Deep Purple

David Coverdale - A Life In Vision https://www.wymeruk.co.uk/webshop/collector-s-items/david-coverdale-a-life-in-vision Since joining Deep Purple in 1973, David Coverdale has enjoyed a hugely successful career. Having been plucked from semi-professional obscurity by Deep Purple, within months he was cavorting around the globe with one of the biggest rock bands in the world and fronting Purple on its 1974 US tour which included performing in front of one of the biggest audiences ever for a one day concert at the California Jam in front of hundreds of thousands. After three albums the band finally succumbed to the internal frictions and called it a day in 1976. After initially launching himself with two solo albums, Coverdale set about rebuilding his career with his own band Whitesnake. By the early eighties sell out UK tours and hit singles proved that Coverdale was capable of achieving success with his own band and later that decade Whitesnake hit the heights in America, that he had experienced with Deep Purple, with its multi-million selling, eponymous 1987 album. This new publication is a coffee table style book that celebrates his life in music. Beautifully designed and packaged, A Life In Vision documents key moments of David Coverdale’s long and illustrious career as one of rock’s finest singers with photos from Deep Purple through to the present day Whitesnake, along with stories that chart his career. Housed in a bespoke, custom-made, block foil, buckram presentation box it also includes a set of prints, ideal for framing and is strictly limited to 500 worldwide. Customers who pre-order by 31st May can have their names printed in the book on a dedicated fan page. https://www.wymeruk.co.uk/webshop/collector-s-items/david-coverdale-a-life-in-vision

This month in 1976 with Ian Gillan. The Ian Gillan Band had recorded the first album ' Child In Time' at Musicland in Munich, and although not released until July 1976, hit the road in the USA. Here's the bands tour schedule!

This week in April 68 at London’s Trident Studios The band recorded demos of Joe South's "Hush" and The Beatles' "Help", the latter a dramatic, new, slow arrangement. No distinct initial recording of "Hush" seems to have surfaced over the ensuing years other than the version included on the debut album and single. "Help" was used as the backing track to a mimed TV appearance whilst on tour, shortly afterwards in Denmark. Unfortunately, no acetate seems to survive of this demo. However, the video of "Hush" still exists and is the earliest known filmed recording (black and white) of the group.

This week in April 1973 for Deep Purple. The band achieved another milestone - RIAA Gold record status (500,000 units) awarded to "Who Do We Think We Are" in the USA.

This week in April 1970 ...and quite fitting with Easter upon us! Ian Gillan's recording sessions at Island and Olympic studios for the "Jesus Christ Superstar" album take place. The album was recorded from March to July 1970.

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Deep Purple's Total Abandon performance at Melbourne Park (Rod Laver Arena) on the 20th April 1999.

Ritchie Blackmore, with hat, taken by Mick Gregory in Hamburg Germany for Perfect Strangers in October 1984.

Ian Gillan - The promotional photo for Perfect Strangers taken in October 1984 by Mick Gregory. The album was a brilliant comeback for the band - What is Ian's finest moment on Perfect Strangers?

17th April 1971. The second show at Montreux Casino Lido Le Sablier in Switzerland takes place for Claude Nobs. This second night's show started at the earlier time of 6pm. There is footage from this show with excerpts from Yodel, Speed King and Child In Time plus interviews backstage (which are in part shown here). These shows were to establish a bond with Claude Nobs that would continue for the next 40 years. We miss you 'Funky Claude'.

16th April 1971 Purple hit the road in Europe in search of the venue to make their next album , which was to become ‘Machine head’. First stop was 2 nights in Montreux working with Claude Nobs…… The show started at 9pm. A report in Billboard at the beginning of February, from MIDEM in Cannes, said that Claude Nobs had announced the 1971 Montreux Jazz Festival line-up for the nine days from 9th to 20th June, with the first weekend, "devoted to blues and pop, featuring Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and Deep Purple." Purple did not play the 1971 Jazz Festival. But they did rock Montreux Casino Lido Le Sablier those 2 nights, having a little fun before launching into the brilliant ‘Speed King’.

15th April 1974 Deep Purple return from America after their triumphant Burn tour. "When we saw David it was like looking at an uncut diamond. We thought 'he's good, now how can we make it shine'. He needed a cutter and the cutter was experience. The David we took to America is a quarter of the David we brought back." Ian Paice (April 1974)

Today in 1970 Monday, 13.04.70 Abbey Road studios, Studio 3 (UK) Deep Purple Mark 2 made their eighth and final album session, recording "Bloodsucker", the last track to be completed for the "Deep Purple In Rock" LP, on 8-track. The New Musical Express reported that Deep Purple had been commissioned to write and record the entire score for a new - though unnamed - French film and would be devoting all of June to it. The same report mentions an eight-week US tour, starting in July, and a half-hour special to be filmed for Grampian TV, likely to be networked. The report closed by saying: "The group is now in the process of completing work on its fifth album - titled "Deep Purple In Rock", it consists entirely of original material in the hard-rock idiom."

Following the California Jam on April 6th, Deep Purple Mark 3 continued straight on with a series of brilliant shows. 'Deep Purple finally made it to Tempe Big Surf, Arizona, with the aid of one charter airplane, four limos and one of those stretch-wagons. Between 10,000 and 12,000 persons turned out for Big Surf's first show of the year, creating one super traffic jam along Hayden Road and raising a dust cloud which probably twisted up the pollution counters on the Valley's east side. When Deep Purple did get on stage, (around 10:15 p.m.) an unnecessary 15-minute delay took place when the group's equipment manager finally agreed that the electrical system he demanded would not function properly, Then, during the show, when someone was trying to plug one wire where it shouldn't have gone, the entire sound system went out, causing the crowd to get somewhat unruly. However, Deep Purple's David Coverdale, speaking from a hastily set up public address system, got things in order, the electrical system was put back together in about 15 minutes and the band played until nearly 12:30 a.m. Running that late, the show, which was scheduled to end at 11 p.m., caused both Tempe City Hall and Big Surf to get more than a few noise complaints." Hardy Price/The Arizona Republic

Whilst Deep Purple perform 2 nights at the Denver Municipal Auditorium, Colorado, USA on 3rd and 4th March 1974, preparations were being made for the California Jam just 2 days away. A crowd of over 250,000 people was expected...and Deep Purple were to earn nearly $1Million !

Ritchie Blackmore provides us with some insight to the magic of California Jam April 1974. We celebrate this great event 45 years on this week!

This day in 1974 - Deep Purple actually had a day off in New Mexico, staying at Albuquerque's Hilton. Ritchie Blackmore has his say as the band prepare for the California Jam later in the week.

April 1st 1970 Deep Purple - Speed King on German TV. Deep Purple recorded an appearance on the Vicky Leandros TV show, "Ich Bin Vicky Leandros", on WDR. Miming to "Speed King", which had been released in some parts of Europe as a single, Ritchie is seen playing a white Stratocaster. Jon Lord provides us with some insight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5B3VIJxG5k

This week in March 1976 Tommy Bolin jammed with Jeff Beck. In Europe, touring with the Ian Gillan Band, Ian Gillan predicted: "Purple will get together again without any doubt with Roger Glover, Jon Lord, Ian Paice, Ritchie Blackmore and myself. We'll do a tour and perhaps an album but before that happens we must prove to the crowds that we aren't losers and that we can succeed without our old group." Ian Gillan

This week with Deep Purple in March 1976. David Coverdale had a meeting with Rob Cooksey and Bruce Payne at which he presented a letter of resignation. The group's accountant, Bill Reid, wrote to David Coverdale at Munich's Arabella Hotel, setting out the consequences of his resignation. David would later move to Wartaweil in Bavaria. Glenn Hughes wasn't to find out the band had split for about another month!

With BURN high in the charts in late March 1974, Deep Purple released 'Might Just take Your Life' as a single ...interestingly the Mark 4 classic 'You Keep On Moving' had been penned at the same time by Hughes & Coverdale but rejected by the band!

This week in 1974 with Deep Purple. "Burn" is in the UK albums chart listed at #6 whilst "Machine Head" and "Made In Japan" continue their success on the USA Billboard charts, joined by "Burn". The band are to play 10 classic shows in April including The California Jam.

The Blizzard Of OZ - One of the great bands and produced some of rock's biggest selling albums. Blizzard of Oz just received 5 x platinum status in the USA and features Bob Daisley on Bass.

Joe Lynn Turner returns to the stage this week on TV in Belorussia performing his Deep Purple track from Slaves & Masters 'Love Conquers all'.

The late great BERNIE TORME who sadly passed away on Sunday, March 17. We see Bernie performing with GILLAN in 1980. © Photos Mick Gregory

This week in March 1975 The awards continue to come for Deep Purple in 1975 with both Burn and Stormbringer aching record sales in Europe.