Exciting plans are apparently afoot for a 40th anniversary edition of Shades Of Deep Purple according to Simon. This follows exploratory studio run-throughs of some of the old tape reels (prior to the Hush Jaguar commercial) which proved more than promising. "I was pleased when we got the material for the Remastered EMI CD in 2000, as that was a big-leap forward from the existing analogue source tape. But frankly we were speechless after hearing these 'new' tapes, which really prove just what an incredible sound they had right at the start, and how heavy they were too. Derek Lawrence deserves a medal for archiving the work in progress like this, especially given the pressure and deadlines he was under to record and mix an album in just a few days." It's early days yet but as soon as there is more news we'll let you know.

DB#600258

It looks like the wheels are turning again on the Stormbringer remaster. This is now developing into a double CD set. CD one will be the original album remastered plus the new mixes by Glenn Hughes and Pete Mew. CD 2 will have the original quad mixes in 4.1 and stereo.

The release is likely to come out with a special edition, which Simon has been asked to put together. "I'm going for a CD size hardback book format, with extras including accurate reproductions of the American in-store advertising card and other goodies." No firm release date, but this would now seem to be getting much closer. Thanks to Simon for the info.

DB#600234

Fans may puzzle over the reissue of the 30 Very Best Of Deep Purple CD collection (released to cash in on the recent Jaguar ad), but Nigel Young says it has charted in HMV and even in  Tescos! (Although right now everyone should be boycotting the latter until they stop hounding journalists around the world for reporting on their alleged tax avoidance schemes). SR #600256

Work is still ongoing on the third archive Deep Purple DVD release  which should now appear later this year. Simon assembled the early track listing and suggested the sources, etc. but tells us he has now  pulled out of the project. If we get any further information on the  release date, etc. we'll pass it on.

DB #6001302

The vinyl resurgence continues with news that EMI are releasing a vinyl edition of the Deep Purple Singles Box Set of a few years back. All the singles will be reproduced with their original sleeves on black vinyl. In addition the box will contain the posthumous New Live & Rare EPs as well.

Update: The set has now been delayed because of internal reorganisation at EMI

Simon tells us he picked up a test set of the singles recently from EMI, who have also promised the DPAS a test set for competitions later in the year, so this release is ongoing.

DB# 9002532

EMI will be readvertising their 1998 Very Best Of Deep Purple on UK TV shortly collection to try and catch the wave of interest in the use of Hush on the Jag car advert.

SR# 900255

Jaguar's ad campaign for their new XF saloon began airing in Britain during the first week of February 2008. The TV commercial comprises a fast cut visual set to an edited version of Deep Purple's original 1968 recording of Hush, albeit taken from the remastered CD. The campaign was originated in America, where the song was such a big hit.

During development work on the commercial, we unearthed an amazing tape reel with all the progressive mixes of the song. There will be more about this in the next issue of DTB.

The Jaguar advert debuted in America in the middle of the Academy Awards TV coverage and again at the end. (thanks to Tony Edwards and Carla for the news)

SR# 900254 (thanks to James Bateman, and everyone who has reported sightings of the ad!)

The request on the web site for people's recollections of seeing Deep Purple back on the British tour of 1974 produced a whole load of interesting submissions, some of which we used on the Live In London CD booklet. To mark the 40th anniversary of the band next year, we'd like to open this up a little more, and would invite people who saw the group between 1968 and 1976 to send us their thoughts and recollections or the show, the day, or anything about the event. We'll be using some in the magazine and on-line. This will be an ongoing feature, so do drop us a line. If you've still got a ticket stub (or photos/local ads/reviews), send a scan of those along as well if you can. Simon.

Many thanks for all the many, varied and wonderful contributions received so far. Please keep them coming. They are all very much appreciated!

SR# 9002521

As you know, 2008 will be the fourtieth anniversary of Deep Purple, a fairly noteworthy event. There are a number of plans being discussed for ways to mark this in terms of special editions and archive releases. As soon as we've been cleared to announce anything, we'll let you know. There is a proposal for one release by each of the four original line-ups on EMI which would be a nice way to go, although these may be more skewed towards high quality packaging and presentation than unissued audio material - of which there isn't that much to go for.

SR# 900254

Mk3

The Didi Zill book of Deep Purple images which came out a few years ago had a mixed reception. People were pleased to see it done but there were flaws with the quality of some images, captions etc. The good news is that the publishers are addressing the problems and plan to reissue the book in an expanded format in 2007. Heck, they've even promised us a review copy this time! More details to follow. The original is now out of print. The publishers tell me that they are hoping to do an upgrade offer; so if you purchased the original you will be able to get a reduced price on the new one. Details will be announced in the autumn.

Chris Marin tells us the publishers now expect the book to be out in early December 2007. 

SR# 9001242

Mk3

Mk3

Mk3

Mk2

Deep Purple

Got a million squid knocking about? Then you'll be pleased to know that a one-off Deep Purple collectable is up for sale, viz The Hermitage in North Devon, dating back to the late 1800s but better known to us as the house where Deep Purple holed up in late 1970 to "get it together" for the Fireball album, some of which was written here (as detailed in the sleeve notes to the Fireball remaster). The fact is noteworthy enough for it to be mentioned in the property sale sheet which you can get from the Barnstaple office of Jackson-Stops & Staff (01271 377833). So, if you missed Deeves Hall (sold last year).... Serious enquiries only please!

Ann says it's also in Country Life magazine's property guide this week.   SR#600242

Deep Purple

In their infinite wisdom, and even though it only came out a little while ago, and despite the fact that they are also issuing a new title with a very similar title, Live In Montreux 1996 CD is coming out again, packaged together with a second CD of highlights from the Albert Hall show in 1999. Budget label, budget price - so if you didn't bother at the time you can save some money! .

Thanks to Greg Sodar for the info

SR#600239

Deep Purple

There are reports of some new colour vinyl editions of Shades of Deep Purple and Book of Taliesyn around on eBay. I can confirm that these are pirate releases, NOT OFFICIAL, and stem from the same source as the many pirate editions of the Mk1 albums in America over the years.

We'd complain to eBay but they are only interested in taking the fees and make removing pirate material so cumbersome as to be useless.

Thanks to Menotti Russo Filho for the warning.

SR#600238

Deep Purple

We were asked to keep this one under wraps but as it's now up on YouTube, the fact that Dodge Motors have used Smoke On The Water on a TV commercial means it must be airing. This use in a commercial has been done officially by the way, unlike a certain Japanese company who used it without asking recently. You can take a peek here.

SR#600237

Mk2

The third of the revised Sonic Zoom titles is now in preparation. LIVE IN DENMARK 1972 (PUR 253) is a double CD from a show in Denmark's famous KB Hallen, March 1972. The show was filmed (and is now on DVD), and this remastered CD is taken from the audio track on the 1" master, to give the best possible audio quality. It's an important show, previewing as it did most of the new set which would be immortalised on the Made In Japan album just six months later. It was first issued on Sonic Zoom in 2002 (PUR 203) in the digipak series but has been out of print for some time, and is now resurfacing (as will the other titles) in the new jewel-case format with a different sleeve. This title is available now from dpas mail order, and will be in shops in late March.

MR#6002331 (thanks to Purple Records)

Mk2 Reunion

Polydor in Japan are doing three paper sleeve editions of the early reunion albums, which I think are the first time they have been issued in this format. The titles are Perfect Strangers, House Of Blue Light and Nobody’s Perfect. We don't yet know if these are remastered editions. It's a very limited edition.

dpas mail order are taking pre-orders.

SR#600235

(Thanks to Ian Green)

Mk2 Reunion

Sony BMG were due to split up the Deep Purple Live 1993 4CD box set into two separate double CDs, LIVE IN STUTTGART 1993 and LIVE AT THE BIRMINGHAM NEC 1993.

Ian Gillan's off the cuff interview remarks about the Live 1993 CD sets, in particular the NEC show, were clipped out and sent to the news agencies by the reporter, and from there were picked up by British newspapers, and the following day by BBC News, who interviewed Ian Gillan about it on the flagship Today programme. Radio 5 then ran a piece about it asking anyone who was at the show to call in. The DPAS resisted calls from the BBC to join in (and indeed even mentioning it beyond the Grollywood page, but it's grown too big to ignore). The show has been out on VHS (now DVD) for over ten years but as a result of the press, Sony have put a hold on the two stand-alone CD releases (it came out as a box set in 2006) until they have checked their paperwork. Still all the coverage can't have harmed UK ticket sales!  SR#6002341

Sir Malcolm Arnold, one of Britain's finest composers, passed away on Saturday, September 23rd. He features as a large personality in Deep Purple's history. Back in 1969 courting long haired upstart youngsters was hardly the best way of endearing yourself to your contemporaries, however Malcolm Arnold appeared to welcome the melding of musical genres and welcomed Jon Lord and the rest of Deep Purple into the strange and difficult world of the symphony orchestra. The way he managed the whole Concerto experience may well have been the difference between success and failure not only for that one night, but for the band's immediate future. I was at the anniversary concert in 1999, and it was a shame Sir Malcolm couldn't attend, but it was great to hear his music opening the performance prior to Jon Lord's fantastic Pictured Within. A bit more of Deep Purple passes into history.

• More comment on the death of Sir Malcolm Arnold

John Blackburn #6001291 (with thanks to Jason Stephens and Alan Robertson)

This Sonic Zoom release from 2003 has been out of print now for some considerable time. It is at last being reissued, albeit it with a new cover and title (to match the Live In Aachen CD). A very early Mk 2 show from Montreux Lido, Switzerland, Oct 4. 1969, it includes embryonic versions of "Speed King" and "Child In Time", as well as a cover of "Kentucky Woman" - the only known tape of them doing this. The quality varies from good to excellent ("Wring That Neck" is a great example of the quality of much of the show), albeit with some overload and strange mixing at the start and end of the show. It's issued as a double CD with the full gig and the usual explanatory booklet. The CD is out now.

Speed King (Kneel & Pray) / Hush / Child In Time / Wring That Neck / Paint It Black / Mandrake Root / Kentucky Woman.

It can be ordered via dpas mail order.     SR #6001222

A new CD and DVD is on the way with the band's previously unissued July 9th1996 show at the famous Montreux festival (Stravinski Auditorium). Track list for both the CD and DVD is: Fireball / Ted The Mechanic / Pictures Of Home / Black Night / Cascades / Woman From Tokyo / No One Came / When A Blind Man Cries / Hey Cisco / Speed King / Smoke On The Water. This is the full gig, which was shorter than usual to fit the festival time slot.

The DVD also includes bonus tracks from the 15 track set at Montreux, July 22nd 2000 : '69 / Perfect Strangers / Lazy / Highway Star / When A Blind Man Cries. Bit of a shame they couldn't issue both full shows (or more of the rare titles from the 2000 gig - there's one track on there they never did anywhere else!) but even so this should be a welcome addition to the collection for fans (although the set is quite close to the Polish "Live Encounters" Gillan is in much better form here) and the release is part of the deal done a few years ago to exploit Claude Nobs' huge film archive.

The CD is just a single disc sadly, with Cascades dropped from the 1996 set to make room for two of the 2000 cuts. The good (albeit confusing) news is that these are DIFFERENT to the DVD bonus tracks. Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming / Fools.

The CD is shipping now, the DVD will follow on May 29th. Both can be ordered via dpas mail order now.

Reviews : Deep Purple : Live In Montreux 1996 CD & DVD (updated 25.05.06)

SR #6001174 (with thanks to Hans Peter Jenssen)

In the early 1980s there were strong rumours amongst collectors that some archive film of Deep Purple was up for sale. This appeared to be raw material shot by a BBC TV crew for their World At Large documentary series. A crew had filmed the band rehearsing "Come Taste The Band" and on their early live shows (the crew even got a name check on the LP sleeve). The material was brought back to the UK but when the group split in 1976 the idea was abandoned.

The footage disappeared from the BBC shelves not long after. If it was rescued and is in private hands; maybe somebody out there has heard something and can give us a lead.

Any correspondence would be treated in confidence; all we are anxious to do 30 years on is locate the material.

SR# 900123

The DPAS has been in contact with the UK company which produced the original candles for the BURN sleeve. For the first time ever they are looking at producing a limited number of candle sets (from the original moulds) for collectors. The final price is £125 (£115 for DPAS Members) per set of five. This includes special packing and insured shipping by special courier, which is a huge part of the cost as they weigh such a lot. Even so, when you look at the price of large candles in shops, it's still good value.

The final mould testing has been done. The last piece of the jigsaw has been the costing and production of special strong cardboard boxes to mail them out in, along with the folded card backdrop which people will be able to display the candles against. We have previews of this and the candles here. We must stress that these are digitally generated images, and the design may change before production. If you are interested, please send us an email (with the subject "candles"). Anyone who has already done so will get more information automatically but they can be pre-ordered now from dpas mail order.(just put 'candles' in the title search)

The company has called to apologise for the delays, but they have been working full time on material for films since January. The colour samples of the Burn candles are their next job, and once we have approved these we can get on. In answer to a question some people have raised, the candles will be coloured by pigment to remain fade-free when displayed. This does mean the candles don't burn as cleanly as if ordinary dye is used, but dye can fade over time (and we figured most of us would want them on display).

SR# 9007026

Mk7