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UK reviews 2002 (rescheduled)
 

Haunting

Firstly, let me say I'm in a privileged position - as a presenter of a classic rock show on a local radio station, and then seeing one of my all time favourite bands doing it so well after 34 years!

At a packed Colston Hall, Purple were greeted like old friends, thundering into Fireball, and whilst the sound mix didn't start off too well, it soon got better for a superb Lazy and the haunting When A Blind Man Cries.

Well done to 'new boy' Don Airey for stepping into illustrious shoes (no mean feat) with a solo including snippets of Weiss Heim, Sailors Hornpipe and Star Wars.

Jon Lord looked visibly moved during his 'set' of Perfect Strangers, Speed King. Then the band was joined by Bernie Marsden for Smoke On The Water, which meant a Deep Purple which included 1/2 of classic Whitesnake and 2/5 of classic Rainbow - superb!

Child In Time and Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming would have topped it off for me, but you can't have everything.

Highway Star brought things to a close and the show had simply flown by.

Thanks guys, here's to another 30+ years and thanks for taking time out for the programme.

Andy Fox

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