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#ClassicRock #deeppurple #livemusic #rocknroll
Video of Dream Theater doing “Highway Star”
As we reported earlier, Dream Theater covered the entire “Made in Japan” album at some of their concerts in Asia in January. Here is a video of “Highway Star” as performed in Seoul.
Nobs hope for Blackmore in Montreux
Billboard did an interview with Claude Nobs (founder of Montreux Jazz Festival etc) earlier this spring. During the interview, Billboard mention that Deep Purple are closing the festival this year, to which Claude Nobs reply:
“It is going to be a special evening. I don’t know who they are going to invite. I hope Ritchie Blackmore will join them. I know they are trying.”
Read the full interview here.
Thanks to Billboard and Francesco for the information.
Ian Gillan Interview
The Greek web magazine Rockpages.gr did a interview with Ian Gillan a few month ago. Here is a few bits:
“So I think now we have the greatest University of life-ever existed, which is called the internet.”
“Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath had the advantage of breaking up. And once they break up they are not a threat to anybody.”
Read the full interview here.
Thanks to Rockpages.gr for the information.
Anthem in German Movie
There is a new German movie called “Requiem“. The Deep Purple song Anthem is played 2 times in the film.
Thanks to Fabio Walter for the information.
Jon Lord in royal company
Jon Lord was in Stockholm last Monday to be involved in the Polar Prize Ceremony. He read the citation to one of the recipients, Led Zeppelin. At the dinner, Jon sat with the Swedish crown princess Victoria and Led Zeppelin guitar player Jimmy Page, as seen on this picture. Jon can also be spotted in the tv broadcast of the event, available at the Polar Music Prize website.
In other Jon Lord news we see on the DPAS site that Jon’s work “Boom of the tingling strings” will be performed by the Odense Symphony Orchestra in Odense, Denmark on December 7. The orchestra will be conducted by Paul Mann who is the current conductor for the Odense Symphony Orchestra. Paul Mann is of course the man who had a vital part in the resurrection of “Concerto for group and orchestra” in 1999-2000. Jon Lord will be present at the concert but will not perform. Tickets are available through the Odense Symphony Orchestra website.
The week after the concert in Denmark, EMI Classics will record “Boom of the tingling strings” and Jon Lord’s work for string orchestra, “Disguises”, for release on CD in 2007.
Letter from Steve Morse
On a night flight in Japan, Steve Morse took some time off and wrote a letter. Here is a few bits:
“I got to play a little bit with some of the guys from Living Loud, and we worked on some new music, which does sound good.”
“Every time I play with musicians like Joe or Eric, it is a lesson in humility on my part and experiencing their finesse.”
“I heard one of my favorite lead singers say this into my ear. “This is the best Japanese crowd, ever.””
Read the full letter here.
Thanks to Steve Morse for the information.
Don Airey plays with Gary Moore
Don Airey plays keyboard on Gary Moore‘s new album, “Old, New Ballads Blues” He also did brass arrangements with Gary. You can buy the CD in our shop.
Thanks to Gary Moore for the information.
DP left me speechless – Newcastle
A well packed house was what I arrived to just before Swanee took the stage. unfortunately they were pathetic with both guitarists making major mistakes onstage.
Then came Status Quo who I am not a fan of, but they were fantastic. Quo really had the place rocking and gave us our money’s worth. The crowd really got into their music and I was super impressed. It was a smooth transition then to the main act everyone had come to see.
Purple were just sensational. They were really on! I have never heard either Ian Gillan sound better.
It was the first time I have seen Don and he was fantastic, really did a superb job on Space Truckin’.
Morsey was hot tonight. The solos were the finest I have heard him do in the three times I have seen this line-up of the band.
I hope this is not my last time in seeing the boys play. It really left me speechless. I guess one more time would still not be enough. When the end of the set did come everyone wanted more and people were reluctant to leave.
Mick Jones
Another great concert – Wollongong
As I live in Canberra I was rather peeved that a Canberra concert was announced long after I already bought the ticket for Wollongong and I couldn’t make a change. It cost a lot more for the ticket and then the travel – but it sure was worth being there.
Also added bonus of seeing Status Quo on the same night. Not enough though, about 100 minutes of DP.
They were all in good form and still appear to get on very well together. Starting straight into the opening drum roll of “Pictures of home”, till the end. I just wish they would shelve a bit more of their old material and give more emphasis on the material since 1984. By now we know what all the old well-known ones sound like.
I wonder why they don’t do “Rapture of the deep”. That is a great song. I’d prefer to hear them do “Bad Attitude” or “Mitzi Dupree”, as much as hearing “Lazy” or “Black Night” yet again.
Even so, it was great fun and I enjoyed it from the 6th row view.
Philip Veerman
Predictable and a bit boring – Sydney
Let me preface this by saying that I am a Deep Purple fan from way back. I first saw them back in about 1984 at the Ent Cent (with Richie and George Harrison), again in the 90s, live in Singapore 2002, 2004 at Star City and then again at the Hordern 2006. I saw the Ian Gillan Band in 1992 at Dee Why and I saw Whitesnake at the Hordern in 1996.
I thought they were very disappointing at the Hordern this time. Ian Gillan seemed to lack energy. In the short 75 minutes on stage they filled up a lot of time with Steve Morse’s (Contact Lost) and the Don Airey’s solo. Solo’s are not something you want to hear in such a short concert.
Deep Purple seem to play the same set of songs at each concert (i.e. Smoke on the water, Pictures of home, Lazy, Highway star, Hush, Space truckin’, Black night). All great songs but they need a change.. say, Never before, Maybe I’m a leo, Into the fire, Bloodsucker or Speed king to name a few.
Unless they change, this will be last time I see them, too predictable and becoming a bit boring. Harsh words I know, I’m just giving my honest opinion. I am interested to know what others think?
Bill Bradbury
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing