DEEP PURPLE | LIVE REVIEW
Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, Mon 20 Nov
Passing the Motorpoint Arena this morning, I noticed two males in their 50s hanging around near the back, wearing Black Sabbath T-Shirts and with autograph book in hand. This is the kind of devotion that rock royalty Deep Purple command. These guys are legitimate rock legends, the songs are classics, the riffs practically invented heavy metal – so it’s with great anticipation that I arrive at the venue for tonight’s proceedings.
Unfortunately, I missed opening act Cats In Space, who are gaining a great reputation in the live arena, having supported Thunder here in the summer too. Main support comes from Swedish rockers Europe, who are very well received by the south Wales rock community, even though for the most part we’re just waiting for The Final Countdown.
Flanked by a giant graphics screen, it’s time for Deep Purple to take the stage. Opening with Time For Bedlam, from latest album Infinite, it’s easy to forget that this is a band that formed nearly half a century ago. Bounding around with an energy that defies their years, they launch into Bloodsucker from the classic In Rock LP. Despite the internet rumours, frontman Ian Gillan’s voice is as powerful as it’s ever been.
Another new track, All I Got Is You, is graciously received. Former Ozzy/Rainbow keyboard player Don Airey is given opportunity to stretch his legs on Lazy from Machine Head, proving once again to be a more than adequate substitute for the great Jon Lord. It’s from here that the set really picks up. You know those classic rock CDs they peddle every Father’s Day? Well that’s how the next part of the set plays out. Wall to wall classics.
Space Truckin’ is closely followed by the riff of all riffs, the mighty Smoke On The Water. A well-earned breather is in order before the band re-emerge to belt out Hush swiftly followed by a bass solo from the legendary Roger Glover and ending with Black Night just to finish off the evening in style. This is billed as The Long Goodbye tour but after this evening, I really hope this isn’t goodbye. If it is, then it was a hell of a sendoff.
words CHRIS ANDREWS photos MARTIN JONES