DPAS LIVE REVIEWS

Deep Purple
Plymouth Pavilions.
17th September 2002

Let's get the 'negative' part out of the way first: the setlist could have been a bit more adventurous and the show a bit longer (although they nearly played 1hr 50 min!). On to the positive part: the show turned into a fantastic evening in many ways!!!

It didn't start out like that though... This concert was all seated. There was a gap of about 10 feet between the stage and the front row and on either side of the stage were some impressive looking bouncers ready to 'control' the audience. I had a second row seat (postponed from the March tour) on Roger Glover's side. This was the first time I'd been to a rock concert that was all seated and I must admit it felt weird and I didn't like it. During Fireball Ian Gillan jumped off stage and had a chat with the bouncers on one end of the hall. It took until Ted The Mechanic before a girl ran up to dance at the front and she was pulled away by the bouncers. Rapidly there was this sense of tension building up in the (sold out) hall. Next thing Ian Gillan, Roger Glover and Steve Morse jumped off stage into the 'gap' and continued to play from there. Ian Gillan remarked 'nobody seems to be allowed in here so we might as well use it' and 'what has happened to rock' n' roll?' and kept encouraging people to come forward.

I was doing my bit by getting up at every possible moment and cheer and dance. It took a few more songs before the audience finally started to get up a bit, somebody in front of me got up so I could climb over her seat, ran right up front and before the bouncers could get to me I found myself surrounded by lots of other people. Ian Gillan welcomed us and the bouncers backed off. From then on it was just party time. All smiles on stage, lots of hands shaking, great playing, Ian Gillan in great voice (I asked him afterwards how he managed to still be in such a good voice. He replied: 'I'm happy'.). And the 'predictable' setlist turned into a fantastic gig! No changes to the setlist from the previous nights apart from Don Airey, who played a near complete version of Weiss Heim during his solo piece.

I left the gig with a plectrum from Roger and Steve, and one of Ian's drumsticks. If you'd seen only one gig, the Plymouth one would have definitely sent you home smiling (It did me!). The icing on the cake was before and after the show. While the support act was entertaining the crowd I was waiting outside. Somebody told me the band was already inside. To my surprise a taxi pulled up with Jon Lord in the back! He got out and said he was late and had to rush but did sign my ticket (the Purple signature). After the show I ended up backstage and managed to have a chat with all the band members (thanks for the beer Roger) and all of them signed my ticket stub. When I met Ian Paice I asked him if he wanted the drumstick back he seemed to have lost during the gig but he said 'no, you're alright' and signed it instead. Just before we left Jon Lord came out (he was the last one to leave) and I asked him 'Jon, don't you want to reconsider?'. he said smiling 'reconsider what?' I couldn't resist asking him to sign my ticket again (the black signature). Thanks for a great night guys!!!

review & scans (ticket / newspaper / drum stick): Tonny Steenhagen, Cornwall

Well, we all know the set list by now, so I'll just concentrate on the overall performance rather than a song by song analysis. They were having so much fun and kept up the energy levels throughout the entire gig - they'd put any band less than half their age to shame!

Gillan was in such good shape, both vocally and physically. He really is an amazing frontman, connects so well with a crowd and manages to whip them up into a frenzy. At the beginning he jumped off the stage to have a word with one of the security guys who wasn't allowing anybody to get out of their seats when they attemted to get near the stage. Later on (when Jon arrived) security allowed people to surge forward and Gillan thanked them and apologised for his possible over-reaction earlier. During Ted The Mechanic Ian, Steve and Roger jumped down into the crowd whilst simultaneously playing and shaking hands (it was here that Roger's playing went a little off key due to the fun he was having with the audience). I've never known them do that - is this a first?

Don fits in well and is a superb player (although I do find the 'Star Wars' bit a little cheesy, but that's just down to personal taste I guess). When Jon arrived for Perfect Strangers I thought the place was going to explode when a roar tore through the place and people surged forward en mass! One could almost feel the wave of emotion and heartfelt affection for this wonderful man as a tangible thing. A curious thing happened when he came onstage - the rest of the band got even tighter and the performance levels went up several notches. So much so that Steve really went for it at times and perhaps over-played a little (although I'm probably being somewhat churlish here by nit-picking).

Overall, it was an amazing night and I can see a great future for them 'cos they still have such enthusiasm. I hope they are adventurous on the new album and diversify their material (but PLEASE let Jon be involved too!!!). Jon will be sorely missed - he is a master of his instrument and his personality shines in every area of his playing. Yet I'm sure Don will do the band justice in the studio if his live work is anything to go by. Can't wait for new material (don't think I'd miss Black Night if they never played it again) - it is about time the set-list catered for more Steve era tracks. Goodbye Jon, and thanks for all the years and pleasure you have given us through Deep Purple, but I'm looking forward to many more years of your solo and collaborative work - good luck mate we all love you.

review: Ron Bellamy
ticket scan: Nigel Young (click to enlarge)
photo: Victor & Moti. (Jon found post-gig, some achievement!)