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Review - Deep Purple, Paradiso, Amsterdam, 23rd August 1969

By Russell Chambers

As for memories of the gig (23/8/69), very fuzzy after 30 years. I don't remember any other bands on the bill, but we weren't there for all that long. I remember Ian Gillan being very nervous and singing with his back to the audience a lot of the time, and I remember being impressed with his voice. I was actually impressed with the musicianship of all the band.

We actually had no idea that we were even going to go and see aband that night as we had only arrived in Amsterdam that day. Met up with some locals who spoke English (sort of!) and started drinking with them.They were amazed at our very strange Australian Accents. By the time we got to the gig we were all drunk, so the the combination of many intervening years and alcohol does make memories very fuzzy. I recall someone in the crowd saying that this was the "new singers" first gig with the band.

We were also very tired from travelling as we had just arrived from the good old U.S. of A where we had been travelling around for the previous six months, just checking out the music scene. We basically slept by day and partied all night for the entire time. Saw a lot of good gigs and jam sessions. Led Zeppelin at the Fillmore West, the Stones at Oakland, the Doors in Miami where Jim got arrested, finishing with Woodstock. So, by the time we got to Amsterdam we were stuffed.

Last update: August 24, 1999