Newsgroups: alt.music.deep-purple
Subject: Show In Toronto
From: lucio 
Date: Fri, 22 Nov 1996 22:47:25 -0500

I waited from 5:45 to 8:00 in the chilly toronto air. I needed to make sure I had a spot to stand to see my band. I was in a dream leaning against the barricage directly in front of JL's Hammond. Talking to a few people around me, it would appear that they had had waiting for this magic moment just as long as I have. I still could not believe that DP would be playing, just 3 or 4 feet in front of me. I kept thinking the worst, what if somebody gets sick, what if they get stuck in traffic..

After listening to April Wine through the PA for about 1 hour, some lights dimmed, I could see a bunch of flash lights circling around the left side of the stage by the ramp. Then all of a sudden THEY started appearing each grabbing their instruments etc.

Without any warning, they started with Hush, as the lights became brighter and brighter, I had the most stupidest grind on my face, my guys just feet from me doing their thing. It was awesome. They quickly got into fireball, there were a couple dead spots the song I'm not sure why, maybe Steve and Jon got their signals crossed. Then Ian has a few words for everyone, I remember him saying "its been a long time". Pictures of Home was absolutely great, Black Night could not have been any better.

Their set list

• Hush
• Fireball
• Ted
• Pictures of Home
• Black Night
• Cascades
• Sometime I feel like screaming
• Woman from Tokyo (full version)
• The Aviator
• Rosa's
• No one came
• Smoke
• When a Blind man cries
• Speed King
• Perfect Strangers
• Hey Cisco
• Highway Star

The band played brilliant. They were all in good moods, Steve had a smile on face from the time he hit stage until he left. Jon was his usual self, getting right into it. Paicey sounded great but I couldn't see him, his top tom tom block my view. Roger again, always smiling swaying back for. Gillan sang great, he had some trouble with a few of the screams, I could see him jokingly holding onto his chest and kinda laughing when he couldn't hit a few of the notes. Lots of of laughing and joking going between all the band members. Steve was having some trouble with the right side of his Peavey 4 x 12 's, I could hear them cutting in and out. That's the only time he wasn't smiling. I could tell that he mentioned this to Gillan just before 'The Aviator" (I think). They fixed the problem and no more sound problems for Steve. Gillan seemed a bit tired, when he was behind the mic, he gave 100 percent, but when the band was soloing, he would sit on the corner of Paicey's stage. Also, they hand his conga's set up for him, but I could see that he was very uncomfortable playing them because the conga monitors were directly behind the congas, there was no room for him to get behind them. He ended up moving them between Jon and Paicey and settled for a tamborine.
Jon's solo was short and sweet, They blended from Smoke to Jons solo to a beautiful piece by Steve which ended up as the intro for When a Blind man cries.

Some one handed Gillan a drum skin for Paicey to sign. A lady about 6 feet to my left gave Gillan a large brown envelope, he opened a little later in the show. After opening it, he have the lady two thumbs up. Steve threw out lots of guitar pick, the the guy beside me manage to snatch a drum stick, just before it was going to fall into my hands. Oh well.

I waited since 85 to see Purple and I had the time of my life, I met some die hard fans like me and also met some AM-DP ers.

Looking forward to seeing them at the rest of their tours dates. Has anything been planned after the Auburn Hills show?

Cheers,
Lucio

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