A lovely circle
Here is the (apparently) complete Roger’s interview with Indian press, parts of which were featured previously on these pages.
![[hand]](/hs-pics/portraits/hands/morse2.jpg)
![[face]](/hs-pics/portraits/faces/mcbride3.jpg)
Here is the (apparently) complete Roger’s interview with Indian press, parts of which were featured previously on these pages.
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
The wisdom and humility of the people in Purple never ceases to amaze. Just like in sports, intelligence plays a key but often underrated role in good music. At least, the type that DP plays, which is very complex and very simple all at the same time. Glover made a good point about the importance of not trying to copy other musicians, but being a pioneer just by expressing one’s own given abilities. That’s what Bruce Lee used to say, too. Lee said it was important not to try to be the next Bruce Lee, but to just be yourself. You have to find what you’re really naturally good at in any endeavor and then work really hard, which isn’t too difficult when you have a passion for something that you’re good at. Purple was very fortunate that hard rock was taking off at the same time they were emerging on the scene and, while still young, they already had years of experience behind them at the time of their peak. Roger referenced Jon Lord’s comment about DP being an atomic clock that keeps on ticking. Lord was asked in an interview about the same thing and replied – paraphrasing – “I think the band will keep going until the battery runs out.” And that has proven to be true. The fame and the rah-rah disappeared decades ago, but the proof that Purple was always about the music lies in the fact they are still playing in largely an underground capacity. The bands that were just in it for girls, money or fame have long since bit the dust. Most of the 1980s “hair” bands, for example. Most had drugged-out guys in them with low IQs. Purple has always liked to tip back a few, but the true-artist aspect has never gone away. And I will say the same for the true fans of DP. They possess many of those same intelligent, tenacious, discerning traits of the band.
March 8th, 2024 at 04:48Deep Purple have long become more than a group of specific individuals. They are a musical concept on a journey and long may it last!
It’s one aspect I especially like about the band
I’ve never subscribed to the idea that it has to be “those four (or five) or it’s not the real thing”. Bonham was pivotal for Zep’s sound, but he – like everyone of us – was not irreplaceable, yet Zep never seriously attempted to continue because they were likely burnt out. The Who did continue after Keith Moon, but IMHO simply chose the convenient and not the best man to follow him. For me, there is magic in every era and development step of DP. If at this point one of the “Mk II Three” had to drop out, much as I would deplore it, I would wish the remainers to continue. I used to view that differently, but at this point in my life I want the saga to continue.
March 8th, 2024 at 16:45So many artists & also aficionados back in the ‘golden’ era were really lucky to be at the right place at the right time. The musicians & artists were dedicated to being creative & having record companies that supported them in that cause. In regards to popular music they were in many ways creating from a blank canvas, they had no one who had painted like that before them. There was definitely something in the water all those decades ago, it was a very colourful flower that did blossom indeed. As we well know in this world nothing lasts forever. A wonderful creative time it was & not only for music. Thankfully like so many other artists from different times it is enshrined for future generations, if they are interested & lucky enough to be able to experience it in some way. Cheers.
March 8th, 2024 at 21:36@3…
In one word, “electricity” is what the game-changer was, & over a few decades, found its way into music, with electric guitars & basses, plus the big-one, amplification.
And the electric bass is King, it’s never going away, or will ever be replaced.
Electricity & the gear mentioned above allowed relatively affordable access to the masses, which meant lots of imagination coming through in big ways, with likely the most notable exponent of it all in the biggest game-changing way was Jimi Hendrix.
Everything followed Jimi once he arrived, & people realized that they could do anything they wanted on their instruments, since Jimi revealed imagination & what could be done with a little to us. ( Frank Zappa too imo )…
That said, Jimmy Page is quite accurate when he suggests that rock music is essentially folk music, but that the instruments have changed…( Meaning electricity yadda, yadda ).
Peace !
March 14th, 2024 at 11:37“And the electric bass is King, it’s never going away, or will ever be replaced.”
I wish you would have told that Big Ian before he recorded Naked Thunder, it’s (horrible sounding) synth bass on that album all the way through! Imagine him having John Gustafson at the sessions and only using him for backing vocals, not for his bass playing! There is as much real bass on Naked Thunder as there is on this song here, namely none:
https://youtu.be/tT4d1LQy4es
Except that Alannah Myles’ hubby at least programmed a decent sound.
No 2 in the DP Family canon of albums with no or almost no real bass is Whitesnake’s 1987 album where Don Airey played more bass lines than Neil Murray did (as producer Keith Olsen has revealed in an interview).
March 14th, 2024 at 21:21Bass guitarists or the lack of them. I have been watching a few decent Doors live performances recently & as we know they started out without a bass guitarist. Thankfully it didn’t last long & they did play live as well as recorded with one after the debut album. Atomic Rooster on the album Death Walk Behind You & I am not sure if that tour was without a bass guitarist. Although I have viewed a couple of live clips & they didn’t have one on those performances. We have been here before in regards to this abomination haven’t we? At least us drummers are always happy about everything no matter what, he he he. Cheers.
March 15th, 2024 at 05:32Talking about bass guitarists. I have been watching Primus live in concert from the 2004 Hallucino Genetics dvd lately. Les Claypool indeed. Does Les play even more lead bass than the erstwhile John Entwistle ever did or anyone else for that matter? Primus are an improvising band with gusto & while not being a melodic song composition band in many aspects they certainly make up for that with the riffing, rhythmic & experimental themes big time. A great live performance that is & I am not that familiar with their catalogue of music from studio albums but I have always read about Claypool & Primus as an inspiration for many. Good comedy also in his lyrics. Cheers.
March 15th, 2024 at 05:46