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A TASTE OF PURPLE MARK III – GLENN HUGHES IN MELBOURNE
With all the anticipation and excitement about the impending release of the new album Now What?! by the current version of Deep Purple, we can’t forget that there are still other members of the Purple family out there making and playing great music.
On Monday April 22nd, 2013 Glenn Hughes treated us to some Purple several times during a two hour performance at the Corner Hotel in Melbourne, Australia. First he ran through a half hour acoustic set including Coast to Coast (Trapeze), Faithless (Black Country Communion), Nights in White Satin (from the F.U.N.K. album), Crossfire (BCC), Imperfection (F.U.N.K.), and Cold (BCC). Glenn’s voice was strong and clear, and his acoustic guitar playing was highly impressive as well.
Then came the electric set starting off with Muscle & Blood (Hughes/Thrall), and next, a great rendition of Might Just Take Your Life (from Deep Purple’s Burn). In between songs Glenn told a story about how the National Enquirer had erroneously mixed him up with the other Glenn Hughes of the Village People, when reporting on the death of the latter. The article was accompanied by a photograph of Purple Glenn himself and wrote how he had been buried in his favourite leather chaps! Glenn added that for a year he did not receive any royalty cheques owing to the confusion about his “death”!
On with the show, Glenn played Medusa (Trapeze), and next up was Sail Away (from DP Burn).
Introducing the next song, Glenn paid tribute to the great Jon Lord and described how Jon was a mentor and father figure to him, and the reason that Glenn joined Deep Purple. And not only that, Jon was an amazing musician. Glenn says he thinks of Jon every day, and is so grateful that he himself is still breathing on the right side of the grass. At that moment Danish guitarist Soren Andersen ripped into a Blackmoresque guitar extravaganza that culminated in the unmistakable riff of Mistreated. Glenn’s voice was clear and powerful in all the ranges he sang of that Purple classic.
Following on was Can’t Stop the Flood (from Building the Machine) which got everyone’s head bobbing.
Introducing the next song, Glenn again spoke of Jon Lord and mentioned David Coverdale. To that he added “Ritchie Blackmore is truly one of the greatest guitar players ever”. Next he said “Long Live Ian Paice!”, and God Bless Tommy Bolin. Glenn told us that Purple played the next song here (Melbourne) at Sunbury in 1975, and launched into Getting Tighter (from Come Taste the Band). Extended jamming then took us through Dance to the Rock and Roll, a drum solo, an amazing bass solo by Glenn, and a reprise into Getting Tighter.
Barely stopping for breath, Glenn shouted out “I am a messenger!” which heralded in Black Country, from BCC’s first album. After an outstanding performance by the band on that last official song of the set, Glenn bid us a good night. The crowded shouted and stamped for more.
After a few minutes we were rewarded with an encore of Soul Mover, the title track of Glenn’s album from 2005. And then the grand finale, Deep Purple’s Burn – the heat was up full blast for that song.
Then it was all over, Glenn thanked everyone for their support over the years and promised to return next year.
I hope that Glenn does keep writing and playing. He is a massively talented musician, very adept on acoustic guitar, hugely funky and rocky on bass, and heavenly of voice. For a man of 61 years to be able to sing with such power and to hit the notes he does, is absolutely astounding.
Deep Purple Mark III and IV will never play again, but their spirit lives on. Long Live Glenn Hughes!
with thanks to Gary Halverson for this review.
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
Excellent report many thanks m/
April 29th, 2013 at 17:50Nice report, I enjoy the storyline. You must be having a good time with Glenn
April 30th, 2013 at 03:06I only wish Glenn will visit Denmark with this set. Great to hear all these Purple songs and the BCC songs. WHO cares about Joe B. Get BCC back with the other great Guys and a new man on guitar. Could be Page.
April 30th, 2013 at 16:15Every time he messes things up, he goes back to tributizing….. Every time.
You know what Glenn, that ‘might just take your life’.
Ch-BeerZ?!
May 1st, 2013 at 03:30@4 that’s funny and true to a certain point.I hope he keeps making music with the rest of the guys under a different moniker,since Joe management doesn’t allow them to perform under BCC.
May 1st, 2013 at 18:25You make your own bed you lay in it !
Maybe the reason for such a big portion of classic songs in Glenn’s etlist is that he did not often got to play shows in Australia over the years?
May 2nd, 2013 at 15:55@5….that is the problem with Joe B. and his management. They want to have it both ways, control all aspects of BCC but not participate in it unless it suits their own purpose. BCC was a vehicle created for and by BCC management and they used / exploited the talents of Glenn, Jason and Derek. Then when Joe B. & Co. decide they don’t want to play anymore, they leave the other guys hanging high and dry.
Typical of so many Joe B. projects….he is a musical name-dropper, he invites other big-name talents onto most of his records for a song or two. He is obviously looking to be a big star in his own right rather than a team player in a band.
Best now that Glenn, Jason and Derek find a good collaborative guitarist and re-start the band under a new name.
May 3rd, 2013 at 08:55Glenn interviewed in Australia 2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7DmdJriciU
Thanx to perfect Purple.com
May 10th, 2013 at 15:02Glenn with new outfit Kings of Chaos doing Highway Star :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMvYRMl1DzA
Let the bashing begin : )
May 10th, 2013 at 15:05Glenn + Kings Of Chaos doing BURN.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8RvWvOMkuE
May 10th, 2013 at 15:09OMG!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNr4zexDFIM
Glenn and Kings of Chaos doing Paradise City(….)
May 10th, 2013 at 15:12Nice clips Priest!
May 12th, 2013 at 02:55Here’s a full 44 minute set of the Chaos gig…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwjsWV8E_VE
Ch-BeerZ?!
May 17th, 2013 at 23:19