Not quite the full monty

This was our second attempt to see Purple on this tour. We had tickets for Birmingham on the 16th and this was cancelled due to Ian Gillan's illness, but we didn't know untill we'd booked into our hotel a couple of hours before. Then that gig was rescheduled for Sunday 24th when I couldn't make it. Frantically I obtained tickets for Cardiff, bombed down the M4 a couple of hours before the start of the show.

First impressions of the Cardiff Arena were good, seemed very intimate compared to the aircraft hanger proportions of the NEC. Freindly staff and no queueing for merchandise and drinks. I will place this venue top of the list for any future gigs. Enjoyed The Planets short set. I thinks it is a good plan to have a contrasting type of music for the support band and the Planets certainly provided that. Attractive talented band - I might even buy the CD they have just released.

Just time for a quick pint and then back to get as near as possible to the stage. The lights went down and Purple hit the stage for the opener Woman From Tokyo and then... Oh Dear. It was obvious big Ian's illness was still causing big problems. Anyway, hightlight for me were the new songs Up The Wall and The Well Dressed Guitar along with Fools and a stunning When A Blind Man Cries.

I think the decision to cancel the rest of the tour was justified. Purple ain't Purple without Ian's stunning vocal gymnastics. I just hope it is nothing serious and he soon recovers. I want to hearChild in Time live - just once. Please.

I can't recommend the venue highly enough, just round the corner there is a pub that stays open till 12.00 for after concert discussions. The walls are all decorated with tour posters and they do a mean steak and chips for £4.99. I notice there is one of those cheap Ibis hotels next door as well if you live a long way away.

I look forward to the rescheduled UK dates later in the year as I want to see Purple again - at full strength.

David J Nixon

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