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30 Sep Antwerpen
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We
(Johan, another friend and I) left
Johan’s favourite pub in Bruges, (after drinking one of the more than 250
different kinds of Belgian beers they have) at 16:00. And started the about 1
hour drive to Antwerpen. There we met some fellow Belgian fanclub members,
waiting at the closed doors. Because we still had to wait more than 2 hours till
the show would begin, and the seats were numbered, we headed for the pub across
the road. We met some military colleagues of mine and got rid of some beers.
At 20:00
we decided it was about time to get in. I must say that the seat indication was
very good. I was in zone grey, Johan and his friend in zone orange, and there
were other colours too. And as I got my ticket earlier than him, my seat was
much better than his: the third row in front of the stage, just in front of
Ian’s congas. I had seat 1. Left of me was a gangway, so I had ample room to
stretch my legs. I was getting nervous, because I did not know what to expect of
this concert: would it be the same show as in London? Hoped not, because I did
not like the part before the concerto much; it was good, but I would prefer some
more Purple stuff instead. After all, the newspaper announced “best of DP”.
I must say that the RAH (Royal Albert Hall
in London) looks much and much better than this sport palace!
The RAH is cosier and looked more acoustic to me. Lots of people entered
the hall. It seemed that it can hold 20.000 people. At
20:20 the members of the orchestra were slowly taking their places, time for a
last pee-break. In spite of my great seat, I had difficulties of seeing the
orchestra, they were sitting higher than me; but I had a better view of Deep
Purple, which was – of course- the main reason of my being here. I did not
bring my camera, I felt very sorry for it, seeing the fact of my excellent seat
and there was no body search. The hall now seemed full, except for the seats
behind the stage (kinda logical isn’t it?). Afterwards I read in the newspaper
that the place was sold out except for a handful of empty seats This
was a first one to me: punctual at 20:30 the lights went down. Jon wished us a
“good evening, welcome to the home of the echo” (oh no, is it that bad? Hope
not). “I like to say hello to eighty-one people. Please say hello to the
Romanian Orchestra. We start with a simple quiet song, Miller Anderson, one of
the most beautiful voices in the world…” “Pictured
Within.” One
moron started to shout at the beginning of the song
(oh no! It is not true! Not the same thing as at the RAH. I hoped that those
lobotomised beasts will shut up the rest of the evening). Some heavy lads, who
were standing at the barriers were sent back to their seats. The more I hear
this song, the more I like it. Miller’s outfit seemed not to fit the occasion
– as was mine: I was wearing my concert-costume: torn jeans and my jeans
jacket full with DP and Rainbow patches. He sang it really excellent, and
received a big applause. “We
would like to do a song from the same album, you made it all big here in
Holland, Belgium” “Love Is All”. Such a small, tiny man,
such a big voice! Steve was doing the brilliant waltzing part of the song, in
opposite of the RAH performance, where the orchestra was playing that piece. I
preferred Steve’s. Then
something that awakened most people in the hall, especially those in front of
me: Fever Dream” from “Magica”. Quite a difference to the
earlier songs. This one was done without Miller on guitar, and without the
orchestra, who was looking and smiling. “Thank
you, thank you so much. Here is an old one from me: Rainbow In The Dark”. Steve was – as usual -
smiling all the time. Some Dio fans went crazy. As my memory is correct (I saw
Dio doing this one on May 3), with Purple it was furious and more melodic. “Thank
you so much. Thank you! Mr R.J.D Ladies and gentlemen! Next, our musical journey
goes back to the 60’s, with the finest drummer – also my brother-in-law, so
I have to be kind to him. Wring That Neck”. Performed the same
way as at the RAH, I still did not like the horns part, too jazzy for me. Even
the photographers were calmer. Ian performed a very small, but delicious solo.
Nevertheless they can loose this song for me. Gillan,
wearing a white shiny dinner jacket, walked on stage, which pleased the
audience,.. “My god, look at you! There is a thing originally called Ted
The Mechanic and iet gooze laaike thies.” Performed with the horns,
Miller and a 3 headed, beautiful female choir. During Steve’s solo he took off
his white jacket and was now completely dressed in black. He drank – beer I
guess – and waved at the audience. This song, rightly, has become a real
classic one. Did Gillan loose some weight? And it also looked like he had some
grey hairs on his temples. “Thank
you very much. I thaaaaaaaank you” (he sounded hoarse during this, but it was
only during this part, otherwise he was in fine form all evening). “We’re
gonna do a thing from 1971. Pictures Of Home with
a new introduction.” It started with a hobo (I guess). The same intro as in
London, but a bit longer. Those morons started shouting and laughing again. I
feel ashamed that we have those guys too, and sitting so close to me, just
behind the photographers, who were very busy doing their thing. One of the
security guys who could not shut up those shouting bastards, brought in a
bigger-built security member, which did help. Paice worked his ass off. The
chorus were having a good time too, one of them looked like a former Miss
Belgium and now TV personality (Rani De Koninck). Steve played a blinder of a
solo. “Alright! Thank you! That was recorded on Thursday the 17th,
just after tea.” “This is a song from – what is it
called Jon? – Fireball: Fools”. Handclapping from some part of
the audience. Yeah! I had great
expectations for this one! And I must say it has been a long time since I have
been drumming on my leg, but now I did! This is real jaw-dropping good (not my
leg-drumming, you…) Gillan had a heavy echo on his voice and was teasing Roger
with the maracas. Jon was doing a fine job imitating Blackmore’s part. When
Steve took over, it changed completely and became a little too jazzy for me, but
that improved. When Gillan was joining Steve he was almost inaudible. I did not
like the ending of the song. But this was definitely a first highlight of the
evening. I love it when they do new – old songs! “All right baby! We love you! I’ll
have a beer with you later! This is one for the first time ever, Steve wrote
this just before in the dressing room, and it is called Guitarstring”.
Well, what can I say? This was unfuckingreal! Steve doing a long solo, together
with the violins and Paice’s cymbals. It sounded like something
“known-classical” which went on faster and faster. Superb!! I can say you
other guys (and galls) out there, who didn’t or can’t make it to this
impressive show, you have a reason to be very jealous! J J “We’re gonna do something, kind of
a blues: When A Blind Man Cries”. Yes! Another one I wanted to
hear with the orchestra! It started
with the violins, then Steve… Real spine-tingling stuff! (See what you all
have been missing down there in Brazil and Argentina. I told you, you would be
jealous!). Pity that the orchestra was quite quiet. But this was another
highlight! We were really spoiled that evening! “That was a real pleasure! You are
sending down some real nice feelings! When I had a letter beside my bed in
another language, I could not understand it. So I went to the bar, drinking. Sometimes
I feel Like Sreaming.” He was singing the chorus beside the female
backing vocals. Mmmm, I envied him, they were real pieces of eyecandy. At one
moment he was pushing Glover’s
nose, who was singing along loudly (without mike). They were really having a
ball on stage, enjoying themselves. I love watching Steve when he is doing his
one finger bit. “You are fantastic! We’ve reached
the moment where the song is 40 minutes long…” He was talking about
something like a battle between the band and the orchestra, not understanding
each other in part one, then in part 3 they find each other, and so on, he
talked real fast and a lot so I could not write it all down. “We introduce the
Concerto”. Which started at 21:46. One thing was missing: they could
have inserted a small pause. Now I had to go to the toilet during the concerto,
and I was not the only one. I did not write down a lot during this part of the
show. I must say that the London symphonic Orchestra was a bit better, their
notes were the same as in 1969, but played with more enthusiasm. I don’t say
it was bad now, not at all. But there were some very audible differences.
(Isn’t that the way we like our deep Purple concerts?!?) Steve’s solo was
now completely different than Ritchie’s. Jon’s solo spot seemed a bit
different to me too, he really lived the music, it was joy watching him play,
The Lord Of The Hammond! The slow bit during Steve’s solo was fabulous! There
was more hum of voices than at the RAH. After the 1st movement, there
was a standing ovation from some people, not like the RAH, where everybody was
standing up, but then it was very special too, exceptional. During the 2nd movement again we
had was much shouting from morons with a bigger shoe size than their IQ. Oops a
bum note produced by Roger; that was the first time I’ve heard that. Gillan
came on stage, now wearing a black jacket. Jon winked at him, and Paice was
having troubles with his drums, he signalled his roadie that he could not hear
them right, or something like that. While his roadie was trying to fix his
drumkit, Jon played a long solo. And again those stupids were shouting, I am
afraid that this will happen at every one of these concerto gigs. Though I did
not experience it as annoying as at the RAH, that was like sacrilege then. During the 3rd movement and
Ian’s vibrant 3 minute drum solo (after he had been fumbling with his kit
too), he was playing with one hand, the other one resting his head on. I already
have read about that, but it was the first time I saw it, quite stunning. The concerto ended at 22:34 with a
standing ovation by the audience. Paul Mann thanked the first violin player and
Jon Lord. “Thank you very much, this was our first performance this evening
with the Romanian Orchestra, directed by Paul Mann.” I don’t remember who
said it, Gillan or Lord.
Next song, another classic: “Perfect Strangers”.
Another one I wanted to hear with the orchestra. One word: phenomenal! Though
there was one part before Jon’s solo spot that sounded quite wrong; Afterwards
Johan told me he noticed it too. I think that they will sort this out by next
performances.
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