![[hand]](/hs-pics/portraits/hands/morse8.jpg)
![[face]](/hs-pics/portraits/faces/airey2.jpg)
You hairy bums
Various members of the band said in the interviews that all thing permitting they would like to go to the studio some time this summer. Check.
There have been a conspicuous silence from the band’s camp in the recent weeks/months. Check.
Someone has leaked today the collage you see above. Check.
The turningtocrime.com domain has been anonymously registered on July 30, 2021, with a German provider. It is now being redirected to a not (yet?) existing page on the record company website. The same company that has a track record of whimsical promotion campaigns. Check.
Those are the facts that we know.
[Update Sep 1]: Said page on the record company website has gone live and now contains a countdown to something happening at 16:01 CET on October 6, 2021.
Thanks to Darker Than Blue for the image, that they in turn attribute to Mathieu Pinard / Rock Hard magazine.
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
Wow! A picture of Roger, but not his head covering. Can’t recall the last time that happened.
August 31st, 2021 at 19:45This looks like a perfect album cover. Nuff said.
August 31st, 2021 at 21:18What a fantastic collage of lockdown mugshots!
Purple with attitude. Will Roger escape HM Prison Woodworm Scrubs Prison?
Can we look forward to a protest song… or maybe a protest album?
Can’t wait for the next offering from these young-at-heart elder spokesmen of rock!
August 31st, 2021 at 21:49Awesome!!! I still love this band so much!
August 31st, 2021 at 22:12Too bad, that Steve and Don can’t look really mean …
August 31st, 2021 at 22:21Definately a new Album Brewing!! Love the intent and cryptic clues, sounds like “The usual suspects” have something special in mind. BRING IT ON!
September 1st, 2021 at 00:08Greg Furlong Australia
The problem with the current DP line up is the material they come up with is recycled some way or the other. They need a new producer and they need extra external materials or we will just get the same.
September 1st, 2021 at 00:15Whoosh was very bland laid back album with hardly any cutting edge material.
Take the weakest track on Perpendicular and it has more character than any song on WHoosh.
No offence but this is my opinion and I don’t take pleasure in writing this about my favourite band.
But Miracles do happen so I am hoping for one.
Peace
Roger had forgone the head scarf when meeting Medvedev once.
September 1st, 2021 at 00:51Gosh, they do look old, don’t they? Not that I’m much better, but still…
September 1st, 2021 at 08:44Have a look here:
September 1st, 2021 at 08:56https://www.ear-music.net/turning-to-crime/
That’s the best news I’ve heard in a long time! They kept it remarkably quiet didn’t they. turningtocrime.com/ is already not being redirected and includes a countdown which seems to be stuck on 35 and a bit days, which would be a much shorter lead time than we had with Whoosh! Can’t fathom the relevance of any of the other parts of the image – Bunny Girls!? Love that Gillan is doing his time in Sing Sing, but what are the dates? Three are April Fools Day – just the day the photos were taken?
September 1st, 2021 at 09:05Catchy title, good concept – again. Let’s hétre the music..
September 1st, 2021 at 09:31No disrespect intended but Steve looks like a teenager compared to the rest of them. Man I hope touring can get started again asap, The thought of never seeing them live again makes me cringe. I hope a new album does come from all of this. Time will tell.
September 1st, 2021 at 09:40@3 I looked like Roger in my Covid lockdown.
September 1st, 2021 at 12:16i smell a new album and if its true…what can i say…iam trilled and very excited….thank you Martin (10)…i love DEEP PURPLE more than 45 years… Whoosh is a perfect, very special awesome album…i hope its not the last….the recent news is the best i could hear…i cant wait!!!!
September 1st, 2021 at 13:13Good news.
September 1st, 2021 at 16:41After 3 records it might be good if they found another producer to shake things up.
Maybe somebody like Luke Morely from Thunder who make great sounding records in the hard rock vein. Or Kevin Shirley, he makes great sounding records too.
The countdown timer seems to have got stuck at 35 days and 25 minutes.
September 1st, 2021 at 16:48Awesome! Whoosh has not left by my soundtrack!
September 1st, 2021 at 16:54Maybe an EP this time?
September 1st, 2021 at 19:11It will give them the difficult problem of two albums worth of new music to try to fit into a concert, while also playing the song the punters came to hear. It would be a pity never to hear the best bits of Whoosh! live.
September 1st, 2021 at 21:24@ 7 – well said, have always thought the same regarding the producer. Cheers.
September 1st, 2021 at 21:40Great news,
I hope it gonne be different than the Whoosh album. Now What and Infinite are good albums,
Whoosh is boring ( sorry guys ) Give us something else !
Everyone’s shouting out loud
September 2nd, 2021 at 07:11It’s only the glitter and shine that gets through
Where’s my Robin Hood outfit
What a great piece of news , a piece of news to cheer this wounded world, a new Purple offering . And it really doesn’t matter weather you liked the last album , the last three albums or none of them. What is more important as that these guys are still doing it , and still putting themselves out there .
September 2nd, 2021 at 08:47This is something to look forward to and celebrate, I cannot honestly believe that when I first purchased Fireball in 71 and was blown away I would still have the same excitement about the prospect of a new album , 50 years later !!!! All my respect to you guys.
Tony Cools@ 22
September 2nd, 2021 at 09:14I totally agree and I am glad we are not the only ones who feels this way.
DP was only a touring machine with limited time for a decent break for recording new albums or having time off, but having a year and half off could be beneficial for writing strong material.
Peace
@7 and @21 – Fully agree. Much of ‘Whoosh!’ was plodding, with Morse’s guitar using pretty much the same lines as previous albums.
September 2nd, 2021 at 09:52What a great news…
September 2nd, 2021 at 15:12Would be incredible if they can put out another fantastic album like Whoosh!
@24 @25 last week I listened to Abandon and Bananas once again….pffff….
and it’s thrue that Purple was a touring machine ……. but ladies and gentlemen,
……we got a band named Deep Purple and there’s a member that called Roger Glover,
…..and I’m sure he is able…. to bring us The Surprising !! Go Roger you can do it !!
Everything I want is slipping by
September 2nd, 2021 at 18:52And then the devil took my hand and said
Something you should see
I would encourage Gillan to do some old-fashioned screaming on the next album. I know that obliterates his vocal chords at age 76, so maybe save that part for the last day of recording. Or take a couple days off between studio sessions to refresh them? It would absolutely blow people away to hear Gillan sing the power vocals like he once did. He can do it, but not for very long. And that is fine. I would just like to hear a really hard-rocking “In Rock” or “Machine Head”-type album again. I know it’s not 1971, but if the studio sessions are recorded several days apart, some of that old energy could be recaptured. As someone said above, “Whoosh!” plodded along, at times. It also was very good in parts, but I miss the really hard rock aspect that use to balance the softer, melodious tunes.
September 3rd, 2021 at 04:35I’m 61 and I’m a DP fan from the first LP I bought: Machine Head. I’m growing older and older, and same is for Purple members. But. As I find every day that my mind like something so inexpected when I was 15, I like to look how Roger & Co. are changing their music, anyway under the Purple color.
September 3rd, 2021 at 07:08I’m sure I should attend a tennis game between Jimmy Connors and Bjorn Borg, today, even if I know they will not run and their tennis maybe absolutely “slow.”..but the pleasure to see two of the greatest thampions on the field will be the main thing. A nd the same for Purple: I will attend their shows even with Gillan without voice or with just 50 minuts of songs, mainly instrumental. Deep Purple is the soundtrack of my life, and I am so happy there will be another album, no matter what it contains… MANY MANY THANKS PURPLE MEMBERS!
On a more serious note, Abba have reformed & a ‘virtual’ gig may be available, something like that. Oh & new material also. In other exciting news, Wendy Dio seems to be having second thoughts on trying to resurrect Ronnie again, citing expense & logistics etc as the issues getting in the way? Whats that old Monty Python scene, ‘bring out your dead’? Or should that be ‘no rest for the wicked’? Cheers.
September 3rd, 2021 at 07:24Great news!! I wouldn’t expect another Machine Head tho, that’s once in a lifetime. They have earned the right to do whatever they feel, and we (as long time fans) have earned the right to like it or not, but please no complaining. The local FM classic station played Child In Time for Ian’s birthday recently and there is no way those screams can be recreated at 76 years old. Lets enjoy their music, new and old, as long as we can!
September 3rd, 2021 at 11:58That Dio hologram was creepy in an unsettling way. Horrible. It reminded me of that drowned-in-the-well girl from The Grudge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eiWahgEnFg
The ABBA thing looks more playful, tongue-in-cheek, MANGA esthetics to me, that’s fine. ABBA are great anyhow, both Ritchie and I agree on that.
Looks like Purple are inadvertently back in their 70ies treadmill – one album after another. Don’t you just love it!!!
September 3rd, 2021 at 14:26Dziękuję za wszystkie lata spędzone z zespołem Deep Purple, w moim przypadku od 1972 i płyty “Machine Head”. Mam nadzieję na kolejny album i tak jak w przypadku ostatniej płyty “Whoosh” prezentującej bardzo wysoki poziom. Pozdrawiam !!!
September 3rd, 2021 at 15:34Stoffer @31
Your comments are very logical and no one can argue with it so I agree totally, but there is another dimension in all of this and it’s linked to pride and protecting the image and past history of a classic rock band. Whoosh was not a DP album of great material and the production sound was odd on some of the tracks and I would struggle to imagine which track would be played live apart from linking instrumental bits together from ‘ Man Alive’ with Steve on the guitar and Ian having a vocal break on stage. Even the best song on the Album ‘Nothing at all’ would struggle to fit a live set. And the tracks Dancing in my sleep, we all the same in the dark, the long way round, drop the weapon and No need to shout they all weak and more than Ian Gillan band style.So I would rather respect a band rather than enjoy the Nastalgia elements of the past history which was a great aid in selling thousands of copies worldwide and earning top 10 spot in lots of charts worldwide and in the UK. But at the end of the day weak albums always gets found out when the glitter and shine wears off.
Peace.
September 3rd, 2021 at 18:33@34. This is olyan my personal view of course, but the last 3 Ezrin records did nothing against the protection of DP’s image. Whoosh included. Nothing at all. (Not my favourite song, this one, btw.). I’d be interested to hear Man alive and related bits live. Best.
September 4th, 2021 at 05:21I’ve never appreciate Ezrin, guitars disappeared..
September 4th, 2021 at 08:01About the new release I hope in more bluesy jobs than before.
God Bless DP.
Absolutely agree with Attila.
Whoosh! is a fantastic album if you’re not looking for the same old hard rock stuff, which is exactly why mk8 was so unanimously praised by the press last year : DP is the only band still evolving and fresh 52 years after…
The long way round is ans example of classy Deep Purple with very clever arrangements and key changes, but some people don’t get it.
At least rock press and public sales made it a great success to be proud of…
I’m not sure that House and Slaves (and I love both) gave an equally good image of DP…
I mean, I love the albums but if a period damaged the image of DP, must be this one and certainly not the Ezrin successful Trilogy.
September 4th, 2021 at 09:06Last three records added huge value to Deep Purple story and reputation. There are so many people stuck in the past of old times – but you completely miss the younger fanbase of band (and I dont know if I can count into that category after 20 years of being a fan with me being 35 years old). Let´s say that DP would disband in 93, then they would hardly become by band number one, as they would be “dead band” and I (as younger fan) would have no reason to give closer attention to them – they would have nothing new to bring on table to me. I became DP fan because of Total Abandon in very early 00s (I remember first big shock when Jon was replaced by Don for tour and then left the band in 2002) and since then – they are by far my band number one. Ezrin albums are superb added value not because of success they had in todays world of music industry (do you remember Roger saying they have no chance to get into Top 20 album charts in UK?) but mainly because of album themselves. Of course – its not In Rock its not Machine Head, because it should have never been. Band evolved – and there are people who “got it” and others who did not and are sad “its not Machine Head anymore” – their loss. How can anyone expect people in their late 60s or mid 70s to be the same characters (human beings) as in 20s – they cannot be and they should NOT be. Energy and power is replaced with experience and enjoyment mixed with laidback attitude. Cannot wait for new album – and its stunning surprise how fast it´s gonna come after Whoosh! 4th album in 9 years with band with celebrated 50 years of existence 3 years ago? Wow. We can only guess, what would happen if they met Ezrin in 2007 and not in 2011. 🙂 Cannot wait – and I just wish them to be safe and as healthy as possible and enjoy whatever they are doing! They owe us (fans) absolutely nothing and we get much more than we should have ever expected from them- and they can do whatever they like to do. Since 2006 I actually attend each show with feeling “this can be the last one”….
By the way – No Need To Shout and The Long Way Round are superb songs!!!!
September 4th, 2021 at 09:18I’ve always said music is nothing more than a matter of opinion. What I love you may hate and what you love I may hate. That’s just the way it is. But one thing I think we all can agree upon is when the music stops we are all going to be really bummed out. So let’s just be happy we still have Deep Purple around. Nothing lasts forever.
September 4th, 2021 at 11:06@35, 37, 38
September 4th, 2021 at 11:17Nastalgia is Fantastic when you combine it with what is the reality of band.
Yes DP evolved with Ezrin at the helem but that’s doesn’t mean the material presented to him as a producer was great.
So to keep things more focused and discuss the reality of the songs taken from the first two album with Ezrin and played live frequently that will be hell to pay, uncommon man, Apres Vous, Above and beyond, birds of prey, the surprising and all I got is you. And compare the material we got with Whoosh which could be played live and you will get you answer as I truly think Whoosh is a step backward in term of quality and not quantity. But all your opinions are well respected
Peace
@37 & 38. Couldn’t have put it better myself, though I can barely remember being 35 Petr! The albums before Ezrin took the reins scraped into the 80s for a single week in the UK charts and the last three have certainly done more for the band’s reputation than the late Blackmore era ones. Does anyone know for sure whether Ezrin produced the new album, assuming we’re not all misreading the signs? I seem to be in the minority in thinking Whoosh! is by far the best of the three, and that Man Alive is best thing they’ve done in ages. Some credit must go to the label too, as I’m sure Rapture would have sold better if it had had the marketing that Whoosh! did. Any sign of Roger’s remaster/remix? I guess he’s had other things on his mind.
September 4th, 2021 at 13:42The 3 Ezrin albums well fit the place the band is now and compliments Big Ian’s limited range. I think they are great…but a lot of people want Perfect Stramgers 2 and that just isn’t were the band is now…
September 4th, 2021 at 14:2640:
1.) Ezrin´s main achievement is something which is really difficult to achieve – creating a new identity for band with such a long career. If you listen to any track from those three albums, it takes only two or three seconds at max to recognize “it´s Deep Purple – and it´s Deep Purple from Ezrin period”, you cannot mistake that. I have no idea how Ezrin managed to do that, but he did that. Those three albums have the same sound and band identity, which is very strong and very different to previous albums.
2.) Another great success – he obviously make them enjoy recording again. They were obviously frustrated after Rapture and stayed away from studio for extremely long time. With him, their productivity is astounding for band with such a long career!
3.) I remember one interview with Bob from time between NW?! and Infinite where he said that Don is by far the best keyboard player he ever worked with – and from that, I understand that he slightly “changed” overall band sound to much more keybord driven…. Basically – Don is all over there on those three records…. I already described it on one discussion group, that Bob changed overall sound of Purple to something which I would describe like:
September 4th, 2021 at 15:51Don
IG – Steve
Rog – IP
He put rhytm section a bit back in overall sound, brought up Don and slightly pushed back Steve. And he allows Gillan to SHINE! What IG does on All The Time In The World, Surprising or Throw My Bones is extraordinary work! He doesnt need to scream, he doesnt need to hit high notes – he just need to have enough space and sing in his own comfort zone. Let him play with vocal melodies, dont push him to stuff he doesnt need to do at his age and he is still superb singer.
The Ezrin produced material hasn’t tarnished any image of DP in my opinion. The albums show an evolving band not the 70’s and 80’s versions! If they didn’t take chances and evolve maybe their legacy would be more like LZ (as a group). Just sit back and collect royaltie$
September 4th, 2021 at 16:47Guys those last messages are very welcomed, I see a LOT of people realize how splendid those albums are and how greatly they’ve added to the DP image.
Adel you got a point : I can’t imagine the songs from Whoosh! in a live situation but to me it’s definitly not a problem, the tracks are still brillant.
For exemple Nothing at all is to me far more interesting and clever than, let’s say Après Vous or Black Night, even though those are better in a live situation.
I’m very proud of that mk8, they have brought Purple where the late 80’s/early 90’s Purple didn’t want to go : far from a repetitive formula and to new territories, very impressive.
And as a bonus, Airey, Morse and Paice are playing like beasts, with Gillan being in great shape for years… We are lucky
September 4th, 2021 at 18:53@ Peter J # 45
September 4th, 2021 at 20:25You said it all 😁
Bob Ezrin is the best thing that happened to Purple since Martin Birch, nuff said.
Purple today is more a Prog than a hard rock band; that began when Steve came to the band and accelerated with the advent of Don. It’s called evolution. I don’t want In Rock rerecorded for half a century, I like bands developing. If you don’t, then fine, AC/DC always welcomes new fans. ; – )
Steve is less dominant today than he used to be and Don has become the de facto lead instrumentalist. I think that Steve’s hand condition plays a role in that, he’s lost speed and fluidity (mind you, he’s still a great gitarrist) and his live performances do not scale the heights of his nineties/early noughties mind-numbing utter technical perfection (in recent years there is even the occasional bum note or technical slip, something that never ever happened during the first 10 years of his Purple tenure); these days he’s just bloody good, while Don is no less than brilliant und happily unleashed in his playing. I applaud Steve for leaving Don the room – a selflessness that could have hardly been expected from the “banjo minstrel that took a hike in tights with Night”.
September 4th, 2021 at 22:28Peter @45
September 5th, 2021 at 00:04To be fair my comments are hypothetical based on seeing DP a lot on stage to imagine what works out. I saw DP at the Astoria in London at the start of ROTD album tour and they played 5 songs from the album and only ROTD only made it as a permanent on the tour live set and even kiss tomorrow goodbye which I love was dropped. The best 4 songs on Whoosh in my opinion are Man Alive, the power of the moon, nothing at all and throw my bones in that order. And apart from Man Alive which it will work perfectly if linked to the well dressed guitar or uncommon man, I would struggle to see how they can keep the fire and the momentum of the live set by using the other songs. And even if they used Man Alive as an extensive instrumental then we are talking about 10 about stretch which I feel unrealistic inclusion if they are barley will be on stage for more than 70 min at their age. Hence why I get the feeling that Whoosh was more of a contractual obligation to fulfil to a record company similar to Accidentally on purpose with the aim of finishing a album with lots of fun rather than a serious album for a live set. Having said that there is enough good material in Now What and Infinite to complete a wonderful old and new live set so they have achieved a lot with Bob Ezrin
Peace
@ 47 – Bob Ezrin was the best thing to happen to DP, for one album! Then he should have taken a hike me thinks. One reason that Steve Morse ‘allows’ more room for Don Airey is Ezrin, isn’t it? That has been well documented, putting the Purple back in the Deep, or words to that effect! Also, it doesn’t matter what genre DP may be treading these days, what matters is how good the songs are. Progressive, hard rock or whatever else, if the songs are poor or mediocre, people who like high quality songs will not listen for long at all. Now What had some really good quality songwriting on it, for obvious reasons. Then a comfort zone was established, not that I blame the musicians at all, they can still rock if they want to, but it is all sounding a little pedestrian at times isn’t it! They are not spring chickens anymore like some of us, the need to slow is a natural process. In regards to Blackmore not leaving any room for Lordy, well there was always plenty of room there, that is one of the magical elements to classic Purple. When did Blackmore ‘over play’? Cheers.
September 5th, 2021 at 10:17Good comments, Uwe – as always. I wonder what we’ll get on 6 October. Hopefully more than just the official announcement. I do not remember how Ear did it Whoosh, but they seem to apply a well-stretched teasing period.
September 5th, 2021 at 10:47after the disaster production of Bananas and ROTD i think B. Ezrin gave the real DP live sound on 3 studio albums…thats amazing..and the level of Whoosh and Infinite is much higher…on the top of quality…i dont Know if the new material has its name as a producer but i must say that the 3 albums with him was the best production work since Martin….
September 5th, 2021 at 10:55I think that for live performance from beginning Man Alive is supposed to be connected with Remission Possible. Nothing At All was mentioned by Don and Steve as their great favourite for live set and Throw My Bones can easily be transfered on stage. My guess is that Strangers “hint” in No Need To Shout may lead to idea it can work as song glued with Don´s keyboard solo. As far as I know, Ezrin said multiple times that his goal in terms of recording songs with Purple is possibility to make ANY of it in live setting. Its just up to them to select the ones, which they think works best in live set. With new album coming its possible that only few Whoosh songs will get to the final tour set, but I would expect at least two of Remission Possible / Man Alive, Throw My Bones and Nothing At All in set. I hope Uncommon Man will stay in set too. We will see what Turning To Crime will have – but I have no doubts that set for upcoming tour with TWO studio albums to promote is going to be hard to make. I just hope they will finally drop Trucking and Hush! 🙂
September 5th, 2021 at 12:52i hope that the mysterious TURNING TO CRIME is a full album and not a single with a bside song= 2 songs only…anyway…new staff from DP is perfect news
September 5th, 2021 at 16:41I can’t help but think that Ian Gillan resembles Father Jack in his mugshot.
September 5th, 2021 at 22:30Although I appreciated what was going on in WhoosH! let’s hope this piece is a little rockier and a little more upbeat. Less jazzy plonky good time rock and rolll. Less Piano Don and more Hammond. Oh – and Steve – let’s see a bit more of you please.
The prospect of a new album, after so many decades of incredible music, is absolutely astonishing.
September 5th, 2021 at 23:59I love the material DP has put out with Bob Ezrin, especially Whoosh!
Roger looks tough in that mugshot! Wouldn’t want to run across him in a dark alley! (But at least he finally took off that ridiculous headcover.)
September 6th, 2021 at 02:43I’ve noticed that the guys unlike a number of other artists haven’t done any touring during the Covid pandemic. I wonder what the band’s status is on being vaccinated? I know some artists are only letting vaccinated people attend their events. I myself got both Moderna shots back in the spring and havent had any side effects.
September 6th, 2021 at 05:22And then we have the pompous, self-congratulatory bleatings of that mighty, learned, Tolkienesque Lord of the Rings unto his own self, one Mr. Robert Plant, who has just come out today with this nugget of profundity:
“””Most musicians form a band, then they stay in the band until it’s over – 20 years, 30 years, 50 years, whatever it is – and it starts to look sadly decrepit. It’s like people hanging onto a life raft, or staying in a comfortable place.”””
To whom might Lord Percy be referring!? One would hope it is not an indirect shot at our beloved Purples……
The source of “His Mother’s Wardrobe”‘s codswallop…..none other than Louder, the Led Zeppelin & AC/DC fanboy magazine, once known as Classic Rock Magazine. Here it is: https://www.loudersound.com/news/robert-plant-says-heritage-bands-who-still-play-together-look-sadly-decrepit
September 6th, 2021 at 14:16And you also look at another band who have also lost members but are still recording the new Yes album The Quest.
September 6th, 2021 at 14:33As i have already heard a couple of tracks, & although Ian’s voice will never be the same as it was in the 70’s pun intended, you have to give the band credit releasing new music.
DeeperPurps@58
September 6th, 2021 at 19:03I think Robert Plant might be right if he refering to someone to like Ozy who keep cancelling tour after tour and still comes out with new dates rather calling it a day.
I think the reason we all love DP is because they are still brilliant at what they do live. And they are very clever in going for a 70min sold live set and being in a trio stage acts rather than do a 100 min show. And considering they all in their 70s apart from Steven it’s the young Steven Morse who is struggling with arthritis in his rest so the other ones are ok.
But if you recall what Ian Gillan said before the departure of Jon Lord from the band in 2001 and I quote him ‘ Jon wanted to us to have a break so he can do his classical stuff and if we or I stop at my age for a break it will be very hard to come back’ and that was in 2001. So if they come back from this extented Corona forced break and hit the ground running it will be the biggest slap in the face for anyone who thinks like Mr Plant and knocks down classic hard rock band.
Peace
I do apologize for my spelling mistake as I called Steve Morse…Steven
September 6th, 2021 at 19:07Sorry for any offence
I for one like that Don is dominant in Mk VIII, just as Jon was more dominant than Ritchie in Mk I, Purple has come full circle so to say. Let’s face it, most everything that can be said on guitar has been said, but how many improvisational keyboarders work in current bands? It’s pretty much a stand-alone characteristic of current Purple.
Tartan Gregor, I hear you. Yes, Ritchie left room for Jon in his rhythm playing (because he is a lazy and also a meat and potatoes rhythm player!), in fact Ritchie even needs a keyboard player when he plays heavy rock, neither Purple nor Rainbow would have worked without strong keyboards. But at the same time, Ritchie always made sure he grabbed more than 50% of the instrumental limelight – things like ordering the sound crew to bring him up in the live mix are just one aspect. When I hear DP live today, the organ is like 60% of the lead instrument wall of sound and the guitar is 40% (with most bands it’s the other way around or even less for the keyboards). Steve accepts that, I don’t think he is being forced into anything, neither by Don nor by Bob Ezrin. Purple’s live sound is still roaring and mighty, Don’s Hammond work even pleasantly wild.
And as regards the “Ezrin-Trilogy”, I think the standard is overall pretty high, with Infinite perhaps a slight dip (more in songwriting than in production), but Now What?! and Whoosh! are high up in Purple’s canon. True, not all of Whoosh! might lend itself for live renditions, but some of the best Purple albums in the past (Taliesyn, Fireball, WDWTWA and HOBL) didn’t spawn a lot of natural live tracks either. Ezrin is in any case more of a studio than a live producer though compared with other productions of his – Alice Cooper, Peter Gabriel, Pink Floyd, Hanoi Rocks (which he “Alice Cooper-fied” on Two Steps From The Move), Berlin (Take My Breath Away is his production), Kiss and Kansas – his production of DP is pretty bare-bones, he did not bury the band in an orchestral wall of sound (like he did with Kiss on Destroyer, still their best album IMHO, or with Alice Cooper on Welcome to my Nightmare, likewise one of Vincent’s strongest works), but kept its core sound of distinctly audible. I’m fine if they do another album with him.
I always liked Roger’s productions of other artists – Nazareth, Rory Gallagher’s Calling Card, Status Quo’s Wild Side of Life, Judas Priest’s Sin After Sin – but when he produced Rainbow or Purple, I never found that he added something that wasn’t already there – perhaps because he was too close to it as a player and songwriter.
Has anyone considered that the the mug shot site might actually be a countdown for a comprehensive boxed set of Purple’s work through all eras? Maybe Ear Music has sorted out the rights? The early remasters are kinda long in the tooth by now.
September 6th, 2021 at 20:39@ 62- I do like Ezrin as a producer, he is meticulous & that can be a good thing. On the other hand he could be too meticulous in some ways, but the band are obviously running with him, so good for them.
September 6th, 2021 at 21:24I have read a few things regarding keeping the guitar back at times & I am fine with that also. Steve Morse is from that era of guitarists that can get too busy in a certain way, so Don Airey to the fore is wonderful indeed. Don Airey is a very accomplished player & I rate him very highly, probably in my top 5 keyboard players. Regarding producers, it is a fine line in many ways. We have heard over the years of producers being too bossy or too lazy & out of touch with the music. Some bands are happy with a producer for a while then need a change for change sake, some try different producers more often searching for the proverbial ‘holy grail’ within their music. Ezrin is a ‘songwriter’ producer so I have always thought that could only be a good thing. As long as it is not too involved. Regarding guitar being too busy at times, I always liked WDWTWA for that lazy Blackmore approach, sparse or no rhythm playing & even no solos at times are fine with me, as I do grow tired of the proverbial guitar solo for a solo’s sake thing. As you stated, Blackmore was like that right from the beginning in many ways. If someone doesn’t have anything to say, best not say anything. Cheers.
DeeperPurps @ 58 – steady on there old son, that is Lord Percy you are referring to, he he he! Just joking.
September 6th, 2021 at 21:44I have a feeling he could be looking at certain nostalgia bands who keep treading the very worn path of ‘remember us”. The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac etc, dragging it out year after year etc etc. Farewell tours & then changing their minds! I would throw Steve Howe & his sad attempt at keeping the Yes name in the mud. More like Asia isn’t it with Geoff Downes on keys, a replacement vocalist who sounds nothing like the original vocalist Jon Anderson, a new bass player & a different drummer also in the live gigs. Sad & embarrassing form where I stand.
Some musicians from these bands obviously don’t have another gig to do, not on that larger level that is. Their ‘solo’ bands would be pale in comparison one would think, so they NEED that once forgotten buzz from what they used to do. My take on it anyway. I know what Percy means, he just doesn’t look at it like that & he has always refused a Zeppelin ‘cash in’ so to speak. Credit to him for constantly evolving & trying to escape that Behemoth that hangs around his neck. Cheers.
Uwe Hornung@62
September 6th, 2021 at 22:13I applaud your in-depth knowledge and analysis but sometimes you have to let go of the super analysis and trust your ears.
Infinite had the best material and lyrics put IN front of Ezrin because of an amazing four songs on it. The surprising, time to Bedlam and Birds of Prey as the three were just like a volcano eruption when played live on tour. Even ‘All I got is you’ is way better than ‘Nothing at all’ or ‘All the time in the world’ in my opinion.
I think the guys are doing a new album as I get the feeling that Whoosh will not be promoted on the tour due to lack of solid live material that would work on stage. with the exception of ‘Man Alive’ but it has a classical side that might slow the momentum of the show.
Also I think that Roger is an amazing producer and he just wanted to put his feet up and let someone else do the dirty hard job of putting things together but I would love if he remastered Bananas and ROTD just to do some justice to the albums. I can never say he is not as good as Bob Ezrin or Martin Birch because of the amazing work he did on Slaves and Masters, Perfect strangers and Perpendicular. and that’s what my ears are telling me every time i play those three albums.
Peace
DeeperPurps @ 58 – I am a little confused, are you working for Ultimate Classic Rock? I am wondering why because at the same time you tore poor old innocent Percy to shreds at a rival rock magazine, Ultimate Classic Rock just happens to ‘coincidentally’ run a story on DP Turning to Crime? Now there’s a coincidence eh, He He He. Nothing like a bit of controversy eh to sell a few extra copies? I also noticed you didn’t mention the premiere of Led Zeppelin’s new documentary? Come on, you know you want to! Cheers.
September 7th, 2021 at 06:54Adel @ 60, good points re some of the acts that clearly don’t have it any more. However Purple is still a relevant band – they have been producing new music on a regular basis for several years and have been out there working it on their tours. They are still a tight band which plays with a high degree of skill. One would hope that Percy’s label “decrepit” would not apply in their case.
MacGregor @ 64 & 66…..I think the problem with Percy is he may actually believe all that incessant hype about him being a so-called rock God. To paint himself as being more relevant because his “kindred” musical efforts are apparently more organic than those “decrepit” ones out there on the tour circuit, is terribly arrogant, and in fact smacks of “Ageism”. Extending Lord Percival’s logic, would that mean that all us old graybacks in our 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s who enjoy attending concerts by our favourite classic bands, are also “decrepit”? If so, I guess we should all just stay home, stare blankly at the walls, and slurp our oatmeal.
The reality is, in the case of bands such as ZZ Top, Kiss, the Rolling Stones, Deep Purple and others; I dare say they are already financially set for life and there is no longer any need for them to tour to make a living. However they ply their craft even at an advanced age as they enjoy making and playing music for people who still want to hear it. For some reason however, the wise Tolkienesque sage chooses to proclaim his disgust upon all those old fossil-like creatures who are beneath he and his lofty perch.
And, oh yes, I wish I had a job at Ultimate Classic Rock or any other publication where I could attempt to inject some reality, or at least some balance back into the proceedings in the world of rock music journalism, but alas I am just a lowly scribe writing only to my Purple-minded friends here on the Highway Star forum. Interesting that UCR picked up on that Deep Purple Turning to Crime story a couple of days ago, but nary a peep yet out of Louder / Classic Rock Magazine. No……. Louder/CRM are probably much too busy preparing their latest drool-fests about Zep, AC/DC, Slash et al, to concern themselves with any Purple-related news. But then, that is simply par for the course.
I’m just getting warmed up, but will defer for now. Where is our friend Dr. Doom from the old CRM comments section? I miss him!
September 8th, 2021 at 06:18DeeperPurps @ 67 – I hear you loud & clear. Regarding ‘Louder’ Classic rock they are a British magazine are they not & yet they still do not have that Purple rave, then the USA UCR does, work that one out. I guess being patriotic Brits may not count. Yes I remember Dr Doom & also closer to home here at THS, where is Sir Blackwood Richmore, I hope he is ok. In regards to Plant’s comment, I would not take that seriously in many ways. He is probably over that era because of the constant queries as to when are LZ getting back together & all that media rubbish & he is sort of distancing himself from the past as much as possible. Does he really mean it? Possibly said in jest, who can tell. Is that comment taken out of context, which can often happen. Anyway we will see what is over the horizon shortly. Talking of British crime thugs, it is Steve Morse who I worry about. Being associated with those 4 ruffians, sheeesh, that could get him in trouble, have a look at them! Talk about the Old Bailey! Cheers.
September 8th, 2021 at 09:31When I listen to Whoosh! and get to And the Address, it does not stand out from the rest of the album. For me, that is the clearest indication this is still Deep Purple doing their thing – albeit with Don and Steve not Jon and Ritchie.
However, Dancing in my Sleep reminds me of Accidentally on Purpose – so I can see why that is a bonus track.
I just wish we did not need to wait.
September 8th, 2021 at 12:22@37,38,41…
been following the band since I was fifteen, and that’s a long long time ago. every one of the albums is great, and each of us loves the most that one or that other. But the FACT, Ezrin’s trilogy are superbly produced. it was almost a miracle DP and Ezrin’s ways converged because there had been 8 year’s drought and I don’t think we d have had any more albums at all.
I love the three of them, Whoosh’s throw the bones, nothing at all, step by step or Man alive are much better than any of abandon’s, banana’s or rapture and much better than many others of many other ones – slaves, stormbringer, the first three, come taste (an over valued one)…
Deep Purple and Iron Maiden -as senjutsu proves- are two forever-evolving bands, forever-learning, forever-teaching, forever- shining.
A million thanks, guys.
September 8th, 2021 at 14:07Plant has never liked hard or heavy rock and he has never considered himself a hard or heavy rock musician. And he’s probably right, given that only a minority of LZ’s oeuvre falls into the hard/heavy rock bracket.
I respect that he’s not up to a Led Zep reunion though. They could have taken that Celebration set on the road all over the world in 2007 and made shitloads of money.
AF@65: Infinite is not a bad album at all, but it did not speak to me like Now What?! and Whoosh! did/still do. But like on any Purple album, there are also good tracks on it. The Surprising is brilliant. I did like the cover and the “Arctic explorers”-look of the band though.
Don or Steve haven’t played on a single DP album I would consider rubbish, the weakest one is probably ROTD and even that has its moments.
To me, the worst album in DP’s career is still TBRO. Or maybe I shouldn’t say worst, it’s just stressful for me to listen to because they sound so decidedly unhappy and strained on it. There is static in the air on that album, but not of the good kind.
September 8th, 2021 at 20:00MacGregor @ 68.
It seems the British music press has had the knives out for Deep Purple since the early days. Way back in time, my second Deep Purple album purchase was Who Do We Think We Are and I spent hours reading and re-reading the various news clippings inside the album cover. I couldn’t believe the level of hostility towards the band back then, but at least even the acidic comments against Purple in Britain accorded them some level of attention, albeit negative. On the other hand, it seemed the American music press way back then, and even since, has been largely indifferent to the band.
For our friend Richmore Blackwood, it has been at least 4 or 5 months since I have seen him here on this page. He used to comment almost daily. I miss his humour, I hope he is alright.
September 9th, 2021 at 15:29@72: No worries, to compensate for British and American hardships and insults, Purple were adored in Deutschland! The classical components in their music (and so audible both in Lord’s and Blackmore’s playing) ticked all the right boxes with us as did the “good engineering” aspect of their music. DP was tidy – as everyone knows we rate that, rigid as we are. Led Zep, in contrast, was messy and convoluted. Deep Purple was like a BMW or Porsche, everything made sense and was in the right place. Led Zep was like some impenetrable steam punk contraption, you didn’t know where to start. Nicht ordentlich, nein.
Purple also always had a virtuoso image in Germany; that helped them get at least grudging respect from people who would otherwise not have bothered with hard or heavy rock. In sophisticated music circles you would often hear: “The guys in Purple are not pulling their weight and selling music that is really beneath them – but at least they know how to play.”
September 10th, 2021 at 12:09Uwe @73. Good point. Germany, other parts of Europe as well as Japan have consistently been on the Purple train since the 1970’s. It makes me wonder if there might be a correlation of certain cultures having long-standing traditions of fine craftsmanship / high quality in various pursuits; to the appeal of virtuosity in music. Hence, the respect for fine purveyors of well-played music such as Deep Purple. On the other hand, look at the rise of Punk in the UK in the 70’s, and Grunge in the 90’s in the USA. Both movements were anti-virtuoso. Did such music genres gain a significant foothold in Germany and other parts of Europe, or were they mainly small niche?
September 11th, 2021 at 14:16@ 73 – ‘ DP was tidy – as everyone knows we rate that, rigid as we are. Led Zep, in contrast, was messy and convoluted. Deep Purple was like a BMW or Porsche, everything made sense and was in the right place. Led Zep was like some impenetrable steam punk contraption, you didn’t know where to start’.
September 11th, 2021 at 23:07Ha ha, I will pay that, not bad comedy. Did you ever consider a career in comedy Uwe, you may have been quite successful at it. Although I do place a certain degree of emphasis on the word ‘may’. He he he! Seriously though, I do know where you are coming from with the Purple, well the Blackmore & Lord comments. There were plenty of other ‘rock’ musicians who took it even further, although Jon Lord is the real deal of course regarding serious musical endeavours. Blackmore just sort of half dabbled with the technical virtuoso side of it & he did that very well indeed for rock music for a limited period of time. But poor old Led Zep, sheeesh, give them a break. I do find many of their epic compositions much more deeper, pun intended, than anywhere where Purple ever went. Jon Lord towards the end of the Mark 1 era was out there. Some serious arranging & composing going on there around 1968/69. Cheers.
Great to read all the comments above. Few however, listened to what the band say consistently, in every interview about album process and content. We are only going to get what these 5 people jam into existence, during writing sessions. The result will then be honed/given some kind of unity, by someone like Bob Ezrin or Roger. This may be the time to go primal and scream. 😀 Lets hope so, it could be the last hurrah for the best hard rock band … ever.
September 12th, 2021 at 01:28DeeperPurps: “On the other hand, look at the rise of Punk in the UK in the 70’s, and Grunge in the 90’s in the USA. Both movements were anti-virtuoso. Did such music genres gain a significant foothold in Germany and other parts of Europe, or were they mainly small niche?”
Both Punk/New Wave and Grunge had significant musical and cultural impact in Germany, but – and that is perhaps the difference to trendy UK – not to the exclusion of everything else before. The work of previous bands wasn’t eradicated. I bought the Ramones debut (and loved it, to me it was Power Pop, besides, Joey Ramone liked DP!) and Dr. Feelgood’s Stupidity at the same time as listening to DP, Rainbow, Judas Priest, Scorpions and Status Quo. It caused me no conflict whatsoever. I never cared for the Sex Pistols, I thought they were a hype (Johnny Lydon is hilarious as an interview partner though), but I liked The Jam and The Damned plus The Stranglers (though they weren’t really Punk, their late keyboarder loved Jon Lord for instance).
I appreciate it if music is played skillfully (great fan of Be Bop Deluxe!), but I also like it raucous: I was and still am a New York Dolls fan. Same with The Dictators whose Manifest Destiny is one of my favorite records.
Grunge was another matter. I never really “got” Nirvana, perhaps I was already too old for that, and Soundgarden’s key changes and chord combinations in Black Hole Sun give me the creeps to this day, it just sounds soooo unmusical to me. There I said it. Alice in Chains was really the only Grunge band I liked, interesting harmony vocals. Pearl Jam I can bear in small doses.
September 12th, 2021 at 22:26Uwe @ 77.
Thanks for those great insights on the German perspective. Yes the UK music press seems at times to have taken an all or nothing approach. And I have found their level of hostility towards certain bands (eg: Purple for one) was and still is way over the top at times. I used to live in London and regularly read Melody Maker and NME back in the day….it seemed to me a lot of the writers were personally way over-invested in their opinions of this or that group. The venom flowed copiously from their pens, as did the outright fan-boy devotional pandering; so I hear you in re HYPE over the Sex Pistols.
Likewise, (and especially) re Nirvana – I could never understand the American music media’s drooling adoration for Cobain and his band – maybe I am missing something, maybe I am just too old!?.
I agree, Alice in Chains is my favourite of the Seattle-based grunge bands too, though I did appreciate Soundgarden Chris Cornell’s wailing vocals, he had an impressive range. As for Post Punk, not much into it…the closest I get is Sisters of Mercy.
September 13th, 2021 at 15:23#77
As a Yank, In never understood the adoration for Nirvana either. Rolling Stone used to set the tone on US rock bands and their favorites and the bands they didn’t like were pretty random and often nonsensical. They typically were dismissive of Purple, Rainbow or any of the “family” bands.
Purple is now an afterthought in the American market. AOR stations rarely if ever even play SOTW anymore…no less anything else.
But you can bet on hearing More than a Feeling by Boston or One of the 6 or so AOR approved Foreigner songs. 🤷♂️
Sorry state of affairs overall on either side of the pond
September 20th, 2021 at 16:33As far as “jazzy” is concerned, I love it. Unfortunatly not enough! It’s been creeping in over the last few albums. Last example is “Dancing in my Sleep”. Purple prove their expertise here as well!
September 21st, 2021 at 19:16I am not particularly fond of a jazzy feel, but if the guys feel that they want to stretch themselves at their tender years , then all power to them, I am just happy that a further offering is , 1- being talked about and is coming to fruition , 2 – they are still fit and able to put out a quality relevant product , 3 – They still have the ambition to do it ! All power to them.
September 23rd, 2021 at 09:29Unfortunatelly it will be a cover album…
September 24th, 2021 at 14:20