Hinckley Minnesota Show

What a great night and great performance!

Here's the setlist...
TED THE MECHANIC
STRANGE KIND OF WOMAN
BLOODSUCKER
PICTURES OF HOME
ALMOST HUMAN
WOMAN FROM TOKYO
WATCHING THE SKY
ANY FULE KNO THAT
SMOKE ON THE WATER
LAZY C&D HARP (any ideas on the "c&d harp thing?") [This must be from Gillan's setlist. The "C&D Harp" is the harmonicas Gillan use in this song. -Ed.]
PERFECT STRANGERS
SPEEDKING

HUSH
HIGHWAY STAR

Dream Theater was/were good...although they could be dropped and no one would notice...thus freeing up more time for DP's set list.

ELP...still the Masters of Musicianship...but at times a bit self-indulgent. CP's drum solo was the best of the night (sorry IP)

Deep Purple...The only concern going in to the night was whether Gillan's voice was still hurting...guess what? HIS VOICE IS TOP NOTCH.

There were plenty of screams to go around for each and everyone of us! I could tell though that he was in some discomfort at times...pausing to clear his throat etc...but to be honest, he sounded better than the last time I saw DP in 1987!

Other band member comments...

Ian Paice...Rock Solid. Nobody sounds like him and can even come close to his passion as a drummer.

Roger Glover...If there is such a thing as a guiding FORCE in DP it's this guy...He is so subtle about everything he does onstage...but speaks volumes through his playing.

Jon Lord...surprisingly not as "up front" as he used to be...In `87 he almost dominated the concert...Today, he seems comfortable taking a backseat to the "I know I'm a great pianist and I'm gonna prove it to ya" contest. Jon knows he is and we know he is and what we got tonight was a rock solid performance.

Steve Morse...great guitar player...knew his stuff...didn't waiver a bit...right on the mark...there's the problem, too predictable. `nuff said.

Overall, Deep Purple Shined Tonight...I am so happy for them, really! For them to be onstage in 1998 and "kickin' arse" is no small feat...for that I'm grateful.

After the show, we managed to weasel our way backstage and meet Roger Glover and Steve Morse...

...Both great guys and best of all, down to earth. No rock star ego thing at all...Roger wandered about with Beck's in hand signing autographs and chatting with friends...Steve was equally as nice...did some John Hancock's...going out of his way to get into really lengthy chats with fans...I could tell he was happy with his current job!

I took some pics that i took from the show. I will be forwarding them to the DPHS soon...

Thanks...
Dan

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