Deep Purple set to Rock Bangkok

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Deep Purple set to Rock Bangkok 
: 16 Apr 2010
Deep Purple to Rock the Kingdom


Deep Purple, the legendary hard rock band from the UK, will be back to rock the Kingdom during the ''Deep Purple Live In Bangkok'' concert at Thunder Dome, Muang Thong Thani, on May 14 at 8pm.

British hard rock band Deep Purple will be back for a concert at Thunder Dome, Muang Thong Thani, on May 14 at 8pm.

Presented by Get 102.5 FM and Rock N' Rolla, the concert will be their third visit after their ''Deeper Than Ever Live In Bangkok'' show eight years ago. And rumour has it that the upcoming concert might be the last chance for Thai fans to have fun with the 42-year-old band.

Deep Purple is a respected classic rock band despite eight different line-ups with 14 members over the years. The current band members include Ian Gillan (vocals, harmonica, congas), Steve Morse (guitar), Roger Glover (bass), Ian Paice (drums, percussion) and Don Airey (organ, keyboards).

Formed in Hertford in 1968, Deep Purple is often considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and hard rock. The group's early output ranged from rock to strongly classically-influenced pieces. Their first few albums contained very long solos, such as those on the band's covers of Hey Joe and I'm So Glad.

After their third album, there was a line-up change and the result was what is now thought of as the classic Deep Purple line-up featuring guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, singer Ian Gillan, bassist Roger Glover, keyboardist Jon Lord and drummer Ian Paice.

The first output of this new line-up was a mixed electric and orchestral album with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Deep Purple In Concert, followed by four very influential studio albums over the next four years _ Deep Purple in Rock (1970), Fireball (1971), Machine Head (1972), and Who Do We Think We Are (1973), and the live album Made In Japan.

After that there were some changes in band members but the new line-up continued the success of their predecessors, recording the albums Burn and Stormbringer, and further successful tours and live albums.

That was before Blackmore, disenchanted with the increasing funk direction, left to form his own band. With a newly recruited guitarist, Deep Purple went on to record Come Taste the Band in 1975.

It was on the 1975/76 tour that the tensions within the band really came to the surface and led to an eight-year hiatus from 1976-84.

In 1984, Deep Purple's best-known second line-up (Ian Gillan, Jon Lord, Ian Paice, Roger Glover and Ritchie Blackmore) reunited to produce the albums Perfect Strangers and The House Of Blue Light.

Tensions returned, however, and Deep Purple came up with two more line-up changes and two albums along the way _ Slaves and Masters and The Battle Rages On.

The remaining members recruited guitarist Steve Morse and, revitalised, produced what many regarded as their best work in many years, Purpendicular, then Abandon before Jon Lord retired and was replaced by keyboardist Don Airey. This line-up has since recorded the albums Bananas and Rapture Of The Deep.

While not as influential or commercially successful as in their original incarnation, the band have remained a successful studio and live act throughout this latest period.

Deep Purple were once listed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's loudest band. Even though the band didn't quite agree, it should make more sense to say that Deep Purple is one of the hardest touring bands in the world.

From 1968 to the present they continue to tour around the world. And this year is no exception considering the tight schedule which boasts their concert tour to Australia, Taiwan, China, Malaysia, South Africa, Russia and both the East and West Europe.

In 2007 the band received special award for selling more than 150,000 tickets in France with 40 dates in the country in 2007 alone. And the following year saw the band make their first ever appearance at Moscow's Kremlin.

Deep Purple have so far sold over 100 million albums worldwide.

Tickets for ''Deep Purple Live In Bangkok'' cost 800, 1,500 and 2,500 baht and can be purchased from Thaiticketmajor booths. Call 02-262-3456 or visit www.thaiticketmajor.com.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/entertainment/music/36154/deep-purple-to-rock-the-kingdom