Deep Purple
Live At The Olympia '96
Deep Purple, the quintessential hard rock quintet that first burst onto the scene in
the late 60's with "Hush," has undergone a number of personnel changes over the
years, the band's only remaining constants being keyboardist Jon Lord and drummer Ian
Paice. Each combination has met with nominal success, but the most popular mix is
undoubtedly the version referred to as Mark 2. Along with Lord and Paice, this chapter in
the band's tumultuous career included co-founder Ritchie Blackmore occupying the guitar
seat while vocalist Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover were brought in to expand the
band's growing role in the early 70's hard rock scene. The highlight of this particular
alliance was "Smoke On The Water," perhaps one of the most renowned and
influential riffs in all of rock and roll.
After three years, Gillan and Glover left the fold, but Purple continued on, enlisting
newcomer David Coverdale and bassist Glenn Hughes. Persisting in the hard rock vein, the
band's success prevailed through the next couple of years. In 1975, Blackmore left to
establish Rainbow, another band with a heavy rotation of personnel, too broad to cover in
this article.
In 1976, with Tommy Bolin on guitar, it looked as though Purple would be heading in a
new, funkier direction. Unfortunately, Bolin fell victim to the perils of heroin and died
just as the band was regaining their stature. Coverdale, Lord and Paice went on to form
the first incarnation of Whitesnake while Hughes involved himself in a variety of
different projects. By the end of 1976, Deep Purple was history.
In 1984, Mark 2 reformed and released PERFECT STRANGERS, an extraordinary comeback
album that sounded as if the group had never broken up. Unfortunately, A follow-up and
ensuing live album didn't quite measure up, and it looked as if Purple was bound to
extinction once again. From all this, an interesting sidebar developed: Blackmore and
Gillan were at personal odds with one another, so Joe Lynn Turner, the last singer with
Rainbow, was brought in to appease the temperamental guitarist. The end result was an
album -- SLAVES AND MASTERS -- that sounded more like Rainbow than Deep Purple, which at
this point in the early 90's, was the last thing anyone wanted to hear.
Personal reasons put aside, Mark 2 was re-assembled for one final record, THE BATTLE
RAGES ON. That it did: Deep Purple sounded tired, bored, finished. Blackmore has since
gone on, for whatever reason, to reform Rainbow with no-name members. The remaining
consituents of Deep Purple decided on a new game plan.
While several bands will replace members with unknown, but hungry musicians to
replicate the hits, Deep Purple chose a different route: they went with an established
original in his own right and gave him free reign. Steve Morse is best known as the de
facto guitarist for the Dixie Dregs, a late 70's fusion group that laid the groundwork for
such instrumentalists as Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. In more recent years, Morse' solo
career has garnered a small, yet devoted following. At one time he was ready to drop his
musical career to be a airplane pilot, but he instead signed on with Kansas and attempted
to pump new life into the floundering group. Although sales of the two albums he was on
were dormant, Morse' contributions were phenomenal, to say the least. So the question in
1996 was: could he do the same for Purple?
Without major label support, the first album from this collaboration, PURPENDICULAR,
was a definite step in the right direction. Steeped knee-deep in Purpleness, Morse is
still pretty much on his own, and the end result is fresh, unpredictable and rocking.
Unfortunately, this unit has yet to do a major stateside tour. But they have been invading
the concert halls of Europe, where Deep Purple remains a heavyweight.
In the meantime, to fill the void and demand -- if either still exist -- there have
been a slew of Purple live albums released, none quite meeting up to the standards set by
MADE IN JAPAN, the premiere Purple live album from 1973. With LIVE AT THE OLYMPIA '96,
that standard is about to be raised.
Aside from the fact that Morse and Purple lock in like a hand in a glove, the best
thing about this new live album -- available only as an import -- is the song selection.
Along with the requisite translations of "Smoke On The Water, "Highway
Star" and "Woman From The Tokyo," there is an incredible mix of both new
and classic Purple songs. Celebrating the 25th anniversary of MACHINE HEAD, the band
offers up "Maybe I'm A Leo" and "Pictures of Home," two lesser known
tracks from the album, but just as enticing. The band also reaches back further and
unveils some monumental versions of "Fireball," "No One Came" and
"Speed King."
Seamlessly worked within the "oldies," is the new stuff from PURPENDICULAR.
"Ted The Mechanic," "Cascades: I'm Not Your Lover," "Sometimes I
Feel Like Screaming" and "Hey Cisco" fit along nicely, and really define a
cutting edge attitude in the 30-year old band. Employing a horn section provides an
fascinating take on some of the songs. Who would have ever thought that Deep Purple would
be using horns.
All in all, if this effort is any indication, it looks as if Deep Purple is moving
ahead instead of falling back on past glories. Although it is doubtful they will regain
the superstar popularity of the 70's, Gillan and company can at least be assured that old
nemesis Blackmore will not be finding any pots of gold over the Rainbow either. For the
inclusive, it could only mean more interesting music.
Shawn Perry
For submissions, comments, suggestions and offers of sponsorship, send E-mail to stperry@inetworld.net
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