DEEP PURPLE DIGEST #18
In this issue:
Rob wonderd about what if Dio did DP...
Svante helps out with 25th anniv. releases
Trond helps out, too
Heikki talks about Mk3/4 SOTW
Ante recommends some DP-ish stuff
Brian makes his picks, as well
John has some stuff on Elf, KBFH, and Rhino
Rob wants to know what happened to Satriani
Tom has a bit to offer on Elf
Rob has a question about Michael Schenker
Jim has a cover for the DP with JLT live set...
Eduardo chats about Rainbow lineups
John has news from Japan on DP releases
Sue "I luv Gillan" compares Dio to Gillan (guess who wins...)
Sean talks some more on Dio Purple
Dean does a little scattershooting...
___________________________________________
-----Original Message-----
From: Rob Richardson
To: dplist(at-a-domain-named)geocities.com
Date: Thursday, October 01, 1998 5:44 PM
Subject: Ronnie's additions to the Deep Purple set list
Well, if Ronnie James Dio were to become Deep Purple's singer, I can
think of three songs he would love to add to the set list, the lyrics
would be so attractive to him.
There's "Shield" from Book of Taliesyn. Burn would be nice because
Ronnie could certainly handle singing "I didn't believe she was devil's
sperm" without any embarrassment. That's probably why Big Ian couldn't
bring himself to sing "Listen, Learn, Read On"...
"In ages past, where spells were cast, In a time of men in steel".....
"I shall be of more service to thee than 300 salmon."
Ok, so some songs would have to leave the playlist. But if Ronnie joins
up, Steve needs to learn these three songs, it could come in handy.
___________________________________________
-----Original Message-----
From: Svante Pettersson
To: Deep Purple Digest
Date: Thursday, October 01, 1998 10:18 PM
Subject: 25th Anniversary Releases
Matt Runyon wrote:
>Does anyone know how I can get a hold of the 25th anniversary CD's of the
>early MarkII Deep Purple albums? I don't think they were ever released in
>the U.S..
You can buy them on the web from musicblvd.com. Feel free to use the link
from our website:
http://www.deep-purple.com/rosas/mh25/
/Svante
___________________________________________
-----Original Message-----
From: Trond
To: Deep Purple Digest
Date: Friday, October 02, 1998 2:47 AM
Subject: RE: remasters of DP albums on cd
At 16:21 01.10.98 -0500, you wrote:
>From: Matt Runyon
>Subject: remasters of DP albums on cd
>
>Does anyone know how I can get a hold of the 25th anniversary CD's of the
>early MarkII Deep Purple albums? I don't think they were ever released in
>the U.S..
I think I've seen something about Machine Head 25 (at least) being released
on Rhino in the near future, possibly some others, too.
If you can't wait: go to our site at http://www.deep-purple.com/, click on
"Links" on the menu, and find the links to online stores. Music Boulevard,
for instance, carries all of the remasters, if you consider the price high,
I can only say that its not much more than we pay for it here in Europe,
where they're NOT imports. :-)
Cheers,
--
Trond
___________________________________________
-----Original Message-----
From: Heikki Heino
To: Deep Purple Digest
Date: Friday, October 02, 1998 2:48 AM
Subject: Re: Mk III & IV's Smoke on the Water
Hi Dean!
I know it was a while ago (DPD #9, 10 & 11) that you were wondering why
Coverdale and Hughes didn't sing the third verse of SotW. You thought it was
because of the lyrics, but I think there might be another reason.
Deep Purple Mk II and Mk III/IV had different approaches to songs,
especially to last verses. In many cases Gillan altered the singing melody
whereas Coverdale and Hughes preferred to sing the last verse two-part. With
SotW this led to a problem, since Gillan's melody to third verse would have
had been really hard to arrange into two-part melody. The "Grand Hotel"
lyrics don't work with the first verse melody (try it yourself), so there
were only two possibilities:
1. Either David or Glenn sings the third verse alone the way Gillan sang it.
Kind of anticlimax after the two-part chorus and guitar solo. Besides, whose
turn would it have been? With Mk IV maybe Tommy's (did he ever visit
Montreux).
2. They take an easier melody and/or verse they can sing two-part. So they
took the first verse.
This makes sense to me. I don't think the then new boys had a say about what
they sing and what they don't. I think even Joe Lynn Turner sang the last
verse live even though he probably never ended up at the Grand Hotel ;-)
Heikki
******************************************************************
Älä epäröi heittää tätä viestiä roskiin!
Heikki Heino
Jarrumiehenkatu 9-13 F 79
11100 RIIHIMÄKI, FINLAND
___________________________________________
-----Original Message-----
From: Ante Senjanovic
To: Deep Purple Digest
Date: Friday, October 02, 1998 4:39 AM
Subject: Re: Deep Purple Digest #17
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Marcelo Silveyra
>To: Deep Purple Digest
>Date: Wednesday, September 30, 1998 3:35 PM
>Subject: CD's for Deep Purple tastes
>matter, Budgie's "In For the Kill" was produced by Rodger Bain, who
>produced the legendary "In Rock").
A correction: Bain didn't produce In Rock, all DP albums (except Mk1) were
band produced, or co-produced by Martin Birch. However, Bain did produce
first 3 Sabbath albums.
I pretty much agree with your recommendations, and I'd just like to add
Jethro Tull and ELP.
And to those DP fans who really like Morse Purple, Dixie Dregs should be
more than interesting. Two weeks ago I bought "Dregs of the Earth", great
album, all instrumental, incorporating variety of styles: rock, jazz-rock,
country (not something I like, though), folk, and possibly something else
:). You get all that *and* the great guitar playing.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Masser of Reality
>To: dplist(at-a-domain-named)geocities.com
>Date: Wednesday, September 30, 1998 4:56 PM
>
>
>Alright
>
>the very small ego band
/snip/
>vocals- tony martin, and glenn hughes
Glenn Hughes in a small ego band? Wouldn't be.
>
>(however after all this solo work glenn might (politely) refuse the
>offer and do another solo album)
Or was that a joke?
I remember reading an interview with Jon Lord where he said GH used to wear
shirts with capital G on, and that G didn't stand for Glenn, but for God.
Small ego really...
Aj ka,
Ante
___________________________________________
-----Original Message-----
From: Brian Currin
To: Deep Purple Digest
Date: Friday, October 02, 1998 5:59 AM
Subject: If you like DP you will probably like...
Hi Dean
My thoughts on other albums to listen to...
Testament - The Ritual (1992) - very Blackmorish in places, s'true! (South
African expression meaning...oh you figure it out!)
Rainbow On Stage (1977) - great version of Mistreated, a guitar/organ
interplay during Man On The Silver Mountain similar to a section in the
live versions of You Fool No One (given the title "blues", very original
that!) and some great Blackmore guitaring.
Nazareth - Loud 'n Proud (73) & Hair Of The Dog (75) - great rock albums,
frentic guitaring and slow ballads...well I like them.
Rock Aid Armenia - The earthquake album (1990) - benefit re-recording of
Smoke featuring some members of Purple, Iron Maiden, ELP, etc. Also a great
compilation of rock songs by Yes, Genesis, Whitesnake, Sabbath, Free, Rush,
Asia, Rainbow, etc
Motely Crue - Dr Feelgood (1989) - yes, really...some cool rock sounds like
Kick Start My Heart and the title track.
Queen - various albums - most Queen albums have a least one great "rock"
song featuring that most underated of guitarists Brian May. Tracks like I
Want It All, Brighton Rock, bits of Bohemian Rhapsody, Princes Of The
Universe...great stuff!
Talking about Brian May, his live album Live At Brixton Academy (also on
video) (1994) has some great rock guitar moments - also has Cozy Powell on
drums (a drum solo as well), and a section titled Guitar Extravagance which
is just that!
Golden Earring - Together (70) and Seven Tears (71) - brilliant rock albums
in their own style, but reminds me of 70's Purple. Soaring vocals, light
and dark, fast and slow, mad drumming.
Ok enough for the moment, I tried to avoid the most obvious ones, but
selected albums by artists like Uriah Heep, Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, Led
Zeppelin, Rainbow, Van Halen, Yngwie J Malmsteen, Metallica, Def Leppard,
Guns "n Roses, Extreme, Whitesnake, etc are all worth a listen. I'm sure
I've left out a lot...but too bad :)
Also take a look at the Guitar Lists page at Julian's Rock Lists site, it
has DP mentioned quite a few times...
Go to: http://www2.pncl.co.uk/~rocklist/50.html
Cheers
Brian
-----Brian Currin----
www.new.co.za/~currin
___________________________________________
-----Original Message-----
From: John LaRocque
To: Deep Purple Digest
Date: Friday, October 02, 1998 7:56 AM
Subject: Dio, KBFH and Rhino
Re: Miscelleneous thoughts about last issue
Carlos Gandarills asks about the first eponymous Elf album. Well, I own a
copy of the reissue of the first album. It was released by CBS/Epic several
years ago, and I believe you can get a copy in North America, at least.
Incidently, several Elf members regrouped in another band, called the Rods.
I have several CD reissues from Germany's High Vaultage records, and some
original LP's. They are multiple variants of several albums, depending on
where they were issued, which makes them an interesting band to collect. One
of the members is Ronnie's cousin.
I strongly suggest Dio (and fellow Purple) fans take a look at Tapio
Keihänen's mighty Ronnie James Dio site. Everything you could possibly want
to know about Dio, including full discography, can be visited from here.
Visit:
http://www.iki.fi/dio/bio/
Now, regarding KBFH and Steve Morse - they also issued a Dregs concert a
while back as well. They've got their own web page at
http://www.king-biscuit.com, with a list of their releases, and also have a
page up and running at "The Artist Shop" (http://www.artist-shop.com). And
of course, the North American versions of Deep Purple's "Foxbat" show are
also off of KBFH records. Check 'em out.
Matt Runyon asks about North American domestic anniversary CD's. According
to the Deep Purple website, Rhino now has the rights to the entire EMI
catalog, so the DP catalog (including the 25th Anniversary reissues) should
be appearing here soon. That 4-CD compilation, with about half a dozen "bait
tracks" (details in DTB #48??) should be out in February.
[Personally, I get all my DP stuff imported. Can't wait until it gets here,
so EMI Europe gets my money instead...]
"Listen to the wind - a silent scream
Tearing at your broken heart
Like a forgotten dream."
--A Time To Kill (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover)
___________________________________________
-----Original Message-----
From: Rob Richardson
To: dplist(at-a-domain-named)geocities.com
Date: Friday, October 02, 1998 8:24 PM
Subject: Purple Joe
Any information out there (correct and factual would be nice, but rumors
would be OK) about why Joe Satriani did not continue with Deep Purple
after the tour was over?
I have heard it was involving his contract as a solo artist with his
record company, but have also heard that there were never any plans for
him to record with the band.
And I'm not posting this as a slight to Steve Morse... hell, he's got
great technical ability and the band seems to be quite a happy family
with Steve. And Purpendicular is a great album. But I do rather wonder
how things would have been with Joe in the studio.
And how come the Purpleans always recruit Americans to play guitar
whenever Ritchie leaves? Tommy, Joe and Steve. Aren't there great
English banjo players out there? Or have the Purpleans become for the
most part based in America?
[Dean "Ed" Webb: AFAIK, Satriani wanted to continue playing with DP, but
record companies had their wicked ways... Actually, I think he *did* play on
"Cascades", at least in spirit if not in actuality. I was playing it one day
at work and a guy walked past and asked if that was the new Satriani album.
I explained that it wasn't, but added he wasn't too far off...]
___________________________________________
-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Swoboda
To: Deep Purple Digest
Date: Friday, October 02, 1998 11:29 PM
Subject: Elf
Carlos Gandarillas
>> I'd like to know if there is any CD remasterization or so of the first
Elf LP. <<
Do you mean was it ever released on CD in the first place, or has it
recently been remastered? If the former, then yes--on Epic records, EK
31789, bar code 0 746431789, with a trailer digit of two, but as any
supermarket checker worth half his/her salt knows, you don't enter the
trailer digit. :)
If you meant the latter, I haven't the foggiest.
--T.J.
___________________________________________
-----Original Message-----
From: Rob Richardson
To: dplist(at-a-domain-named)geocities.com
Date: Saturday, October 03, 1998 1:47 PM
Subject: Michael Shenker in Deep Purple?
I have recently read that Michael Schenker, of UFO and Scorpions fame was
"the first choice to replace Ritchie Blackmore" but he turned down Deep
Purple's offer.
Does anyone know something about this? Is it true he was offered? And
if so, was it before they brought in Joe Satriani or before they brought
in Steve Morse?
___________________________________________
-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Collins
To: Deep Purple Digest
Date: Saturday, October 03, 1998 10:25 PM
Subject: Live CD cover (fake)
Considering the damage the Joe Lynn Turner line-up did to the reputation
of Deep Purple, I made up a cover for the eventual live release from the
Slaves And Masters tour. The cover reflects the spirit the fans had for
that particularline-up. Cheers, Jim C.
[Dean "Ed" Webb: the -ahem- cover will be posted in the "art" section of the
website. Come check it out.]
___________________________________________
-----Original Message-----
From: Eduardo Avello
To: dplist(at-a-domain-named)geocities.com
Date: Sunday, October 04, 1998 12:10 PM
Subject: My final Rainbow line up comments.
Dear Dean:
I began to wonder what other Rainbow line up scenarios would be
interesting for Ritchie Blackmore to explore. Here are some:
1.- The "Back to the original Rainbow" line up.
With all the rumours going around about a possible Elf reunion, wouldn't
it be freak if Ritchie called up Ronnie James Dio, Craig Gruber, Gary
Driscoll and Mickey Lee Soule for a reunion? Pros: This would be the
first time the same line up would record two Rainbow studio albums.
Cons: Someone would have to find Craig Gruber and Gary Driscoll. maybe
they even gave up music after all...
2.- The "Black Rainbow" line up.
If nothing happens right after the upcoming Black sabbath tour, maybe
Ritchie could hire Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and Geoff
Nicholls. Even if everything lasts only for the studio recotdings. Pros:
They all like dressing up in black. Cons: Does Geoff like playing
Hammond B-3?
3.- The "Girly Rainbow" line up.
This is the opportunity to get the Vixen girls into Rainbow. Share
Pedersen on bass, Janet Gardner on vocals, Roxy Pettrucci on drums. Of
course Candice would be doing back up vocals, and why not, Lin Robinson
and Dee Beale again on backing vocals. Pros: An interesting after gig
backstage party. Cons: What about the keyboard girl? What about former
Billy Idol band keyboardist Bonnie Hayes? I think she'd smoke on Hammond
B-3 and Minimoog!
4.- The "Old friends Rainbow" line up.
There are excellent legendary musicians that would be ideal for Rainbow.
What about Grace Slick on vocals, Carmine Appice on drums, Ian Hill on
bass, and Chuck Leavell on keyboards. Pros: A chance to get big names in
another Rainbow line up. Cons: I guess this line up would last for only
one studio album... according to Rainbow's tradition.
5.- The "Super ego Rainbow" line up.
In addition to your initial proposal, what about Vince Neil on vocals,
Gene Simmons on bass, Dennis Chambers on drums and again Keith Emerson on
keyboards. Pros: Ouch! Cons: Let your imagination fly.
I ran out of ideas, but I guess all of you can bring out many more line
ups to puzzle with.
Eduardo Avello
Concepción
Chile
___________________________________________
-----Original Message-----
From: John LaRocque
To: Deep Purple Digest ; Jouni Maho
Date: Monday, October 05, 1998 7:50 AM
Subject: Deep Purple and Related Profile - Burrn! September 1998
WARNER
>From their print advertisement, Warner Japan appears to be getting their
act
together with regards to the DP catalog in Japan. On August 26, Warner
released the two-CD "Deep Purple Anthology" (WPCR-2213-4), and "Singles A's
And B's" (WPCR-2215), both originally UK DPAS-supervised compilations. They
have also phased out several older titles in favor of the 25th anniversary
issues, although you can still order the US version of Fireball, with a
slightly longer version of SKOW instead of Demon's Eye.
The 25th Anniversary titles are all in print domestically, including "In
Rock" (WPCR-888), "Fireball" (WPCR-1140) (1997 release?), "Maching Head"
(WPCR-1750), and "Made In Japan - Remastered Edition" (WPCR-1578-9). They
also advertise the 3-CD "Live In Japan '72" set (WPCR-677)
Also featured in the advertisment are the "The Original Single Collection",
a rerelease of 10 original 7" Japanese DP singles in CD format. I have seen
several of these at Toronto's HMV downtown store, and they are all packaged
in an annoying oversized digipack format, and original Japanese sleave
artwork. Content-wise, there's nothing terribly special about the singles -
they are all full or single edits of the original albums tracks, with the
B-sides featured on other standard compilations such as "A's And B's". Some
of the edits also appear on Disk 3 of "Purple Chronicle" box set (the next
entry). Total waste of money, in my opinion.
WPCR-1583 Black Night (edit) / Into The Fire
WPCR-1584 Strange Kind Of Woman (edit) / I'm Alone
WPCR-1585 Fireball / Anyone's Daughter
WPCR-1586 Never Before (edit) / When A Blind Man Cries
WPCR-1587 Highway Star (edit) / Lazy (edit)
WPCR-1588 Woman From Tokyo (edit) / Super Trouper
WPCR-1589 Smoke On The Water (live edit) / Smoke On The Water (edit)
WPCR-1590 Burn (edit) / Coronarias Redig
WPCR-1591 Lady Double Dealer / You Can't Do It Right
WPCR-1592 You Keep On Moving (edit) / Dealer
"Purple Chronicle - The Best Selection Of 25th Anniversary", a Japanese 3-CD
compilation, was rereleased earlier this year to coincide with the 30th
annivesary (WPCR-1580-2). Appropriately "remastered" (in much the same
fashion, I imagine, as their 1996 studio reissues), with an expanded program
booklet. Disk 3 in the set features a variety of single edits and semi-rare
B-sides and variants that you can also find on the anniversary reissues (in
remixed fashion), and compilations such as "Singles A's And B's" or "Power
House". For what it's worth, the packaging (from the picture) looks rather
neat - an oblong box, booklet, discography, stickers and a poster, along
with the three CDs. Don't part with your money unless you are in a hurry to
spend.
PONY CANYON
The Pony Canyon Japanese Raimbow tribute (PCCA-1230), under the banner
"Niji-Densetsu", was slated for release on September 18, and features the
following tracks:
1. Over The Rainbow - Kill The King
2. Spotlight Kid
3. Eyes Of The World
4. Man On The Silver Mountain - Mistreated
5. Road To Babylon - Gates Of Babylon
6. All Night Long
7. Starstruck
8. Street Of Dreams
9. Drinking With The Devil
10. Lost In Hollywood
11. A Light In The Black
12. Over The Rainbow - Reprise
13. Rainbow Eyes
Niji-Densetsu features several Japanese players (ex Loudness/Anthem) - Yukio
Morikawa (Vo), Akira Kajiayama (G), Tatsuya Kase (B), Yuichiro Uchida (B),
Toshio Egawa (Key), Masashi Okagaki (Key), and special guests Joe Lynn
Turner (Vo) and David Rosenthal (Key). I'll be getting a copy soon (along
with the Cozy tribute) and will have a further report once I crack it open.
Ex-Whitesnake guitarists Bernie Marsden and Micky Moody have regrouped under
the banner "The Snakes", to record a new album "Once Bitten" (PCCY-01271),
which was released August 19. Other featured players are Johnny Lande
(vo/ex-Vagabond); Sid Ringsby (b) and Willy Bendiksen (ds). The album is
produced by Ronni Le Tekrö (TNT). The Pony Canyon release is 13 tracks,
including two bonus tracks exclusive for Japan, "All Dressed Up", and
"September Tears". It is not known time which European label is doing
distribution in Europe.
AVEX INC.
Avex has rereleased two Bernie Marsden Albums, "And About Time Too"
(AVCB-66044), and "Look At Me Now" (AVCB-66045). These appear to be ordinary
reissues of the albums, and not Jaapanese licenses of RPM's own expanded
rereleases a few years back (that is, there are no bonus tracks on the
Japanese releases).
LAST MONTH IN BURN
The previous issue of Burrn! (August 1998), also featured advertisements for
the Rainbow tribute, along with the Japanese Cozy Powell tribute, with a
listing of the main players, but minus track listings. Also, the upcoming
3-CD / 1-video Yngwie Malmsteen "Live In Brazil" package will feature
Yngwie's special renditions of Purple/Rainbow classics (among other covers)
on disc 2 of the set. Disc 3 features support act Dr. Sin. I'm getting a
copy in the mail very soon and can't wait to crack it open. Yngwie rules!
John LaRocque
"Listen to the wind - a silent scream
Tearing at your broken heart
Like a forgotten dream."
--A Time To Kill (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover)
___________________________________________
-----Original Message-----
From: IluvGillan(at-a-domain-named)aol.com
To: dplist(at-a-domain-named)geocities.com
Date: Monday, October 05, 1998 1:46 PM
Subject: Gillan is the winner.....:)
Ian is a far better singer then Dio.I like Dio but after a while like on
sacred heart he sounds the same he doesn't have that high pitch like
gillan.Plus dio is ugly like a elf.. Gillan is mucho handsome so he would
be
the winner hands down.I could not imagine Dio ever singing DP stuff.When he
sang with Sabbath we know it was really a rainbow thing..Because Ozzy is
much
better....Ozzy is Sabbath as Gillan is DP...
That's All Sue Rose..............
___________________________________________
-----Original Message-----
From: Sean P Powers
To: Deep Purple Digest
Date: Monday, October 05, 1998 2:44 PM
Subject: Re: Deep Purple Digest #17
> Another thing...how do you think Dio would do in DP? Kinda makes one
> think. I think he's too technical, while Ian mixes a lot of technique
> and raw emotion, so the songs would end up kind of cold (stuff like
> "Fireball" just wouldn't work, IMHO).
Dio in DP? I love Dio and Gillan as well, but I see them at opposite ends
of the spectrum in some ways.
> Now, since Dio and Gillan were both in Black Sabbath, would Dio get
confused
> and accidentally start doing numbers from Born Again?
Just as Gillan didn't do Dio Sabbath during the Born Again tour (except a
few occasions where they performed "Heaven And Hell"), Dio shouldn't be
covering Ian. But since you brought up BA, I just have to say to any
DP/Gillan fans out there who don't own it, get it. It is one of the most
underrated heavy metal albums of all time. Gillan lyrics fused to some of
the most caustic Iommi riffage of the post-Ozzy period. Check out "Hot
Line," probably the hardest rockin' tune of the entire Black Sabbath
catalog. I know, a bold statement, but in terms of sheer rock n' roll, it
does it.
> From: Matt Runyon
> To: dplist(at-a-domain-named)geocities.com
> Date: Tuesday, September 29, 1998 6:55 PM
> Subject: remasters of DP albums on cd
>
> Does anyone know how I can get a hold of the 25th anniversary CD's of the
> early MarkII Deep Purple albums? I don't think they were ever released in
> the U.S..
>
> Matt Runyon
There are a number of stores which import these and other foreign CD's.
Pick up an issue of Goldmine or any of the numerous collector's papers.
I happen to have bought mine at Vintage Vinyl in Woodbridge, NJ. They
have a website at: www.vvinyl.com. Check them out, they do mail order as
well.
Sean Powers Phone: (201) 684-5582
Ramapo College of NJ e-mail: spowers(at-a-domain-named)ramapo.edu
Elm F WWW: http://orion.ramapo.edu/~spowers
"Rock n' roll is my religion and my law...
You can't kill rock n' roll, it's here to stay."
-Ozzy Osbourne, '81
___________________________________________
>From Dean Webb: dplist(at-a-domain-named)geocities.com
Had a few ideas running through my head and thought I'd put them down on
e-paper...
First, on _|_ vs. /-\, I'd like to mention that /-\ is easier to type,
as it does not require the "shift" key. If, however, your "shift" key is
permanently stuck on your keyboard, _|_ is the only album title you can type
out. If any of you place _|_ above /-\ because your "shift" key is stuck and
you don't want to look silly talking about the ?_| album, I understand, but
ask that you get a new keyboard and re-assess the lovely /-\ album.
/-\ and _|_ really compliment each other and go great with Fireball,
"Maybe I'm a Leo" and "Pictures of Home", and other stuff from Mk2 like
that. That made me wonder... Fireball is IG's favorite album: is that the
one he had the most creative freedom on? It certainly does not bear the
Blackmore stamp as heavily as the later albums... I'm making a tape with a
mix from the above stuff and it really flows well together.
OK, on to other things. Those of you that read the Black Sabbath list
will know there was a recent round of stuff regarding one Jeff Fenholt. This
guy claimed to have sung with Sabbath at one time. That is highly debatable.
He also claimed to have been a member of Deep Purple. I figure the only one
he could have been in was Rod Evans' ill-fated version in 1980. Folks, it
makes me sad to see this guy lie so badly and allegedly for a good cause,
that of saving kids from the evils of devil-worshippin' rock'n'roll. I can't
do anything to help him out, but I can help the folks on the list as best I
can.
If you never were in Deep Purple, but wish to claim that you had been
with them at one time, please do it within the confines of this list, rather
than lying in public. We'll keep your confidences and you'll be able to get
it out of your system. To that end, allow me to purge my demons...
I WAS A SINGER FOR DEEP PURPLE.
It was in 1988, just after Ian Gillan got fired from the band. The rest
of the guys were feeling down and out and wanted to tour, but couldn't agree
on who should sing. Some suggested Dio, one guy wanted Joe Lynn Turner, I
heard that even Tom Jones got mentioned as a possible replacement.
Eventually, though, the band deadlocked and couldn't move forward.
That's when I came in. I was writing record reviews and doing
entertainment interviews down in Austin, Texas. Roger Glover was reading my
review of "Nobody's Perfect" in the student newspaper at the University of
Texas (Roger's always been in real good touch with his fans) and realized
what stupendous talent I had. He called me up and I flew on out to try out
for the band.
It was great, really great. We all got along just fine together and ran
through all the old tunes like we had been a group for ages. Then Blackmore
started playing the melody from "Over the Rainbow" (he's always had a soft
spot for "The Wizard of Oz") and it went up from there. We had a great time
and Ritchie confessed to me that he had a shrine dedicated to Judy Garland
and that her estate had even taken out a restraining order on him because of
his unusually strong attentions he paid her gravesite. He scared me a
little, but it was all OK at the time.
We did a short tour of Mongolia to try out the new lineup. The concerts
were great and we were all set to tour the rest of the world when I blew
everything. I mentioned offhand on the flight back home that Lena Horne was
one of the best singers, ever, bar none. By the time we landed at JFK, The
Garland-obsessed Blackmore had shredded all my passports, visas, contracts,
uncashed checks, promotional materials, complimentary bags of nuts, and
anything else he could lay his hands on. I was kicked out of the band.
Still, it was one heck of a ride.
I later ran into Ian Gillan at the supermarket one day and mentioned
that I had sung with DP on a Mongolian tour. He laughed and said that DP
often took complete unknowns on Mongolian tours, sometimes as many as four
or five a year. The Mongolian fans are their best, he said, and would always
accept DP, even if it was just 80% of the current lineup. He asked me why I
got kicked out and when I mentioned that I implied Lena Horne was a better
singer than Judy Garland, he just laughed quietly to himself.
"Julie Andrews did me in," he confided. He had wanted to include a
"Sound of Music" medley in the set-list and Blackmore went ballistic over
the merest mention of it. He continued, "But the rest of the band really
like Andrews, too. One day, something's gonna give." Sure enough, a few
years later, the band was back together with Blackmore on the way out soon
thereafter. I called Paicey up after Blackmore left and he confirmed what I
had suspected all along: "We told him we were gonna play the "Sound of
Music" stuff on our next Mongolian tour and he could like it or lump it. He
certainly didn't like it."
Ironically, DP never did play the "Sound of Music" medley outside of
Mongolia because of poor fan reaction there. We all know that if it doesn't
fly in Mongolia, it won't go over well anywhere.
Anyway, that's my story. I sang with Deep Purple and I'm proud of
everything I did with that group. If you ever played with DP on one of their
Mongolian tours (or anywhere else), send in your experiences to the list!
Till next time!
___________________________________________
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dplist(at-a-domain-named)geocities.com and I'll get around to it...
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