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DPAS
LIVE REVIEWS Deep
Purple They're on form again, but they kicked off half an hour earlier. Is this going to be the normal start time for the rest of the tour? I nearly missed it! From further back I can get a better feel for the mix, and the keyboards seem to be getting more of their share at last. Lazy and When A Blind Man Cries come off well again, and Space Truckin is more clearly signposted as Ian lays down that cymbal pattern as soon as they start jamming. Very different intro to last night but no less enjoyable.
Maybe there were less (first night) nerves tonight, but I seemed to note more interplay between Don & Steve - not quite trading off each other yet, but getting there. Again, the changeover from Don to Jon elicits a massive cheer and we're in the home straight. There seems a lot of activity from the wings and for Smoke On The Water we're joined by half of Iron Maiden - Janick Gers (still doing Blackmore's old moves!), Nicko McBrain (trying out the bongos and the tambourine before eventually being given a couple of drum sticks and a tom tom on the left hand side of Ian's kit), and Bruce Dickinson. Steve and Janick trade guitar parts (Steve wins), Don's back up, so we have a nine-piece. And a blonde climbs out from the audience, kisses someone and proceeds to demonstrate that she might just be the worst bongo player in the world! Bruce takes the second verse and he and Ian share the choruses. More guitar duelling, Nicko's almost playing on the same song as little Ian and it all winds up nicely with more guitar histrionics and strat-throwing from Janick. The blonde is finally led off stage (somehow, I don't think a bloke would have been allowed to stay up there for so long). Back to a five piece for Hush (Jon), Black Night (Don) then both up for Highway Star. Again, as the lights come on we're left wanting more. Maybe another break between Black Night and Highway Star would do it, but the way they're playing at the moment, a three song encore isn't enough! The set does feel quite short compared to recent times, and even more of a greatest hits selection than usual. Maybe one more song in the set list would round it out? But it's definitely playing off the hard-rock side of Purple, rather than the more mellow, musical side (e.g. Fools & The Aviator on the previous leg of this tour). I suppose there isn't an album to promote, and everyone now knows this is Jon's swansong, so go out with the hits and hopefully give a thorough revamp to the setlist after the next album is recorded. Newcastle, here I come! review: Brian Jackson Maybe it was because they had to stick to the 'doors open 7pm' notice printed on the old February tickets, but the early start caught me out completely, only arriving as the last notes of Ted The Mechanic were reverberating through the walls of the Apollo. I therefore sadly missed the performances of 'Super Trouper' and 'Rat Bat Blue' (I'm joking, please don't faint). The set-list was as unadventurous as expected, and my attention was primarily focussed on Don Airey's playing (me clutching for anything new to latch on to..) He acquited himself very well, a particularly beautiful solo in When A Blind Man Cries really hit the spot. Rather more dubious was his distinctive almost off-key synth work before Perfect Strangers, which reminded me of his bombastic Rainbow solo spots (which I admit I loved, at the time). And then the lights went out, and all that could be seen was a small torch light picking its way through to the keyboards. Lights on again, and there was Lordy to strike the first chords of Perfect Strangers. If it hadn't already been party time, it now was, and the guests soon arrived. After a lengthy Speed King a group of blokes lurched across the stage. From my position at the back they could have been absolutely anybody, at least until the familiar hunched figure of Janick Gers appeared, moving in a mysterious (very Blackmore-like) way. As it was a party, his antics were quite a laugh, ending with a guitar bashing straight from the Rainbow Rockpalast 1977 show. With two other Iron Maiden members (so I've since found out), a grinning Don Airey, and a cheeky female gatecrasher on bongos Smoke On The Water was an incredible mess, though a joyful one. And a bootlegger's dream. And so Deep Purple's latest line-up change was celebrated with a glorious musical piss-up, ending with a six man Highway Star featuring Lord on Hammond and Airey on synth. As with all repeat parties, we can't be certain what will happen at the next show...how about the LSO dancing a mass can-can during Smoke..? Or have they got the phone number of the nude dancer from the Kursaal Ballroom show in 1974... review: David Browne I've just got home from tonight's Hammersmith show and it was truly awesome!! Having suffered along with Ian during the February shows it was great to hear him sounding so fit and energetic. His voice, although lost in the mix a little at times, was in fine form, as was the entire band. I have to say that I was a little dubious about a Lord-less Purple but Don seemed confident, happy and has obviously fitted in well. His solo in When A Blind Man Cries was superb. Of course, the big moment was after his solo intro for Perfect Strangers, and you all know who stepped up to the keyboards. The place went barmy and the song has rarely sounded better. Excellent duelling between Lord and Morse along with some aggressive bass and wondrous drum solo made "Speed King" a real highlight. Ian mentioned something about friends being backstage and anything being possible and shortly after, 3 blokes from Iron Maiden arrived - the drummer, the singer and (I think) Janick Gers - a lot of grinning and silliness ensured before a lengthy and loud Smoke On The Water which had the crowd going wild. Halfway through the song, a woman jumped on stage and spent the rest of the time bashing away on Ian's congas much to his amusement! Jon and Don shared the keys for this song as they did during Highway Star. There was real affection and emotion at the end of the show and Jon was clearly affected by it all. It is very sad to think that we may never see him on a stage again in this context.
Regards to all Purple people everywhere. review: Chris Inkpen Friday night. Me and the wife, front row tickets, right in front of Roger Glover. Soon realised that whilst this was great as a viewing point it was terrible for our ears...guitar monitors next to Roger facing across the stage which just blasted out Steve Morse's guitar at a brain crushing volume (it's Sunday night as I write and our ears are still ringing!). However, through all this, I can confirm that the band are in fine form at the moment although the set list was a bit of a disappointment (why no Fools?). Nice to hear Space Truckin' again...forgotten how good it is, and doesn't Ian Paice just get better and better the older he gets?! Don was great but the place erupted when Jon Lord came on stage, he was awesome, especially on Speed King. Saturday night. A few rows back tonight, the sound is much clearer and the band's performance (to me) seems better as a result. The same set again...how about Rat Bat Blue sometime please? Jon got an even better response tonight and as I watched him it suddenly dawned on me that this was it. This would be the last time I see him play these songs. I felt really sad for a while then he started trading licks with Steve in Speed King and I thought that at least he was going out in style! All finished off with Highway Star and there's lots of shaking hands with the front row. I was gutted...Jon Lord was shaking hands with the people who were in the seats I had on the Friday night...he never moved from the back of the bloody stage when I was down there. Typical. review: Carl Hackett My
Sweet Lord The set list was top speed Purple, and if anything lacked a couple of the more subtle tracks from the recent catalogue. They could have dropped The Well Dressed Guitar in favour of Up the Wall or Fools. Watching The Sky or Fingers to the Bone maybe. Still, as a classic hits package for Mr Lord to use as a backdrop for his goodbyes it hit the mark. With Gillan in such fine form, how about Child in time as an encore? Roger's bass playing was excellent with his solo being particularly impressive, Big Ian's voice responded well over his usual range. Steve is clearly making his presence felt more and more and some of his duelling with Don and Jon was excellent. Little Ian was, well Paicey as usual (has he ever played a bad gig?). Don is beginning to settle in well with his intro/solo preceding Perfect Strangers flowing quite nicely. But the evening really belonged to one member of Deep Purple - Jon Lord, and when he appeared to start Perfect Strangers the crowd really let rip. Deservedly so, the man rocks!!! Now that Deep Purple are down to the last founder member it cannot be the same. Good luck in the studio guys - here's to the next time and thanks for all the fish Jon! (re. the Oxford Apollo in February!) review + set list : Ian & Lorraine Surridge This was the first time I'd seen Purple since the '80s, and the first time ever for my wife. We thought it was an excellent show, the highlight definitely being Don's solo handing on to Jon for Perfect Strangers, such an immense version it transformed the show from good to great. Don played half the show and Jon the other half, with both on some songs it was a good opportunity to compare the two. I think Jon's playing was a little cleaner and fitted in better, though he does have the benefit of experience! Steve seemed to dominate both the sound and the centre of the stage. I've seen Ian Gillan on several occasions and heard live albums, and he has always introduced songs in various ways. I was surprised that he hardly said a word in the nigh-on 2 hours - though his voice was so good that I wouldn't criticise this. Nicko McBain, Janick Gers and Bruce Dickinson from Iron Maiden guested on Smoke On The Water though as they weren't introduced there were several in the audience who didn't recognise them. Purple must find it difficult choosing which songs to play, particularly which of the old favourites to leave out. With 5 Gillan Reunion albums compared with 4 in the 70s I would have preferred some more reunion material as there was only Perfect Strangers and Ted the Mechanic; Abandon was overlooked completely. When A Blind Man Cries was the only quiet song. It would have been good to hear Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming; Watching The Sky or (my favourite) Wasted Sunsets instead, along with Castle Full Of Rascals - this would have turned an excellent evening into a perfect one. Like everyone else I'll be sad to see Jon leave, but this show suggests there's plenty still to come. I'm eagerly awaiting the next album. review: Dave and Ali Stone
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