von Joanna Ostrowiecka

Dorset experiences in rock

Bournemouth is a nice town in Dorset where we spent our holidays. Deep Purple had to play there on 27th April. Why not go to their gig?

It was one of the most original days in my life, the more so as we met Ian Gillan before show. It was very kind of him to come to the Borders book shop to sign "Smoke This" for his fans! The singer must have had his good day- he was very amiable, and not only my book, but also several CDs were signed. Pretty Maids' "First Cuts...and Then Some" among them, where IG performed two songs. The album made him surprised a lot. I like it very much and I hope he does as well:).

As for the gig, the first support was a bit monotonous, but independently of all Thin Lizzy could make you dance. I only wish there were more place to do it:). And that siren howling at the start! I've never heard anything like that so far.

Styx was the funniest group of the evening, particularly the organist. It was the first time I saw a musician stay at his head on the stage! He was also going around his rotary keyboard, turning it and sitting on it... During "Come Sail Away" he stood on the instrument!

An original repertoire, original musicians, original suits... the Styx show was cool. And the main band at last... "Pictures of Home" with "Things I Never Said" as a starter. As usual, but out of tune! Hey, Mr Gillan, did you really have an off-day? But you were in good form at Borders, weren't you?!

Happily he had no off-day. The rest of songs came out cool, especially "Into the Fire" accompanied by red, yellow and orange lights. As if you entered the fire indeed. The scenery was poor, no "Rapture" pictures, so those lights turned out to be more useful than we expected:).

No solo from Don Airey. What's worse, no "Perfect Strangers" that night. I was disappointed, but not too long because a few minutes after we were given a big surprise: the band played "The Battle Rages On". Bravo! I thought I'd never hear it live- and I did. Unusual performance! I only wish we sat close to the stage. It's so nice to see the musicians recognize me and my very tall partner:).

Of course the band played a lot of standards. Mainly from "Machine Head", but also "Fireball", "Strange Kind of Woman"... Unfortunately two encores only. As usual "Hush" and "Black Night". Not very long was that gig! The band apparently wanted to save some energy for next shows:).

Independently of all we liked that concert. And we were lucky to meet Don Airey after it. I won't tell you where, you won't believe me anyway:). He was tired, but very kind. As for the rest of the band, we'll meet them another time, won't we?

Joanna Ostrowiecka