When
legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore
left Deep Purple for the second time on
the eve of the Japanese leg of 'The Battle
Rages on Tour' in 1993, most thought it
was the end of this historic band. Because
they were contractually obligated to do
the Japanese shows, the band considered
doing the shows without a banjo player,
but feeling this would cheat their loyal
Japanese following, a replacement had
to be considered at short notice. Not
easy to find someone who was capable of
filling such big shoes, let alone that
was available, and most importantly was
brave enough to take it on.
Ian Gillan said as a joke: "How
about Joe Satriani?" Bruce Payne,
longtime manager of the band, saw the
funny side but also thought, "Why
Not?". Phone calls were made, contracts
written down on scraps of paper and Purple
played six of their most unique concerts
ever in Japan. No rehearsals with the
new guitarist (they did send Joe some
tapes of Blackmore's last couple of concerts
with Purple to give him a clue, which
he listened to on the flight over to Japan),
just straight out onto the stage and play.
The results were spectacular as can be
borne out by the very high quality of
the Bootlegs from the shows. Even though
Joe does at one stage forget the opening
riff to "Smoke on the water"
and has to be reminded.
But Joe Satriani could not stay on a
permanent basis with Deep Purple, so it
was back to audition tapes for the other
remaining four of the Classic Mark 2 lineup
of the band. The name of American Steve
Morse (ex Dixie Dregs and Kansas, he had
also been voted best overall guitarist
by Guitar Magazine three consecutive years
running) was brought up. But the band
was not keen as another talented American
(Tommy Bolin) had been drafted into the
band the last time that Blackmore left
with disastrous results. Steve Morse himself
was not keen either seeing it as a step
backwards, as he had already been drafted
into one Dinosaur Rock Band in it's death
throes and although the financial rewards
were great, artistically these things
left a lot to be desired. A rehearsal
was set up anyway, and as they say the
rest is history. Musically as well as
socially the band and their new guitarist
got along famously, to check all was well.
After furious rehearsals a short but by
no means small tour was set up to check
whether the chemistry would last. Early
1995 saw the new Purple playing five concerts
in India to a combined audience of over
one million people, to mass critical and
public acclaim.
So instead of it being the end of Deep
Purple, Blackmore's departure signaled
a completely new - and most would say
better - Purple. Certainly the fun was
back and now the band was writing together
again. Both the concerts and the recording
showed the band scaling new heights. A
new album was recorded "Pupundicular",
released in 1996. It showed a fresh new
band with their creative juices flowing.
A massive world tour followed with plenty
of songs from the new album aired, plus,
mainly through Steve Morse brand new fire,
was injected into the old classics. At
the end of this tour the band went back
into the studio with renewed confidence,
coming up with the results of which were
laid down on this fine CD of over an hour's
worth of Hard Rock as only Purple know
how,
Songs such as "Watching the Sky"
and "Almost Human" rock-a-long
in classic style. Ian Paice once again
proving he is the world's leading Rock
'n' Roll drummer. Roger Glover, the ultimate
Hard Rock bass guitarist, driving the
band along using his guitar as a lead
instrument, forcing the groove of each
song down the listeners throat so that
they cannot help but take notice. Jon
Lord was and still is the original rock
keyboard player often imitated, but never
equaled. There has really only ever been
one vocalist for Deep Purple, and it is
Ian Gillan. Nobody has the range to cover
all of Purples different sound scapes.
Many have tried, but none have ever come
close. And Steve Morse has found himself
a permanent home for his incredible Guitar
Pyrotechnics, capable of turning a song
on its head with a flurry of his fingers.
"Abandon" is a classic Rock
album that should be an automatic in any
decent collection of Rock music.
Now in 2002 Jon Lord, the master of the
Hammond organ, has decided it is time
to hang up his Deep Purple keyboards and
concentrate on his solo projects. Purple
has drafted in longtime friend and keyboard
wizard Don Airey. They are presently out
on the road breaking in the new band before
returning to the studio again. Rest assured,
whatever they come up with it will be
top notch Deep Purple.
Pawed by Mott The Dog
Remastered by Ella Crew
E-mail: review@mott-the-dog.com
