In this episode Nate talks with Tony Flynn, guitarist in the “New” Deep Purple featuring Rod Evans. You’ll hear Tony talk about his time with Rod and the band as well as some musical projects Tony has worked on over the years.
Apple Podcasts review by yah buh dee , 5 STARS, 11/26/2019 – Finally! – Finally a deep deep purple podcast. Amazing work. Love the band, love the music, love the hosts of this podcast. Just like Black Sabbath sent me to deep purple, Sabbath Bloody Podcast sent me to this podcast. Up to machine head episode and loving every episode so far. Keep up the great work
Lots of praise about Butterfly Ball episodes – lots of new people turned on to the show.
So excited to find somebody who has explored The Butterfly Ball in depth! I have a dad who not only instilled in me a passion for music, but who also gave me a name from this album! Needless to say I grew up with this music. But to this day I never meet anyone who’s ever even heard of The Butterfly Ball let alone listened to it! Thanks for taking the time to explore this!
Started recording and doing session work very young
In the 70s he was in The Tony Flynn Trio
Later he was in a band called Naked Kombo
He worked with Rick Derringer in 1973
In 1975 he was in a group called McJohn with John Mayall though they would never play live – Also in the group was Goldy McJohn, founding member of Steppenwof
Next group was Southern Pacific again with Goldy McJohn
Tom de Rivera [wiki, discogs] – bass
Grew up in Los Angeles County and was a founding member of the band Corroboree in 1968 which was one of the more highly regarded bands in the early 70s club scene in LA
Dick Jurgens III [wiki, discogs] – drums
Born in 1959 and grew up in Sacramento, California where he began playing drums in the school band.
Named after his grandfather who was the founder of the Dick Jurgens Orchestra in the early 1930s.
Because of his musical camily connectsions he’d gotten a backstage pass to meet the original Deep Purple when they played California in the 60s.
In the late 1970s he was in a fake remake of the band Association.
Would later join the new Steppenwolf band.
Geoff Emery [wiki, discogs] – keyboards
Born in 1951
First real credit was with New Steppenwolf
It was reported that Emery was also part of an Iron Butterfly lineup as well
Was an attorney
The New Steppenwolf:
In 1977 Tony Flynn was recruited to be in the “New” Steppenwolf with original organ player Goldy McJohn and bass player Nick St. Nicholas. He played with them on and off in different lineups up until 1980.
Eventually this lineup would include Geogg Emery on organ
Formation:
In 1980 Steve Greenberg (also known as Steve Green) became interested in reforming Deep Purple in any way possible.
They approached Nick Simper first but Nick declined.
When they approached Rod he said in Sounds Magazine in August of 1980: “It came along at the right time because I was tired of what I was doing, you know, toeing someone else’s line and working semi-nine to five. I was ready for a change.”
After Simper refused they auditioned Tom who got the gig.
On Gerhard’s site it’s mentioned that Geoff Emery was an attorney who put this project together
Rod Evans says in an interview with Mexican magazine Conecte “ was tired of all this. Then one day Gooeff called and said ‘Let’s get Deep Purple together, we have the name.’
Rod said he was a little lin doubt.
Nick Simper, in 2010, stated that Rod had called him in 1980 and left a message with Simper’s wife to have Nicky call him. He did not. Later he would say this was a “wise” move.
“I don’t know what they played at the Swing, but they played all the stuff that Rod wasn’t even in the band for when they played the gymnasium of my high school that same year. Yes. THAT is right. My high school. Arcadia high in Arcadia, California. I still can’t believe it 36 years later… I remember wondering why he was singing songs from albums he had nothing to do with… I was trying to see if I could contact any of the friends who were with me but to no avail. I was personally feeling like it was in the fall but after all this time and all the parties it very well could have been June… tell him thanks for the cool show if you see him.” (Ray Wright, via facebook comments)
“The next act was introduced as “Steppenwolf”, they did a selection of Steppen-wolf songs including “Magic carpet ride” and “Born to be wild”. When they finished the lead singer came out to introduce Deep Purple. I noticed then that the same band came out to perform as Deep Purple…” (Jon Trask, via e-mail, 2014)
“It was already dark when they announced the arrival of Deep Purple. The announcer had no better idea than to ask us to light our lighters to receive the musicians, so people started to burn everything they had nearby. Stands, posters, everything… In the middle of that general fire the magic chords sounded: chan chan chan, chan chan chan chan. I forgot everything and joined the crowd singing “Smoke on the Water” to the screams.” (Nicolás Gadano, laagenda.buenosaires.gob.ar, 2016)
“The keyboard player, who must have been playing all of two weeks, has captured Jon Lord’s actions well. The drummer is pretty good and did the synth work in ‘Space Trucking’.” (Julie Lewis, Stargazer magazine No. 23, 1981)
“The one thing I remember distinctly was the …ahem… drum solo which consisted of the drummer unscrewing a cymbal from it’s stand, carrying it into the audience and tapping it in front of some bewildered and increasingly smoldering patrons.” (Openair83, bdeeppurplefanforum.runboard, 2004)
“I’ll never forget that. The show I attended lasted less than a few minutes. When the lights when on, and there was no Ritchie, the crowd went ballistic which quickly turned into a riot! That show took place @ “At the Factory” on July 17, 1980 in Staten Island, NY. Well, that was a long time ago and I was in a different state of mind that night, but I distinctly remember the band coming on stage (although very briefly) sans Ritchie. It was a packed house and the crowd immediately went apesh*t and started screaming for Ritchie and within a minute (or so) beer bottles started flying toward the band members. It quickly turned into a chaotic scene so I don’t recall for sure, but I believe a few of them were hit and injured. And if that wasn’t bad enough things only escalated once the bouncers tried to intervene (not that they even had a chance). It was a night I’ll never forget.” (MrX, thegearpage forum, 2015)
A band billed as Deep Purple was scheduled to perform last night at the Factory, a club located . . . on Staten Island. The band will appear Sunday at Baby-O, in Seaside Heights . . .
“What does this Deep Purple have in common with the band that recorded ”Smoke on the Water” and “Burn?” Don’t ask the band’s ol record company, Warner Brothers. “WE dont’ know anything about this group, “ said Marion Perkins, director of East Coast Tour Publicity for Warners.”
“Don’t ask Capitol Records, the label to which the current Deep Purple is supposedly signed. “Deep Purple is not on Capitol,” said a spokeswoman int he company’s publicity department.”
John Salvato, of Talent Spectrum, made the claim that they were signed to Capitol.
Article goes on to talk about sold out show of 38,000 Deep Purple played in Mexico City grossing $342,000.
“So the question remains: who is this Deep Purple? And do they have teh reight to use the band’s name? Salvato’s only comment on that issue: “I’m not sure of the legalities.”
In Reno Gazette Journal on 09 August, 1980 –
Blackmore: I think it’s pretty disgusting that a band has to stoop this low and take somebody else’s name. It’s like a bunch of guys putting together a group and calling it Led Zeppelin.
Glover: “People are paying good money to see something that isn’t what it’s purported to be. Even though Rod was in the band originally, it’s not really the band that people know.”
“Tony Flynn contends that his group ‘ sounds exactly the same and looks exactly the same. In all respects, we are the same product.’ Flynn also asserts taht he acquired the right to use the Deep Purple name from the group’s old manager, John Coletta, and its accountant, Bill Reed.”
Reed and Coletta, of course, denied this claim.
In Los Angeles Times on 09, August, 1980 – Patrick Goldstein
To most rock fans, Deep Purple means Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, and Ian Gillan, all best-known for their work with the heavy-meatl supergroup. But none of those stalwarts will be on stage when the band headlines the Long BEach Arena on Aug. 19. In fact, no one seems to want to reveal just who is in Deep Purple these days. The group has been playing concert halls around the country despite the presence of only one original member, singer Rod Evans.
Goes on to say how they were going to reveal the band’s identities on August 17.
In Los Angeles Times, on 19 August, 1980 – Richard Cromelin
The controversy surrounding tonight’s concert by Deep Purple –now billed as “The NEw Deep Purple” — at the Long Beach Arena excalated Monday when an ad appeared int eh Times stating that Ritchie Blackmore, David Coverdale, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Glen [sic] Hughes, Jon Lord, and Ian Paice would not perform at the concert.
In Los Angeles Times, on 21 August, 1980 – Terry Atkinson
The New Deep Purple band, which includes only one musician ever associated with the famous British rock group, drew enough curious and confused fans Tuesday night to fill two-thirds of the 9,000 available seats at the Long BEach ARena. The audience response wavered between docile acceptance and enthusiasm during the 55-minute set.
Some of the audience Tuesday seemsed unaware of the pre-concert controversy about the band’s makeup. “This is ridiculous,” cried one young man. “That’s not Deep Purple up there.” A woman who gave up on the show after only 10 minutes had been better informed, but bought tickets anyway. “I wanted to see if they at least sounded something like Deep Purple. They’re not even close.– it smears the name of the group.”
The band’s playing was so sloppy that, though I blieeve it performed nothing but old PUrple songs, I can’t be sure. The group got halfway through one of my favorites “Woman From Tokyo,” before I realized what it was. I couldn’t even identify a couple of others though “Highway Star” . . . “Space Truckin’” and “Burn” were (barely) recognizeable.
Tempos constantly went awry, all sense of dynamics was absent, and the long guitar, organ and drum solos were pathetic. On top of everything, Evans had a flat, leaden voice that didn’t do justice to his material. With his black tank top, tight black pants and short hair he didn’t even look the part. Flashy laser light effects couldn’t hide the fact that the whole thing was a sham.
In Los Angeles Times, on 25 August, 1980 – PAtrick Goldstein
Purple Pose: Rock or Xerox?
According to Lor Kain, a San Francisco-based singer, two members of the new Deep Purple, pianist Jeff Emery and guitarist Tony Flynn, played numerous dates with him in Colorado earlier this year — calling themselves Steppenwolf.
“One night Flynn even introduced himself on stage as Michael Monarch (the original STeppenwolf guitarist),” said Kain, who served as the group’s lead singer. “Each night they’d say, “Who’s gonna play the original member this time?”
Kain claimed the group never had full-scale rehearsal, saying “We just learned the songs off Steppenwolf’s greatest-hits album.” Though the group was billed as including original band member Nick St. Nicholas, who claimed to own the non-exclusive rights to the name of the group, KAin said that St. Nicholas never appeared at any of the gigs. Emery and Flynn were unavailable for comment.
According to the new Billboard Talent Directory, NTI’s talent roster includes Deep Purple, Steppenwolf, as well as re-formed groups like JAy and the Americans, Canned Heat, the Blues Image, Herman’s Hermits, the MC5 and Rare Earth.
One rock businessman, a Colorado-base promoter, washed his hands of the whole matter. According to the promoter, Emery earlier this year offered him either group–one price for STeppenwolf, one price for Deep Purple. “At this rate,” said the promoter, “I expect to hear about a Beatles tour any day now.
The New Deep Purple Album
Featured the track list:
Tracks the New Deep Purple band recorded in the summer
of 1980 at L.A.’s Village Recording Studios had been:
– Hush
– All I Am Is Blue
– Hold On Me
– Blood Blister
– Brum Doogie
Producer: Mike Curb
Album title: unknown Picture: Tony Flynn
A more recent version of “All I Am Is Blue”, performed by Tony Flynn & The Bluescasters in Acapulco on July 10, 2015, can be viewed onyoutube.
“People are paying good money to see something that isn’t what it’s purported to be. Even tough Rod was in the band originally, it’s not really the band people know.” (Roger Glover, Rolling Stone magazine, August 1980)
“I think it’s pretty disgusting that a band has to stoop this low and take somebody else’s name. It’s like a bunch of guys putting together a group and calling it Led Zeppelin. I don’t like this at all.” (Ritchie Blackmore, Rolling Stone magazine, August 1980)
“We did not want anything with Deep Purple, and everyone was involved in different projects. I think Rod Evans was in his right because the name had been abandoned, but there were so many “legal corners” hidden that this became a complex battle and they lost, I wish the best of lucks.” (Jon Lord, Conecte magazine, November 1980)
“We didn’t make that money, it went all to the lawyers involved… The only chance to stop that band was to sue Rod, as he was the only one receiving money, all others were on wages… Surely Rod did get involved with some very bad people!” (Ian Paice, March 18, 1996, from Hartmut Kreckels (un)official European Captain Beyond website)
“It was a very expensive business. And, of course, we’ll never be paid the damages. Rod Evans just doesn’t have the money. He no longer receives the royalities from those first three albums though.” (Manager Tony Edwards, source: Deep Purple – The Illustrated Biography by Chris Charlesworth, 1983)
Before the controversy
“Deep Purple is a thing of the past and I don’t want to have another experience like that again.” (Ritchie Blackmore, 1978 – Conecte magazine, May 1981)
After the controversy
New: “One day I’d really like to work with Ritchie again and maybe it’ll be with Purple, I don’t know.” (Ian Gillan, Record Mirror, August 30, 1980)
“I think there is an excellent opportunity for Deep Purple to meet again in the near future.” (Jon Lord, 1980 – Conecte magazine, May 1981)
Where are they now?
Rod Evans
No one knows.
It’s reported he was married in 1988.
As we said in an earlier episode listener Norman wrote in to say he met Nick Simper and asked him where Rod Evans was. His answer: “Where is he? That´s the 100.000 billion dollars question. As far is know – as my daughter is friend with somebody who is close to Rod´s kids – he is alive, doing well, living in California, retired, bald-headed, and totally out of the music biz.“
Tony Flynn
After The “New” Deep Purple Tony Flynn had plans to record a solo album in Mexico with Rod Evans, Goldy McJohn, Paul Butterfield, and Geoff Emery. In an interview in 1981 he said that he completed some of the recordings but it’s unclear (and unlikely) that Evans, Goldy, or McJohn participated.
Released a CD in 1990 entitled “Anthony R. Flynn – Angel’s Breath.”
Tony Flynn – Tribute to Deep Purple show (a journey through Rod Evans’ 1980 Deep Purple tour) Outtakes from Tony Flynn`s Deep Purple tribute show, performed in Tlapa de Comonfort, Guerrero, in Mexico on December 16th, 2017 From May 17th to September 20th, 1980, original Deep Purple vocalist Rod Evans was on tour with his new Deep Purple band, performing in the United States, Mexico City and Canada. The group consisted of Rod Evans (vocals), Tony Flynn (guitars), Geoff Emery (organ, vocals), Dick Jurgens (drums) and Tom De Rivera (bass, vocals). A journey through the Deep Purple 1980 tour – Music by Tony Flynn & The Mountain Men
The drummer from the band does not recall Tom fondly in an email posted on Gerhardt’s site
Dick Jurgens III [wiki, discogs] – drums
As reported on: http://www.dpac.at/Bogus_Deep_Purple_1980.html
passed away of cancer on December 4th, 2016. He was sick for a long time. “Thank you for the nice contact we had, it gave me a lot of inspiration when creating the “New Deep Purple 1980” fanpage. Rest In Peace!“
It was late March in 2019, when I found myself in Nashville TN, renting an Airbnb delight called ‘Rose River Cottage’, on one bank of the Cumberland River, almost directly opposite the Grand Ole Opry, from where the quaint music would drift across the water into the wee small hours.
It was springtime, and – along with the woodchucks – I was emerging from hibernation.
Across town, other members of Deep Purple were staying in more urbane accommodation. This was a shock, as we are famous for our lack of planning and we all wondered what had drawn us together in this place and time.
An even greater surprise was to follow; each member (arms and legs I’m talking about) arrived at a rehearsal studio and then a recording studio at roughly the same time on roughly the same day with roughly no idea of what we were doing.
It was a total coincidence, the like of which has probably never been witnessed since – unbelievably – exactly the same thing happened a few years earlier when we spawned some In-Finite ideas.
Then – blow me down – Bob Ezrin turned up and said ‘Let’s have dinner on Monday’
Someone enquired ‘What’s the big occasion?’
Bob replied ‘To celebrate the fact that we are all still alive…’
‘In which case’ continued the world-weary muso, ‘We’d better make it Sunday’
But we survived the weekend and had dinner on Monday.
Tuesday, we made another album and Wednesday we went to the pub….
Something like that anyway (it was all a blur) and now we gird our lions (yes, I know, but I’m in Africa) for a year of febrile activity into which a rare amount of planning has been invested; obviously not by us.
I sense the grinding of campaign wheels, the oiling of creaky roadies, rumours of itineraries and ripples of creativity in Hamburg. Quite plainly something is in the air; but I have no idea what it could be.
Perhaps, after another brief hibernation, all will become clear, in the spring of 2020.
ig
This Week in Purple History . . .
January 6 through January 12
January 12, 1987 – The House of Blue Light is released
January 7, 1975 – Stormbringer is certified gold in the US having been released the previous November
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 Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
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 Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
1990 guest spot with Swedish band Pretty Maids off their EP “In Santa’s Claws.”
Over the years Graham Bonnet, Ian Paice, and Roger Glover have guested on their recordings.
Are those sleigh bells?
Melody Maker Ad for Purple Records from December 18, 1971 – two months after Purple Records launched:
Page 1 features the first four albums being released by Purple records (Drop in the Ocean, Curtiss Maldoon, Gemini Suite, and Pick Up a Bone. Also Merry Christmas from Yvonne Elliman, Al Shaw, Rupert Hine, Jon Lord, Clive Maldoon, Johnny Gustafson, Roger Glover, John Cann, Buddy Bohn, Tony Ashton, Paul Hammon, David MacIver, Dave Curtiss, Ian Paice, and Purple Records.
Second page features the band with a mountain range in the background (possibly taken in Geneva while the band was recording “Machine Head.”)
December 23, 1948 – The song “Deep Purple” is recorded Larry Clinton featuring vocalist Bea Wain. Previously it had only been an instrumental but Mitchell Parish added lyrics to the popular song in 1938. The instrumentation was written in 1933.
December 23, 1947 – Graham Bonnet is born!
December 27, 1948 – Martin “The Wasp” Birch is born!
David Coverdale Reads ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
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 Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
gardowp, 11/17/2019 – 5 stars – It is like talking to old friends – Nate and John’s conversations about Deep Purple and the extended family of Deep Purple are well researched and provide laugh out loud moments with their off the cuff banter. It is like I am with my life-long friends talking about our favorite records and concerts that we enjoyed 30 years ago. Never being much of a Deep Purple fan, these fellas provided me with insights to appreciate the work of the band and the associated acts to become a fan. If I could give this podcast 6 Pilgrim Hats, I would. Butters!
Coverdale had been in the same music scene with Mick Moody coming up together in the late 60s. After Purple imploded Coverdale reached out to his old friend to enlist his help in writing and recording his first solo album.
Roger Glover played a huge amount of the music and instrumentation on the album.
Coverdale was understandably upset about Purple coming to a premature close.
Glover acted as an adviser for Coverdale. He had similarly been thrown from Deep Purple and could lend advice to Coverdale.
Glover: “Coverdale seemed happy enough making this album. A producer is all of those things (above) and more besides . . . therapist, sounding board, salvage expert, tyrant, peacemaker, oh, and a good ear for music.”
Coverdale went into this process with the idea of being a band, not simply David Coverdale.
Features a hand drawn album title, listing White Snake as two separate words.
Where did the name “White Snake” come from?
From The Record Mirror in 1977:
Coverdales says: “Because snakes are phallic symbols, and I like writing about phallic things. I’m also a romantic person. I don’t just like writing about raw sex. The songs I write are like a diary of my life. I write mostly from experience. If I look back at a year’s songs it’s like turning back the pages of a book.”
From ContactMusic.com in 2006:
British rocker DAVID COVERDALE has confirmed the urban myth that his band Whitesnake was named after his penis.
Many fans of the 1980s group presumed the story was nothing more than rumour – but Coverdale is happy to clear up any confusion.
He says, “Totally. Probably if I was from Asia it would be a different colour. But being a Yorkshire lad and all…”
From BraveWords.com in 2009 (republished from Metro.co.uk):
Metro.co.uk: Where did that name come from?
Coverdale: “From my penis. If I had been from Africa it would have been Blacksnake. But, no, it was actually a song I wrote in the dying embers of Deep Purple.”
Played on Glenn Hughes’s “Play Me Out,” Roger Glover’s “Elements,” and many many more.
Was in the jazz-rock trio with bassist Colin Hodgkinson until the group broke up win 1977. Hodgkinson joined Whitesnake in 1982 replacing Neil Murray on bass.
Martyn Ford calls him “the best drummer on the planet.”
Started in a production of Jesus Christ Superstar, went on to play with Jeff Beck, Stanley Clarke, Peter Gabriel, Mike Oldfield, Joe Satriani, Derek Shernihan, Toto, Jack Bruce, Gary Moore, Michael Schenker.
Credits among his main influences: Buddy Rich, Billy Cobham, Ian Paice, Tommy Aldridge and Bernard Purdie.
Magnet – For rather suspect but necessary accommodation
and Charles for odd welcome appearance
The music on this Album was conceived and given the ol’ once over in Deutchland (Somewhere in Europe). The happy songs were written in my new home and also the Famille Ritzers fine residence – the moody ones were more or less the result of a three month sojourn in a hotel in Munich. Anyway without Micky Moody an’ Roger I would have had to do it on me own GOD BLESS EM! Thanks to everyone, particularly Jools Dembreigh und John and me mother – who forgave me the day I was born.
This Album is dedicated to alf in NEVER-NEVERLAND;’ for whom one day it will all surely happen . . .
Credits:
Recorded in Kingsway Recorders, London, Aug 3-17, and the evening of the 25th.
Vocals recorded at Musicland Studios, Munchen, Aug 26-30 after midnight.
Mixed in Kingsway Recorders, London, Sept 1-7, 1976.
Produced by Roger Glover
Album Tracks:
Lady (Coverdale, Moody)
Blindman (Coverdale)
Would be re-recorded in 1980 for Whitesnake’s album “Ready an’ Willing.”
Goldies Place (Coverdale)
Whitesnake (Coverdale, Moody)
Time on My Side (Coverdale, Moody)
Peace Lovin’ Man (Coverdale)
Sunny Days (Coverdale)
Hole in the Sky (Coverdale)
Single
Record Mirror: Former Deep Purple man tries his hand at an epic single which builds to a straining climax and could provide him with a hit.
Celebration (Coverdale, Moody)
Reception and Review
There were two tracks that weren’t completed, Peace Lovin’ Man and Sunny Days. They were both included on the reissue in 2000.
The album did not chart and was not very successful.
Coverdale: “It’s very difficult to think back and talk sensible about the first album. White Snake had been a very inward looking, reflective and low-key affair in many ways, written and recorded in the aftermath of the collapse of Deep Purple.”
Very shortly after the album’s release (16 August, 1977) Elvis Presley died. Coverdale was with his friend Alan Rainer when he got the news.
In an interview with Neil Priddey, Rainer said he had sung as an Elvis impersonator and when they two of them got the news they spent the whole day drinking and consoling each other as they sang Elvis songs.
This Week in Purple History . . .
December 16 through December 22
December 19, 1947 – Jimmy Bain is born
December 21, 1971 – Deep Purple concludes recording of Machine Head
December 17, 1989 – David Coverdale marries Tawny Kitaen – they divorce in 1991
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 Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
The Deep Purple Podcast
Show Notes
Bonus Episode #1
“Interview with Martyn Ford”
December 12, 2019
Visit DeepPurplePodcast.com for more information.
In this special bonus epiosde Nate interviews Martyn Ford. Martyn is a conductor, arranger, and musician who has worked with The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, The Grateful Dead, Toto, Nazareth, Phil Collins, Bad Company, Elf, Elton John, and many more.
In this discussion we talk about:
The Butterfly Ball
Martyn’s beginnings in the industry
Eddie Hardin
Playing at The Royal Albert Hall
His album Smoovin’
His professional relationship and friendship with John Gustafson
Jesus Christ Superstar
Working with Yvonne Elliman
Paul McCartney’s “Live and Let Die”
Vision 2020
Fifi Rong
Mo Foster
and a lot more!
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 Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
Explorationsofa, 4 stars, 11/14/2019 writes: “Tommy Bolin! So happy that you guys do intelligent discussion on Deep Purple but you actually discussed Tommy Bolton’s solo and sideman output in the 70’s! That was just awesome to hear discussion about Cobham, Mouzon, Energy, Zephyr, etc. They do a great job of discussion as well and you can tell they have good musical ears.”
Michael Eriksson (Trinkelbonker) has been
Hazemaze released their new album the week of November 18.
Ashton: “Ian and Jon approached me with the idea of forming a band. In fact Jon had approached me before and I hadn’t liked the idea much because I couldn’t see myself as a front man. I also thought that with Jon and me both being keyboard players, we’d get in each other’s way.”
“I was never really comfortable with the idea of being a lead singer.
Ian Paice says that he got a call from Jon about doing this project with Tony Ashton and he thought about it for about a week thinking it sounded like a fun idea.
Ian said he was excited because he didn’t know what to expect having spent the past 8-9 years with the same band, Deep Purple.
150 applicants for auditioning bassists and guitarists.
Ian said things were very incestuous in the scene, they wanted to not necessarily go with unestablished musicians.
Held auditions at an old cinema in Fulham. Selected Bernie Marsden and Paul Martinez.
They loved Bernie for his confidence. He was in a band called Babe Ruth. He was recommended by Cozy Powell having worked with him in Cozy Powell’s Hammer. He’d also previously been in UFO.
Paul Martinez had been in a band called Stretch.
Ian talks about how easy it was in DP knowing everyone so well and having that connection with Jon. He’d only worked with Tony a few times before and Bernie and Paul he’d never played with.
Jon Lord?: One track took 30 minutes, another song took them 5 days to get right.
Jon Lord: talks about keeping humor in the music and how working with Tony Ashton that is very easy to do.
They decided early on to add a brass section to add some color to the songs.
They knew Howie Casey for a long time and describe it as “stealing him” from “Mr. McCartney.” They used him to put together a horn section and help them with horn arrangements.
Jeanette and Sheila McKinley recruited on backing vocals.
The album title was from a conversation they overheard in abar in Munich. “We couljn’t think of a title, then we heard this German guy come out with this remark about ‘Malice in Wonderland’, and we thought: ‘Ah, that’s a good title!’
Was recommended to join Paul McCartney’s Wings but it never came to pass
Was founding member of Whitesnake and played in their first five albums, co-writing the band’s biggest hit “Here I Go Again.”
Additional Credits:
Martin Birch – engineer
Recorded between 20th September & 30th September 1976
Album Tracks:
Ghost Story (Ian Paice, Tony Ashton, Jon Lord)
Remember the Good Times (Ian Paice, Tony Ashton, Jon Lord, Bernie Marsden, Paul Martinez) *
Arabella (Oh Tell Me) (Tony Ashton)
Tony Ashton wrote it about the hotel where they recorded in Munich. MusicLand Studio was in the basement.
Silas & Jerome (Ian Paice, Tony Ashton, Jon Lord)
Dance With Me Baby (Ian Paice, Tony Ashton, Jon Lord)
On the Road Again, Again (Ian Paice, Tony Ashton, Jon Lord, Bernie Marsden) *
Sneaky Private Lee (Ian Paice, Tony Ashton, Jon Lord, Bernie Marsden) *
I’m Gonna Stop Drinking (Ian Paice, Tony Ashton, Jon Lord)
Malice in Wonderland (Ian Paice, Tony Ashton, Jon Lord)
Jon Lord says they had such a hard time figuring out the right arrangement/chords for this song but eventually it all just clicked into place.
Reception and Review
Ashton: “What we managed to achieve was a tighter version of The First Of The Big Bands.”
After just five gigs PAL split while working on a second album in Munich. This is important because it was in Munich that Bernie Marsden would meet David Coverdale who he would go on with to form Whitesnake.
Ashton: “It didn’t really work on stage. We were very happy with the album, but I couldn’t cut the mustard up front. I actually fell off the stage at the Rainbow theatre concert in London. It went down well! But after that the band more or less fizlzled out.”
Ashton’s fall was twelve foot drop. They dragged him back on stage while Ian Paice did a half hour dum solo and Ashton managed to finish the show.
They went to Munich to work on a second album and got most of the tracks down but the project was abandoned.
Paice: “. . . it . . . was a great idea. It was built around Tony Ashton and his ability to make an audience love him. Tony still has that ability, but the audience had better not be bigger than three hundred! He loves his club atmosphere.”
Paice: “It was an experiment that cost Jon and I a fortune! But I’m glad we did it.”
Paice says that the tracks are all there for the second album except the vocals. They tried to locate the masters to give to Tony Ashton to give to him as a wedding present but no one could find the masters.”
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Jeff Cook says that by the time it went into the studio he was removed from the project. Some of the songs were written over the phone with Jeff in Denver and Tommy in California
Jeff Cook said he got a call from someone asking how high they were making “Teaser” because he wasn’t listed on the track sheets.
Everyone was partying their brains out according ot Jeff Cook.
Stanley Sheldon says Tommy went to New York while they were mixing Frampton Comes Alive. They booked Electric Lady Studios and did half the Teaser album there and the other half in LA.
Sheldon was bouncing back and forth between studio A and B.
Glenn Hughes said Tommy wanted him to sing three or four songs but he felt that Tommy had his own style and he wanted Tommy to do it. He said it would be like Hendrix having someone else sing.
Very prolific, played with Billy Cobham and Bolin on Spectrum album, he wrote the theme song to Miami Vice as well as doing the soundtrack for the show.
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Listener Jeff Taylor writes: “Just listened to the first episode on the Butterfly Ball today. I liked the piece you played from Curved Air with Eddie Jobson so much that I went to Spotify and followed Curved Air so I can check out their music further when I have time.”
Glover: “In September 1975 I staged a concert of The Butterfly Ball at the Albert Hall, London, and as far as possible gathered together as many of the performers as I could from the recording of the original album, which was released the previous year. The event was recorded and filmed by Tony Klinger and British Lion Films and the resulting movie is what is now being re-released in DVD format by a company called MusicVideoDistributors.”
Glover had the idea to do a live concert of “The Butterfly Ball” as a one-off performance. The show was scheduled at The Royal Albert Hall on October 16, 1975 and filmed. It was directed by Tony Klinger who had produced “Deep Purple Rises Over Japan” a few months after this.
Concert was
Glover: “. . . when it was released in 1974 it was, to my relief, very well received in various countries around Europe. However, it failed to ignite a broad interest in the UK and so the idea for staging a concert at the Albert Hall came about as a means of getting some attention for it in my home country.”
Almost everyone from the original album was in attendance. Dio was unable to attend due to touring with Rainbow so Glover contacted Ian Gillan who agreed to fill his place on “Sitting in a Dream.”
Later it would be rumored that Dio wanted to attend but was forbidden by Blackmore.
Gillan says in his autobiography: “. . . although I don’t feature on the album, I was glad to help him with the live production of The Butterfly Ball at the Royal Albert Hall (16 October 1974), after Ronnie Dio had to pull out at the last minute.”
Twiggy was also recruited and Vincent Price agreed to narrate it. They rehearsed for a week before the concert.
Glover had to organize everything himself and quickly became overwhelmed. Bruce Payne eventually helped out by getting him Bob Adcock, Rainbow’s road manager, to help out at the last minute. This seems at odds with the rumor that Dio was prevented by Blackmore.
This would be Gillan’s first public performance since leaving Deep Purple over two years earlier.
Glover: “The actual night of the concert was lovely, all the artists on the stage gave superlative performances and I felt, and still feel, indebted to every single one of them.”
The performance raised money for The Bud Flanagan Leukaemia Fund and Action Research for the Crippled Child
Album Art & Booklet Review
DVD Cover featuring Glenn Hughes.
Glover: “My first impression was not good; as I opened the box, I found the DVD plastered with a huge photograph of Glenn Hughes (who also features on the box’s spine). Huh? Ah, now I get it; some dolt in the art department (if there is such a department) was informed that this was the work of Deep Purple’s bass player. Now I have nothing against Glenn, he’s a fine bloke, but… this was not a good omen.”
Talks about the joy of seeing all these wonderful talents on the same stage.
Mentions that Neil Lancaster’s performance of Harlequin HAre was not included in the movie for some reason.
Gives benefit of the doubt to the filmmaker and actors in the movie.
On the release of the DVD there was a big picture of Glenn Hughes on the cover. Gover was confused until he realised that whoever they hired to do it heard it was by the bassist for Deep Purple and found this pic to use for the cover.
Jon Lord’s name is spelled incorrectly on the cover.
Glover: “A limousine picked me up at Wessex Studios and I was delivered to the Odeon, met on a red carpet by the manager of the cinema and ushered in with a suitable degree of pomp. Most of the performers were there, along with most of their relatives (and mine) and after a glass of wine or two we all settled down to watch the movie, my wife Judi and I being shown to especially plush and centrally located seats so that all would know we were the guests of honor.”
Glover: “The film of it I don’t like at all. I‘ve never liked that. I had nothing to do with it. But to me it was shoddily done, it was tastelessly done, it was cheaply done. Probably the most embarrassing moment of my life was being invited to the premier of the only film that i’ve ever starred in and hating it. I sat there in the special seat surrounded by all the people that worked on the concert and on the album and the lights went down and this thing came on and I just hated it. I just wanted to run away. I thought about leaving the theater half way through but I thought no I’m too nice a guy for that, I’ll stick it out, I’ll say thank you when people say it was interesting. Oh that was really . . . interesting. So I’ve got a bad memory of that.”
Glover: “… [I] cried angry tears on the long, silent journey back home.”
Glover: “The Butterfly Ball album is something that I am very proud of, and the concert was undoubtedly one of the best nights of my life, but the movie does it no justice.”
Glover was not happy, very difficult time dealing with being forced out of DP, going through a depression, an unhappy period.
Gillan from his autobiography: “I suppose it was Roger’s project that reminded me of what I’d walked away from . . .”
Gillan: “For me, horribly unfulfilled in my various ventures, the show was one of great emotion, surprise and joy, because I’d thought that, with the passing of time and the ongoing Deep Purple, I’d be a forgotten star. However, that was not the case, not the case at all, because, at the announcement of my name for ‘my song’, the audience rose and gave me a standing ovation! ‘Welcome home, Ian!’ they seemed to say while Vinent Price needed to pause in his narration from a peacock chair in the organ loft, so the applause and cheering could run its very long course! As I sang from a crib sheet, the experience at The Butterfly Ball was totally overhwhelming, and I left the venue feeling good, and with warming thoughts!”
Hardin: We got very close, me and Roger, and we started to go through funny phases. I just wanted to get away from everything, I was unhappy and boozing.
Glenn Hughes is in the studio right now recording with The Dead Daisies. You can see what they’re up to by reading their recording diary on their website here: Recording Chapter One
This Week in Purple History . . .
November 25 through December 1
November 30, 1945 – Roger Glover is born
November 27, 1984 – Deep Purple plays their first reunion show in Perth, Australia
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 Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
The album was recorded at Kingsway Recorders, the sae studio that Ian Gillan had purchased after leaving Deep Purple. Previously it had been De Lane Lea.
Harry Wilcock’s credits include Elton John’s Captain Fantastic as well as the Judi Dench version of The Butterfly Ball and Gordon Giltrap’s The Peacock Party album which, interestingly, features John Gustafson on bass. It also features Rod Edwards and Roger Hand who worked on the music and instrumentation on the Judi Dench version.
Mastered By – Pecko*, Porky (5), both nicknames for George Peckham
Notes
Adapted by Roger Glover for a full colour animated television series produced by British Lion Films Limited in association with Aurelia Enterprises Limited from the design and illustrations of the book “The Butterfly Ball” by Alan Aldridge first published 1973 by Jonathan Cape Limited and Times Newspapers Limited in association with Aurelia Enterprises Limited.
Recorded at Kingsway Recorders, London, during the summer of 1974.
Roger Glover describes the feeling from hearing Dio sing it as an “all out feeling of joy.”
Dio: “People thought it was Roger singing the song so . . . boy that Roger Glover can really sing, can’t he?”
Hardin did chord projections, Glover came up with melody.
Hardin says they’d spend all night doing one mix. Glover was very particular and would scrap the whole mix and it would drive him mad.
Hardin: “Most of my songs are very melodic, Roger is very riffy.” Says that he and Roger worked very well together for this reason.
Ray Fenwick added the little line at the beginning, the descending line that leads into the first verse.
Hardin says that after they recorded it he said it was “Sunny Afternoon” by the Kinks. Described it as “not a conscious theft.”
Hardin: “To me, Ronnie made the song special.” Eddie tried singing it and it was okay, Roger tried singing it and it was okay. Describes Ronnie as transforming the song.
Dio describes it as being very Beatle-like. Very upbeat song.
Glover deliberately took a Beatles-type approach in writing the song.
Glover wanted it to be an “All You Need is Love” type song after reading the poetry in the book. He calls it a “parody of ‘All You Need is Love.’” or “All you need is Love part 2.”
Single was released in England and heavily played and promoted on the radio but didn’t catch on. The publisher called Eddie Hardin and said it’s gone to #3 in Holland then an hour later said it went to #2 and by lunchtime it had hit #1. Was at #1 by lunch.
Very successful in the rest of Europe.
Glover describes it as “very hard to write a happy song without being trite. But with a message like “love is all” it’s very close to being trite.”
Hardin always felt like the whole Butterfly Ball was a joint effort and when it came out it had “Roger Glover and Guests” and he felt a little instulted that he was just a guest.
Ronnie got his first gold record and it said “Roger Glover” on it. “That annoyed me.” He insisted it was changed and they changed it for him which is why it says “Featuring Ronnie Dio” on it.
Homeward
Ronnie Dio (Froggy) sings on the way home
Sung by Ronnie James Dio
Based on the poem “Homeward.”
Reception and Review
Chas Watkins (engineer):
“Kingsway had always had the problem with sound filtering upstairs into the offices of the Civil Aviation Authority.”
They recorded quiet music “lift music” in the day time. After 6pm they would record rock.
Chas learned a lot from Martin Birch.
“One particular memory of Ronnie Dio: the control room looked width-ways across one end of the studio, so a camera looked down the length of the studio, with a monitor in the control room. Ronnie was doing a vocal (can’t remember which track) sitting on a stool, and the camera was positioned on him. He said, ‘just getting a glass of water”, and went off-camera. When he returned onto camera and sat on the stool, he was completely naked! He just didn’t say anything, just carried on singing as though nothing was unusual! Everyone in the control room was in tears! Very funny.
The air conditioning was very loud so they’d have to turn off the AC when they recorded quiet vocals or instruments and it would get very hot in the studio. The switch for the AC was behind a burlap flap on the back wall. When you lifted the flap there was a picture of a naked lady so many people were eager to turn off the AC.
“Recording the Butterfly Ball was a wonderful experience. All these top-notch musicians coming into the studio, and Roger producing, writing and having responsibility for the whole project.”
Single success. Love Is All was Ronnie James Dio’s first gold record.
Glover: “The whole thing was a challenge and a joy. It took around six months to complete and I worked with some lovely people.”
Glover: “I can see a couple of things that might hold it back, primarily my name. The album can’t exactly be described as a family album but then again it’s not anything in te mould of Deep Purple.”
The album was not received well by rock audiences who felt it was music for kids.
It didn’t get a lot of exposure to a wider audience.
Love Is All, as stated before, did very well in the charts throughout Europe.
Sacha Distel played it live when Roger Glover went to see it. He used the backing track to perform it live. Eddie Hardin described his version as “Karaoke.” Sacha had the hit in France as #1 then a month later their original hit #1.
Given the lack of sales the idea of doing the live concert to give the album a boost was floated. Glover was able to get almost everyone from the original recording with a few special guests.
This 128 page limited edition hardback book is a wonderful collector’s item for any self-confessed Gillan fan. Housed in a custom-made presentation box with a set of prints, it is strictly limited to 1000 copies.
Order your copy now and get YOUR NAME on a dedicated fan page within the book!
Without doubt Ian Gillan has proven to be one of the greatest and most enduring rock singers of all time. From his early career in sixties pop band Episode Six, through to Deep Purple, as well as a brief period with Black Sabbath, he has continued to surprise and delight millions of fans around the world.
Forays into unchartered territory, such as his role in the original Jesus Christ Superstar, as well as a variety of solo projects, including the jazz inspired Ian Gillan Band have proven that time and again, Ian Gillan is more than just the lead singer with Deep Purple.
This publication plots his career from the early sixties through to the present day in a visual timeline that charts his extraordinary and colourful career. Digging deep into the archives we have managed to pull together a vast array of photos and imagery, much of which has never been seen before. This includes many previously unpublished photos from his days with Episode Six and beyond. Off stage and backstage photos from his early career, through to Deep Purple and his solo projects are all included, alongside on stage photos capturing Ian doing what he does best.
A Visual Biography also includes many rare items of memorabilia, including a full itinerary from the Ian Gillan Band’s 1977 Japanese tour, plus posters and cuttings that help to document over fifty years as one of rock’s most iconic frontmen.
EDITORIAL CONTROL:
This book requires total independent editorial control. It has not been authorised or approved by Ian Gillan or his management.
This Week in Purple History . . .
November 18 through November 24
November 18, 1974 – The Butterfly Ball is released in the UK
November 18, 1989 – Slip of the Tongue is released
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 Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.