Away Team

On July 16, 2011, Deep Purple performed on the closing night of Switzerland’s prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival by re-inventing their classic catalog with the help of a symphony orchestra. This night will forever be emblazoned upon the brains of Deep Purple fans around the world when Eagle Rock Entertainment releases Live At Montreux 2011 simultaneously in DVD, Blu-Ray, and 2CD packages on November 8.

The whole night has been preserved in crystal clarity via high definition for the DVD and Blu-Ray releases. The sound on the 2CD set—DTS Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital Stereo—is superb. Included on the DVD and Blu-Ray is a bonus in-depth band interview. Such classics as “Highway Star,” “Strange Kind of Woman,” “Lazy,” “Perfect Strangers,” “Hush,” “Woman From Tokyo,” “Black Night,” “Smoke On The Water” and 11 other gems, as performed with the orchestral sweep behind them, certainly spurred the band on. Ian Gillan (vocals), Ian Paice (drums), Roger Glover (bass), Steve Morse (guitar) and Don Airey (keyboards) can be seen visibly pleased with the results of the orchestra, as directed by Stephen “BK” Bentley-Klein.

This 115-minute concert is emblematic of the kind of shows that Deep Purple has been putting on with amazing consistency as they criss-cross the globe. It’s what their fans have come to expect. The current orchestra tour has proven them capable of transcending genre limitations to reach out for the kind of all-encompassing theatrical presentation that’s hard to forget. Now, with this release, Deep Purple fans around the globe can thrill to this extraordinary pairing of symphonic textures and the hardest of Classic Rock.









To purchase DEEP PURPLE + Orchestra Live at Montreux 2011 click here.

DEEP PURPLE

Phoenix Rising

Eagle Vision

8 out of 10

A good band can withstand a change in guitarist or drummer, a great band can withstand several membership changes, a select few bands can withstand a lead singer change (ok, I can think of two, Genesis and Van Halen), but only one band can have several different lineups and change the personnel of the entire band over and over and over again and still be amazing, relevant, put out quality albums over and over, and most importantly be accepted as that very band with no backlash for the changes.

I’m of course talking about Deep Purple. The band has had so many lineup changes over the year, had so many people in and out of the band that they are actually known by their versions, Mark I, II, III, etc. The band has had 14 different members over the years, they’ve changed every position but one. Ian Paice has been the drummer from day one, and in every incarnation of the band he has been there.

He has kept time for the likes of Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, David Coverdale, Glen Hughes, Jon Lord, Joe Satriani, Tommy Bolin, Joe Lynn Turner, Rod Evans, Steve Morse, Roger Glover, Don Airey, and Nick Simper. Some amazing talent has performed under the DEEP PURPLE moniker.

Fans to this day still debate the best and their best Marks (or versions) of the band. My personal will always be Mark I. The original. Not to take away anything from the Coverdale/Hughes days, but I was turned on to DP in 1984 when they reunited the DP Mark I and put out Perfect Strangers. It was from that point I went backwards and found one of my all time favorite bands.

The last maybe 10 years the band, or their labels have been putting out some great videos. They’ve taken all their old concert videos, unreleased concerts, and putting together some great packages for the fans.

The latest is Phoenix Rising. And it features Mark IV of DEEP PURPLE. With an unknown (at the time) David Coverdale sharing lead vocal duties with bassist Glenn Hughes, Tommy Bolin on guitar, Jon Lord on keys, and as always Ian Paice on drums, this short lived version never had the chance to record as Tommy Bolin died in 76 of a heroin overdose. But this never before seen concert Rises Over Japan recorded in 1975 at the Budokahn in Tokyo sees the band crank out the classics Burn, Love Child, Highway Star, Stormbringer, Smoke On The Water, Getting Tighter, and Lazy.

Two things jump out at you watching this (especially during Highway Star, and Burn), David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes played off each other insanely well vocally. It was a true stroke of great fortune that the band got both of them at the same time. Because it is also evident during Highway Star that what Ian Gillan did alone vocally required Hughes/Coverdale together to do. David Coverdale hitting the lower, gruffer, bluesier parts, and Hughes hitting the higher notes. What we don’t get to see, but I would love to have is to see Coverdale/Hughes do Child In Time. Again it would absolutely take the talents of both of them to pull off what Gillan did by himself, but it would still be amazing to see them do it together.

The concert is remastered in 5.1 on this Blu Ray disc. And it sounds, well, as great as you’d expect a DEEP PURPLE show to sound. Martin Birch did a great job catching the band tearing through a wild set. The band may not have been the tightest at the time, at least not that night from the looks of things, but the energy, playing, and vibe was there. And of course the great songs. Sadly it is only 30 minutes, but it is a great 30 minutes of a seldom seen version of DEEP PURPLE. And in that, this show is enough to purchase this disc. To see Bolin/Hughes/Coverdale rock out to these great DP songs is more than enough reason to pick up the blu ray. But Rises Over Japan is only 30 minutes of Phoenix Rising. The rest is a never before seen documentary Gettin’ Together. It is culled from years of research, with live shots, backstage footage, interviews, and never before told stories. It tells the best and the worst of the Purple. The highs and lows of a tumultuous time in DP history.

The blu ray will only set you back $20, but you can pick up a regular DVD version for only $15 and a great DVD/CD combo for $20 also. If you are a Deep Purple fan you simply cannot pass this up. If you are lover of 70s rock, this is right up your alley, and if you want to see where David Coverdale cut his teeth before Whitesnake then this is for you too.









DEEP PURPLE – Phoenix Rising is out today. You can pick your copy up here, you’ll thank me later.

DEEP PURPLE‘s Come Taste The Band 35th Anniversary reissue is due out on October 25th in the UK.

The reissue includes a remastered version of the album, plus the single version of ‘You Keep On Moving‘ on CD 1. CD2, meanwhile, has the album remixed by Kevin Shirley (LED ZEPPELIN, IRON MAIDEN), with input from Glenn Hughes, plus two unissued instrumental tracks from the sessions.

The tracklist is as follows:
CD1
Comin Home
Lady Luck
Gettin Tighter
Dealer
I Need Love
You Keep on Moving
Love Child
This Time Around
Owed to G
Drifter
You Keep on Moving 45 edit

CD2
Comin Home
Lady Luck
Gettin Tighter
Dealer
I Need Love
You Keep on Moving
Love Child
This Time Around
Owed to G
Drifter
Always the Same in LA
Bolin/Paice Jam

Deep Purple line-up:
David Coverdale - lead vocals
Tommy Bolin – guitars, vocals, bass guitar on ‘Comin’ Home‘
Glenn Hughes – bass, vocals (lead vocals on ‘Gettin’ Tighter‘ and ‘This Time Around‘)
Jon Lord – keyboards, piano, synthesizer, backing vocals on ‘Comin’ Home’, bass on ‘This Time Around‘
Ian Paice – drums, percussion

For more DEEP PURPLE click here.

HOLLYWOOD, CA (June 18, 2010) – WHITESNAKE have officially announced that bassist URIAH DUFFY & drummer CHRIS FRAZIER are going their separate ways from the band after a fun filled & successful journey together.
WHITESNAKE wish URIAH & CHRIS every success in pursuing their individual musical careers & express their sincere gratitude for the exceptional contribution they both made to the legacy of the band.
WHITESNAKE are proud to welcome drummer/vocalist extraordinaire, BRIAN TICHY (www.briantichy.com).
WHITESNAKE are currently in the studio writing & recording the follow up to their award winning ‘GOOD TO BE BAD‘ album, which is expected to be released throughout the world on the FRONTIERS label in the Spring of 2011 to coincide with their return to touring.
Commented Tichy: “[WHITESNAKE frontman] David Coverdale put a press release out [on Friday] announcing me as the new WHITESNAKE drummer. So it is with utmost respect, regard, pleasure and honor that I am able to write the words ‘I am hittin’ skins, pounding time, providing groove and rocking in an unequivocal fashion with one of the most undeniable forces in rock, WHITESNAKE!’
“I am greatly appreciative of the trust bestowed on me by the mighty, Lord Of Voices, David Coverdale, and my bud, who happens to be one of the most killer guitarists around, Doug Aldrich. I am also looking forward to getting it tight with Reb [Beach, guitar] and Timothy [Drury, keyboards]!
“I hope to do all I can to make this band as great and as successful as it can be as well as making the fans happy.
“I too, am, and have been, a fan. (I practiced many hours in high school to the ‘Slide It In‘ cassette! I ain’t no stranger!)
“I’m excited to record and tour over the next year as I chase the footsteps of my idols Ian Paice, Cozy Powell and Tommy Aldridge!”
Brian Tichy will honor his previous touring commitments with LYNCH MOB before focusing on his new gig.
WHITESNAKE has yet to name a replacement for bassist Uriah Duffy, whose departure from the band was also announced this past week. At this time WHITESNAKE are still exploring their options for the position of new Bass Player/Singer.

To keep updated on WHITESNAKE visit www.whitesnake.com /  www.frontiers.it