More on Darker Than Blue Issue 59, which we're told is now well under way, with around half the pages laid out and the rest coming together nicely. Simon has decided on a bit of a change in emphasis with this issue too. "I think everyone is getting bored with loads of us saying 'great / reasonable / fair performance, shame about the set', so we're cutting back a bit on trying to cover every current gig and delving more into the wider history of the group in all its many facets. So expect more on air-conditioning and Coverdale in handcuffs!" (pardon?..) We'll have the cover shot (likely to be a rare photo of Tommy Bolin, though not the one opposite) and more details in a week or so.

TS#700193

Original industrial metal merchants Ministry are promising an album of covers for their next release, and this will include Space Truckin'. Should be interesting!

SR#700191 (with thanks to Vince Chonf for the info)

Guitarist and singer Miller Anderson, long-time friend and collaborator with Jon Lord (including The Concerto performances in 1999-2000), has been interviewed this month at dmme.net. The interview covers his entire career, including playing Woodstock as part of ex Artwoods drummer Keef Hartley's band, T Rex, and The Spencer David Group.

Miller is also setting out to tour England and Germany in April / May 2008 in support of his 'Chameleon' album. The UK shows run from High Barn in Great Bardfield on April 17th, through to The Half Brick in Worthing on April 26th.

DB#700190 (with thanks to Dmitri Epstein and Louise Farley)

London's Astoria Theatre, venue for Deep Purple's first show of the 2006 Rapture Of The Deep tour, is due to be demolished. The historic Victorian music-hall's demise has been confirmed, with mayor Ken Livingstone promising a 'better' replacement venue, even though there has been some sentiment expressed online that a cramped and sweaty venue is not necessarily a bad thing.

DPAS member Matthew Kean's take on the situation is that "While cramped and sweaty does have it's moments, the ridiculously tiny bar selling warm cans of lager for £4.50 a pop, the sticky floor, and the frequently indifferent sound quality all count against it. Having been there many times, I have to say it's no great loss, and that Shepherd's Bush Empire (especially) and the Forum both have a lot more going for them."

TS#700189

The local Express & Star newspaper did a report on Mel Galley's birthday bash which you can read here. Thanks to Chris Poustie.

"Whitesnake guitarist Mel Galley celebrated his 60th birthday against the odds, surrounded by celebrities, friends and family. The rock legend from Cannock revealed last month that he only has a short time to live after being diagnosed with cancer. Friends were planning to bring forward his birthday celebrations after hearing the devastating news, but Mel was determined to make it to the landmark occasion. Former Deep Purple star Glenn Hughes flew over from his Los Angeles home to celebrate the birthday of his former bandmate at The Park Gate Inn, in Cannock Wood. Radio 2 presenter Chris Evans and Wolverhampton-born TV presenter Suzi Perry also joined in the celebrations.

Mel said today: “I was determined to make it to my birthday. Although there have been some low points since I was diagnosed and there were times I thought I wouldn’t make it, I was determined to get there. Just to see the people who showed up was wonderful. I have said my goodbyes to people but this was just to celebrate my birthday with my close friends and family.”

SR#700188 (with thanks to Chris Poustie)

Jeff Healey, who was a part of the Gillan's Inn CD project in 2005 and played on several of the tracks, has died of cancer. He had just finished work on a new album Mess Of Blues due out Stateside in April.

SR#700188 (thanks to Vince Chong and Tom Jory) Photo: David Leyes

Since we posted the news of Mel Galley's illness, Mel has posted the following statement: "As some of you may already have read in the press or seen / heard on other websites, the verdict from the doctors following a full MRI scan is that my condition is terminal. Rather than sit around feeling sorry for myself, I intend to make the most of the time I have left with my family and friends. I am blessed with a fantastic wife and two sons who I am very proud of. For now I am just aiming to make my 60th birthday in March."

Mel's full statement can be read here.

You can pass messages on via Mel's own page, www.myspace.com/melgalley.

SR#7001873 (with thanks to Stuart Hamilton and others who have passed on news )

As previously reported, filming began in London this month on a movie version of the Joe Meek play 'Telstar'. Meek's studio and Mrs. Shenton's shop have been recreated further along Holloway Road, complete with the neighbouring bank. (see the DPAS A-Z for photos of the original premises)

Con O'Neill reprises his role as Joe Meek. The cast includes Kevin Spacey as Major Banks, Pam Ferris as Mrs. Violet Shenton, Rita Tushingham as "Essex Medium", Martine McCutcheon as "Lady Victim", Joan Hodges (wife of Chas) as Biddy Meek (Joe's mother), and David Hayler as John Peel. Chas Hodges has a cameo role as Mr. Brolin Jess, Conrad plays Larry Parnes, Carl Barat (The Libertines) plays Gene Vincent, Justin Hawkins (The Darkness) plays Screaming Lord Sutch, Jon Lee (S Club 7) plays Billy Fury (The Tornados were his backing band). Robbie Duke (aka Patrick Pink), who was at 304 Holloway Road when the fatal shootings happened (over 40 years ago now), is amongst the extras. Ritchie Blackmore is played by Matthew Baynton. David Hayler played RB (with just two or three lines) in the stage version.

Nick Moran is the director and also plays Alex Meek. The two act play (based in Meek's studio) was largely comedic for the first act but with the second act being Meek's dark descent into paranoia and pills

In addition, a forthcoming biopic about producer Joe Meek, titled A Life In The Death Of Joe Meek, premiers in America at the 25th Reel Music Film Festival, January 24th 2008 in Portland. It is also being screened as part of the Glasgow Film Festival on February 24th.

NY#7001951

Anyone who saw people raving about the Graham Bonnet gigs in 2007 on the site (and in Issue 59 of Darker Than Blue) and kicked themselves for missing it will be pleased to hear that the group are repeating the experiment in 2008, and have sent out the following news:

"The Taz Taylor Band featuring Graham Bonnet will be embarking on a tour of Europe in March and April 2008. The tour kicks off March 5th at the The Robin in Bilston, England. After that several countries are on the schedule including additional UK shows, Ireland (one for you Tim!), Scotland, Germany, Austria, Spain, Sweden, and more. The full tour schedule to be released very soon!"

DB#700186 (photo: Simon Robinson)

Sandra Ashton tells us there is a new website devoted to Tony Ashton's artwork, which includes original work for sale.

You can log on to this at www.tonyashtonart.com

DB#700185

For those of you following Ronnie Dio's progress in the reformed Black Sabbath (aka HEAVEN AND HELL), they played a series of UK Arena Shows as follows: Newcastle Metro Radio Arena November 4th 2007, Glasgow SECC 6th, Sheffield Hallam FM Arena 7th, Manchester MEN 9th, London Wembley Arena 10th, Brighton Centre 11th, Birmingham NEC 13th, Cardiff International Arena 14th, Nottingham Arena 15th, Plymouth Pavilions 17th, Bournemouth BIC 18th.  

DPAS Live Reviews. Heaven And Hell : Newcastle, Glasgow, Wembley & Plymouth

MK#7001782

Darker Than Blue Magazine enters the digital era big-time with an experimental download copy in January. There have been a lot of technical hurdles to overcome, but we're now testing it out. At first we'll just do one copy to see what sort of interest there is, and if it finds a market more will follow. To me there's no substitute for a printed magazine, and this will continue, but I appreciate that with the escalating postage costs, particularly abroad, some fans may find this a cost-effective solution.

You'll be able to download it to read on a computer or print out your own personal copy. You can read more about these developments here, and we'll let you know when it goes live. More...

SR#700183

GUY/MCCOY/TORME (GMT) (whose debut CD got a strong thumbs up at DPAS Towers) are still touring into December, and have announced an extra show in London on December 14th.

Nov. 29, Milkwoodjam, Swansea Nov. 30 Hark 2 Towler, Bury Dec. 01, Fibbers, York Dec.14, The Standard, Walthamstow, London The band have begun work on their follow up album and may issue a show from December last year in Bradford on DVD soon.    SR#7001812

The second series of the Steve Coogan UK TV sitcom 'Saxondale' got off to a Purplingly good start with around 4 references to our heroes in episode one, which ended with Coogan's eponymous character abandoning a hang-over-induced quiet night in to disappear off to watch Jon Lord and his new 4-piece! (if only..). Sadly subsequent episodes have not kept up the hit rate, but anyone who manages to use a track from The Groundhogs much overlooked album Who Will Save The World on prime time TV has to be worth watching!

TS/SR#700199

World famous Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti was buried today in his home town of Modena. Deep Purple performed at the Parco Novi Sad in Modena on Tuesday May 29th as part of the "Pavarotti & Friends" show in aid of Afghanistan. The band did 'Smoke On The Water', and then Ian Gillan duetted 'Nessun Dorma' with Luciano. The tracks were given limited release on a mail-order / Italian newsagent only CD release in early 2002 (pictured left).

The band repeated their performance two years later on May 27th 2003, again in Modena.

Ian Gillan has posted a message on his official site saying " will never forget the joy of those experiences with the Maestro. There will be two extra stars tonight in the skies, the brightest of all - his twinkling eyes. He was a titanic artist - the greatest tenor of all time. He was a generous gentle man. Thank you Luciano." Ian Gillan

DB#700197 (with thanks to Luca Bariffi )

"The Strange Story of Joe Meek" documentary made by the Arena TV arts programme in 1991 is due to be repeated on BBC4 on Wednesday, September 5th at 22.20. It is one hour long, and includes interviews with Meek musicians such as Jess Conrad and Heinz Burt. There is some archive footage, but Ritchie Blackmore doesn't feature.

BBC4 Listings

DB#700196 (with thanks to Mark Jones)

Issue 58 (a whopping 80 pages) is finally shipping August 20th 2007. It should last readers through at least to the bank holiday (we had thought of doing a Harry Potter style competition and seeing who manages to read it from start to finish the quickest). Start your letters for Issue 59 now!

Issue 58 kicks off with the start of the Rapture album and looks at how tracks were slowly introduced into the set, breaks off for a few Q&As, then tackles the Astoria gig in detail, followed by the Rapture world tour news and reviews.

DVD news and reviews have increased a lot and cover ten pages. There is the usual lengthy retro news and stories section, and solo news covering all members of the band. Mag and book reviews are followed by a lengthy five page special feature taking a look at the parallel careers of Purple and Zeppelin. CD reviews are exhaustive (with the band's latest album analysed in depth by a number of writers) and there are lots of other smaller features and columns dotted throughout. The bulk of the content is new writing unique to the magazine and there is plenty of exclusive news for members.

You can find out more about the Deep Purple Appreciation Society by clicking here. Also included are details of how to subscribe, and receive Issue 58.   SR#7001861

Gillian Glover has four more live dates scheduled: • Tue 25 September, The Comedy, Leicester Square, London • Thur 27 September, Fibbers, York. Tickets www.fibbers.co.uk/ ticketline • Fri 28 September, Hotel California, Birkenhead. Tickets 0151 666 1668 • Fri 14 Dec, Whitechapel Gallery, Aldgate East, London (supporting Glen Matlock). Tickets 020 7522 7888

Sim Jones, who has played electric violin with Ian Gillan on Gillan’s Inn and the American tour, and who also played on Gillian Glover's album Red Handed, has now joined Gillian’s band on a full-time basis.

DB#700194 (Thanks to Tom Wilcox)

M3 - Marsden / Moody / Murray - have just issued an audio version of their DVD Rough An' Ready, which contains a good quality remastered audio version of the show from Burnley Mechanics Institute in June 2004. One song from the DVD (Trouble) has been left off to get it onto one disc. Doogie White sings on four songs. Updated sleeve notes.

In stock at dpas online.

MM#700193

Heaven & Hell recorded their live show at Radio City Music Hall, May 30. 2007. Featuring Ronnie Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Vinnie Appice aka Black Sabbath circa Heaven & Hell album, this is a massive release with 2xCD set, single DVD and a special limited edition 3 disc DVD/CD with bonus material including a big embossed digipak case, reproduction tour pass, poster and other goodies. The film has been edited really quickly, and is due out last week of August 2007 in Europe, it can be pre-ordered at dpas online. The set is also coming out in America on Rhino.

Tracks are: E5150 / After All (The Dead) / The Mob Rules / Children Of The Sea / Lady Evil / I / The Sign Of The Southern Cross / Voodoo / The Devil Cried / Computer God / Falling Off The Edge Of The World / Shadow Of The Wind / Die Young / Heaven And Hell / Lonely Is The Word / Neon Knights.

The UK tour dates which were posted here in March (see below) are all still on and the tour starts in November.  MK#700192

GMT, featuring ex-GIllan members Bernie Torme and John McCoy, along with Robin Guy will be performing at "The Rock and Blues Custom Show" on July 28th 2007 at Coney Grey Showground, Chesterfield Road, Pentrich, Ripley, Derbyshire, along with with The Scorpions, MSG, The Handsome Beasts, Burn, Saor Patrol and others.

GMT are due onstage at 6.50pm. Entrance is £35 prebooked, and £45 on the day. For more information see the Rock and Blues website.  Buy Tickets Online

DB#700191 (with thanks to Retrowrek)

Bassist Tony Dangerfield died on Friday, 20th July. He was found dead on his sofa by his landlords after friends were unable to contact him. Tony played in both Lord Sutch's Roman Empire and Neil Christian's Crusaders, working with Ritchie for six months from late 1966 to the summer of 1967. He was also in Episode Six (Sheila Carter: vocals; Tony Lander: guitar, vocals; Dave Lawson: keyboards, vocals; Tony Dangerfield: bass, vocals; Alan Coulter: drums) after Pete Robinson, John Gustafson and Mick Underwood quit in September 1969 to form Quatermass. NY#700190

The play Telstar about Joe Meek is now being turned into a film. Filming is in August in London.

NY#700189

The archives of the Deep Purple Appreciation Society are stuffed with interviews given by band members and associated personnel over forty years or more, both published and unpublished, on tape, in books and magazines. With space in Darker Than Blue magazine limited, we've decided to publish a new specialist magazine reproducing a selection of this material in its original context. It will be in black and white, approx 20 pages. There will be no attempt at topicality, just a simple aim to produce an eclectic and sometimes off the wall selection.

Issue One is almost ready and features interviews with David Coverdale, Jimmy Bain, Ritchie Blackmore, Cozy Powell, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Tommy Bolin, Jon Lord, Glenn Hughes, Steve Morse and ... Magnet. Price and publishing date will be announced in August.

SR#700189

Italian photographer Vincent Lagana has published a book of his concert photographs from 1994 to the present day. Over 300 pages, it includes dozens of rock acts, with a generous section devoted to Deep Purple, as well as shots from Glenn Hughes and Blackmore's Night in Italy (the cover features a great shot of Ian Gillan too). You can see previews at www.the-musicbox.com.

The book is published via a digital online press which means you must buy it from the printer direct at $70 plus shipping. www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/62134

We do still have some copies of Vincent's Deep Purple poster at dpas online.

SR#7001881

A team up between Billy Cobham and Colin Towns? The pair have recorded a CD of Mahavishnu Orchestra material together for a German jazz label. Titled Meeting Of The Spirits - A Celebration Of The Mahavishnu Orchestra, it's a fascinating recording. Towns is restricted to arranging and producing the whole concert, which was recorded live. dpas online are stocking it.

MM#7001871

Former Rainbow vocalist Graham Bonnet is touring the UK with the Taz Taylor Band this summer, kicking off at Stourbridge Rock Cafe on June 22nd, and running through to The Iron Works, Inverness on July 14th.  A set so far includes selections from Down To Earth, with tracks from Alcatrazz and MSG thrown in.

For the full tour list, see www.bonnetrocks.com. Click the poster to enlarge.

DPAS Live Reviews : Glasgow. June 25th 2007 Sheffield. June 28th 2007 Southampton. July 1st 2007 new

DPAS Photo Gallery: Graham Bonnet / Sheffield Boardwalk. June 28th 2007

MR#7001793 with thanks to Mark Jones

American Rock band Tesla have just released an album of covers in tribute to the bands that influenced them. The opening track is a version of Space Truckin' and Tesla make a fine job of it as well. Nice to hear that Deep Purple are still interesting people via other bands all these years down the line.

Jon Kirkman #700188

Ed Alleyne-Johnson is violinist with a difference. He plays through a bank of pedals which gives the violin many different sounds. His latest release is Reflections and - to quote the sleeve notes - it is "...the music which inspired me as a teenager growing up in the 70's.... I grew up with these songs and have loved them ever since."

The tracks include a ten minute version of Child In Time, with the vocal and guitar parts done on the violin. Amazing stuff! Review Darker Than Blue 59. dpas online are stocking it.

SR#700188 (Thanks to Tom Dixon for the info and sleeve)

John McCoy has issued his long awaited Anthology, which runs from his pre Gillan stint in the company of Zzebra and Quadrant, through Gillan (obviously) and then on to the 80s with Mammoth tracks and the like, ending up with the new GMT outfit. It's a 2xCD set. There's a review in the next issue of Darker Than Blue (which is apparently being finished off this week!).

DB#700184

(Thanks to Stuart A Hamilton)

The Blue Aeroplanes are releasing an album of ten covers; all songs performed or originally performed by artists that were signed to Harvest Records. The Blue Aeroplanes are an art-rock group from Bristol who formed in the late 80’s "to bring folk, rock, pop, poetry and art to the masses" (thanks guys, how did we ever managed to find our local art galleries without you!). Seriously, Time Out called them “the best band to emerge from the West Country,” in their review of Altitude in April 2006. Why are we mentioning it? They cover Fireball (Harvest HAR 5045). Harvest have promised me a promo soon and we're very curious to hear how they tackle it: will there be double bass drums?

SR#700183 (Thanks to Jim Henderson)

Rock N Roll Universe have an exclusive (and very lengthy) interiew with Bernie Torme and John McCoy online at rocknrolluniverse.com, which covers their years with Gillan in some detail. Well worth a read.

MM#700177

(Thanks to Keith Langerman, www.rocknrolluniverse.com)

The 40th anniversary of producer Joe Meek's death in February is being marked by a number of new CD releases. Blackmore collectors will be most interested in a new HEINZ CD: JUST LIKE EDDIE - THE ANTHOLOGY. This 2CD set includes everything Heinz ever recorded, including three previously unreleased tracks. Blackmore played on Heinz's only album included here as well. The CD is expected in February and can be ordered via dpas online.

Three other CDs include Joe Meek's Boys, The Best Of Meek's Instrumentals (which may include Blackmore tracks, we're awaiting details), and the EP Collection, with 12 CD sized reproduction EPs in their original sleeves. This includes the rare Heinz EP Live It Up (the tracks are also on the Anthology). dpas online can specially order this for those who want it. RPM are also planning a collection of Meek rarities.

MR#700175 (Thanks to Roger Dopson)

Ex-Gillan members Bernie Torme and John McCoy have their first studio album out. Under the name GMT, the CD "Bitter And Twisted" can be previewed at www.gmtrocks.com. It can be ordered from dpas online now, and there's a rave review in the next issue of Darker Than Blue.

MM#700171 (Thanks to Bernie Torme)

There are plans for Ronnie Dio to participate on a reunion of the Black Sabbath line-up which he fronted, and Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward appeared to be up for it - although it would probably go under a different name for obvious reasons. The reunion now seems set, and the group will headline Donnington in June 2007 and play other festivals. Dio and Iommi will cut a couple of new tracks for a Sabbath Dio years CD soon.

The Dio / Iommi group will be called Heaven And Hell, the world tour starts in Canada in March 2007, and Vinnie Appice is now in the drum seat. Mike Garrett

More details at Ronnie's site, http://www.ronniejamesdio.com   SR#7001713

The Tony Ashton Testimonial show held at Abbey Road in 2000, in the presence of the man himself, is being released at long last. There is a single CD to kick off, followed by a DVD release. The CD is available now from dpas online, and is titled "Tony Ashton & Friends - Live At Abbey Road" T2CD0107. It will be in the shops in a few weeks. More details and the full track list can be found at the T2Media web site. Guests of especial interest to Deep Purple fans included Pete York, Eddie Hardin, Neil Murray, Bernie Marsden, Micky Moody, Jon Lord and Ian Paice amongst others.

The idea for the evening came from Jon Lord and Pete York, and it was held at Abbey Road Studio One in London. The CD edition (which has a special booklet with pictures from the gig) includes a three track set from Tony Ashton and friends, a six track set from the old Whitesnake wrecking crew (minus David Coverdale), including a stripped down version of “Here I Go Again” done by just Bernie and Jon. The CD ends with the first and only PAL reunion, right down to the brass and female backing singers (with Neil Murray standing in for Paul Martinez). They do two album tracks and close with a rousing version of “Resurrection Shuffle” (with Jon and Tony swapping keyboard riffs across the stage). Sadly the event turned out to be Tony's last night of heavy rock and roll - at least in this world. While clearly not the ultimate Tony Ashton release, it's a great souvenir of what was a very enjoyable and moving occasion. There was a review of the show in Issue 53 of Darker Than Blue. More details of the DVD will follow shortly. The cover picture is shown left.   MK#7001693