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When do we break from the past?
We received an email from one of the teeming millions (an apt term, borrowed from Cecil Adams of The Straight Dope), and it deserved a guest editorial spot:
Although I didn’t know it at the time I’ve been a Deep Purple fan since 1968. That’s when, at nine years of age, I heard this amazing song on my transistor radio. I was completely taken by the organ player, with his rhythmic playing sounding like nothing I’d heard before. The song was “Hush”. Five years later, an older friend played this exceptional live album on his homemade stereo. The sound was crystal clear, the volume extraordinary and the music fast, furious and frenzied. The guitarist, keyboard player and singer were constantly dueling – none giving ground to the other – while the bassist and drummer provided the underpinnings needed to keep the chaos from tearing things apart. The musicians ripped sounds from their instruments that were all at once exceptional, extraordinary and often impossible. Except they did it anyway. “Made In Japan” became my acid test for all bands – I expected bands to be far er than their studio offerings. Not surprisingly I was often disappointed.
Now, some forty years later, Deep Purple continues to play with a high level of quality and – quite possibly – integrity. There are no explicit signs of a ‘paying the mortgage’ tour. But all indications are this version of Purple wouldn’t pass my “Made In Japan” test, however unfair this test may be. What’s reproduced live isn’t really any more interesting than what I hear from the studio.
I must admit I’m conflicted. I see Ian Gillan interviews where he is clearly passionate, though seemingly despondent, about many subjects. But this passion doesn’t spill over into the playing. And Steve and Don, although very gifted, don’t appear emotionally invested in most of the music the band plays. In 1996 the Globe and Mail (a Toronto paper) described Purple as venerable. In my mind this wasn’t a slag, but an astute observation. The band was playing great music, and had earned the right to do so. But the reviewer was also saying don’t expect anything new. In my mind the root of the problem is the play list. Its dominated by old standards. Yes, I love these standards – they are as familiar as an old pair of slippers. And yes, I read the arguments that people want to hear these standards. But these standards belong to another line-up, a line-up that was passionate about these songs three decades ago. Now I’d love to hear this version of Purple play a set dominated by music penned by this line-up.
So here’s my dilemma. Initially I loved this band for their potent mix of passion, energy and musicianship. Now, as the band plays sets dominated by old standards (perhaps to satisfy an audience that hasn’t being paying attention) musicianship dominates. Well, honestly, that’s disappointing. Unless the band is desperate for money (after all we all need to make a living), then I hope this version of Purple can find the strength to play their music and leave the standards for encores. This lineup is talented enough to play whatever they want, however they want. But they have also inherited a tradition based on compelling, risky interpretations that constantly redefine their music. I would love for this band known as Deep Purple to put the current lineup’s music up front, played loud, furiously with no holds barred. I’m sure they would pass my “Made in Japan” test.
So the question is, who will be the first to break from the past? Myself or this band?
Sterling
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
Thank you. It couldn’t be said any better.
May 14th, 2009 at 06:48eloquent piece sterling. my sentiments exactly. this seems to go on and on in discussions here and elsewhere. alot of people dis (did i use that word?.. someone shoot me please!) ritchie about his change of direction, (and i wish he would rock more too), but at least his set list consists of currently released music. i do not nderstand ian g. saying on one hand “ritchie leaving was the best things that could have happened to deep purple, because we now have the freedom to do what me want without his moods/input.”
Now, what do they play 90% of the time…?!? MK2 stuff!
May 14th, 2009 at 06:55i feel bad for steve. he does not deserve this.
there is no definitive deep purple line up, it evolves like any other band.
let the set list reflect this.
40 years is long time in anyone life. We have to accept that DP today is not even close to what he was in 70s and 80s, which is natural – I mean they are all about and over 60 years, and they motives and sensibilities are quite different now, as we have to admit that their most productive and most powerful period has become part of the past. Why? Well, in term of r’n’r passion and ambition together with talent that’s most related to the youth, they gave their biggest statement and contribution to the music as whole in 70s – they were group of young guys, very talented with extraordinary approach: Ritchie was virtuoso and composer that I haven’t find someone alike in r’n’r; Jon was amazing on Hammond, doing on it what nobody did before; Ian Paice is one of the rare that you in fact can recognize when playing drums (the best I must say); Gillan was unique with his singing (everyone was astonished with his screams of such large scale and energy); Roger was great bassist – after that David and Glenn gave their contribution on Burn and Stormbringer. Well that was golden period of DP. Riffs such SOTW, Burn; and songs like Child in Time, with so sophisticated solo and singing and melody were really something new, something that’s so powerful to move an avalanche of new bands following that trail. Today, this Deep Purple isn’t that one which moved people around the world with something new in term of music, energy and innovation – add on that charisma and unique image (nobody in hard rock was like Deep Purple, nobody had such guitar player or Hammond player or singer). Money was important, but it was not only motive to the band (when you are young your perception of money and what’s important is totally different). Is set list that’s responsible for DP not being what it was in 70s – well I don’t think so. I think that natural process of upgrowth, reaching top and decreasing is responsible for this lineup not being what was that one which recorded Made in Japan. That was lineup that started new style, new sound, new musical approach which influenced many or most of hard rock and heavy metal bands – this one is not that kind of band. This is one of secrets of DP Mk8 playing Mk2 set list, mostly – that set list defined hard rock and heavy metal, and it’s large contribution to the music as whole; everybody knows that, and everybody that loves HR or HM will get crazy listening to it (included myself; like month and a half ago I was screaming listening to SOTW live). Still, all die hard fans will love DP’s music in any case – including myself – and they will support they number one band no matter what; but we shouldn’t dream that they will be like that band from 70s, because it will never come about again.
May 14th, 2009 at 07:27i couldnt agree more. I have been saying for years that the shows now are purely caberet and 95% scripted. They would feel more comfatable playing their own music. Gillan cant hit those high notes anymore.
Dont get me wrong, I live for Deep Purple but the live act just doesnt excite me any more like it used to.
May 14th, 2009 at 09:13Well spoken!
Couldn’t agree more.
Still I will go to the concert in Amsterdam, hoping the setlist will be more modern then. If not, I will enjoy the old standards, but with the feeling that I already have all of that on a DVD or CD somewhere.
May 14th, 2009 at 09:43Totally agree. I must say that i’m getting fed up of hearing classic “MKII” era songs. There are so many great songs from Purpendicular onwards.Like you say “standards for encores”
May 14th, 2009 at 09:49Ok. I’ll try my best.
Sometimes I feel like you, but sometimes I “hear the energy” in the new recordings. Made in Japan is excellent. It’s rough, it’s raw. Nowerdays it’s not the same. They play “more clean”.
You describe the first song – “Hush”. In my opinion the live albums “Scandinavian Night” and/or “BBC Concert” reflect the band – their influences, their “battles”, their possibilities.
The Made in Japan album is more agressive. I think they were a little bit “over motivatet”; the result is one of the best life LP’s ever.
So, I can’t help you. Give them a chance and take an other angle of hearing. I think you hear that they’re great.Like days in 1972,but they are not raw like them.
Bob Dylan says: The times they are a changin’. He doesn’t mean the music, but it also changes.
I hope I could help you a little bit, and I hope, that Purple will play more then 90 minutes at a live gig – so they have more room to “play with old and new stuff”.
Andreas
P.S.: Made in Japan, Lazy, it’s the best.
May 14th, 2009 at 10:45I must say that I’ve also have the same dilemma. I would love to here them only doing songs from the last four albums. Perhaps they should do Smoke and Highway, but skip the rest. They are coming to my hometown soon and for the first time I’ve consider not to go, just because that I’ve seen them twice promoting Rapture. But I know that I’ll be there and perhaps not hopping to here they play more new material, but to go from the concert and be happy that they did.
May 14th, 2009 at 10:55Whats your problem? I dont understand, maybe I am to old, to emotional, to happy about nearly all the songs of my favourite band:-)
“The old songs” …….I need them like water……never getting tired of listening. Especially when going by car at night through “raw” landscape in northern Austria (Mühlviertel and Waldviertel).
And – I am not a musician – but listen to Rapture from the Deep, this song is absolutely fantastic, its strange, its amazing and I hope, sometimes some people will understand ( better: feel), the power and the feelings behind this song:-)))
So keep on rocking for a free world , god bless Deep Purple 🙂
May 14th, 2009 at 11:02Very well put. I like this lineup and I feel like their studio output has actually been better overall than the Mark 2 reunion studio albums. But the problem is their live setlist. They make themselves less relevant because 75-80% of their list are the classics. They need to feature a balanced setlist of at least 50% of the songs from the Morse/Airey era. This would sate the classic rock needs for concerts and help make their current music more..well current.
As a US resident I enjoyed the verbal broadside of “MTV “on the classic rock radio scene. But the boys need to realize their current set list makes that song quite hypocritcal. “Sure as hell they won’t play anything new.”
Mix it up. I promise it will work.
May 14th, 2009 at 11:09Very good and very true…nothing more to say!
May 14th, 2009 at 11:15Interesting article. I agree with you a lot. I think that, besides the setlist, the people involved are also “to blame”. In my opminion, both Steven and Don, aren’t in the same league als Ritchie and Jon when it comes to performance and stagemanship. Specially Ritchie could set the place (litterally) on fire and keep the others on their toes. Jon wasn’t far behind and that made Ian (Gillan) to deliver his best too.
Nowadays it is technically well playes but without emotion and surprise.
Eric
May 14th, 2009 at 11:20Very thoughtful and well reasoned piece of writing. I too have followed DP since “the begining” having seen MK1 live, and MK2 playing in a “roadhouse” in Epping Forest (England). Perhaps Sterling is right in saying that the current line up play what the fans want to hear. IMHO Purpendicular was a brilliant “comeback” album and a lot got played live, Abandon wasn’t too heavy on live tracks but Bananas came back a little. Rapture of the Deep has a couple of playable tracks, but it’s not an ablum I listen too, probably played it 6 or 7 times since issue and I probably got it to keep the collection up to date.
May 14th, 2009 at 11:51Purple, from MK2 always seem to produce a great album every other attempt, so perhaps, if there is to be a next album, it will be a “stonker”. I for my part would love to hear a riff laden, inane lyrics, album rather than recent modal, widdley,widdley (great player tho’ SM is), meaningful lyrics (meaningful to who, IG has a great turn of phrase but lets not have Billy Bragg type concerns aired in DP). I shall probably buy the next offering, but won’t be going to shows if they continue to be “greatest hits” affairs in barn like arenas. What happened to the “intimate” tour that was rumoured?
Well,i think us the older fans won’t break from the past.Neither the band.And you said it all,they are desperate for money.Old material versus new material:can you believe they made a Machine head tour!???? And in 2005!!!?? It’s an atempt to sell more tickets of course.Though i stil love this band i know that if the set list was based more on the new material who would to see them live?
May 14th, 2009 at 13:17To compare the made in japan days to these days is a clear cowardry.The theme today is more a professional thing.Remember Jefferson Airplane?Later they became Jefferson Starship(with some older members) and then Starship(none old members) a horrible arena band.Nothing to do with the past.Ok Purple is by far away from this,but the business thing is the same.
And don’t forget that business wise smilling faces on the photos and videos as if they want to say every thing is allright with the band but…
Well now i’m waiting for the young to come and xplod my head off ha ha
i hope purple will be first…
May 14th, 2009 at 13:21My two cents: no one can be 25 again, especially when he’s past 50. That’s a hard fact of life. Pelé, the soccer great of the 60s/70s, wouldn’t win the World Cup today, but that doesn’t make his current significance less admirable. The main difference is that Pelé stopped playing, so he kept his great performances only as a memory and a legend. By staying on the road, Deep Purple risks to disappoint one who expects them to be as energetic as they were at 25. But the musicianship is there, refined by the years. Ian Gillan, for example, lost his high screams but found new things to do with his voice – he savours more the words. Roger Glover’s bass lines got more complex with time – hear the soloes. And so on.
May 14th, 2009 at 14:00We’re all impressed by our own opinions. When the poster says Morse and Airey aren’t “emotionally invested” in the music, I wonder which planet he’s on. They’re into the music, believe me. You can see it in the shows. Personally, I don’t care diddly what Purple plays live, as 99% of the people in my country (USA) do not know that they still exist. That’s what happens when you put out an album once every five years. In this era, there is no excuse for Purple not to put out some new music on YouTube or iPOD, whatever, at least once a year. To me, the band has thumbed its nose at the fans, and I’ve told Gillan this. They’re perfectly content to tour around making money, but have turned their backs on millions of their (former) fans. Only us hardcores are left. And believe me, there aren’t any 20-year-olds listening to Purple in the U.S., because no one under 40 even knows the band exists.
May 14th, 2009 at 15:00Nobodys perfect.
May 14th, 2009 at 15:22quite interesting article, superbly written
classic songs shoud appear only at the encore:
let me explain:
setlist for mark VIII:
01ted the mechanic
May 14th, 2009 at 16:5802things i never said
03loosen my strings
04almost human
05rapture of the deep
06silver tongue
07contact lost/steve’s solo
08sometimes i feel like screaming
09don’s solo/never a word
10the well dressed guitar
11junkyard blues
12’69
13hey cisco
–
strange kind of woman
glover’s solo/highway star
black night/jam
riff parade/smoke on the water
Sad to say but I totally agree.
May 14th, 2009 at 17:09MIJP also my benchmark!
I couldn’t have said it any better. I agree with everything you said. Would love to see an all new play list that empassions this line up. An encore of the key classics would be perfect. I understand life doesn’t work that way, so if they have to sprinkle the classics in the set, mix it up and re-work them to make them their own, not a 30-40 yr old copy of it.
May 14th, 2009 at 17:10Brilliant!
I hope they read this article.
It’s not the usual yearning for former days or players. Yes, we love the classic stuff. But, the current line up has produced some remarkable music and unfortunately allow it to play second fiddle to the standards. This gives the ‘forever stuck in the seventies’ brigade ammunition to fire pot shots at the current band.
May 14th, 2009 at 18:43I wish they would take the risk. I think they would find it would not be such a risk and would lead to even further commercial and artistic success.
A great read.. I whole-heartedly agree…This set-list should be dominated with the Morse Era tunes…Save the “standards” for the encores.. With an exception here and there such as “Fireball” or “No One Came” etc… Long live the Morse Era!!!
May 14th, 2009 at 18:55I cant add to this, I too am in my late 40’s and have been listening/following this band since their conception. Sterling…you have nailed it, but I suggest maybe its too late.?
Some one commented on these pages some days ago regarding the set list and how out of 18 songs only 3 came from the Morse era. Sad for someone who has been in the band and probably the driving force/catalyst for almost 15 years.
regards,
May 14th, 2009 at 19:40HRP.- Australian version! Yes there’s more than one!
I sympathise with your thoughts but if you have an arena (in Europe) with 12000 people and 11550 of those want to hear the “classics” what do you do??
May 14th, 2009 at 20:06Give the 450 diehards (of whom 285 are Blackmore fanatics) the real Morse era songs… Loosen your strings, Somebody stole my guitar, Sometimes, Cascades, Seventh heaven, 69, House of pain, Money talks and Kiss tomorrow…
The big problem here is the crowd reaction, when everything is going kinda quiet.
If the band want a good reception they better play Smoke, BN and HS and such.
That’s the grim reality… but otherwise I agree totally with you..
@ Micke/24 – The band has brought this type of casual audience upon themselves. Numerous years of touring only or mainly the classic hits means that people know they can expect the old hits if they buy a Purple ticket.
This would be fine if the band wholeheartedly went for this sort of image, except they don’t; they hate the term classic rock and they argue vehemently that they’re a creative band who cares about making new music. However, come the tour dates, the size of venue always takes priority over the music.
Other artists – including Purple’s peers – refuse to let the audience dictate their lives. Robert Plant could be touring sold out stadiums with Jimmy Page for the rest of his life. But he takes himself and his creativity much too seriously for this. He insists on playing his own new music – with Alison Krauss or with Strange Sensation. And he doesn’t much care that one million people tried to get into Led Zep’s reunion show.
So while Robert Plant is truly creating new music and promoting it – reaping huge amounts of musical integrity (and Grammys) in the process – Purple are peddling yet another selection from Machine Head.
Sad but true.
May 14th, 2009 at 20:56Rasmus is right, so maybe its time to say to hell with “the classic setlist” and play 95% new material and leave the big 3 (whatever they may be on any given night) for encores. I would pay top dollar!
May 14th, 2009 at 22:30Do we always have to compare them to LZ? LOL
Unbelievable I got crucified for postings like these and now almost everyone seems to get the point.
Finally.
But a bit late.
I always said they should have continued the Purpendicular format.
Not in a way of making copies of that one each time they made an album.
Although I would not have mind if they had done that to be honest because I think that album has some greattracks on it…..and very enjoyable in a LIVE setting.
I m a HUGE Ritchie Blackmore nut, but touring the album with pride and renewed hunger had even me hooked on .
After that they lost their integrity edge step by step.
And I have the feeling Jon did NOT leave mainly due to the touring pressure and his other interests but because he KNEW it was not right anymore to continue in a band like this.
Probably some years from now he ll admit that point of view.
Ofcourse he had this unfulfilled urge to create more different music outside the rock format.
But I think Jon could have been saved for the band if they had continued being adventurous in combination with a less overloaded tourschedule.
I must admit in the case they would have succeeded in keeping Jon with DP and continuing being adventurous instead of the greatest hit rip off I still would have felt that Steve is NOT the right sound and composer quality for the band
RITCHIE BLACKMORE was the keyfigure and in time veryone involved will admit that.
But I gave it a chance, hell I still do……
They should have given us so much more than this.
They are so much more than this.
They would have kept their integrity, maybe even won more souls for the newer stuff than they ever imagined, still had made lots of pensionmoney…..
Well. its too late now probably…..
May 15th, 2009 at 00:41A follow up to some of the posted comments.
First, I didn’t say the band was desperate for money. I think I said there’s no explicit signs of a ‘pay the mortgage’ tour. A bit nuanced, perhaps, but different none the less.
I could boil my comments down to ‘let this band play their music’. Pretty simple minded on my part and a bit selfish, but well intentioned.
One commentator made the astute observation that the band must play the classics to fill stadiums. Then perhaps, if their music is really important to them, they’d do a different tour playing their newer songs in smaller venues. I’d go, and I’d pay a premium.
Its true, the members are older now (chronologically I’m older, if not wiser), and their motivations perhaps differ from the ones they held in the past. That’s great. Let it show! I’d love to hear this band play the music they’ve written together in the way they want to play it. No need to improvise, smash guitars or scream themselves red. Play it as a jazz ensemble, a string quartet or a jug band. I don’t care. I like their new catalogue. I would take great pleasure in knowing that they were playing their music the way they want to play it. For me, a live performance is an opportunity for the band to share its pleasure in the creative process. And I think that creative process is most pronounced when the players are personally invested in what they play. I do disagree with a comment above. There is a difference between being a live jukebox and playing music written by the current lineup. If there isn`t, why create new albums.
So, what am I saying. If I could I`d free this band and let them play want they want to play. And if they want to play the classics and ignore their own collective work, that`s great for them. For me, I`ll check in with Death Cab For Cutie or some other band that does move forward – but I`ll buy DP tickets for my kids so they can see amazing pros at work.
And, let me say thank you for not being flamed. All of us have real respect for this band and their legacy, and I know its often easy to offend. No offense was intended in my comments and, from what I`ve read, no offense has been taken.
All the best
May 15th, 2009 at 02:33Sterling
An extremely well written opinion piece Sterling, thank you. I feel the same way you do. Personally, I wish that DP would play only their new material in the main body of the set and save the classics for the encores….and then of course have longer encores, lol! Ah, but I am being greedy here.
Not only do I wish they would play more songs from the newer albums, but also let loose with a few extended pieces that show us their brilliance at on-the-spot improvisation. Remember 69 with the strobe lights and Paice’s galloping Space Truckin’ like ride cymbal and snare, and Morse’s playful noodling down memory lane? (including bits of The Mule, Over Under Sideways Down, Paint It Black, etc.) Stuff like that was cool!
As Sterling noted, “…they have also inherited a tradition based on compelling, risky interpretations that constantly redefine their music.” And I agree. I’d just love to see these top musicians flex their musical muscles a bit more from time to time.
Cheers,
May 15th, 2009 at 03:49Carl
A different setlist will do
For example
1. Highwaystar (why not)
2. Ramshackle Man
3. Rapture of the Deep
4. Perfect Strangers
5 Kiss Tomorow Goodbye
6 Fools
7 Somebody Stole My Guitar / other night Hey Cisko
8 Any Fool Know That
9 The Spanish Archer / Other night Before Time Began
10 Wasted Sunsets
11 Woman From Tokyo
12 Bananas / other night The Battle Rages On
13 Space Truckin
Encores
14 Fireball / other night Hush
May 15th, 2009 at 09:5515 Black Night
16 ….SOTW
Interesting comments here. We have to understand,its 1969-1973 that pays da bills baby. As sad as it is, Gillan and Glover can wax lyrical as much as they like about hating being labelled a “classic rock” band and being ignored by the mainstream press/radio but they have bought it upon themselves by their unwillingness to really break the shackles of the past (read Blackmore). They are all the same. Glenn Hughes, who arguably has released some of the finest post DP albums, recently toured Australia and did an almost intirely MK111 show. Now here’s an oportunity to come to a country where he is a virtual unknown and break new ground, and what does he do…..Sail Away!!!!!!
May 15th, 2009 at 10:50I rest my case.
HRP
True, but Robert Plant knows his limitation for trying to sing like a young Plant. He doesn’t need the money and he would not make it these days, the singing I mean.
May 15th, 2009 at 12:13Something IG maybe should consider too..
But I do agree with most of you, I just understand why the band feels they have to play the classics. And most fans are happy I’m positive of that.
Like I said 450 out of 12000 is a pretty big minority… right?
All figures here are mine and not the absolute thruth by any means.
Brilliantly well put. I still hold the idea they should make a Rolling Stones kind of thing with spending two nights in each city. Bringing SotW and Perfect Strangers to the masses one night, The Aviator and Before Time Began to the die hards second night.
May 15th, 2009 at 16:31The band is called ‘ Deep Purple ‘, right ? Deep Purple consists of Airey, Glover, Gillan, Morse, and Paice. Didn’t mean to sound condescending, but this version of Deep Purple makes some damn fine music.
I don’t see why Deep Purple can’t play a 75% ‘ originals ‘ show, with the other 25% paying tribute to its glorious past.
That approach probably wouldn’t work in the United States. Most Americans are totally ignorant of the current Deep Purple and their excellent music.
PS- I am an American
May 15th, 2009 at 17:06Well, sounds like an endless discussion, but , as wisely written on Rapture´s opener, money talks. I really ignore the financial condition of each DP member, but seems that they are not that rich, and touring “Machine Head” and “In Rock” around the world is their job for a living. And it is not a matter of recornding new material, given Glenn Hughes is probably the most prolific DP´s family member and it is understood by many pepole, probably most, that he is in great shape and the material is high quality. And, still, he prays every night for a mk3 reunion to put his hand in all that money. Dio/ Iommi´s solution was interesting – “this is Heaven and Hell, NOT Black Sabbath, so don´t expect Paranoid, Iron Man or War Pigs !” . Would it work , a band called “Purpendicular” playing the setlist suggested by Martin #18? About #25´s comparison to Plant, it is not exactly the same case, as he is touring under his own name, not Led Zeppelin. Gillan´s Inn tour brought a stunning set list, showing how would be consisted a Pressure-Free Gillan mind´s concert. So, I think that there is absolutely no hope of a different Deep Purple Concert structure , for the rest of the band´s days. And, besides that, I will be atending them any time they come to my city, and sing along and bang my head on every tune – so, I am not the one to blame them….
May 15th, 2009 at 17:33I would like to see some more improv in their live sets, extended versions and such. That’s what made Deep Purple famous !
They have the horses to do it too !
May 15th, 2009 at 17:42I have loved this band ever since in rock exploded on to my turn table ,I was 12 at the time, All the comments about todays set lists i have been saying for years, now every buger`s at it, The current DP line up have become a live MK 2 tribute band , I loved to hear the classics played live and loud but theres only so much smoke you can take, come on guys please start mixing it up, not all us old timers want to hear old stuff all the time
May 15th, 2009 at 19:47I don’t know about the rest of the world, but in the States if they didn’t play the classics. They wouldn’t be able to sell out a small club because hardley anyone here in the states even know they still excist.
May 16th, 2009 at 00:53If they came out as Deep Purple and started playing the new stuff no one would know what they were playing. And no one would want to here the new stuff, they would want the classics. They gave up on the US a long time ago. They should cut down on touring all toghether. Do alot less shows and maybe Ian would sound better without the stress of such a massive amounts of touring. Do they really need the money that much. Cut back and give the fans quality not quantity. On too many shows Ian’s voice is shot. The less work load would do wonders for him.
There is only one way they would sell tickets in the States, that’s if Blackmore and Lord joined them for a tour, one final farewell tour.
James Gemmell #17: You are absolutey correct when you say that most people in the US do not know of Deep Purple’s existence.
It comes from a lack of touring here, not taking advantage of PR opportunities such as the Largest Guitarist Ensemble a couple years ago in KC (notice they participated with it in other countries), and, as you say, way too much time between albums, especially in this time of alternative distribution.
For that matter, they don’t even need a record company at all. The band could write a new song every so often, try it out on stage and make it available online.
Their inactivity in recording new material and the emphasis on old songs does little to combat allegations of being a “tribute band”.
That said, I’d still take Purple over any current group.
May 16th, 2009 at 02:09im 25 and i worship deep purple … every mach every album
deep purple has lost NOTHING see them live
ritchie is still better then ever he can turn it on when he wants too … charlotte NC he put on a SHOW
May 16th, 2009 at 05:32Sterling post from Sterling.
I agree with everything you say. Whilst on the one hand I understand that the band feed off the energy from the crowd and the crowd is likely to give more energy with the “classics”.
I have previously said that they should have a much mote extensive playlist and there should be more rotation. I’d travel half way across the world to hear them play a setlist that consists of songs by the current Mark.
May 16th, 2009 at 05:52@35
May 16th, 2009 at 08:05Gary
Say what americans feel about current Ritchie Blackmore
activity?
I still dreams about Mk2 or Mk3 reunion 🙂
Rasmus is right with his analogy…However, the new stuff unfortunately is not a patch on the 70’s classic’s. Purple no longer have a great writer in the band (Don and Steve are great players but they are no Jon and Ritchie) I have bought all of the morse era stuff and love a lot of it, but only a handful of the songs produced since 95 would have even been considered by a record company for the MkII classic albums. I know many will disagree with this but I’m afraid even the band themselves aknowledge this.
May 16th, 2009 at 10:10Ps. They simply would not be playing the huge venues they are currently enjoying and the rewards it brings if they were to lead with the new material.
Write a great album again and this may change making the whole experience more rewarding for all of us!
May 16th, 2009 at 10:16The current Deep Purple lineup would be crazy (from a financial perspective) to play a setlist made up of entirely new songs, bar the encore. If they did, they would be back to playing in small theatres instead of the arenas they play in now. Most of the people who go to the gigs are not obsessive fans like we are – they just want to hear Highway Star, Smoke and all the rest because often they’ve never heard them live before.
You have to admire someone like Lou Reed who refuses to play any old songs. But he’s been doing that for years. Purple can’t start now – it’s too late.
I wish the current lineup all the best but I stopped going to see them in 1996, so I’ve already made the decision Cecil is talking about. It was heart-wrenching at the time, like giving up an addiction (not that I’ve ever been addicted to anything except Blackmore’s guitar playing). But I couldn’t do it any more, and now I have only good memories to look back on rather than compare the present with the past.
One other benefit of “giving up” – you’ll save a lot of money. The ticket prices have crept up markedly in recent years and they won’t be coming down anytime soon.
May 16th, 2009 at 13:11I agree with the sentiment. I would also like to see a set list dominated by tracks from 1993 onwards. Play a “classic” for the encore if they must. The truth is that I’ve heard the MiJ set list so many times now and so much better in the past. I saw the band last in 1993 in Copenhagen on the Bananas tour. It was okay, I haven’t felt the urge to see them again though. Whitesnake in 1995 was on the other hand an earthshaking event…
The problem is this. It’s a business and not a hobby. It’s not so much the band retaining these old numbers because they feel the audiences demand them. It’s more the promoters demanding that these old numbers be retained or they won’t invest in the bands shows. Promoters have tremendous power, possibly way too much and if the band don’t play ball then the promoters pull the rug out from underneath them. Result, no tours; there’s plenty of other classic artists to invest in that will do what they’re told. The band cannot finance their own tours and promoters are more interested in a profit than the bands “integrity”.
May 16th, 2009 at 13:292003 and 2005 would be more accurate – LOL
May 16th, 2009 at 13:30I also fell in love with DP at the age of 11 – 12, Ian Paice was my first idol, and I sold my soul to hard rock and heavy metal. There have been many bands that I’ve liked since then, but DP is like that old flame, with lots of memorys. Then it’s kind of sad to see the band not aging well. They are so brilliant musicians. I think they should be more unpredictable on stage. Take a couple of songs, and just play around, improvise. Never to really know what it’s going to be when you go to a DP show. More songs from Steve Morse periode and toss the old songs around more. It was good to hear Mary Long,Living wreck and Fireball on stage.
May 16th, 2009 at 13:37OK, so here’s a break down of a UK “Purpendicular” gig in 1996, by Album tracks
May 16th, 2009 at 14:16In Rock 1, Fireball 2, Machine Head 4, WDWTWA 2, Perfect Strangers 1, PURPENDICULAR 7!!!! Singles 2,
Does this mean that they are less confident in their new material these days.I don’t keep scores anymore, can anyone give me any info on recent gig “trackage”. And I see from my notes that including encores they were on stage for 2hours and 17 minutes.What do the do these days, 1hr 30 – 45 mins.
Hi Jaro,
Thank you for asking my opinion about BN in the USA ( the ‘ Gary ‘ that responded after you wasn’t me ).
Blackmore’s Night plays to crowds of about 500- 1000 enthusiastic supporters here on small tours. There were ‘ Hall of Fame ! ‘ chants in Chicago.
Overall, I’d have to agree with you though.
May 16th, 2009 at 17:17Most Americans would LOVE to see a Mk 2 or Mk 3 reunion. Just like in 1984-85.
Jaro….I realized I may not have answered your question in one context.
Ritchie Blackmore is considered to be a virtuoso guitarist amongst knowledgible hard rock music fans in the USA.
May 16th, 2009 at 17:27Gary @ 46, I agree with your opinions about setlists and us obsessive fans :), but I personally could never pass up a DP concert if it were in my vicinity.
May 16th, 2009 at 20:18It is still a great rush……for me anyway.
Cheers
I actually think there should be more of a middle ground so to speak. My opinion is that they tour enough to change the setlist one night to the next for starters. I would suspect that Gillan does not want to do this.
I think they should add a few more Morse era songs and in place of the lesser known classics and keep a handful of songs that everyone wants to hear like Smoke, H. Star, and whatever else, but still have enough classics to make everyone happy. Here is a mock setlist:
Highway Star
Wrong Man
Mary Long
Rosa’s Cantina
Perfect Strangers
Fireball
Cascades (I’m Not Your Lover)
Pictures of Home
Battle Rages On
Silver Tongue
Wring that Neck
Lazy
Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming
Smoke on the Water
Rapture of the Deep
May 16th, 2009 at 23:52Hush
Hi Gary!
May 17th, 2009 at 07:41Thanks for Your answer.Ritchie is still my favourite musician ,but I a’m afraid Blackmore’s Night formula (because of Candice voice)became monotonous.After his wedding with mother-in-law as main advisor he seems to be in a musical trap…
Greetings from Poland
Jaro
I have to agree with stoffer 😀 @53
May 17th, 2009 at 09:10Martin Cook @ 50
Most recent full gig boot – Prague 4 May 2009. You can work out yourself what’s from where. haven’t heard it yet so don’t know how long they were on stage but 1 hr 40 mins is about average these days. 4 numbers from the Morse/Airey era if you ignore the two Morse solo numbers… As I said earlier it’s got more to do with pressure from promoters than anything else.
Highway star
May 17th, 2009 at 12:47Things I never said
Wrong man
Strange kind of woman
Rapture of the deep
Fireball
Contact lost
Sometimes I feel like screaming
Well dressed guitar
Wring that neck
Battle rages on
Don Airey solo
Perfect strangers
Space truckin
Smoke on the water
Hush
Black night
purplepriest 65
May 17th, 2009 at 13:00Yeah Jon quit cause Ritchie wasn’t there anymore.That wasn’t Deep Purple anymore.
Balckers and Jon are very responsible.
@58: No, JL quit because he wanted more time to work with his classical projects.
May 17th, 2009 at 13:50Hi Jaro …Try to understand Carole Stevens’ position. She’s the manager of Blackmore’s Night NOT the manager of incidents that took place many years before the formation of BN.
May 17th, 2009 at 15:50I really thought this was a Deep Purple fan site.All it is now is lets bash DP on the THS.Who are any of us to criticise them?Ritchie Blackmore said once “There was never a statue erected for a critic”Thats whats wrong with the world now everyone trys to find faults and rip people down.
May 17th, 2009 at 16:49My suggested setlist:
1- House of pain
2- Mad dog
3- Rapture of the deep
4- Loosen my strings
5- Knocking at your back door
6- Gypsy’s kiss
7- The well dressed guitar
8- Bananas
9- Walk on
10- The battle rages on
11- Cascades
12- Bad attitude
13- Pictures of home
Encores
14- Hush
15- Woman from Tokyo
(yeah… I know: “keep on dreaming…”)
May 18th, 2009 at 02:18Sorry, I forgot one great song:
1- House of pain
2- Mad dog
3- Rapture of the deep
4- Loosen my strings
5- Knocking at your back door
6- Gypsy’s kiss
7- The well dressed guitar
8- Bananas
9- Walk on
10- The battle rages on
11- Sometimes I feel like screaming
12- Cascades
13- Bad attitude
14- Pictures of home
Encores
15- Hush
16- Woman from Tokyo
Now we’re talking!
May 18th, 2009 at 02:23#61 I totally agree. It appears that it doesn’t matter what the topic is, it always comes back to DP bashing. There are constant complaints about the same old format. Well it’s true about this site. A topic is thrown up for discussion and it ends up bagging the band, Morse V Blackmore, Airey V Lord, numbered days etc etc.
May 18th, 2009 at 03:27There are people here who reckon DP owe them. They don’t owe us anything.
Long live this great band. If they get to NZ once more I will be there in the front row loving every minute of
it irrespective of what songs they play.
Cheers
Phil
I couldnt disagree with any of you more to be honest any of the albums after The House of Blue Light do not remotely interest me bar Bannanas i’ve seen DP twice in Dublin and went to hear the classics
May 18th, 2009 at 11:38@ 59
It was my GUESS.
Jon Lord does often not tell how he really feels so after years when its not as HOT anymore he speaks out……
Just wait….
May 18th, 2009 at 16:41The lack of awareness of DP’s newer line-up’s, albums, and songs is due to the classic rock radio format that has plagued the USA too long. If they would even play yesterday/today sets, say “SOTW”/”House of Pain”, or “Highway Star”/”Loosen My Strings”, as a two-fer on the radio, more people would know about DP still being around and being relevant. The same could be said for many of the bands from the 70’s and 80’s still making new good music out there.
May 18th, 2009 at 17:12As a fan of every line-up of DP since day one, I’ll be there til the end for you boys. Long Live DP!
Chrissy @ 61 and Phil @ 64: Funny how people interpret things differently. What I read mostly here are people who love the band, love their newer material as much as they did the old and would encourage the band to have enough confidence in themselves and their new material to let slip the past. My own experience tells me that those who are content with the current live sets are those who would probably want Blackmore back. Diarmuid @ 65 is probably a classic example – no disrespect intended. I have read several interviews over the years were members of the band have expressed that they would love to play more of their newer material but have to live with business realities and have come to terms with those realities. This is why they are themselves more or less content with the way things are.
May 18th, 2009 at 18:02Andrés @ 63: That’s an interesting set list. I think Gypsy’s Kiss might put Ian Gillan in hospital though if they take it at the same pace as they did in the 80’s. I’ve created that set list in iTunes and will give it a listen, so far it sounds pretty good…
May 18th, 2009 at 18:20Thank you buddy. Glad to know you enjoy it.
May 18th, 2009 at 23:36All has been said and i agree with most of the comments here….but , are they really moved by only money ? Don’t they have quite enough after so many years of album selling and royalties , not counting the shows…if so , it makes me feel sad…this is the image I’ve got this last show in Buenos Aires….they were there just to ‘complete’ the gig date…wanting to finish and go to the next date… . No emotion , no adrenaline no explosion….and DP was that years ago ,many of us felt in love with them because of this.
May 19th, 2009 at 01:15Not to be missunderstood…i loved this band and always will…but they are living in the past and from the past .
I think If Purple were to play a set of strictly newer songs than nobody would come to see them. Especially in the U.S. and Canada were I’m from. The last new Purple stuff to get play on Canadian Radio I think was From Perfect Strangers. The only ones that know the new stuff are die hards like myself Who have the new albums.
May 19th, 2009 at 06:09I sent an e-mail in recently saying exactly the same thing.The band have a dilemma; do they play new stuff and risk alienating a huge potential audience or do they “give ’em what they want” and dissappoint the long term fan who, let’s face it, also likes to hear the “classics”- just not so much. The stuff I enjoy most at gigs is the new stuff (sometimes so new it’s not out yet)or the unexpected. How about Not Responsible or, since it’s the 40th anniversary an adaptation of the Concerto’s 3rd movement (inc drum solo)
May 19th, 2009 at 09:32Got tix for Scottish premier of Concerto and I’m excited about that
will give it a listen, so far it sounds pretty
May 19th, 2009 at 10:24We all to some degree wish they would play more of their newer material. That in itself is a compliment to the present band format. I personally feel that the new material has been great – I’m not going to get into them vs those. It’s useless. The band was young in the 70’s and lit up some of our youth. Raw emotion and testosterone had alot to do with the bond between fan and band. Morse came well after the fact – many of us older. We will always view with a skeptical hesitant eye – the new guy in town that has to live up to the past without the benefit of youthful exuberance and hormones. I really enjoy this band for what they are not what they were. Their live show is what it is in 2009 not what it was in 1972. In some respects if DP died in 1974 they may be a cult band, full of unlimitless stories and false legends catapaulting them to grandiose status (ie. see John Lennon’s solo career) – instead we got a band that has tried to make music and keep their fans happy, possibly compromising their persceived legendary status.
May 19th, 2009 at 17:01Thanx buddy. Glad to know you like it.
May 19th, 2009 at 22:37The group needs to make a modern sounding heavy type of album much like Perfect Strangers & the earley day’s. Then management needs to do something such as to strike up a deal so they get airplay. Like U2, Pearl Jam & the Stones would. Then in concert they need to do what Mark 4 did play lots of songs from the new album in the show. I must say i found the live in Montreux DVD from a few years ago really boring, is the band staring to loose it or what?
May 21st, 2009 at 16:12Funny how the same topics are rehashed, over and over and over again…
This topic is as old as this site, yet one would think it is something new the way it is dealt with and analyzed.
We are all fans (sometimes I wonder about the term “All”) of a band, whom are lucky enough to say that the band we fell in love with and follow through the long journey of creative and performance excellence, can say that even after 40 years of being in existence in one form or another, is still able to witness music at it’s finest. One would have to be completely oblivious to life, to expect them at this point in the game and at their age to perform and write material half as well as they do. It’s always easy to pick out the most outstanding performance put on recording and then scrutinize the rest based on that event. Is it fair? I don’t think so. Are they (any of them) who they were back in their developing days? I don’t think so. Aging is something that is expected from those of us whom don’t blind ourselves by our selfish ability to ignore the facts and discriminate against the effect it has on ALL THINGS. Have Purple changed as far as the ‘Fire’ as seems to be the concern here? I don’t think so. Do they approach things differently due to their long career and years of doing it? Of course. They still thrive on the interaction with the audience and are elated by the gigs whereby they connect to the crowd. It’s a ‘Fire’ that only those on stage can experience and they have done so for 40+ years and it still drives them regarding the reward of their massive touring schedule. Music has changed. There music has changed. The Record industry (if one still wishes to call it that) has drastically changed and so has the way people purchase and listen a to music.
Purple has become a Touring Band. I have to object to the statement that they mainly play ‘Old Standards’. Yes, they do keep their main known 5 in the set somewhere, but aside from that, they interject many tunes that weren’t Purple Mainstream Tunes also.
“Smoke on the Water, Highway Star, Hush, Woman From Tokyo, Perfect Strangers and Black Night” are staple songs that are basically a MUST. I wouldn’t miss them and neither would most of the rest here on this site due to the fact we are fans whom are beyond just the casual music buff whom is not a Deep Purple Fanatic. They have to cater to some degree to those whom can recognize something. Most music goers only enjoy music they are familiar with, and most music goers know Deep Purple music from the Classic Rock stations that ONLY PLAY THESE SONGS.
So in the practical sense, it is obvious that a good portion of the tunes NEED to be those familiar songs that the Majority of the Concert Goers (not the few hard cores like you and me) clammer to hear and stand up and cheer for. It’s Nothing New. They have done this forever. The Machinehead era was never dropped, even after the reunion in ’85.
I disagree with the setlist not changing and the band not playing all out. It’s all relative to where they are today and pacing themselves during these long concert tours they are committed to. For the Money?
Of course!!!! They are Professional Musicians. Their passion is the Music, their income comes from playing it. Criticizing that is ridiculous and truthfully bears no credence for response. Those whom discredit them for trying to make a buck for the effort it takes to go on world tours are way off the reality mark and ignorant from the selfish standpoint of their own blindness of the overall picture.
Now, where I do believe the majority of the Present Purple fans are on the same page and rightly so, is regarding the amount of Mk7-8 tunes on the list. I whole heartedly agree that there should be MORE!!!! No LESS THAN HALF the songs should be from the Morse/Airey albums and there should be no less than 20 songs in the set. There is 40 years of material to offer and 15 to 18 tunes just doesn’t cut it as in the ’70s when they only had a handful of albums and couple of years in the circuit. That alone would probably be enough to quell the complaints. They presently play anywhere from 15 to 18 songs (depending on the venue). Out of that, they only play anywhere from 3 to 5. That is a total disgrace as far as I’m concerned at this stage of their career (possibly the end). I have been a STRONG ADVOCATE for them to play their current material. I have had many discussions with Roger Glover regarding this. As hard as is to comprehend, he maintains that as a whole, it is a band and managerial decision regarding the New to Old song Ratio, based on the observation of the crowd response and the overall expectations from the ‘Majority’ of the ticket holders. Again, they are Professional Musicians and they are catering to the Majority, not the Minority.
It’s not really THEIR FAULT. I put most blame on their Record Labels and Management, for dropping the ball and not promoting this band as they should have been promoted. Exposure, or the lack thereof is directly responsible for the music not making the airwaves and their albums not being promoted properly. I don’t know how many folks I talk to whom don’t even know Deep Purple still exists and even made a recording after “Smoke on the Water”. The problem lies in the fact that Purple are musicians whom write and play what they feel and allow the management to manage. Poor Management has been their biggest setback. Not their records. They have put out some incredible music and their lack of going to the proper level of promotion has totally crippled their mainstream exposure and the very awareness to the fact they even exist.
Now as far as the level of their enthusiasm on stage? I totally disagree with the ‘Lack Luster description. Are there better or worse days than others? Absolutely. Always has been. From DAY ONE. I’ve been to many concerts beginning in 1974 up until now. I can first hand promise you that there were many that I attended whereby I could totally criticize them based on what I know they were capable of in contrast to what they produced. Overall they kick ass, but every now and then the human portion of the makeup of these Gods is exposed and there you have a show that maybe isn’t what you expected. But, I guarantee, it still was one of the best shows you ever saw…..
I don’t usually get into the ‘Fantasy Set List BS’ due the fact that it’s just an endless fest of one person’s taste and is really in all due respects quite annoying to me, but I will go ahead and jot down one which I believe would be practical and yet fresh and relevant for the state this great band is in at these times….. So Here Goes:
Extended ‘Growling Airey Intro’ with all lights off,
then “BAMM” the lights come on and right into:
1. Sun Goes Down
2. Hey Cisco
3. Evil Louie
4. Wrong Man
5. Woman From Tokyo
6. Fools
7. Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming
8. Seventh Heaven
9. Hush
10. Spanish Archer
11. Bananas
12. Ted the Mechanic
13. Smoke on the Water
14. Blood Sucker
15. Owed to ‘G’/Well Dressed Guitar
16. Perfect Strangers
17. Ramshackle Man
18. Black Night
Encore
19. Rapture of the Deep
20. Highway Star
This catches the staple tunes (which like it or not HAVE TO BE PLAYED), and covers every other era besides MK3 and MK5 which has been stated repeatedly over and over, will never be played, yet pays homage to Tommy Bolin with the instrumental ‘Owed to G’, which also technically covers the Coverdale/Hughes era without Gillan having to sing their songs. I don’t Gillan would object to that, and it gives the band a place to jam out, when backed with ‘Well Dressed Guitar’.
In closing, I somewhat understand the author’s point of view in this case and description, but I don’t quite agree with it. All is relative to what one views in their own observation, and being that I have observed this band for close to 40 years now, I have to rebut most of his claim. What looks one way from the outside isn’t always what is on the inside……
Cheers and may PURPLE LIVE ON!!!!!!!!
May 21st, 2009 at 21:08I’m with Tracy, all I can say about nearly every reply in this topic, is that the topic itself applies to nearly everyone of them. Talk about hyocritical! Complaining about them doing something you do yourself is hilarious indeed.
I’m very surprised folks such as Rasmus really refuse or just plain fail to see the reality of the situation, as if there are no other mouths to feed in the camp besides the five of them. This is ignorant, anybody ever heard of agents, managers, and most effectively promoters?
On top of them you have many others in the way as well.
Someone mentioned radio formatting, another huge culprit because how on earth can you spread something new without a market or format? The concerts aren’t going to thrive on new material unless the masses know it, regardless of what we all desire, it just doesn’t work that way… the stations are owned by media groups that demand familiarity, am I getting through????? Lets say a media group rep is in town and takes a ride in a limo to the stations he represents, and one of those stations is playing in the limo and that particular station is “classic rock” and a new track by an old artist is playing. It would likely be reported that he heard a song he didn’t know on a station that is steeped in familiarity…. this could get a program director fired and that is a bonafide fact that I happen to know because I serve on my local classic rock stations panel, and it’s a world class station, very well known, just watch Iron Maiden “Live After Death” and you’ll see Bruce wearing their t-shirt in frigging Poland!
Bloody naievity if I’ve ever seen it here, oh yes, but I surely have for all too long now. The same old critical propaganda, as if trying to tell them something… besides what the editors have been trying to tell Purple since I know when – around the time they took their domain name away from here for their own sorporate website. Oh yeah, I actually have Ian on tape from the ROCKLINE in 2000 where a caller asked and I quote “what do you guys think of your official website http://www.deep-purple.com?” To which Ian emphatically commented “oh come on, you now thats not true” meaning it’s not official and we have nothing to do with it. Not too terribly long after that, this website changed it’s domain name and Purple have been using it ever since… correct me if I’m wrong boys… it looks clear to me that an axe to grind has been swung around here ever since then. Why on earth can’t a support based system exist here anymore? Oh, I just told you all… it used to be that way, but as I said, it went south around that time for what I see are obvious reasons. But is someone wants to prove me completely wrong I have no problem retracting this, if it does get posted, I’m not incapable of standing my ground and retracting if necessary, but remember guys, it’s only constructive criticism about your platform which I find to be fair game after all this repetitive nonsense… you have to take your lumps along with Purple here or it would be very pypocritical of you.(I’ve always disliked forums dedicated to artists when they allow ripping on them or criticise them but do not allow us to critique those doing the criticising, it’s retarted) But it seems to be a part of the woodwork here. Just a fair and “astute” observation, and a tip to the editors from just one loyal visitor, nothing more, so nothing more to make of my doing so.(wink)
I do have to agree that it’s a stale situation, but I wasn’t born yesterday…. has anyone here ever even been in the same room with a tour manager? If you have, then you know how they are, for the smallest example I can give. Then try dealing with PR companies like I do for another example, the big picture starts to really show and you realize it’s not all about yourself and what you long for.
“Living in the past” thats quite funny because it’s exactly what most here are clearly doing…
May 22nd, 2009 at 15:11Feel free to edit the few typos, the server is not reacting quickly so it was a very quickly written post… sorry about that, but the rest is there in plain English to read. lol!
May 22nd, 2009 at 15:19Right on, Tracy !
May 22nd, 2009 at 15:35@79 Now this topic as well is starting to go the off topic way but I want to comment on what I think Mr. Ghost is writing (I’m not 100 % sure I follow everything there in the post).
You seem to suggest that when Deep Purple’s management took deep-purple.com from us and created their own site, we got bitter and started bashing the band? If that is what you mean, nothing could be further from the truth. The domain was always owned by the management. One day they wanted to set up their own site and then of course they wanted to do it under their own name.
Just as the arguments fly in these comments, we also have been accused of various things over the years. When I started working on the site, around the time Morse joined, we made a decision to provide archives dealing with all incarations of the band but only report news about the current line-up. This of course made som people think we hated Ritchie Blackmore. Something that surprised us since we all of course was both huge fans of RB and the current DP line-up (it’s possible to like both, I promise!). We often refer to ourselves as the “evil editors” because we’re apparently damned if we do, and damned if we don’t. Now you think we criticize DP because we lost a domain name years ago? Nope, not correct either.
Personally, I also think DP should focus more on material from the current line-up. I realise that may not be possible for their world tours but I think they could try to do a shorter tour of smaller venues playing nothing but their post-Purpendicular output. Does this opinion make me unsuitable to work with this site? Personally again, I don’t think so. This site, under all it’s domain names, has always been about an open discussion about the band, allowing all opinions and not just blind worship of the band. Over the years, I know this has given us credibility over other DP fan sites and has been respected by the band members.
What the “support based system” that you talk about is I have no idea. Feel free to elaboarate and I might be able to shed some light on those changes too, if there has been any changes.
And of course, I may just have misunderstood your comments and all the crap I’ve just written makes no sense at all. 🙂
Cheers,
May 22nd, 2009 at 15:49/Svante
Svante, I disagree with your first sentence whereby you state the subject is “going off topic”. For once it seems to actually be On topic. Unfortunately the actual problem IS the topic. Why post a topic as this one, regarding one’s point of view about the ‘Fire’ or aggressiveness of the Present Deep Purple, when it is probably the most common subject brought about by the many Nay Sayers whom constantly bash our Heroes with this same jargon, over and over.
Posting this particular blog is like handing a match to a pyromaniac in a paper factory. It’s pretty obvious what the outcome will be.
I have no problem with posting ALL THINGS PURPLE. It is a no-brainer and thereby gives plenty of subject matter to indulge into regarding this long time PRESENT BAND. What amazes me totally is the fact that there are those who claim to be Purple Fans, whom spend their entire time complaining about Purple. I’ve said this before and I will say it again…..”Music of all types exist. Bands are out there that play the music. Find the Band playing the music you enjoy”. Don’t expect the Band to bend for your personal taste. There are Millions who have different taste buds than you.
It’s like the couple that dates for 5 years. All is great while in the courtship. Then they get married and new wife expects you to change because she actually doesn’t like a lot about who you are……..”Then Why Is She There in the First Place?”
MOVE ON!!!!!
Cheers
May 22nd, 2009 at 16:27Thanks Svante,
If I’m totally wrong I stand corrected, but that is about the time the whole tone changed around here.
It seemed to have gone from very supportive to a two camp situation where a fence was placed for the ongoing dead horse beating. Fine and dandy, I’m just feeding back on the subject because it’s old hat with the set list complaints, which we should all know is an inner workings matter for DP that amounts to the proverbial ball bouncing where it does. I’ve been a vistor here since the site went up and will always have it in my browser… once again, just a long time observation and the progress seems to meander depending on the topics, so the topic selections are as important as the replies in the topics.
Thanks again!
(you did understand me, but once again, Ian did say what I quoted and planted that seed with listeners and readers)
There is no contesting or comparing crotch sizes concerning THS and other fan sites, the more the merrier, but we reap what we sew, do we not? I certainly don’t consider you guys evil… but lets just say afterall that, the band and the fans do not exist without one another, so wee need each other! Spreading hatred and negativity is bad food for such a thing, so it’s your question of balance, really. I take my lumps just as the band does, and I don’t see that stopping as long as I’m writing on the internet, I’ve just learened to accept it, so should THS.
Cheerz!
May 22nd, 2009 at 21:11Crimson Ghost and others,
The heading of my original post was intended to convey the conflict I now feel regarding my interest in DP. Do I need to move on? Should I move on?
My posts are not intended to slag the band, nor pass judgement on them. I’m sorry there are those of you who have read my posting in that way. I had no intention to do so.
Rather, I was describing how my interest in DP has evolved over the last forty years and what I would like to hear from the band. That doesn’t demean what the band is doing today, it just means I’m looking for something different. And some of the posters above my think that if that’s how I feel then I should go somewhere different. And I do (after all there’s no monogamy in music). But DP has a place in my ‘must have’ collection and I expect that’s true of everyone that bothers to post here. So I keep coming back. It’s pretty clear all of us here have a high regard for these musicians, and the history they represent.
I write from the Toronto area of Canada but this site gives me a chance to share my DP experiences with others from around the globe. That’s cool. I think DP is probably one of the few active bands that can lay claim to a multi-generational, cross cultural, global fan base. And that leaves me feeling I’m in good company.
Sterling
May 24th, 2009 at 01:37Music is one thing that is non-decisional. You either like it or not. There is nothing to think about or delve upon. Ears are like taste buds. They reject what is displeasing and salivate over what is not. These are uncontrollable senses and the only way to appease them is to input something that is appealing. Thus my point……Much music is out there. Just as with the taste of Pickles. There are many types of Pickles available for the consumer. If one doesn’t like the sharp taste of the Dill Pickle, I recommend trying the sweetness of the Sweet Bread and Butter Pickle, or maybe a Garlic Pickle, or a Gherkin. You will either like one or the other or maybe even all, but the one you don’t like, you don’t like. Nothing to think about, and one thing for sure is that you are not going Change the Dill into a Gherkin. You will just have to change pickles…..
Cheers
May 24th, 2009 at 17:19Its a catch 22 situation……I have seen DP concerts where the new songs are not well received with almost everyone standing there stoney faced and then they go crazy when the classics are played. I’ve been there when it has happened. I have followed DP since I was very young and I agree that there are too many classics played at concerts, but it is only the older die hard fans that are going to the concerts and like most “oldies” we don’t like change (makes no difference to me one way or the other because I love ’em anyway) Very few young people go to the concerts because they don’t know who deep purple are and even some older people who remember “smoke” and “black night” etc dont even know that they got back together again all those years ago because they dont get media exposure and on the rare occassion that they do – then the media only play smoke and black night. Radio is about image (like it or not) and its not cool to play an “old timer” bands. The only stations that do this are “classics” stations but they base it on the songs being classics – not the band – so they still play smoke and black night. Like I said – its a catch 22…..Im just grateful that they are still around and I will appreciate them for as long as I can……
May 26th, 2009 at 07:58@ 87
This discussion goes on and on.
You can look at in a simple or in a more intelligent, ahem, way.
I still think the BAND THEMSELVES had or has the responsibility to open up things more by pushing their newer material more.
I dont think people are that closed minded as you suggests.
If the material is or was strong enough DP could or have found find a way to win those people over
Very often the material is quite ok but you have to get used to them and not have an issue with the replacements being made in the line up
Ofcourse I ll never be won over but that does not mean many others should be the same
TO EACH THEIR OWN INDEED, hehehe
And so it goes on and on……
Im very happy there is more than DP in this world
Otherwise I would not only have felt sad about them but forged into killing myself.
After 15 years of trying its ok for me to say that they will never win me over again
Too Late
Wrong fiddler
Unadventurous setlist
They are getting very old
Etc
May 26th, 2009 at 14:19You talk about ‘responsibilty’ and then you follow it with the same one liners. This is what keeps a discussion going for sure, but usually only in the degenerative sense, but Priest, expecting you to understand anything by now is a stretch and a half. lol!
@85
Since we’re on about ‘responsibility’ it’s the fact that you posted something of an all too covered subject, and I’m pretty sure you know that. It’s about where a topic like this can go, which is usually straight to the inferno.
One of us has it wrong, thats for sure… but I hope you now know what can become of such a posting. So there is no need to address me, I didn’t post it and feedback is always guaranteed so it comes with the territory. Not a word about you, just your entry and what it spawns, with all do respect to you as a person.
I thrive on something new on a daily basis myself as well, thats why I dined with the NY Dolls last night before the show, filmed it in HD with permission, and partied till 4 in the morning with them.
If that isn’t as far outside of the Purple box as it gets, what is?
It was the best show I’ve seen since 2006 and one I’ll never forget!
In short, if you don’t like something, find something you will or sod it.
May 27th, 2009 at 17:46As someone said above, “it goes on and on” and I think we once again exhausted the fact that people have different feelings about different versions of Deep Purple. 🙂 Time to move on and, I’m sure, continue the exact same arguments in another thread. 🙂
Comments closed.
May 28th, 2009 at 06:20