I got this from a local bookshop as a gift, because it was my birthday, and because I wanted something to fill some time – and oh em gee – doesn’t it just…
This is basically a fan letter from Martin Popoff to his favourite band and he does a really good job of digging into the sights, the sounds, the smells of a band which, as the title makes clear, is older than many of my best friends. Simon has done a lot – and I mean A LOT of research, interviewing, collecting and listening, and has a refreshingly sober approach to the (many) band’s output – he seems like a chap who would cheerfully you engage on why Steve Morse is a better fit for the group than Ritchie Blackmore, if that’s the sort of person you’d care to hang out with at a party.
It’s set out chronologically, mainly divided into an album by album analysis, with many pictures, principally from the author’s collection, and many of them consisting of signed backstage passes. There are a few distracting typos, but if you were to look for the dictionary definition of ‘labour of love’ you’d probably find a picture of the cover.
This is a hefty house brick of a tome – 600+ pages of backstage gossip, studio minutiae, and Ian Gillan being profoundly hubristic regarding his lyric writing process. Paicey (as he is regularly referred to) seems like good egg, mind.
Seven Decades of Deep Purple
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It’s terrific, by the way. If you need to spend a month with a book, this is the one for you. I’ve bought two Deep Purple albums off the back of it.
Seven decades??
Had a similar chronological conversation just the other day.
Upshot is that anything that started in 1969 and is still cracking on today can claim a seven decade span. Even if mathmatically it is 57 years rather than 70.
(note: I know DP commenced before 69)
Deep Purple … 1970 to 73 for me
I shall seek the book to better comprehend the post Gillan era
1970 to 1973 for me too. First band I ever saw live – left an indelible impression in me and launched my obsession with music. Lost touch with them after Made in Japan but still retain a place in my heart.
They are playing the local hockey arena here in August. Worth seeing? I would only go if ticket prices are rock bottom probably
I’m glad I saw them back in 2022. Gillan can’t do the screams but in a way that was a blessing, and it was worth it for Paice and Simon McBride’s guitar work. I’d go again given the chance.
Thought this was pretty cool…..
Yes, indeed! At last – a politician whose professed musical taste doesn’t seem contrived.
This calls for an afternoon with Made In Japan. Hope the neighbours go out.
‘Can we have everything louder than everything else?’
You hum it and I’ll play it.
Pardon? What’s that faint whistling sound?
This video about Rainbow might be of interest to Purple fans. It covers every Rainbow album and line-up.
Rainbow really ARE the band Deep Purple could have been. Though I love the ‘Purp’s music, the shrieking drives me away. Rainbow distilled all the good stuff. Until bloody Graham Bonnett, anyway.
that is AI
I don’t think it is. It’s got a photo of a bloke in the corner, and he gives his subjective opinions on the albums. Plus, it’s a proper university.
On this evidence they’ve still got it. I’d go.
You can’t say fairer than that, really. Good rockin’.
I bloody love Purple and all who have served but that broke my heart. Who would want to be the front man of a heavy rock band going on 81?
That’s what I thought when I saw they’re playing near me and checked out some recent clips. Then I saw the ticket prices. Worranutter pisstake. I might, just might, after a few light ales, shell out that sort of money to see Old Man Springsteen or Old Man Macca, but for Old Men Purple – and in Lordless and Ritchie-free mode to boot – that’ll be a nah.
I’ll give it a miss thanxs but wish l’d seen them in the early 1970’s. I even loved the Coverdale / Hughes albums.
I really loved the Coverdale/Hughes albums.
With Rick Emerson on the keyboards they were most exciting.
Time to relay what is surely the greatest rock n roll claim to fame ever.
It’s relatively little known that Ian Paice was born in Nottingham, my home city.
My claim to fame is that I played youth cricket for West Bridgfordians CC with his nephew, a splendid fellow (opening bowler), who said nothing about this familial relationship with rock royalty until one week in June 1985 he announced he wouldn’t be playing at the weekend as he was going to see “his Uncle Ian play a concert”. That was, of course, the comeback gig at Knebworth.
I was at that gig.
Shitty weather and Meatloaf wearing a plaster on a broken leg IFRC.
An ex of mine was at a party and got into conversation with an older gentleman who seemed very friendly. She was telling him how she was learning drums and explained how tricky it all was. After a while she asked what he did. “I play drums a bit”. “Anyone I might have heard of..?” Yes, dear reader, it turns out Ian Paice is very patient, and most self-effacing.
Saw the Purps at Sheffield City Hall in c 1971. Swear it was the loudest gig Ive ever been to. Whilst the roadies were setting up we were milling about near the stage and one of the crew tested out the organ – it felt like someone had punched me in the head. I swear I suffered some long term hearing loss as a result. Magnificent concert though – what an awesome band they were in their pomp.