Month: January 2026

Subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Anchor.fm, Breaker, PodBean, RadioPublic, Amazon Music, Pocket Casts, or search in your favorite podcatcher! 

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The Deep Purple Podcast is 100% listener supported and ad-free! If you receive value from our show please consider supporting us!

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Patron Benefits:

• Access to our Patrons-only Discord
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• Invites for livestream episodes
• Link for Submission for all album rankings episodes
• Access to our “Too Hot For YouTube” forbidden episodes via Patreon

New Patron/Patron Upgrades:

• Patron UPGRADE! Robert Smith
  • I watched the Christmas 2025 episode and something struck me when Rich referred to me (and Kev Roberts I think) as a “lesser known patron” and I thought “Is that what I am ?” I suppose that’s true. I’m pretty useless with anything other than basic technology so I’m not on, for example, Discord, so my interactions are very limited. Maybe you could refer to me as The Lesser Known in future mentions ! I’ve also upgraded my Patreon membership as a small thank you for all your hard work and dedication to all things Deep Purple.
  • I hope you and your family have a great and above all healthy 2026 and although you might not hear from me very often, I can assure you that I’m always there !
• New Patron! ‘Scalloped Strat Matt’ joining us at the $5.99 “Nice Price” Tier
  • Hi Nate and John,
  • I’ve been meaning to sign up to Patreon for a while now as I have been listening to you guys for sometime here in the U.K and really enjoy your wonderfully entertaining Podcast.
  • I discovered Deep Purple in the early nineties after playing through my parents record collection. They had two Deep Purple albums, Machine head and Fireball – what an introduction eh? I’ll never forget the first time I heard Jon’s and Ritchie’s solos in Highway Star and the awesome title track Fireball.
  • I was overjoyed whilst looking for a new podcast to come across two guys (probably about my age) chatting intelligently and humorously about my favourite band and all its offshoots. It was almost as great as discovering the band itself! Keep up the great work chaps.
  • Many thanks,
  • ‘Scalloped Strat Matt’
  • P.S. I already have my tickets to see Purple in London later in the year.

Thanks to Our Executive Level Patrons:

• The “In Memorium” Tier
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• The £10 “Good Doctor” Tier
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• The Turn it up to $11 Tier
  • Clay Wombacher
  • Frank Theilgaard-Mortensen
  • Mikkel Steen
  • Will Porter, PhDPP
  • Michael “Don’t Call Him Bradford” Bagford
• $10 “Some One Came” Tier
  • Ryan M
  • Jeff Breis
  • Victor Campos
  • “Better Call” Saul Evans
  • Peter from Illinois
• The  £8 “Lesser Known Patrons” Tier
  • Robert Smith – PATRON UPGRADE!!
• The “Deep Thoughts by John Mottola” Tier
  • Fielding Fowler

The Deep Purple Podcast Hall of Fame:

• Rich “Yngwie” Shailor
• Jörg Planer
• Norman Weischlebaum

Upcoming Rankings Show:

• Deep Purple “Stormbringer”
  • Patron rankings needed by March 30th
  • Become a patron if you want to be invited to the live stream and submit your rankings!

Postcards From The Edge . . . OF CONNECTICUT!

• Postcards from Florida!

Core Band:

• Bass – Michael Devin (2)
• Drums – Briian Tichy*
• Guitar – Doug Aldrich, Reb Beach
• Vocals – David Coverdale

Additional Musicians:

• Guest [Special Guests], Keyboards – Timothy Drury
• Guest [Special Guests], Vocals – Jasper Coverdale
• Other [Frontier Records] – Ezio At The Warehouse, Francesco At The Warehouse

Technical:

• Authoring [DVD Authoring] – Michael Magallon (tracks: DVD-1 to DVD-4)
• Engineer [Drums Recording/Assitant] – Eric Astor (2)
• Engineer [Drums Recording] – Mike Tacci
• Executive-Producer – David Coverdale
• Graphics [DVD] – Jon Farrell
• Producer [Los Bros Brutalos], Engineer [Los Bros Brutalos], Mixed By [Los Bros Brutalos] – David Coverdale (tracks: CD-1 to CD-16), Doug Aldrich (tracks: CD-1 to CD-16), Michael McIntyre (tracks: CD-1 to CD-16)
• Producer, Engineer, Mixed By – Los Bros Brutalos* (tracks: CD-1 to CD-16)
• Mastered By – David Donnelly*

Album Art & Booklet Review

• Artwork, Design – Hugh Gilmour

Thanks to Our Core Level Patrons:

• The $6.99 “The Nice Price Plus” Tier
  • Spike the Rock Cat’s Ghost
  • Sugar T
• The Episode $6.66 Tier
  • Steve Coldwell
  • Arthur Smith
  • Charles Meadows
• The $6.65 “Almost Evil” Tier
  • Kenny Wymore
  • Richie Sucksmith
  • Sarajane
• The 70 NOK Tier
  • Kai Rune “Yes, I’m Norwegian” Olsen – 
• $5.99 The “Nice Price” Tier
  • Adrian Hernandez
  • Scalloped Strat Matt – NEW PATRON ALERT!!!!
• The 60 Kroner “Scandinavian Nights” Tier
  • Knut Morten Johansen – 
• The €5.50Tier
  • Merlijn Rotte
• The £4.00 “Lucyfour” Tier
  • Duncan Leask
• $5 “Money Lender” Tier
  • John Convery
  • German Heindl
  • Jesper Almén
  • Oleksiy The Perfect Stranger Slyepukhov
  • Kev Roberts
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  • Cynthia Dube
  • Raff Kaff
  • Coyote Bongwater
  • John Miceli
  • Sarah Sanders
  • Jellybean
  • Evan Robison
  • Purple Swede
  • Ralphie Lee

Album Tracks:

All tracks are written by David Coverdale and Doug Aldrich.

1. Steal Your Heart Away
   • It’s really about the idea that you’ve paid your dues and now it’s time to reap the rewards. And it’s really quite feral… very Frank Frazetta [famous sword-and-sorcery artist], a chest-beating frustration that has gotten to be so much that you’re screaming from the rooftop that you’ve had enough of this. That if I don’t find what I’m looking for now, I don’t know what I’m gonna do. So there is a kind of emotional destitution in this one, and basically there’s also a fucking good Whitesnake singalong hook! I personally can’t decide if it’s Cro-Magnon or Neanderthal!
2. All Out of Luck
   • As environmentally aware as I am, I’ve never been inspired to write about the magnificent trees in my garden. I just love’em and appreciate them. But with the subject that is love, whenever I sit down to write, these are the sorts of lyrics and songs that come out. So I say: “OK, God, if this is what I’m supposed to do.
   • I’m gonna research the topic of love on lots of different levels, and this particular lyric is a metaphor of love and gambling,” It’s an old device of mine, because I don’t gamble in terms of cards and casinos, but I have certainly gambled in relationships, for sure. It’s about having messed up. You took a risk and it didn’t pay off. Was that risk another woman? Maybe a one-night stand? And now you’re trying to get back in the good books. It’s taken that experience for you to realise how important the other person is in your life. And that’s the scenario. It’s actually one of the earlier songs that Doug [Aldrich] and I wrote, and it came together really quickly, because we seem to be on a very, very telepathic, immediate, connection when it comes to writing. Oh… and this one has got a cracking, tortured solo from Reb [Beach].
3. Love Will Set You Free
   • The whole lyrical theme is about the beginning of m relationship with my wonderful, beautiful wife Cindy, who is my best friend and partner. The first lyric says: “Something in your touch electrified me, completing me in every single way.” We use this expression to each other a lot, “You complete me”, as in if there’s any missing pieces in your person, you usually need somebody to finish the circle.
   • It’s a very fulfilling relationship. The first time we actually touched, held hands, it was like we had an electric shock.
   • It was an amazing feeling, and it’s still as amazing to this day.
   • There’s a stunning solo on this song too, one of Doug’s best, and I also think this is one of the best, most complete songs Doug and I have written. This is also the first video of the album and Cindy’s in it. The song is about her, I wanted her to be in it and she does a wonderful job. And before anyone asks, I don’t do comparisons! Before I forget, my son, Jasper is also in the video. ‘Tis a family affair!
4. Easier Said Than Done
   • Who hasn’t promised the earth to somebody they’ besotted with? You know, it’s the easiest thing in the world to say; “I’m gonna lay the world at your feet.” Unconditional love is to be treasured, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be an abundance of things or “Here’s the keys to Harry Winston, the jeweller”. But you do say things that show your commitment. It’s all part of the eternal aspect of love, how it’s potentially immortal. So it’s the perfect Valentine’s, you know? It says: “I might not be perfect, but you’ve got my love forever.” And, of course, this is one of the now anticipated big Whitesnake ballads – one for the ladies, of course, but we tend to get a lot of boys singing these songs too. Incurable romantics. And let’s not forget an incredible solo from Mr Aldrich. I relish and treasure solos like this, because when the singer stops telling the story, the soloist should continue the narrative. And I think this is a perfect example of a unique solo for that.
5. Tell Me How
   • Funnily enough, it strikes me as something from the Stormbringer/Come Taste The Band era (Referring to the Deep Purple Mk III and IV albums- Ed.). It harnesses soul and rock, the cross pollination, the hybrid. And it captures Michael Devin and Brian Tichy at their wrecking-crew best.
   • Not to diminish anybody else I’ve worked with, but this band just came together like a Savile Row suit! Iove the lyrics on this one, revolving around the theme of trying to win back a love that you’ve compromised. These are the lyrics that you can use to your beloved if you’ve let them down: “I’m guilty of a thousand crimes…” but I won’t do it again, I promise! I’m going to be working another mix of this one, the “have fun for farts and giggles” remix.
   • I really hope we get to do this one live.
6. I Need You (Shine a Light)
   • This has a big Motown feel for me, especially the chords. It’s related to Call On Me from Good To Be Bad or Give Me More Time from Slide It In. There’s a hint of Motown in the majority of the songs that I’ve been involved with, and as Michael Caine would say, “Not a lot of people know that”. It’s another song about a particularly hot lady…. um, I wonder who that could be?! And it’s a fun one with some fun lyrics, with a plea for attention when I say, “Hold the light and get me out of the darkness”. It is, like most of my songs, a celebration of love in all its assorted ways and forms… over, under, sideways, down… all of it.

Thanks To Our Foundation Level Patrons:

• £3.50 “Deep Purple NY” Tier
  • Lord Longford
• The £3 “The Aromatic Feed” Tier
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• The €3.50 Tier
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• The 293 Pence Tier
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• The €2.50 “Too Many Tiers” Tier
  • Soldier of Fortune 
• The $3.33 Half Way to Evil Tier
  • Stephen Sharpe
• $3 “Nobody’s Perfect” Tier
  • Peter Gardow
  • Ian Desrosiers
  • Mark Roback
  • Stuart McCord
  • Flight of the Rat Bat Blue Light
  • Øyvind Fjeldbu –
  • Runar Simonsen –
  • Ruinous Inadequacies
  • Corey Morrissette
  • Ashely { Still I hear, “Burn” } Rose
  • Joe “Dopefish” Siegler
  • Adam Corke
  • Tim Wood
  • Steve “Down to Earth” Koeller
  • Michael
  • Matt in Vegas
  • Leezus Christ Superstar
• The 19.31 kr.  “Cold Hard Danish Kroner” Tier
  • Carsten Lau
• $1 Made Up Name Tier
  • The “Easier Dead Than Done ” Leaky Mausoleum
  • The “Dead Dogs in the Street ” Leaky Mausoleum
  • Stephen Sommerville The Concerto 1999 Fanatic
  • Hank the Tank
  • Private Eyes
  • Ashen Lionel
  • Zwopper The Electric Alchemist
  • Anders Engstrom
  • I see DC
  • Durple Purple
  • David Hattam
  • Graham Bonnet’s Disco Pants and Haircuts
  • Sicktone

Deep Dive Podcast Network:

Check out our website to find other like-minded shows taking deep dives into individual songs, bands, and albums.

• Deep Dive Podcast Network

Brendan Ashbrook – Logo Designer

For More Information:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forevermore_(Whitesnake_album)
• https://whitesnake.com/forevermore-box-2025/
• https://www.discogs.com/release/2828383-Whitesnake-Forevermore
• https://musicbrainz.org/release-group/e78c17e1-31c2-4e34-84e2-bcc7fe68f057

Listener Mail/Comments

• Comments about the show? Things you’d like us to cover?  We’d love to hear from you. Send us an email at info@deeppurplepodcast.com or @ us on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, or Threads.

Subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Anchor.fm, Breaker, PodBean, RadioPublic, Amazon Music, Pocket Casts, or search in your favorite podcatcher! 

How To Support Our Show:

The Deep Purple Podcast is 100% listener supported and ad-free! If you receive value from our show please consider supporting us!

• Support Our Show

• Leave us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcasts
• Buy Merch at Our Etsy Store!
• Become a Patron on Patreon
• Donate on Paypal (Donate one time or click “make this a monthly donation” box)
• Donate to $DPPOD Using Cash App
• Support Us on Ko-fi
• SUPER Thanks now available on YouTube!

Patron Benefits:

• Access to our Patrons-only Discord
• Access to our ratings spreadsheet
• Invites for livestream episodes
• Link for Submission for all album rankings episodes
• Access to our “Too Hot For YouTube” forbidden episodes via Patreon

Thanks to Our Executive Level Patrons:

• The “In Memorium” Tier
  • Gerald “Jerry” Kelly & Family
• The $25 “Uncommon Man” Tier
  • Ovais Naqvi
• The “Twenty is Plenty” Tier
  • Alan “Ain’t Too Proud To” Begg
• The £10 “Good Doctor” Tier
  • Dr. Mike Kattan
• The Turn it up to $11 Tier
  • Clay Wombacher
  • Frank Theilgaard-Mortensen
  • Mikkel Steen
  • Will Porter, PhDPP
  • Michael “Don’t Call Him Bradford” Bagford
• $10 “Some One Came” Tier
  • Ryan M
  • Jeff Breis
  • Victor Campos
  • “Better Call” Saul Evans
  • Peter from Illinois
• The “Deep Thoughts by John Mottola” Tier
  • Fielding Fowler

The Deep Purple Podcast Hall of Fame:

• Rich “Yngwie” Shailor
• Jörg Planer
• Norman Weischlebaum

Upcoming Rankings Show:

• Deep Purple “Burn”
  • Patron rankings needed by December 1st
  • Become a patron if you want to be invited to the live stream and submit your rankings!

History:

• The Lloyd Webber brothers grew up very close and shared an obvious background in music. The different styles they played made it unlikely that they would ever collaborate.
• The two bet on a Leyton Orient football match. Andrew lost and his payment was having to write Julian’s cello work.
• Andrew chose the theme of Paganini’s 24th caprice and added 23 variations for cello and rock band.
• The work was premiered at the 1977 Sydmonton Festival and performed by the rock band Colosseum II with julian on cello.
• It was rearranged and recorded in 1978.

Core Band:

• Bass – Herbie Flowers
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbie_Flowers
  • Played on Lou Reed’s “Walk on The Wild Side” and David Bowie’s “Space Oddity.”
  • Also played with Elton John, Al Kooper, Paul McCartney, Ringo Star, and George Harrison.
  • Played on Jeff Wayne’s “Musical Version of War of the Worlds.”
  • Sadly passed away in 2024.
• Bass [Fender Precision Bass, Hayman Fretless Bass Guitar] – John Mole
• Cello – Julian Lloyd Webber
• Composed By, Producer – Andrew Lloyd Webber
• Drums, Percussion – Jon Hiseman, Phil Collins
• Guitar – Gary Moore
• Keyboards – Don Airey, Rod Argent
  • Grand Piano, Synthesizer [Arp Odyssey, Mini Moog, Solina String Ensemble], Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Don Airey
  • Grand Piano, Synthesizer [Mini Moog, Roland Rs 202, Yamaha Cs 80] – Rod Argent
• Piano – David Caddick
  • Worked with Webber as a musical director through the 80s and 90s.
• Synthesizer – Andrew Lloyd Webber
• Vibraphone [Vibes] – Bill Le Sage
  • British vibraphonist who played many acts including with The Charlie Watts Orchestra and the Kenny Baker’s Dozen. 
• Wind [Wind Instruments] – Barbara Thompson
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Thompson_(musician)
  • Married to Jon Hiseman until his passing in 2018.
  • Member of Colosseum.
  • Sadly passed away in 2022.

Additional Musicians:

• Musician [Additional Musicians], Bass – Herbie Flowers
• Musician [Additional Musicians], Drums, Percussion – Phil Collins
• Musician [Additional Musicians], Piano – Dave Caddick*
• Musician [Additional Musicians], Synthesizer – Andrew Lloyd Webber
• Musician [Additional Musicians], Vibraphone [Vibes] – Bill Le Sage

Technical:

• Engineer [Engineered By] – Martin Levan
• Lacquer Cut By – Porky (5)
• Coordinator [Production Coordinated By] – Bridget Hayward
  • Only other credit on Discogs is a title called “Stripping For Jesus.”

Album Art & Booklet Review

• Design [Cover Design] – Cream (7)
• The cover is based on the painting Frederick, Prince of Wales, and his sisters by Philip Mercier.
• Special thanks to Jon Hiseman, Julian Lloyd Webber, David Land and Biddy.
• Recorded at Morgan Studios, London.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgan_Studios
• Cover picture a “Variation” of Philip Mercier’s ‘Frederick Prince of Wales and his Sisters’.
• With apologies to London’s National Portrait Gallery.
• Dedicated to The Small Vole.

Thanks to Our Core Level Patrons:

• The $6.99 “The Nice Price Plus” Tier
  • Spike the Rock Cat’s Ghost
  • Sugar T
• The Episode $6.66 Tier
  • Steve Coldwell
  • Arthur Smith
  • Charles Meadows
• The $6.65 “Almost Evil” Tier
  • Kenny Wymore
  • Richie Sucksmith
• The 70 NOK Tier
  • Kai Rune “Yes, I’m Norwegian” Olsen – 
• $5.99 The “Nice Price” Tier
  • Robert Smith
  • Adrian Hernandez
• The 60 Kroner “Scandinavian Nights” Tier
  • Knut Morten Johansen – 
• The €5.50Tier
  • Merlijn Rotte
• The £4.00 “Lucyfour” Tier
  • Duncan Leask
• $5 “Money Lender” Tier
  • John Convery
  • German Heindl
  • Jesper Almén
  • Oleksiy The Perfect Stranger Slyepukhov
  • Kev Roberts
  • Scott Zerns
  • Cynthia Dube
  • Raff Kaff
  • Coyote Bongwater
  • John Miceli
  • Sarah Sanders
  • Jellybean
  • Evan Robison
  • Purple Swede
  • Ralphie Lee

Album Tracks:

Side One:

1. “Introduction”
2. “Theme (Paganini Caprice in A minor No. 24) and Variations 1-4”
   • The opening theme is used as the theme to The South Bank Show (1978–2010)
3. “Variations 5 and 6”
   •  became “Unexpected Song” with lyrics by Don Black
4. “Variation 7”
5. “Variation 8”
6. “Variation 9”
7. “Variation 10”
8. “Variations 11-15 (including the Tributes to Hank Marvin and Prokofiev)”

Side Two:

9. “Variation 16”
10. “Variations 13-14 Varied” (listed as 14-15)
    • In the musical for “School of Rock” written by Andrew Lloyd Webber there is a scene where Dewey Finn and Ned Schneebly play Guitar Hero and are playing Variations.
    • The notes in the chorus on the song “Stick It To The Man” is taken from Variation 14.
11. “Variation 17”
12. “Variation 18” (Rachmaninoff‘s Variation 18)
    • “Variation 18” is an instrumental version of the title song from the first Rice and Webber musical, The Likes of Us (1965, unperformed until 2005)
13. “Variations 19, 20 and 5 Varied (listed as 6)”
    • the UK’s children’s programme, The Book Tower (hosted by Doctor Who actor, Tom Baker) adopted a section of “Variation 19” for its theme tune.
14. “Variations 21 and 22”
15. “Variation 23”

Thanks To Our Foundation Level Patrons:

• £3.50 “Deep Purple NY” Tier
  • Lord Longford
• The £3 “The Aromatic Feed” Tier
  • Simon Ford
• The €3.50 Tier
  • Weston Super-Mare Pilgrim
• The 293 Pence Tier
  • Blackmore’s Tights
• The €2.50 “Too Many Tiers” Tier
  • Soldier of Fortune 
• The $3.33 Half Way to Evil Tier
  • Stephen Sharpe
• $3 “Nobody’s Perfect” Tier
  • Peter Gardow
  • Ian Desrosiers
  • Mark Roback
  • Stuart McCord
  • Flight of the Rat Bat Blue Light
  • Øyvind Fjeldbu –
  • Runar Simonsen –
  • Ruinous Inadequacies
  • Corey Morrissette
  • Ashely { Still I hear, “Burn” } Rose
  • Joe “Dopefish” Siegler
  • Adam Corke
  • Tim Wood
  • Steve “Down to Earth” Koeller
  • Michael
  • Matt in Vegas
  • Leezus Christ Superstar
• The 10 DKK  “Cold Hard Danish Kroner” Tier
  • Carsten Lau
• $1 Made Up Name Tier
  • The “Variations of a Grave” Leaky Mausoleum
  • Stephen Sommerville The Concerto 1999 Fanatic
  • Hank the Tank
  • Private Eyes
  • Ashen Lionel
  • Zwopper The Electric Alchemist
  • Anders Engstrom
  • I see DC
  • Durple Purple
  • David Hattam
  • Graham Bonnet’s Disco Pants and Haircuts
  • Eddie Lion
  • Sicktone

Bustin’ Out The Spreadsheet

Reception and Charts:

•  It reached Number 2 on the UK album charts.

Deep Dive Podcast Network:

Check out our website to find other like-minded shows taking deep dives into individual songs, bands, and albums.

• Deep Dive Podcast Network

Brendan Ashbrook – Logo Designer

For More Information:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variations_(Andrew_Lloyd_Webber_album)
• https://www.discogs.com/release/1971920-Andrew-Lloyd-Webber-Variations
• https://musicbrainz.org/release/4a303fd0-1a5a-4779-b56a-b698dd062836

Listener Mail/Comments

• Comments about the show? Things you’d like us to cover?  We’d love to hear from you. Send us an email at info@deeppurplepodcast.com or @ us on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, or Threads.