig, but the 10,000 people that remained celebrated a band that proved with a roaring gig that they are not too old to rock. One hit followed another (“Highway Star”, “Strange Kind Of Woman”, “Fireball”, “Hush”), and when the famous riff of “Smoke On The Water” filled the air, thousands were jumping with the rhythm of the music.
There’s no other way to put it: the organizers had a stroke of luck with this replacement headliner, and even fans that didn’t care about 70’s hard rock admitted that the elder gentlemen presented a phenomenal gig.
A possible alternative would have been to have the Swedish rock band Mando Diao as headliner and book a medium-class band as openers — but this was not possible since the five Scandinavians could not play that late at night due to other commitments. And apart from that: Mando Diao did not really live up to the expectations of a headlining band during their gig. They did deliver their well known hits (“Mean Street”, “Dance With Somebody”) in a powerful way, but too often they got lost in rather ineffective instrumental baublery.
Looking back, says Bös, everything turned out well. Deep Purple had fun, so did the crowd. Bös is relieved. And what about Oasis? There are rumors about discussions with the management concerning the “unprofessional conduct”. Possible consequences included. “That’s no way to treat your fans” says Bös.
Michael Lünstroth and Norbert Faulhaber
Thanks to Roger Glover for sending the article, to Lars Wehmeyer for his quick and excellent translation and to Andree Schneider from The Aviator for arranging it.
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
The Oasis brothers have always had their head to far up their own asses. Let’s hope they’ll stay broken up for good this time!!!
September 3rd, 2009 at 05:35I would any day go for Purple. Forget Oasis. They are waste of time.
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:3010.000 people leaved before Purple…they had the chance to see the best live band of the world and they leaved…so sad…so stupid….
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:43News about half the crowd leaving before or during the set does not sound so good.
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:52Oasis are just idiots. The Audience payed for (shudder) OASIS but got (better) DEEP PURPLE! But still, some didn´t want to see purple.
September 3rd, 2009 at 17:03I have no illregard for OASIS. Actually I don’t care one way or the other. But just because I don’t personally get into their music, I have heard them and don’t find them annoying to listen to. They actually have pretty good sound and I can enjoy them, but just don’t find myself attracted to them overall. I wish them well as I do any band that is out there. They have their place and their following just as Purple does. If Purple wasn’t taking their place at this festival, we wouldn’t be discussing OASIS anyway….
But since we are discussing a band not even affiliated with Purple, here is a little treat much more related….
The band “CHICKENFOOT”, comprised of ‘Joe Satriani, Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, and Chad Smith’, are currently on tour promoting their Debut Selftitled Album. The interesting thing is that they are playing ‘Deep Purples’ Highway Star as their encore closer at virtually all of their shows. Seems Joe Satriani was smitten by his short stint with Purple back in ’94 when Blackmore left and is enjoying showing it here in this new Band.
Below is the link to a YOUTUBE performance of Chickenfoot playing Highway Star. No keyboards, but Joe does a magnificent job doing his interpretation of the Keys where needed….Killer performance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hidDPltmmiY
I tried to offer this info as a NEWS item, but those in the NEWS Department didn’t find this Worthy….
Check it out….what do you think?
Cheers
September 3rd, 2009 at 17:47Hmmm… Reminds me of a certain band with a guitarist and vocalist who just could no longer work together. So much so that their guitarist split suddenly towards the end of their world tour. But the comparison ends there! What is it about DP that is just so… Imagine being part of a band that composed the most prolific and dynamic piece of music probably since Beethoven’s 5th. And yes, the band is so much more than one piece of music. But long after The Beatles and Led Zeppelin and Elvis are forgotten, young musicians will still be picking up guitars and striking those magical chords (in fourths). And why have DP not been inducted into the Hall of Fame? And why aren’t we lobbying for it?
September 3rd, 2009 at 22:21You’ve got to love these guys!!! Festival show on a couple hours notice??? Bet a few of us live life the same way, albiet neither as grandiose nor as public. To: Ian P., Ian G., Don, Steve, and Roger; thank you for the inspiration.
September 4th, 2009 at 01:34that’s the way it is! take a lesson young band! since the last 15 years even 16 DEEP PURPLE have one thing in mind….. THE FANS…AND THE FUN.
September 4th, 2009 at 03:53This is what make A BIG BAND , famous and respected .
And how about another “rock at the lakeside TUNE”, who knows,that story could become another smoke on the water since water in the desert (oasis)
became infamous.I am sure big Ian wrote something about it in his notebook.
long live DP.
CHEERS.
Roberto,
are you joking? 10 000 INDIE FANS – this is really great number.
Indie pop fans are quite different ones than we, they USUALLY hate and ignore Classic Rock (maybe because of the complex that Classic Rock bands are considered greater than those whos fans they are).
now imagine, you go to the festival where Deep Purple is headlinersoon you acknowledge that DP disbanded and Oasis will play instead of Purple. will you or ANY DP fans stay there? I think NO ONE.
But more than half of Oasis fans stayed for Purple, enjoyed the show and 50% of them became Purple fans, as they saw what the real ROCK MUSIC means.
I read that even Kasabians and Kooks’ members were surprised how great band DP is, even they – indie pop musicians enjoyed the show… that’s so good
September 4th, 2009 at 12:39this once more shows that Deep Purple is really world’s greatest live act and universal band
September 4th, 2009 at 12:40http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scM60OYxITM
this is another example of highway star without keyboards…
September 4th, 2009 at 12:52About CHICKENFOOT
Great band which I d have loved to see this summer but I had to cut loose….
I dont remember if I tracked down their HIGHWAY STAR Version but to me its old news.
THS is just one of my windows to the world…..
So much for staying in the BOX…..
Put me in a cargo one when the time is there, please….
September 4th, 2009 at 14:318. I try to live my life like that… depite the fact I’m a taurus.
September 4th, 2009 at 15:20Yes, I agree! Just think about it: Purple were about to leave Switzerland for the US, which naturally you have to do by air. Think about all the pre-flight shit that’s involved with going by plane these days, particularly when it’s US headed! And here we have 5 of the most prolific, professional (and thus most deeply involved in professional realities, often equally shitty than and/or adding to above mentioned pre-flight things) musicians in the world. And it takes no more than a few hours of negotiation (outside business hours!) to convince everybody this can be done! Imagine what kind of mindset this takes, considering we talk about such a monster (not only musically, but also logistically) as Deep Purple! Cheers to them! I wonder if this would have been possible were another guitarist still around, and I don’t mean Satriani…
September 4th, 2009 at 16:46SUPER********* CLICK LINK4 CHIK~ PLAYING~ HIWAY*!!!!!!!!!! ~THAT BLEWMYMIND!!!!!!!!! DIDNT TINK SATRIANI COULDDO IT!!!!!!!!! ISEENHIM 1990OPEN4 BOWIE IN GIANTS STADIUM HE SOUNDED RYTHYMIC GREAT IN HIS OWN SURF~THE~ALIEN BUT INEVER HEARD HIM DO~********* MR UNIVERSE TILL NOW ON HERE WOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! HAPPY DEDICATED YOUNGSTEVE SAID AT ORLANDO GUI CLINIC ~ LIKE YA NEVER FIND THE PERFECT SOUND THAT MAKESIT FUN BUT LIKE FOREVER YA TRY TO GET THAT LICK LIKE MR UNIVERSE GOING INTO INFINITY & THAT DEEP SOUND SATRIANI GETS ON THAT VIDEO REMIND ME OF SOME AWESOME CERTAIN DEEP SOUNDS PERKY AWESOME STEVE WAS GETTING ~ LIKE HE HAD HIS ENGL AMP ON A MARSH & COULDNT FIND HIS CERTAIN TREMBLE SWITCH THING BUT WAS TALKIN WITH STEVE SON OF ERNIE BALL &VIVACIOUS WOLFMANJACKLIKE STEVE {TOTO} LU*KAT*HER ~HOWTHEY 4REAL GREW ZILLION CERTAIN TREES WITH PERFECT GRAINS RESEARCH ZILLION TYPE GUITAR BODY EXPERIMENTS & PICKUPS = JUST TO GET THAT RITCHIE AWESOMEST DEEP UNIVERSE SOUNWOWOWOWOUND!!!!!!! LIKE JIMI SAYS AT WOODSTOCK!!!!!!!! ANYWAY IT ALLWAYS BLOWS MY MIND COZ MR UNIVERSE JUST STRAIGHT PLAYS THRU STRATPICKUP WITH NO TONE~JUST STRAIGHTPURE100%SIGNAL!!!!!!!!! THANX HYSTERICAL SUPERROGER SIR BOZ & YALL!!!!!! WISH I BE THERE!!!!!!!!! ROGER ~ IAN&IAN{TITANS} BE HAPPY AS PERKY TIGERS PANTHERS LOEOPARDS & DON & MARVY STEVE IS HAPPY AS KITTENS!!!!!!!!! & ALLWISE JOYOUS FATCATS JOLLIEST WHO STAYED4 GLORIOUS THUNDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ANTHONY {CHIK} ~ I WAS AT VAN HALEN 1981 TANGERINEBOWL ORLANDO ~ BY DAVES FOOT & BLONDGIRL ON BACK PIC OF DIVERDOWN ALBUM!!!!!! GREATESTDAY SILKPINKBLUE JAPANESE STONES STAGE AWESOME~ANTHONY IS FUNNIEST TWAS THROWIN HIS BASS AROUND MAKING FUNNIEST SOUNDS WITH RIDICULOUS DIAMONDAVE ~ ON “SATURDAY AFTERNOON IN THE PARK” TWAS FUNNY!!!!!!! KEEP PLAYIN YALL!!!! = HERES SOME GUITAR PICKS4YA ~ ^^^^^^^^^I THANKYOUGOD ~ I GOT BLACKMORE&BLONDYCANDY IN 12THCENTURY TIX 4ORLANDO NV2009 ~LASTTIME MR UNIVERSE PLAY HERE=1992 FANCY HARDROCK* STAINGLASSWINDOWS OF ELVIS*JIMI*LILRICHARD BEHIND HIMSUPER~DID CHARITY 4ANIMAL SHELTER!!!!!!!!! WITH MOLLYHATCHET*PAT TRAVERS AWESOME WAS SUPERHAPPY ~TOLDHIM ITOLD TIBETMONKS IN WOODSTOCK {KAGYU~SITE}TO PRAY 4HIS FINGER HE SUPER BIG SMILING HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!! ALLWAYSPRAY4ALLBEINGS SUPER YEEEEEEE~ HAAAAAAW!!!!!!!!!
September 4th, 2009 at 19:40Tracy thanks for the link, Satch sounds great but have NEVER been a fan of Hagar he just doesn’t do it for me. The others in the band sound good as well but the song with the exception of Satch sounds a little hollow without the hammond!
September 4th, 2009 at 21:42Priest, I realize it’s old news to some such as you….but it hasn’t appeared here. So, based on that fact…..it’s New News Here….in this little Box.
Yeah Stoffer, obviously the hammond is missing. I just thought it was pretty cool that a 4 piece pulled it off so well, without the hammond. I agree with you on the Hagar point. I’d love to hear Michael Anthony do some lead vocals. He has always had a great harmonizing ability and can hit those high notes really well. Chicken could unload some extra baggage by losing Hagar. He’s more clown to me than frontman.
Either way, to yet another band, covering a Purple Tune…YEAH!!!!!
Cheers
September 7th, 2009 at 19:11Always liked Sammy, solo or otherwise…..
Great history in Montrose and Van Halen……
Bad Motor Scooter!!!!
Btw, I can see the attractiveness of Michael anthony s voice…..
September 7th, 2009 at 20:53to 10 Roberto
looks like you ‘re a real fan now not like a few months ago.very true comment.
and to 15 Adam
September 8th, 2009 at 03:36oh yeah ! the mother in law would have said no no no!just joking!
good comment Adam especially when you know how Steve is waiting for this special moment, to be with his family!
long live DP.
When ur talking about those non keyboard dp songs, here is one too… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j8Jl4LAQjA . I think I have heard them playing highway star too, but only found Burn cover… Nonetheless, it is great cover imo:). Love Billy Sheehan and Mr. Big. Love DP.
September 8th, 2009 at 13:01” Imagine what kind of mindset this takes, considering we talk about such a monster (not only musically, but also logistically) as Deep Purple! Cheers to them! I wonder if this would have been possible were another guitarist still around, and I don’t mean Satriani ” No kidding .You can only imagine how you know who would have reacted .They saved this promoters ass big time . You can’t just call up Van Halen, etc. It would have to be a band on tour already and some where near the area .Can’t be many choices .And all the gear , not just the musicians have to be flown ,I would guess .Pretty amazing feat .I would think DP was getting a good premium to do it as well.Good for them. People want to walk from the show , OK for me if I was there ,makes for a lighter crowd during the headliner . More good spots for thse who stayed . Mr P
September 8th, 2009 at 14:39I saw Chickenfoot in Shepherd’s Bush, London, back in June, and they were superb. They closed the set with Highway Star, which everyone seemed to appreciate, including IAN PAICE, who had a reserved seat at the front of the circle overlooking the stage. Don’t know if he expected to hear it, but he nodded approvingly throughout.
September 9th, 2009 at 09:33Hi everyone,
Used to go see Purple when I was younger, took a chance
September 9th, 2009 at 13:54in July and saw them again after all these years in Copenhagen – like good wine, they only got better with the years. You can tell they have nothing to prove, they play with so much enthusiasm and energy. Have now booked tickets to see them again in Aarhus in November – cant wait. Great that they could cover for Oasis, who obviously dont care if their fans are disapointed.
AP
I’d say ‘Purple tickler’ is a great example of someone whom is NOT of the over-exposed Purple Snobs whom continually grace this site and complain about Purple in their present FINE FORM.
When one is re-exposed to Purple after many years and makes statements like he did here, it is proof of the Purple Pudding that this band is doing a magnificent job and the only folks who come away from a live Purple Gig unsatisfied today are the one’s whom live in that little bubble that Blackmore Popped for them when he left and now they sprinkle the blogs with tears for his return….poor blokes.
Cheers
September 9th, 2009 at 23:44Pudding with the colour Purple, yuch!
September 15th, 2009 at 21:13Much better than Black Pudding…..HMMMMM????
September 16th, 2009 at 18:32No, bluuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh
I do like my rose with the colour purple, though.
Tried Purple chips last year.
Count me out.
September 16th, 2009 at 23:18I suppose there are BLACK ROSES, apart from that one made by Thin Lizzy with Gary Moore, but I do not know the name.
Anybody?
I do own, like I said a PURPLE one which I can commend very strongely.
I bought it in Boskoop, the Netherlands at Van Der Spek Rozen
They deliver and one can order through Internet, I think.
Very confusing is the fact its called RHAPSODY IN BLUE…..
This summer I did split it at the root so that I could give a part to an other DP fan.
You know you are….
September 20th, 2009 at 12:23You know WHO you are….
September 20th, 2009 at 12:48