Deep purple smoke on the water royal albert hall
Some have grumbled about Glenn’s delivery here – but to me he is Glenn Hughes and this is what he does (and the delivery was probably a bit ‘straighter’ than he did with DP Mk IV live). Wix Wickens arrived at the piano to accompany Glenn (along with the orchestra) for ‘This Time Around’. Bruce seemed a little low in the mix, but hopefully it will all come out in the wash… or the remix even. Members of the audience leapt to their feet as the opening riff of ‘Burn’ erupted (a song about ‘the devil’s perm’ Bruce assured us) – a very lively delivery with great work from all concerned. This was followed by the arrival of Glenn Hughes and Bruce Dickinson (with Paicey, Don and Rick Wakeman) for a rousing ‘You Keep on Moving’ – great version with members of the orchestra singing along. Another swift personnel changeover and Jon’s arrangement of ‘Soldier of Fortune’ followed with sensitive and touching vocal deliveries by Steve Balsamo and Sandi Thom. More PAL followed with ‘I’m Gonna Stop Drinking’. Job done he left to make way for familiar Purple and family members Paicey, Bernie Marsden and Nick Fyffe, who along with Hammond player Andy Wallace and The Temperance Movement’s frontman Phil Campbell tore into PAL ‘s ‘Silas and Jerome’ – seriously impressive stuff, not least from Campbell who may have the Jagger-swagger, but delivered Tony Ashton’s vocal lines with considerable aplomb. Paul’s style was perfectly suited to these. A few eyebrows were raised when Paul was added to the bill, but any doubts were swept aside as Paul and the house band whipped through 2 sprightly Artwood covers – ‘I Take What I Want’ and ‘Things Get Better’. The second half kicked-off with Joe Brown – not in a performing role, instead delivering his eulogy to Jon, saying how much the man (and his family) meant to him. The interval was announced after which compere ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris promised it would be “time to rock”. The finale of the first part of the evening came with actor Jeremy Irons reading ‘Afterwards’ – whereas on the ‘To Notice Such Things’ album his words had been accompanied by Jon on piano, tonight it was down to conductor Paul Mann : a daunting act to follow no doubt, but Paul played it beautifully and the audience duly erupted in praise at the final note. Margo Buchanan then sang the quite lovely ‘One from the Meadow’ before the final ‘Sarabande’ piece, the jaunty ‘Bouree’.
#Deep purple smoke on the water royal albert hall full
Rick Wakeman arrived for the title track from ‘Sarabande’, sounding great with the full orchestral backing as well. Was there a dry eye in the house? I suspect not.
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What can you say about ‘Pictured Within’? Here in all its glory was Jon’s ode to love and loss. Miller Anderson arrived and everyone guessed what was coming next. A heartfelt vocal from Steve left the audience spellbound. The familiar figure of Micky Moody arrived on stage along with Steve Balsamo who sang ‘All Those Years Ago’ (the ‘new’ Jon song released along with the photo book).
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The Orion Orchestra and conductor Paul Mann then began the musical proceedings with a stirring rendition of ‘Fantasia’ from Jon’s excellent mid-70’s ‘Sarabande’ album before easing into the more recent ‘Durham Awakes’.
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Divided in two – like Jon’s musical career, you could argue (I know, I know), the show began with Ian Paice leading an understandably nervous and emotional Vicky Lord onto the stage to speak about the man we were all here to honour. A moving musical evening of highs and… well, more highs really.