Well just a few pix & stuff in admiration of the finest exponents of sophisticated heavy rock music.

Here's the boys lettin' it rip at the Royal Albert Hall last September, 1999. Me 'n' Tricky Dickie cruised down in my ol' Zodiac, the Highway Star itself,
for this exuberant feast of musical excellence. No mere headbangin' rock gig, this performance with the London Symphony Orchestra and special guests included ballads, soft rock, big band jazz, classical music and heavy rock, all of the very highest calibre.
A live recording is available, I have the DVD which brings it all back to life. Tricky took these RAH pics.

Mini-History
Formed in 1968, when the Beatles were still a going concern, DP quickly achieved modest success. They revised the line-up in July '69, resulting in the 'classic' Mark 2 version which really put the band on the map. This included Ian Gillan on vocals, Ritchie Blackmore on guitar, Jon Lord (organ/piano), Ian Paice (drums) and Roger Glover (bass guitar). The name Deep Purple came in a roundabout way from a song Ritchies's granny was fond of.

 Although the band was essentially a heavy guitar-driven rock outfit, Jon had been working for some time on an orchestral project. With the support of Sir Malcolm Arnold, this became the Concerto for Group and Orchestra, first performed in 1969 with the London Philharmonic at the Royal Albert Hall.

 This was a fully scored classical-cum-rock piece of work integrating the group partly in competition with the orchestra, and ultimately in cooperation. The idea was novel and contemporary reviews were mixed, but it showcased the talent and musicianship within the band. From then on most of the group's effort went into straight hard rock albums and touring. Hit singles were not really their scene, but 1 or 2 were released such as Black Night (in 1970), which made no. 2 in the UK charts and got them on "Top of the Pops". Their best known piece is probably Smoke on the Water, describing the recording of the Machine Head album (1972) in Montreux, where the Casino burnt down by the Lake Geneva shoreline during a Frank Zappa concert.
Exciting live performances from this era can be sampled in crystal clear quality on the Made in Japan album (Tokyo/Osaka concerts, August 1972), and on a few other compilations.
 

Roger and Ian G left the band during 1973, partly due to pressure of touring. Others were recruited with mixed success, until the band folded completely in 1976.
 
 

In 1984, there was a reunion and Mark 2 Purple were back in business with the stunning Perfect Strangers album, and a world tour. This culminated at Knebworth in June, 1985, their first UK gig for about 12 years. "The highlight of the Tour", said Ian G.

The Knebworth Fayre was a day-long festival of rain and mud, I took my lickle bruvver Tim on the trusty Triumph Tiger.
What's this? Sunshine? Ah, rain 'n' brollies, that's more like it. "Support" acts included UFO, Meatloaf & Scorpions.
Deep Purple came on after dark:
 

A somewhat turbulent period followed, with a few membership changes from 1990 to 1994. The net result was 4/5 of the 1969 Mark 2 line-up, with Ritchie replaced by American virtuoso and all-round nice guy Steve Morse on guitar. This version of the band has been stable for longer than any other line-up, and they've put together a couple of fine albums in the '90s, notably the highly-acclaimed "Purpendicular". Work has started on a new album which will probably be completed in 2001.

 Following the memorable 1999 Albert Hall performances, they have been touring the Concerto with an orchestra around South America and Europe through 2000, to glowing reviews.

 Early 2001 tour dates have included Australia and the Far East, including one or two orchestral shows but mainly 'straight' heavy rock gigs. A USA tour is planned for the summer (with Lynyrd Skynyrd), followed by more European dates. A UK tour in spring 2002 is rumoured.

The Highway Star Deep Purple website.

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