Deep Purple continues to tour and attract both longtime followers and plenty of new fans. The age range of the attendees was remarkable, but everyone came to see one of rock’s greatest bands and experience this very special spectacle. Deep Purple rarely disappoints. The band continues to release new albums and barely ever tours without having something new to promote. With such an impressive and extensive catalog, selecting a set list can be a daunting task, but the band always manages to keep things interesting. The combination of classic and new is usually what you get when you see Deep Purple.
Coming off a recent one-time reunion with founding member Ritchie Blackmore, the band made headlines in a story that temporarily overshadowed the release of its new album, Splat!. The show, however, must go on, and Deep Purple doesn’t simply live off five-minute glories. They continue to push forward. Before you knew it, the opening notes of “Highway Star” were filling Ravinia, and the band sent a clear message that they meant business.
Instrumentally, Deep Purple remains a perfect combination of musicians, rehearsed to precision while retaining a remarkable ability to improvise at a moment’s notice. Vocalist Ian Gillan was still charismatic and full of energy at 81 years old. While his screaming days may be behind him, he put enormous energy and passion into “Into the Fire,” a track he originally recorded back in 1969. Over the last few years, Gillan has increasingly focused on his mid-range, and the results are very satisfying. He maintains his unmistakable vocal personality while allowing his voice to age gracefully.
In fact, one of the highlights of the evening was “When the Blind Man Cries.” A leftover from the Machine Head sessions, the song showed a gentler side of Deep Purple and was later used as the B-side to “Never Before.” Deep Purple does not play the song very often, but when they do, it is always a special moment. This evening’s rendition was particularly touching. Gillan put his heart and emotions into the performance, giving the song an added sense of vulnerability. His recent eyesight troubles seemed to make him identify even more deeply with the character he wrote about nearly six decades ago.
The new tracks sounded great as well. “Arrogant Boy” simply flew with its galloping pace, sounding even better onstage than it does on the record. “Diablo” was another show-stealer among the new songs. Its depth, sense of humor, and incredible charisma in delivery made it sound spectacular live. It was also a great reminder that Deep Purple’s new album, Splat!, is not a throwaway—it is a vital record.
Watching Deep Purple is nearly a religious experience. Even if you have seen them before, they always find a way to leave you speechless. Drummer Ian Paice remains such a consistent force and is unquestionably one of the most powerful rock drummers alive. It is a joy to watch him attack every song. Together with Roger Glover, he creates an impenetrable low end. Keyboardist Don Airey adds enormous color with his creative Hammond runs. Airey appears to be having way too much fun up there, and you can see it as clearly as you can hear it. Guitarist Simon McBride adds a harder edge while also understanding how to properly balance each song. Together, these players create one powerful unit, and very little can stop it.
It was an evening when the classic tracks came back to life. There was smoke, moments of laziness, there was a trip into space, but above all, Deep Purple once again proved that they are still the most perfect strangers. The new songs added new thrills, while the wild soloing pushed everything into overdrive. The vibe was fantastic, the band played their hearts out, and everyone had a great time.
Let’s hope Deep Purple finds enough energy and determination to make another new record—and then do it all over again.
Mark Kadzielawa
