The delayed tour of rock veterans Deep Purple finally came to fruition this week as the legendary band took to the stage at Manchester’s AO arena.
Supporting Deep Purple and providing an ideal warm-up were American rockers Blue Oyster Cult. The five-piece best known for singles such as “Don’t fear the Realer”, “Burnin’ for you” and “Godzilla” delighted the crowd with a near hour-long set which also included the aforementioned hits alongside “That Was Me” and “Hot Rails to Hell”. Original members in the lineup included Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser and Eric Bloom on guitar and vocals. Bass guitarist Danny Miranda gave a sound performance to complete the rhythm section which saw Jules Radino complete the lineup on drums.
Deep purple need little introduction, having been on the scene now since forming in 1968 they received an incredible reception when they arrived onstage. The formation has altered somewhat in recent years, most notably with Simon McBride replacing Stephen Morse on lead guitar for this latest tour.
The band opened with “Highway Star” and followed it up with the best of Deep Purple…highlights included the world-famous “Smoke on the Water” which packed a punch as the audience, most of whom despite it being a seated gig were dancing rigorously, and had been since the band walked on stage. The impressive visuals enhanced the performance with three large screens set up playing psychedelic graphics, perhaps a nod to the decade the band first started out.
They completed the set with an encore, most notably the track “Hush” and finishing with “Black Night”. The band continues their European tour, starting at the end of the week in France. You can find more information about Deep Purple here at their official website https://deep-purple.com
