Deep Purple: Still living up to legendary ways
Deep Purple: Still living up to legendary ways
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
It's tough to be a music reporter sometimes. Despite the
perks, like free concert tickets, you've also got to meet the
boybands, or else, to take the challenge of reviewing shows of
rock groups that reigned supreme when you weren't even born.
To tell you the truth, I haven't fully recovered from the
recent concert of Rick Wakeman, whose music is so progressive
that I don't really get what it is all about.
And now comes Deep Purple.
Yes, I know Smoke On The Water and its distinguished guitar
riffs, but that's about it.
Deep Purple had always been something of a relic for me, part
of the timeline in world music history, a chapter in the
rockopedia.
But after watching them perform at Jakarta Convention Center
last Tuesday, all I can say is, you rock, grandpa!
I found myself cheering and applauding with the rest of 6,500
audience in a concert that brought back the glory days of rock
'n' roll of the 1970s.
The concert was their first one here since Dec. 4, 1975, and
in between they have had 10 different line-ups (there was a
canceled performance here last year).
"It's just thrilling, and very encouraging. A new spirit for
us," vocalist Ian Gillan said at the media conference a day
before the concert.
Gillan, now 57, was accompanied by drummer Ian Paice, bassist
Roger Glover, guitarist Steve Morse and keyboard player Don
Airey, the latest formation that is called Mark 10.
Despite their down-to-earth and friendly attitude, it was
clear that the inevitable questions about the band's legendary
formation, also known as Mark 2, bored, if not irritated, them.
Mark 2, back in the early 1970s, consisted of Gillan, Paice,
Glover, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and keyboardist Jon Lord.
"We've been through disturbing changes that rock the boat. But
today's formation is very brotherly, more of a family thing,"
Gillan said.
Blackmore, Gillan added, perhaps a bit disingenuously, left
the band over 10 years ago and he did not even remember what the
reason was.
"Jon has been in and out, and become more and more
disenchanted in touring. He just want to stay home and write
music," he said.
"A new album? Well, we're in no rush for a new record. But Jon
will most likely not be involved in our next album."
The band said they knew they were getting up in years, but
also felt that they did not have to prove anything today.
"In order to stick together, we need a catalyst. And that is
the audience." Paice added.
In front of their audience on concert night, they proved that
they are still amazing for any age, even if it takes crowd
support to get them going.
Opening the show with Woman From Tokyo, Gillan showed that the
years have not altered the distinctive falsetto that is powerful
and can reach the high notes.
Running around and exploring the stage was certainly something
that he was not up to, but, instead, Gillan took percussion,
played harmonica or shot his bandmates and the audience with a
handycam.
Flawlessly, Gillan sang 17 songs, from Child In Time, Lazy,
When A Blind Man Cries, No One Came, to 1972's Smoke On The
Water, the song with the riff that inspired millions of
adolescent boy pick up an electric guitar.
Every song was preceded by a story behind the making of it.
The band also played a new song, an instrumental piece called
The Well-Dressed Guitar.
"Maybe, maybe, it will be in the next album," Gillan said.
The rest of the band was amazing, too. Paice, now 54, really
kicked ass with his drums. Glover, 57, with his trademark
bandana, calmly snagged the bass strings.
The new kids on the block can also match their seniors,
especially Morse, who, in his late 30s, is the youngest member of
the band.
He was a star of the show without overshadowing his mates.
Airey, during one of his solo parts, managed to play some
pieces of the national anthem Indonesia Raya.
The audience, meanwhile, was clearly composed of a dedicated
fan base.
Some of them had even watched the 1975 concert, like drummer
Jelly Tobing from Bharata band.
"Well, (the concert) is not bad. But certainly, the soul of
the band lay in the hands of Blackmore and Lord," he said.
Some of the fans went crazy from the excitement at the sight
of their idols, playing air guitars and dancing as though in a
trance (plus there was the inevitable drunk guy puking after
getting carried away).
"Super! You're a fantastic audience! We love you very much,"
Gillan said repeatedly.
"The next song is a number that we recorded 100 years ago."
Hush was played, followed by Fire Ball, before the spectacular
event closed with Highway Star.
According to many rock historians, the birth of Heavy Metal
can be traced to 1970 and two British bands: Black Sabbath, with
Paranoid, and Deep Purple with their fifth album In Rock.
From what I saw and heard at the concert, even without
Blackmore and Lord, I tend to agree.