Deep Purple

"It has been a while since Deep Purple last played in Holland. Maybe that´s the reason why the show in the Heineken Music Hall was sold out (the crowd was 5,500 strong).

Belgian support-act Triggerfinger kicked off and warmed up the audience with half an hour of great rock music. As usual this tour Deep Purple started with Highway Star followed by Things I Never Said. I really like this song, it always gets my enthusiasm going. Next up was one of the surprises of the tour - Not Responsible, then back into the seventies for Strange Kind of Woman followed by Wasted Sunsets. In the latter, Ian Gillan showed that he is still one of the best singers around, such power and feeling! Rapture of the Deep was solid as always.

In Fireball Don was the star, he played the solo and fills in such an aggressive way that for me he gave the song a new dimension. Don´s solo spot lead us into The Battle Rages On. The crowd went crazy in Space Truckin´ as in Smoke on the Water, which rounded off the main body of the show.

A fantastic jazzy intro from Don heralded Hush. Than finally the stage was Roger´s, and what a great solo he turned out before Black Night. The guest musician during the song wasn´t recognised by everyone, it was actually Warren Haynes from Gov´t Mule, connected to Steve´s Dixie Dregs. With exactly the same guitar and the same style of guitar playing they entertained with some very nice solos. Beforehand we had thought that there was something wrong with Steve´s stack, because his technician Tommy was on stage for some time. Afterwards he explained that he had one minute's notice that Warren was going to join the band on stage. After the increasingly familiar set-lists of late, I am glad I went along. They put some new songs in, and left out evergreens such as Lazy, Pictures of Home and Perfect Strangers."

review and photos: Peter Rossen

DPAS photo gallery : Deep Purple, Amsterdam, November 17th 2009

"The Vipers were the support act. They were OK, and played songs by the Beatles: Helter Skelter, Golden Earring: Long Blond Animal and Led Zeppelin: Rock and Roll to name but a few. I must say that their sound wasn't too good and I began to get a bit worried. Deep Purple came on stage to a intro that we recognised from The Muse's live album, and it transpired that their sound was much, much better. Whether it was due to the skills of the musicans or the PA people I don't know but it was a great relief.

They started off with Highway Star and continued with Things I Never Said, Strange Kind of Woman, Maybe I'm a Leo, Rapture of the Deep, Wring the Neck, Fireball, Contact Lost, Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming, Well Dressed guitar, Wasted Sunsets, Don's solo, The Battle Rages on, No One Came, Space Truckin', Smoke on the Water, Hush, Roger's solo and finally Black Night.

I noticed that they did lose the crowd a bit during Wring That Neck but I was very pleased to hear that song being performed after so many years. I was also pleased to hear Wasted Sunsets, the guitar melody is so beautiful that I wouldn't have minded if they had expanded it a bit. I was a bit puzzled by Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming. I think Ian Gillan sang it in a different key. It just sounded less familiar. So no Perfect strangers, no Speed King to name a few songs that have been in their set for ages - but a varied list from 1968 till 2005. All great songs."

review: Peter Bouman
photos: Emilio Imparato

DPAS photo gallery : Deep Purple, Århus, November 21st 2009 (i)

DPAS photo gallery : Deep Purple, Århus, November 21st 2009 (ii)

photo: Mikkel Andersen

Attendance: Around 8,000.

Set list: Highway star / Things I never said / Maybe I’m a leo / Strange kind of woman / Wasted sunsets / Rapture of the deep / Fireball / Contact Lost / Steve Morse solo / Sometimes I feel like screaming / Well dressed guitar / Wring that neck / No one came / Don Airey solo (with bits from Norwegian classics!) / The battle rages on / Space truckin’ / Smoke on the water. Encores: Speed king (incorporating bits of Peggy Sue & It’s now or never, & great solo by Roger) / Hush / Black night (long version! - Roger & Steve in good form!). Time: 1 hour 55 mins.

"A good concert, no low points, some averages but mostly highs. Steve and Roger in playful mood, and Don was really showing off throughout the concert. Some of the interplay sections with Steve were excellent. Some particularly nice bass solos from Roger, and Ian Paice was as consistent as always. Wasted Sunsets was a joy to hear live for the first time, featuring very nice from both Ian and Steve! Space Truckin’ was a monster, likewise No One Came. And hearing Rapture of the Deep and Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming really makes you want to hear more Steve Morse era songs! Once again an evening to be remembered, bringing back fond memories of last year’s concert in Steinkjer (which was truly awesome....)."

review: Hans Peter Jenssen / Trondheim

Set list: Highway Star / Things I Never Said / Not Responsible / Strange Kind of Woman / Wasted Sunsets / Rapture Of The Deep / Fireball / Contact Lost / Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming / Well Dressed Guitar / Wring That Neck / No One Came / Don Airey solo ~ The Battle Rages On / Space Truckin' / Smoke On The Water (intro. Sweet Child O´Mine). Encores: Perfect Strangers / Black Night

Set list: Lennart Wikström

"Last time I saw Deep Purple was in Linköping last year. Back then they looked tired and very old. This night was another band. So tight, very happy and playing VERY well!!

I was looking forward to Not Responsible, but unfortunately they played Maybe I'm A Leo in its place. A good song, but it would be nice to hear something new. However, Wasted Sunsets was played and was a good verision with a bluesy solo from Morse. It made me feel like a teenager again. (I was 16 years old when Perfect Strangers was released). Next surprise was Fireball. Blistering keyboard solo!! Another surprise was Wring That Neck, featuring a guitar and organ duel. Wonderful!! I have missed the improvisation since 2002, but tonight they toyed with their instruments. As a surprise they also played Knocking At Your Back Door. I wonder why they refuse to play songs from Bananas (only Contact Lost was included) and Abandon. It would be nice to hear Bananas, Pictures of innocence, Jack Ruby or Any fule Kno That.

Ian Gillan`s voice was OK. He didn´t talk very much, instead they shot the songs out one after another." review and set-list: Anton Blick, Mjölby Sweden.

The setlist: Intro (Romeo and Juliet) / Highway star / Things i never said / Maybe i´m a leo / Strange kind of woman / Wasted sunsets / Rapture of the deep / Fireball (no inclusion of Into the fire) / Contact lost / Morse solo / Sometimes i feel like screaming / The well-dressed guitar / Knocking at your back door / Wring that neck / No one came / Airey solom ~ The battle rages on / Space truckin´ / Intro (Hey Joe) ~ Smoke on the water (no sing along). Encores: Intro (Going down) ~/ Hush / Glover solo~ Black night

"Here is the set list of the Amiens show on December 1st, Lazy is back !" Adrien Rouyer

Set list: Intro: Montagues & Capulets - 1. Highway Star 2. Things I Never Said 3. Bloodsucker 4. Strange Kind Of Woman 5. Wasted Sunsets 6. Rapture Of The Deep 7. Fireball 8. Contact Lost - Steve Morse Solo 9. Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming 10. The Well-Dressed Guitar 11. Knocking At Your Back Door 12. Wring That Neck 13. No One Came 14. Don Airey Keyboard Solo 15. The Battle Rages On 16. Space Truckin' 17. Smoke On The Water - Encores: 18. Lazy 19. Hush 20. (Roger Glover Solo) Black Night

Set list: 1. Highway Star / 2. Things I Never Said / 3. Not Responsible / 4. Strange Kind Of Woman / 5. Wasted Sunsets / 6. Rapture Of The Deep / 7. Fireball / 8. Contact Lost / 9. Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming / 10. The Well Dressed Guitar / 11. Pictures of Home / 12. Wring That Neck / 13. No One Came / Keyboard Solo ~ 14. The Battle Rages On / 15. Space Truckin’ / 16. Smoke On The Water. Encore: 17. Going Down (1min30 instrumental vsn.) / 18. Hush / 19. Black Night.

Set list: Mathieu Pinard

"No Wring That neck in Toulouse, Lazy instead. I can not pass on the fact that Toulouse was a hell of a gig. Bloody brilliant. One of the very best MkVIII shows I've seen so far (out of 43)." review: Mathieu Pinard

Set list: Highway Star (fast and loud) / Things I Never Said / Maybe I’m a leo / Strange kind of woman / Wasted sunsets / Rapture of the deep / Fireball / Contact Lost / Steve Morse solo / Sometimes I feel like screaming (without the epic end) / Well dressed guitar / Knocking At Your Back Door / Lazy (just great!) / No One Came / Don Airey Solo (with bits of the French National Anthem!) / The battle rages on / Space truckin’ / Smoke on the water. Encores: Speed king (incorporating bits of Blue Suede Shoes & other classic rock tunes, great solo by Roger and a short thunderous drum solo by Ian Paice!) / Hush / Black night. Time: approximately 2 hours.

"Attendance: Around 8,000. Support Band : Gotthard (they were really good. It was a good way to get started.) Deep Purple were simply on fire! A two-hours show with many classics from every period of the band. No low points. No break. Just pure hard rock and rock’n’roll from the beginning to the end.

Every member of the band shone, especially Steve Morse, who played as if it was a matter of life and death. Roger Glover added a lot of feeling, groove and power to the songs. Ian Paice proved he is still one of the best drummers out there. Don Airey showed a lot of his skill - his solos was fast and inspired (Fireball! Maybe I’m A Leo!) and some of the transitions between songs were really good. Ian Gillan was in good form, although he struggles a bit with his voice, he still communicates a “joy to be there”.

The set list seemed to come from one of my dreams: the return of Lazy and the inclusion of Knocking At Your Back Door were great surprises. Lazy was especially mind-blowing. Other highlights included Fireball, Highway Star, Things I Never Said, Black Night, No One Came, and The Battle Rages On. In my opinion, Wasted Sunsets lacked a bit of something: maybe it simply needed to be extended, the guitar line is so beautiful. It was a night to remember. Deep Purple are still the legendary hard rock band that all the fans know. Hurry up to see them live if they come to your town."

review and set list: Rémy Salvatgé

Set list: Highway Star / Things I Never Said / Bloodsucker / Strange Kind of Woman / Wasted Sunsets / Rapture of the Deep / Fireball / Contact Lost / Steve Morse solo / Sometimes I feel Like Screaming / Well dressed guitar / Knocking At Your Back Door / Lazy / No One Came / Don Airey Solo / Perfect Strangers / Space truckin’ / Smoke on the water. Encores: Hush / Black night.

Set list: Ngel Young

Set list: 1. Highway Star / 2. Things I Never Said / 3. Not Responsible / 4. Strange Kind Of Woman / 5. Wasted Sunsets / 6. Rapture Of The Deep / 7. Fireball / 8. Contact Lost / 9. Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming / 10. The Well Dressed Guitar / 11. Knocking at your backdoor / 12. Lazy /13. No One Came / Keyboard Solo ~ 14. Perfect Strangers / 15. Space Truckin’ / 16. Smoke On The Water. Encore: 17. Going down (very short instrumental vsn.) / 18. Hush / 19. Black Night/

"Very subdued show, a lot of fun on stage but the band not really into it. Lots of mistakes, from everyone! 4 songs from Perfect Strangers in the same gig, the first time in 25 years I guess!" Set listt and comments: Mathieu Pinard

Set-list: 1. Highway Star / 2. Things I Never Said / 3. Maybe I’m a Leo / 4. Strange Kind Of Woman / 5. Wasted Sunsets / 6. Rapture Of The Deep / 7. Fireball / 8. Contact Lost / 9. Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming / 10. The Well Dressed Guitar / 11. Pictures of Home / 12. Lazy / 13. No One Came / Keyboard Solo ~ 14. Perfect Strangers / 15. Space Truckin’ / 16. Smoke On The Water. Encore: 17. Imagine (1 mn insrumental vsn.) / 18.Hush / 19. Black Night.

"Very good show to end the French tour, but the set-list is becoming more standard these days without Wring That Neck and The Battle Rages On. Here are the audience figures for the French tour, according to the promoter: Amiens 3,500 / Nantes 6,000 / Toulouse 5,000 / Marseille 3,500 / Chambéry 4,500 / Montbéliard 3,500." Set list and comments: Mathieu Pinard

Set list: Highway Star / Things I Never Said / Bludsucker / Strange Kind of Woman / Wasted Sunsets / Rapture of the Deep / Fireball / Contact Lost / Steve Morse Solo ~ Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming / The Well Dressed Guitar / Knocking at your Back Door / Lazy / No One Came / Don Airey Solo ~ Perfect Strangers / Space Truckin' / Smoke on the Water. Encores: Hush (Ian Paice solo) / Roger Glover Solo ~ Black Night.

Set list : Francesco, Deep Purple Italia

Set lis : Highway Star / Things I Never Said / Not Responsible / Strange Kind of Woman / Wasted Sunsets / Rapture of the Deep / Fireball / Contact Lost / Steve Morse Solo ~ Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming / The Well Dressed Guitar / Pictures of Home / Lazy / No One Came / Don Airey Solo ~ The Battle Rages On / Space Truckin' / Smoke on the Water. Encores: Hush (Ian Paice solo) / Roger Glover Solo ~ Black Night.

Set list : Francesco, Deep Purple Italia

Set list: Highway Star / Things I Never Said / Maybe I'm a Leo / Strange Kind Of Woman / Wasted Sunsets / Rapture Of The Deep / Fireball / Contact Lost / Steve Morse Solo ~ Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming / The Well Dressed Guitar / Mary Long / Lazy / No One Came / Don Airey Solo ~ The Battle Rages On / Smoke On The Water / Space Truckin'. Encores: Hush (Ian Paice Solo) / Roger Glover Solo ~ Black Night.

"Comments overall very positive. We've got a lot of "new" people registering and posting on our forum. In particular I must mention Saturday's show in Rome: BarleyArts (the italian tour promoter) has confirmed that Rome was sold out (about 12,000). . The comments in our forum - either from both old and new fans -  are so enthusiastic that I nearly cried. It seems that Gillan was in great form, and so were the rest of the band."

set list, and news : Francesco, Deep Purple Italia

"And now for some great news: the last concert of the tour (Bologna, Paladozza, Wednesday 16th December) is due to be broadcast live by Radio2, one of the radio stations operated by Italian public service broadcaster RAI. The live broadcast will start at 9pm (Italian time), 8pm GMT. Radio2 can be heard on the internet at this address: http://www.rai.tv/dl/RaiTV/popup/player_radio.html?v=2

We don't know yet whether they will broadcast the entire concert or only a few parts, but I'll keep you posted should the radio station get back to me."

Francesco, Deep Purple Italia