Newsgroups: alt.music.deep-purple
Subject: Toronto concert and after
From: Ken & Elsie Johns 
Date: Fri, 22 Nov 1996 04:44:03 -0800

Well it's been a week and a half since the DP show in Toronto and I'm still smiling. After waiting for over 25 years to see the band live my dream came true. What a performance. Kevin and AJ stood in line for about 21/2 hours and we managed to get in the front row!!!!!From the opening howl of hush to the last chords of Highway star , my mind was blown away. It sure was nice to see the band laughing, smiling and generally having a great time while entertaining the rapt audience with TERRIFIC music. Steve Morse is a wonderful guitarist and he even SMILES! I got a chill up my spine when he stepped into the spotlight for the intro to SOTW. John Lord's masterful, beautifully expressive keyboard playing , Ian Paice's always brilliant drumming and Roger's strong, fluid bass playing all combined to give us a showe'll never forget.. by the way I haven't forgotten Ian Gillan. It's just that I am so moved by him I have a hard time describing his voice with mere words.

The first time I heard Child in Time, and then later the opening scream of "magic woman" in Fireball I was hooked. But I think what moved me the most was the time in college when I walked into the student lounge and they were playing JC Superstar. Gesthemane was the song on at the time and I just couldn't believe how much Ian's voice affected me. I have loved him ever since then. ( please forgive the digression but it is necessary and pertinent to the rest of my story)

Anyway as I was saying , there we were standing in the front row within four feet of PURPLE!!! I had done a small watercolor painting of the purple northern lights out at my cottage in Batchawana Bay, made it into a card addressed to Ian G. and handed it to him on stage. Into the mic he said "Thank you we'll talk later", he then opened it on-stage during a guitar break, read what I had written and gave me a thumbs up sign. I was wearing my jean jacket on which I had embroidered a large DP logo and I draped it over the crowd barrier facing the band.

Well, after the show it became a family heirloom!!!!!. After over two hours of the best rock and roll I will Ever see and hear we hung around outside the back door for an hour and a half until THE BAND came out. I got the whole band to autograph that jacket of mine and Ian Gillan signed the upper thigh of my favorite jeans. (Ian's hand was on my thigh, WOW,; I would have wiggled in my chair but since I was standing I just wiggled in my jeans.) We got pictures taken with the band members too. I just got them back yesterday and they are Great!!!!! I have pictures of myself with Steve, one of Kev and I with Roger, one with Kev and Jon (his idol) , a few semi-group shots and THREE of me and Ian G kissing and mugging for the camera. I already have the one if me and Ian kissing, framed and sitting on top of my piano. Steve's picture is now over Ritchie's scowling head on my DP poster. All in all it was probably one of the most exciting, thrilling nights of my life.

I cannot stress enough how NICE this band is . They were all friendly and obliging to the fifteen or so of us who waited around outside in the cold to see them. Ian Paice called me sweetheart and told me he had noticed me having such a good time during the show and how much he appreciated the fans. I was also touched by the van driver for the band.(I think his name is Colin but I'm not sure), who was so nice to me. Some security guard wanted me behind the barrier and away from the van, but this wonderful man told him I could stay where I was. So, thanks to him I was able to get all my photos and autographs.

After all my favorite musicians were in the van we left, only to have the van pass us on the street . Kev and I waved them good nite and they tooted the horn. We went back to the hotel and sat up till around 4:30 am rehashing our great unbelievable time with the band. My jacket and jeans are now my two favorite possessions., and my photos some of my most valued treasures. I guess you could say I love these guys for making what I always thought would be impossible, happen. They truly are great people and I appreciate their kindness probably more than they'll ever know.

CHEERS!!!!

P.S. "I'd make a long story short, but it's much too late for that." - I.G.
Karen Johns, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Canada.

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