Perhaps it’s because their one and only split, in 1984, seems so long ago now, or perhaps because they lacked an iconic character of Ozzy Osbourne or Jimmy Page’s standing, but Deep Purple are the one member of the ‘unholy trinity,’ alongside Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, who seem to have the lowest public profile. Sure, they still tour arenas, but Sabbath have been playing stadiums this summer, and as for Zeppelin, the number of applications for tickets for their one-off reunion at the O2 stretched into seven figures. Quietly, though - as unsuitable a phrasing as that is - the biggest band ever to come out of Hertford are continuing to do quite nicely for themselves. Their most recent UK jaunt had them mixing things up, playing some arenas and some theatres, and doing their best to avoid accusations that they’re trading off of former glories; of the seventeen tracks making the setlist each night, seven were plucked from last year’s 'Now What?!' record. The classics made the cut, too, of course, as did all the trappings of the classic rock show - extensive soloing and plentiful crowd participation included. Stadium tours any time soon? Probably not, but if we’re talking about the preservation of their legacy, Deep Purple are certainly doing it justice.
N.M.O.
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