After more than ten years apart, and 8 years after the disbandment of Deep Purple, Mk. 2 got together again. The reunion was anticipated - but it was not just a nostalgia trip. They recorded new material in the form of an excellent album, Perfect Strangers. Then they toured, and the tour was a huge success. I still remember a classmate of mine in elementary and middle school getting a chance to see them - and he was ecstatic about it. They were indeed in amazing form - there was a broadcast of their Paris show in 1985 that I devoured. They made it through one more album, House of the Blue Light, then they kicked out Ian Gillan as he couldn't work with Blackmore - and things went all over the place (quite the soap opera in many ways). These days they are still touring. After the rest of the band finally decided that Blackmore was more of the concern than Gillan, they eventually stabilized with Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice on drums (the only Deep Purple member who plays on every album), Jon Lord on keyboards, and Steve Morse on guitar. Jon Lord retired in 2002, ten years before he passed away, and was replaced by Don Airey, who still is with them. And they still release new music - surprisingly good new music. It sounds like the chemistry is there better than ever. But today we are looking back to 1984 and Perfect Strangers - and why not play the title track? It is a great, great song!
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
2017 - November 14 - Perfect Strangers
The five years from 1968 to 1973 showed three massive British bands truly finding their place. Blazing the trail was the inimitable Led Zeppelin, who in that span recorded and released five spectacular albums (Led Zeppelin, II, III, untitled, and Houses Of The Holy). Following a little after was Black Sabbath, who also released five albums (Black Sabbath, Paraniod, Master of Reality, Vol 4, and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath), and then there was Deep Purple Mk. 2. After ousting Rod Evans and Nick Simper, they were replaced with singer Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover, and they also released five albums in that time span (Concerto for Group and Orchestra, In Rock, Fireball, Machine Head, and Who Do We Think We Are). The middle three albums are nothing short of masterpieces, while the first and last are less vital to the casual listener, but still great listens. But while both Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath continued with the same lineup until about 1980, Deep Purple started blowing up. First with Gillan and Glover leaving, then guitarist Ritchie Blackmore left, before the band really fell apart after replacing him with Tommy Bolin, who did not survive the substances he pushed through his body.
After more than ten years apart, and 8 years after the disbandment of Deep Purple, Mk. 2 got together again. The reunion was anticipated - but it was not just a nostalgia trip. They recorded new material in the form of an excellent album, Perfect Strangers. Then they toured, and the tour was a huge success. I still remember a classmate of mine in elementary and middle school getting a chance to see them - and he was ecstatic about it. They were indeed in amazing form - there was a broadcast of their Paris show in 1985 that I devoured. They made it through one more album, House of the Blue Light, then they kicked out Ian Gillan as he couldn't work with Blackmore - and things went all over the place (quite the soap opera in many ways). These days they are still touring. After the rest of the band finally decided that Blackmore was more of the concern than Gillan, they eventually stabilized with Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice on drums (the only Deep Purple member who plays on every album), Jon Lord on keyboards, and Steve Morse on guitar. Jon Lord retired in 2002, ten years before he passed away, and was replaced by Don Airey, who still is with them. And they still release new music - surprisingly good new music. It sounds like the chemistry is there better than ever. But today we are looking back to 1984 and Perfect Strangers - and why not play the title track? It is a great, great song!
After more than ten years apart, and 8 years after the disbandment of Deep Purple, Mk. 2 got together again. The reunion was anticipated - but it was not just a nostalgia trip. They recorded new material in the form of an excellent album, Perfect Strangers. Then they toured, and the tour was a huge success. I still remember a classmate of mine in elementary and middle school getting a chance to see them - and he was ecstatic about it. They were indeed in amazing form - there was a broadcast of their Paris show in 1985 that I devoured. They made it through one more album, House of the Blue Light, then they kicked out Ian Gillan as he couldn't work with Blackmore - and things went all over the place (quite the soap opera in many ways). These days they are still touring. After the rest of the band finally decided that Blackmore was more of the concern than Gillan, they eventually stabilized with Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice on drums (the only Deep Purple member who plays on every album), Jon Lord on keyboards, and Steve Morse on guitar. Jon Lord retired in 2002, ten years before he passed away, and was replaced by Don Airey, who still is with them. And they still release new music - surprisingly good new music. It sounds like the chemistry is there better than ever. But today we are looking back to 1984 and Perfect Strangers - and why not play the title track? It is a great, great song!
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