What a show.
As they hit the stage with Highway Star (of course!), there was no doubt that things had changed now that Joe Satriani has taken over the guitar. I very soon heard that the band sounded much tighter than they ever have after the reunion, and the case is clear for all to hear:
Ritchie Blackmore simply can't cut it like he used to do anymore - he still can play some breathtaking solos in an inspired moment (like the Oslo-concert I attended last November), but when it comes to playing backing - forget it. He constantly fumbles up the songs, plays whatever's on his mind, and doesn't manage to keep the tempo and the drive of the songs. He did have his flashes of inspiration, but sadly, except for the last tour, they were far too far between.
With Joe Satriani as the new backbone of the band, Deep Purple has transformed into what must be the best band in the world in the tradional rock field. No one can beat this. The songs once again sounded tight and together, the drive was back. Incredible, from beginning to end.
All this praise aside, Joe Satriani doesn't come close to Ritchie when we're talking about playing emotive solos. But he did a very good job nonetheless, and proved that the boy indeed CAN play the blues. Jon Lord also seems to have problems adjusting to Satriani's playing style, as he has built his own organ style around Ritchie's playing over 25 years. Lordy came across as more tame than usual, but he sure had his moments. The thing is, that when the band sounds as tight as it did on Saturday, I never missed the incredible solos - the songs were strong enough on their own.
To give a quick rundown of the show, song by song;
Ramshackle Man from the new one was second out, sounding tight and together, and with good solo spots from Jon and Joe, of course.
"A song about a schizophrenic pussycat", Ian Gillan introduced next, and we get a very good version of Maybe I'm a Leo. Gillan by the way had the same vest he used in Oslo half a year ago, but shock horror: No baggy trousers! He had some straight jeans, and wore boots, and looked in good shape, he even looked slim. Jon Lord was wearing a light suit, with a black singlet underneath. Roger Glover had a pink shirt and a cap, and wore the remains of his hair in a ponytail underneath it, which was new to me. Ian Paice had a white shirt of sorts behind his drumming kit, and Joe Satriani made a clear gesture by playing the whole set in a black Deep Purple "The Battle Rages On" sweater.
Boogaloo-time! "A song we wrote in 1970 - I don't remember what the album was called, but the song is called Fireball", Ian announces. I can only sum this up in two words: Bloody hell! I've heard some versions they did of this in the Seventies, and they never managed to get the speed correct. The way they played it now was simply amazing, flawless and energetic. (Needless to say, it's one of my fave tracks.) We naturally got a good bass solo from Glover too, in case some of you STILL doubts that it's him playing the solo on the album! :-) Lordy's solo was good too.
And then... the biggest let-down from the Oslo-concert gets transferred to the majestic song it really is... it's the Return of Perfect Strangers! Brilliant.
Back to "Machine Head" again for a killer version of Pictures of Home, and I know I'm not the only one who's been dying to hear this live. Another bass solo from Glover, btw - he was really cooking throughout. After the break in the song and a lengthy guitar improvisation from Joe, which makes me and the guy next to me face each other in a big grin, we get Jon Lord's keyboard solo. A bit subdued compared to last year's European tour (and indeed compared to the Japanese dates with Satriani), but it lifted when Jon threw in some bits off "Sarabande"!
Hell, I've used up the superlatives already, but Knocking at Your Backdoor also sounded far more together than it usually did with Purple.
Anyone's Daughter next, with Paicey behind his drum kit this time around, but Roger and Joe was seated on the drum stand a la last year. Perhaps a good moment for me to mention en passant that Ian Gillan sounded better than ever during the reunion, the man sung like a god. In addition, he was up in the mix again, and audible compared to what he was last year. Makes me wonder if Ritchie had ordered the sound personell to mix Ian Gillan down last year, cause he was hard to hear at times.
Time for Child in Time. Before the concert, I was told by a guy in the know that Ian Gillan had been to the studio some weeks ago recording the screams of this song, and that if he left the stage while the screams are there, this is what's happening. Sounds fair enough, if he's not up to singing it, at least he makes it clear for all to see that he's "cheating" a little. Anyway, there was NO need for this this night! He sung brilliantly, even though he doesn't quite make the last verse of the screaming like in the Seventies. The solo was one of the few places where I missed Ritchie, probably because he played it so brilliantly in Oslo last year. But Satriani also did a very good job out of it.
As last year, the ending of "Child in Time" was cut before the highest screams, and glides gently over in Anya from "The Battle Rages on..." out last year. The intro was rather nice, although nothing like the Blackmore/Lord classical interplay last year. Satriani played his own improvisations based on Ritchie's live version from last year, for those of you who wondered what this was. By the way, I clearly recognized several places that Satriani originally seems to have practiced the basic set from a live tape off last years tour with Ritchie - in some instances, he plays the songs differently to the originals in exactly the same manner Ritchie himself did.
"Anya" itself as usual was an incredible live number.
Even The Battle Rages on worked out great this time, with Ian Gillan and Joe Satriani shining in particular.
Then it's time for "some blues" as Ian Gillan put it, with a beautiful take of When a Blind Man Cries, this was probably Ian Gillan's big moment in the spotlight. He really showed everyone what an amazing vocalist he is.
More blues next, with Lazy, tight as always, followed by an OK drum solo from Paicey (his solos seems more boring than earlier these days - perhaps it's just me...) followed by a guitar solo (with the band falling in). "On the guitar: Mr. Jooooooe Saaatriaaaaaani! On the drums: IaAaAAaAn Paaaaaahahahahahaice!"
On to the set closer, with the Space Truckin' medley. I'd like them to play "Space Truckin'" in full again, but otherwise it was good. Woman From Tokyo got a very nice touch in the Return of the Piano Solo, Paint it Black is as good a stomper as ever (and it sounded like Ian had sorted out the words this time!), and then of course we got a keyboard solo from Jon Lord over the old Mandrake Root backing.
I got the impression from some small comments from Ian Gillan that they were running short on time, and when they returned to the stage after a massive ovation (at least from where I was standing, 10-15 meters right in front of the stage, with perfect sound and sight) they went straight into Speed King. Incredibly tight, and with a good trading of riffs between Jon and Satch.
Then it was closing time, with Smoke on the Water, of course. I had earlier been close to knocking down an idiot standing right behind me, that had been shouting "Smoke on the Water!" down my ear one hour before they played it. (Bet he was Swedish. ;-) Nonetheless, they played a storming version. You know it's a good one when they manage to blow life into a song that's as outworn and overplayed as this is.
All in all, a terrific concert! I hadn't thought they could top what I saw in Oslo last year (with Ritchie) especially as Ritchie then was in his best form since 1976. Ritchie Blackmore was the one who got me into Deep Purple 11 years ago. Saturday, I didn't miss him much. This was better. This band hasn't played this tight since 1973, I swear.
Let Ritchie reform Rainbow with Joe Lynn Turner for all I care, as long as these guys continue making music and touring. I hope they'll make an album.
Trond
From: d0hef@dtek.chalmers.se (Hans-Erik Floryd) Newsgroups: alt.music.deep-purple Subject: Re: Ritchie who? REVIEW: Gothenburg, 11. June 1994 Date: 14 Jun 94 16:10:22 GMTI'm too lazy to write my own review, so I'll add to Trond's...
trond@deep-purple.com (Trond J. Strøm) writes:
>REVIEW: Deep Purple : Heden All Star festival
>11. June 1994
>Gothenburg, Sweden
[...]
>Back to "Machine Head" again for a killer version of "Pictures of Home", >and I know I'm not the only one who's been dying to hear this live. Another >bass solo from Glover, btw - he was really cooking throughout. After the >break in the song and a lengthy guitar improvisation from Joe, which makes >me and the guy next to me face each other in a big grin, we get Jon Lord's >keyboard solo. A bit subdued compared to last year's European tour (and >indeed compared to the Japanese dates with Satriani), but it lifted when >Jon threw in some bits off "Sarabande"!
I liked Gillan's introduction to this one: "This song is all about emptiness, eagles.... and snow!"
[...]
>As last year, the ending of "Child in Time" was cut before the highest >screams, and glides gently over in "Anya" from "The Battle Rages on..." out >last year. The intro was rather nice, although nothing like the >Blackmore/Lord classical interplay last year. Satriani played his own >improvisations based on Ritchie's live version from last year, for those of >you who wandered what this was. By the way, I clearly recognized several >places that Satriani originally seems to have practiced the basic set from >a live tape off last years tour with Ritchie - in some instances, he plays >the songs differently to the originals in exactly the same manner Ritchie >himself did.
At this point I was sure he was playing one of his own songs, it really sounded like something off 'Surfing with the alien', but when 'Anya' began proper, I wasn't sure anymore... you may be right.
>More blues next, with "Lazy", tight as always, followed by an OK drum solo >from Paicey (his solos seems more boring than earlier these days - perhaps >it's just me...) followed by a guitar solo (with the band falling in). "On >the guitar: Mr. Jooooooe Saaatriaaaaaani! On the drums: IaAaAAaAn >Paaaaaahahahahahaice!"
The guitar solo, though, was a song off one of his solo-albums (can't remember which one), 'Satch Boogie'. A great tune, although I'm not sure if I want Purple to play Satriani songs...
Also, it's not just you; I really don't like that drum-solo. I wish they would drop it. On the other hand, I haven't heard one drum-solo, I've enjoyed in my entire life!
>I got the impression from some small comments from Ian Gillan that they >were running short on time, and when they returned to the stage after a >massive ovation (at least from where I was standing, 10-15 meters right in >front of the stage, with perfect sound and sight) they went straight into >"Speed King". Incredibly tight, and with a good trading of riffs between >Jon and Satch.
They probably were on a very tight schedule. On the two previous nights, the bands to play last had to cut their shows short. Sanne Salomonsen (Danish artist) complained a lot about it when she had to get off stage at twelve o'clock. The Kinks only did one encore, with the audience screaming for more. Seems the festival only had permits to play until that hour. So, we were very disappointed that we only would get 1.30 hours from DP (they were scheduled to begin at 22.30), knowing that they had played for over two and a half hours in Japan. But it seems that they could play longer on a Saturday night, and we got 2 hours and 5 minutes!
[...]
>All in all, a terrific concert! I hadn't thought they could top what I saw >in Oslo last year (with Ritchie) especially as Ritchie then was in his best >form since 1976. Ritchie Blackmore was the one who got me into Deep Purple >11 years ago. Saturday, I didn't miss him much. This was better. This band >hasn't played this tight since 1973, I swear.
I'm not sure how I would rate it to the Oslo-concert, but that aside, it was one h*ll of a show! As Trond said, the sound was alot better than in Oslo, although I think that might have something to do with the fact that this was a festival; sound tends to be better at them, IMO.
The stupid Swede was not me :), I kept hoping they WOULDN'T play Smoke... because that means closing time.
The festival as a whole was rather good, although David Lee Roth didn't show (bummer). Instead we got Pride and Glory, Ozzy's ex-guitarist's new band. They even played Warpigs! I'll have to check them out; I thought they were pretty good, although Zakk Wylde (sp) is a real poser...
The Kinks was a surprise, a very good concert.
The only thing I have to complain about is that I managed to catch a cold while listening to Purple...
From: d1hej@dtek.chalmers.se (Henrik Jonsson) Newsgroups: alt.music.deep-purple Subject: Re: Ritchie who? REVIEW: Gothenburg, 11. June 1994 Date: 14 Jun 1994 17:28:28 GMTIn article <t.j.strom-140694155711@ubmac115.uio.no>, Trond J. Strøm <trond@deep-purple.com> wrote:
<A very good run-down of the show deleted>
>All in all, a terrific concert! I hadn't thought they could top what I saw >in Oslo last year (with Ritchie) especially as Ritchie then was in his best >form since 1976. Ritchie Blackmore was the one who got me into Deep Purple >11 years ago. Saturday, I didn't miss him much. This was better. This band >hasn't played this tight since 1973, I swear.
I was there. I have been blessed. This show...heck, this DAY was just bloody amazing. Ok, I had a great time during the day, met some old friends and then Uriah Heep hit the stage. Yeeeha! I haven't listened much to them but I loved it. But Deep Purple....Heck, I was exstatic! Just as Trond says, it was one hell of a show and I doubt I've seen anything like it. But I think Trond missed one thing. They launched into 'Satch Boogie' somewhere at the end of the set. And, then, I had this vision. I saw myself at the Pearly Gate, with Gillan and them all as angels and Satch as the Boss himself. It was an incredible show and I had a great time. May they tour happily ever after!
"I love it!
and I need it!
I bleed it yeah it's a wild hurricane...
Alright, Hold Tight, I'm a Highway Staaaaaar!!' :-)
/Henrik, still shaking from the show.
From: trond@deep-purple.com (Trond J. Stroem) Newsgroups: alt.music.deep-purple Subject: SETLIST: Gothenburg, 11. June 1994 Followup-To: alt.music.deep-purple Date: Wed, 15 Jun 1994 09:49:37 +0100Deep Purple at the Heden All Star Festival
Total set lasted about 2 h 5 min, I think, they sure would have played "Hush" had it not been for the time limits.
Now, all I lack is the 2CD set and the timings... ;-)
Trond J. Strøm