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Back to hard rock roots

Forest National, Brussels, Belgium

I had the chance to stand near the stage during the gig. Deep Purple gave a great concert last night in Brussels. After a powerful start (Fireball, Into the fire and Hard lovin’man), they gave us a wonderful “strange kind of woman”. All the members were in great shape and Gillan’s voice was great, too. There were also other highlights, such as a wonderful version of “wasted sunsets”. During the solo’s, Don Airey played “ne me quitte pas” from Jacques Brel : brilliant! The good thing is that the band really rocks : hard rock as it was in the beginning. All the setlist was from the 70’s and 80’s. I never heard Steve Morse playing as heavy as he did yesterday. DP were enjoying themselves and the response of the audience (Forest National was full) was enthousiastic. We had a great time, so don’t hestitate, go to see them and enjoy!



14 Comments to “Back to hard rock roots”:

  1. 1
    purplepriest1965 says:

    And ofcourse this was the first thing I could find :

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6hAA5x4i8w

  2. 2
    Jaroslav says:

    Totally agree! I saw them in Munich last Friday and they really rocked! I am looking forward to hearing their new album.

  3. 3
    Michel De Pourcq says:

    I used to write long Deep Purple concert reviews…
    but since I am retired… :-p

    No, I have seen them about 35 times (mostly with Beasty – Johan Van Ryckeghem – world wide notorious 🙂
    and I must say
    this one was one of the better ones !
    At the beginning I had some worries with Ian’s voice, he seemed not at ease
    but after a while things were realy WOW!

    I want to keep this a short review (!) so:
    I won’ t write that everybody was doing a great job aso
    but they really did.

    Although I do have a smaller ‘complaint”: I really had the feeling that Gillan was going through the motions – as far as the ‘in-between-chat”. He just ‘said’ the words, like he was not meaning them, like he said them yesterday, or last week, or last month, or … That really surprised me. No Gillan-isms at all…

    But the gig…
    WOW…his singing (after about 2 or 3 songs),
    Little Ian: triple WOW! (I had the impression he had more drums than he used to have – but after checking WWW it still is the same as – say – 2007)
    Steve… Roger… Don… they all were outstanding…
    and the audience… I must say they were great, better than usual (and I am one of them)

    One very big complaint – for me – I am a new amateur photographer. I have taken some splendid (Yes, I dare say so myself) pictures at the Deep Purple Tienen Suikerrock 2011 Festival. (see my website http://users.telenet.be/dpm/deep%20purple%202011%20Juli%2029%20Tienen,%20Suikerrock.html)
    Now I had asked “Live Nation” if I could take photos again, but invain…
    and there I see them in the audience… people taking pictures with their cellphones, compactcameras with flash, You Tubing, and… taking pictures with DSLRs!!!!
    Now I wonder… what harm could I do ….????

    ooh, and another thing…
    I think this is the first time in 40 (or so) years, that Purple did not play a new song prior to their new – planned –
    CD. Very Odd…
    but…
    a really grat gig, we really enjoyed!!!

  4. 4
    Rob says:

    some clips, pretty good quality

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMpd6UGILVU

  5. 5
    Rob says:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hO39E3qQh4&feature=plcp

    hard loving man / maybe im a leo

  6. 6
    Wildtrooper says:

    It breaks my heart to hear IG struggling with such ferocious songs as Space Truckin 🙁 He had such a magnificent voice,,,

  7. 7
    Guido an son Yvo says:

    Dear fans,

    Yesterday evening visited Deep Purple me (56YRS) and my son Yvo (26YRS) in HMH in Amsterdam. Was very suprised with the start of a nice medley of the Oldies early 70’s.
    Just outt the time when I started to love Deep Purple. My choise in that time was Black Sabbath or Deep Purple. DP had an organist Jon Lord, and he was to my opnion fantastic and superb (words of Ian Gillan, said only once yesterday). The only minus point of this concert not to remember former group member Jon Lord. He really earned a short tribute.

    Everybody who is going to the show. Please enjoy with your heart and close your eyes. Music is still good and briljant.

    Next year april new release of new album was anonced.

    Regards,

    Guido and Yvo

  8. 8
    Alan says:

    The Forest National is a great venue. I was there in Nov 1982 for Rainbow when Ritchie threw a strop and walked off stage mid way through Spotlight Kid as some idiot had thrown something on the stage. Got to say I dont blame him either. The band returned after 30 minutes and completed the full show. Nearly missed my ferry back to England but it was worth it.

  9. 9
    Bob says:

    Hi,
    I was in Brussels too and I can confirm how brilliant was the show. Very impressed by Ian Gillan’s voice even after so many years. Cannot tell how I was enchanted by Don’s keybord solos.
    Keep on rocking guys!!

  10. 10
    jim murphy says:

    Totally believe the time has come to ban mobiles and cameras at gigs, folk spending more time watching show on tiny screens hoping they have perfect shot than they do enjoying the show.

  11. 11
    Bo says:

    If Steve is playing ROCK – wow, and then I cant wait to see Purple again. Keep that rock sound. No Jazz here please. That is for solo stuff.

  12. 12
    purplepriest1965 says:

    AMSTERDAM :

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Hcy4Og_eTY

    And why not….
    The same song.

  13. 13
    Orlando says:

    Hello,

    for me Deep Purple was really “In Concert”, so pure, so bluesy and heavy and even psychedelic sometimes.
    “The Mule” was so nice.
    Thank you so much. Deep Purple ! Here are some nice videos (good sound!), taken from the front row were I was:

    Hard lovin’ man
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R11YHikEFjo&feature=plcp

    Strange Kind of woman/The Battle rages on
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEKxBxh80Tg

    Lazy:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdtXuEZxiuk

    Hush + Roger Glover solo :
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cea0azK-cRo

  14. 14
    Emile says:

    Great show. My pix are here: http://www.imparato.be/deeppurple2012/index.html

    Enjoy!

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