Deep Purple 'Live at the NEC' coming to DVD, digital formats on August 26, 2016

This media release will come as great news for fans of Deep Purple, and especially for fans of the late Jon Lord...Click here to read my review of the band's 2007 concert in Costa Mesa.

DEEP PURPLE

LIVE AT THE NEC

 

TO BE RELEASED VIA EAGLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT

 

~DVD AND DIGITAL FORMATS~

 

~AUGUST 26, 2016~

On September 14, 2002, hard rock pioneers Deep Purple took the stage for a landmark concert at the NEC in Birmingham, England to bid farewell to founding member and keyboard legend Jon Lord.

 

On August 26, Eagle Rock Entertainment will deliver this very concert with the release of Live At The NEC on DVD and Digital formats [MSRP $14.99]. Previously only available as part of the Around The World Live boxed set, this film is being made available for the first time as a standalone DVD.

 

One of the most emotional concerts in Deep Purple’s long career, Live At The NEC is a unique experience in that it features both their keyboard players on stage – Jon Lord and Don Airey. Lord had announced his retirement earlier that year, and Airey was subsequently brought on board. Airey serves as the principal keyboardist throughout the show, culminating in a solo before the lights drop, and Jon Lord appears for a storming version of “Perfect Strangers.” The two share keyboard duties for the rest of the night, in a fitting passing-of-the-torch moment.

 

At 109 minutes total, Deep Purple (Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Steve Morse, Ian Paice, Lord and Airey) kick out all the classics: “Smoke On The Water,” “Woman From Tokyo,” “Space Truckin’,” “Highway Star,” “Speed King,” “Lazy,” “Hush,” and more. In addition to this fantastic set, Live At The NEC includes bonus interviews with Ian Gillan and Roger Glover.

 

In addition to Live At The NEC, Eagle Rock Entertainment will also release two more concert films -- Total Abandon and Bombay Calling – on digital formats on August 26.

 

Amazon purchase link: http://amzn.to/2ah3nBc

 

Eagle Rock Entertainment is the world’s largest producer and distributor of music programming for TV, DVD, Blu-Ray and Digital Media. Eagle produces quality HD programs, both concerts and documentaries, directly alongside artists including Imagine Dragons, Paul McCartney, Katy Perry, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Who, Queen, and Peter Gabriel. Eagle is a multiple Grammy® Award winner and has received numerous multi-platinum sales awards around the world.  Eagle Vision is headquartered in London, and is a Universal Music Group company. 

 

Follow Eagle Rock Entertainment at:

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Twitter: www.twitter.com/EagleRockNews

 

 

 

TRACK LISTING

1) Fireball  

2) Woman From Tokyo  

3) Mary Long  

4) Ted The Mechanic  

5) Lazy  

6) The Well Dressed Guitar  

7) When A Blind Man Cries  

8) Space Truckin’  

9) Keyboard Solo  

10) Perfect Strangers  

11) Speed King  

12) Guitar Solo  

13) Smoke On The Water  

14) Hush  

15) Black Night  

16) Highway Star

Historic Deep Purple "Graz 1975" CD, 2LP, And Digital Audio Out September 23, 2014

Looking forward to not only seeing Deep Purple when the band performs here in Orange County at the Pacific Amphitheatre next month,  but hearing the previously-unavailable live performance of Graz 1975 when it comes out in September. Here is the media release about the forthcoming Graz 1975 that arrived in my inbox earlier today...

TO RELEASE PREVIOUSLY UNAVAILABLE LIVE PERFORMANCE GRAZ 1975

 

~70 MINUTES OF PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED MATERIAL~

 

CD, 2LP, AND DIGITAL AUDIO OUT SEPTEMBER 23, 2014 VIA earMUSIC / EAGLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT

Deep Purple's 'Graz 1975' will be released in early fall 2014.

On April 3, 1975 the Mk III line-up of Deep Purple – guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, frontman David Coverdale, bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes, keyboard player Jon Lord and drummer Ian Paice – performed at the Liebenauer ice rink, located on the outskirts of mountain-cradled Graz, Austria’s second largest city after Vienna.

 

Enthused by Deep Purple’s arrival in town, the local press dubbed the concert “das Rockereignis des Jahres [the rock event of the year]”. And it was – in more ways than one.

 

Previously unreleased in its entirety, Graz 1975 – will be released in North America on September 23, 2014 on earMUSIC / Eagle Rock Entertainment.

 

After Graz, Deep Purple would play just two more shows – in Saarbrücken, Germany and Paris, France – before Blackmore left to form his new band, Rainbow. The remaining band members would regroup quickly with American guitarist Tommy Bolin in tow.

 

In order to preserve Blackmore’s final run of Mk III concerts for posterity, Deep Purple’s managers had brought the Rolling Stones mobile recording studio over to mainland Europe. And what a show it was! Graz 1975 is absolutely electrifying and exhilarating. Indeed, it has long been regarded as the holy grail of concert recordings among Mk III connoisseurs. A performance that has never been available in its entirety until now.

 

Kicking off with a blazing performance of “Burn,” Graz 1975 is a wild eight-track ride, firing on all pistons. Blackmore plays with controlled brutality. The vocal interplay between Coverdale and Hughes has never sounded so good. And, of course, stalwarts Lord and Paice give it a good kicking – and then some.

 

The track listing, naturally, is weighted heavily in favor of Mk III recordings, with just two songs from Deep Purple’s previous incarnation with Ian Gillan on vocals and Roger Glover on bass: the iconic “Smoke On The Water” and the almost-as-iconic “Space Truckin’.” Still, it’s true to say that, from beginning to end, Graz 1975 showcases Deep Purple Mk III at the absolute top – and also, ironically, at the end – of their game.

 

After almost 40 years the concert is still captivating. It is the perfect example that, for Deep Purple, there is no need for extravagant video projections or expensive fire shows to play a unique and fascinating gig. All they need is their music. It is the love and passion for their music that makes every single show a unique experience.

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Track Listing:

1. Burn

2. Stormbringer

3. The Gypsy

4. Lady Double Dealer

5. Mistreated

6. Smoke On The Water

7. You Fool No One

8. Space Truckin’

Eagle Rock Entertainment to issue 'Deep Purple – Perfect Strangers Live' on October 15

Wow, had a blast covering Gary Clark Jr. at the House of Blues in Anaheim last night. I thought the Austin singer and guitarist was fantastic when I caught him at Coachellafest in April 2012, but he has even gotten much better over the past 18 months. My review will be posted on this blog tomorrow. In the meantime, here is some very exciting breaking news for fans of Deep Purple. I caught Deep Purple's "Perfect Strangers" tour at Long Beach in 1984 and it was an incredible night.

New York, NY (September 30, 2013)-- On October 15, 2013, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release Deep Purple – Perfect Strangers Live on DVD, 2CD/DVD, DVD/2CD/2LP, and Digital Audio and Video. The DVD contains the only footage available from the “Perfect Strangers” tour plus a bonus tour documentary. The second available format offers 2CDs and the DVD of the live show packaged in a 3-disc slimline CD jewel case. The third format offers 2LPs, 2CDs and the DVD of the live show packaged in a 3-panel gatefold sleeve.

Recorded in Melbourne, Australia in 1984, Perfect Strangers live is the only full-length concert film of the band at this time. The long-awaited reunion of the classic Deep Purple line-up Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord, and Ian Paice, who re-united for the first time since 1973, had recorded a brand new studio album Perfect Strangers, and subsequently headed out on tour. The setlist mixes then new tracks from the Perfect Strangers album with favorites from the early seventies: “Highway Star,” “Strange Kind Of Woman,” “Perfect Strangers,” “Knocking At Your Back Door,” “Child In Time,” “Black Night,” “Speed King,” “Smoke On The Water,” and many more, which are brilliantly performed as only Deep Purple can deliver.

Deep Purple is a musical force with a rich history, having boasted a wealth of incredible musicians and memorable eras. Perfect Strangers Live is a welcome addition to Eagle Rock’s extensive Deep Purple collection.

Eagle Rock Entertainment is the largest producer and distributor of music programming for DVD, Blu-Ray, TV, Audio and Digital Media in the world. Eagle works directly alongside talent to produce top quality, High Definition and 3D programs, both concerts and documentaries, including The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Who, Queen, The Doors, Jeff Beck, U2, Peter Gabriel, Paul McCartney and Ozzy Osbourne. Eagle is a Grammy Award winning company and has received over 30 multi-platinum, over 50 platinum and over 90 gold discs, worldwide. Eagle Rock Entertainment has offices in London, New York, Toronto, Paris and Hamburg.

Follow Eagle Rock Entertainment at:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt

Twitter: www.twitter.com/EagleRockNews

YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/eaglerocktv

TRACK LISTING

1) Highway Star

2) Nobody’s Home

3) Strange Kind Of Woman

4) A Gypsy’s Kiss

5) Perfect Strangers*

6) Under The Gun

7) Knocking At Your Back Door

8) Lazy (inc Ian Paice Drum Solo)

9) Child In Time**

10) Difficult To Cure

11) Jon Lord Keyboard Solo

12) Space Truckin’ (in Ritchie Blackmore Guitar Solo)

13) Black Night***

14) Speed King

15) Smoke On The Water

*Start of Side B of LP format

** Start of Side C of LP format and Start of Disc2 on CD format

***Start of Side D of LP format

Sights and Sounds: Jon Lord, Dream Theater, 'Front and Center' returns, New 'Music Worth Buying' episode

Today's roundup includes a little bit of everything, so let's get to it!

EAGLE ROCK AND EARMUSIC RELEASE

 

JON LORD

CONCERTO FOR GROUP & ORCHESTRA

 

AS BLU-RAY/CD AND DOUBLE VINYL ON SEPT. 3, 2013

 

 

New York, NY (August 15, 2013)--On September 3, earMUSIC and Eagle Rock Entertainment will release the first studio recording of Jon Lord's Concerto For Group And Orchestra. Originally released in September 2012 on CD (earMusic/Eagle Rock), this groundbreaking meeting of rock and classical music will now be released as a Blu-ray/CD set and double vinyl. [MSRP $19.98 Blu-ray/CD, $24.98 2LP]

 

The recording of this incredible album began in June 2011 in Liverpool. Lord, the marvelous rhythm section of Guy Pratt (Pink Floyd, Madonna) andBrett Morgan (Jon Anderson, Sting) with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (with whom Jon had recorded twice before) were conducted by Paul Mann. The production then moved to Abbey Road Studios in London to record Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson (on vocals withSteve Balsamo and Kasia Laska) and Joe Bonamassa, Darin Vasilev and Steve Morse on guitars.

Happily, Jon got to hear and approve the final mixes a few weeks before he passed away. The family and earMUSIC decided to proceed with the release of the album in September 2012 as scheduled, as this seemed the best way to celebrate and pay tribute to Jon and his beautiful music. Thus this superb studio recording of Concerto For Group And Orchestra is exactly the way Jon wanted us to hear it and will now hopefully become Jon's legacy for generations to come.

 “Over these last years since leaving Deep Purple, I’ve played it over 30 times with different orchestras and conductors all over the world, and, of course, in 2000 I did it well over 30 times with Purple on the Concerto tour, so I’ve been honing the piece live on stage, and I’ve had the opportunity to change things in the score that weren’t sounding quite right. It is therefore a marvelous and exciting prospect to have the definitive recording of the definitive version of the score.”

-Jon Lord May 2012

 

Following the huge demand of the fans, the Concerto will now be made available on double vinyl including a special bonus audio piece: Jon Lord’slast interview with the BBC from August 2012. There will also be a very special Blu-ray + CD edition, which includes not only the full Concerto on CD and a 5.1 audio bonus piece on the Blu-ray, but the “Making Of” feature and in-depth interviews with Paul Mann and Marco de Goeij. Exclusive to this format is the new behind the scenes documentary “Up Close & Personal (Orchestral Recording Sessions)” which gives an interesting insight into the work of Jon Lord and the orchestra.

 

With his legendary organ blues-rock sound, Deep Purple’s founder Jon Lord has influenced decades of rock musicians. He is with no doubt the pioneer of fusing rock and classical/baroque forms and became one of the most important composers of the last few decades. Jon Lord co-wrote many of Deep Purple’s legendary songs including “Smoke On The Water” and played with many bands and musicians throughout his career (Whitesnake, Paice Ashton Lord, George Harrison). Best known for his orchestral work Concerto For Group And Orchestra was first performed and recorded at Royal Albert Hall with Deep Purple and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1969, conducted by the renowned Malcolm Arnold - a feat repeated in 1999 when it was again performed at the Royal Albert Hall by the London Symphony Orchestra and Deep Purple.

 

Jon’s solo work was universally acclaimed when he eventually retired from Deep Purple in 2002 but he continued to tour the Concerto around the world to sell outs and standing ovations.

For more information on Jon Lord, please visit: www.jonlord.org

 

Follow Eagle Rock Entertainment at:

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Twitter:  www.twitter.com/EagleRockNews

YouTube:  www.youtube.com/user/eaglerocktv

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Youtube: www.youtube.com/earmusicofficial

Facebook: www.facebook.com/earmusicofficial

Website: www.ear-music.net

Dream Theater event announced!

SPECTICAST TO DISTRIBUTE 
DREAM THEATER: 
LIVE AT LUNA PARK TO THEATRES WORLDWIDE 

THE LONG-AWAITED CONCERT FILM FROM TOP NAME IN PROGRESSIVE METAL CAPTURED OVER TWO NIGHTS FROM BUENOS AIRES

NEW YORK, NY (August 15, 2013) – SpectiCast and Eagle Rock Entertainment are once again collaborating to distribute the long-awaited DREAM THEATER: LIVE AT LUNA PARK concert film to theatres worldwide beginning Thursday, September 19, 2013.  This anticipated cinematic event was captured over two nights during the final leg of the band’s 15-month “A Dramatic Turn Of Events” world tour, which hit 35 countries. DREAM THEATER: LIVE AT LUNA PARK was filmed in Buenos Aires, Argentina – home to one of Dream Theater’s most ardent fan-bases.

DREAM THEATER: LIVE AT LUNA PARK runs for 160 minutes and features many of Dream Theater’s classic tracks, including, “Metropolis Pt. 1,” “The Silent Man,” “Pull Me Under,” “The Root Of All Evil,” “The Test That Stumped Them All,” “The Spirit Carries On,” and the recent track “On The Backs Of Angels.” Dream Theater formed in 1985 under the name Majesty and has remained a top name in progressive metal ever since.

“DREAM THEATER: LIVE AT LUNA PARK is a fantastic addition to our ROCK IN CINEMA series,” said Mark Rupp, Co-Founder and President of SpectiCast.  “We are delighted to continue our relationship with Eagle Rock Entertainment, bringing theatrical releases of concerts by some of the world’s best musical groups to theatres around the globe.”

DREAM THEATER: LIVE AT LUNA PARK will premiere on the SpectiCast network beginning September 19 2013.  For more information, visit www.liveatlunapark.com and www.specticast.com.

Furthermore, DREAM THEATER – the first self-titled collection in the GRAMMY®-nominated band’s nearly three decade career – arrives at last on September 24^th.  The album is now available for pre-order in a wide range of distinctive versions, including standard and special edition CDs, 180 Gram Vinyl Double LP, and a Limited Edition Box Set. Fans who pre-order the album via the iTunes Store will receive an instant free MP3 download of the Dream Theater’s new single, “The Enemy Inside.” Preorders are also available at Dream Theater’s Webstore as well as at the Roadrunner Records Webstore.

'Front and Center' music series set to return this fall

Good news for fans the PBS music series Front Row Center. The series, now called Front and Center, is set to return this fall. Writer George A. Paul has posted an in-depth look at the new season, which includes episodes focused on a wide range of artists including Train, Buddy Guy, Rock Candy Funk Party (featuring guitarist Joe Bonamassa) and more. Click here to read George's Music Minded post...

'Music Worth Buying' update

Finally, my Music Worth Buying co-host TJR has posted an excellent solo episode on our YouTube channel where he reviews a couple of MOJO magazine's tribute collections including We're With The Beatles and the Fleetwood Mac tribute Rumours Revisited:

Jon Lord's legacy celebrated on 'Concerto for Group & Orchestra'

Countless music fans were saddened when Jon Lord lost his battle with pancreatic cancer and died on July 16, 2012. Now comes word of a forthcoming project from the legendary keyboard player that was completed shortly before his death. Here is the media release I received earlier today...

Eagle Rock Entertainment/earMUSIC releases Concerto For Group And Orchestra on September 25, 2012 

 

~The first studio recording of Jon Lord's groundbreaking meeting of rock and classical music~ 

 

On September 25, 2012, earMUSIC, the Hamburg-based rock label part of Edel Group, and Eagle Rock Entertainment will release the first studio recording of Jon Lord's groundbreaking meeting of rock and classical music - Concerto For Group And Orchestra. This will be released as a CD, CD/DVD (audio DVD in 5.1 Dolby Digital Sound), and digitally. 

 

“Over these last years since leaving Deep Purple, I’ve played it over 30 times with different orchestras and conductors all over the world, and, of course, in 2000 I did it well over 30 times with Purple on the Concerto tour, so I’ve been honing the piece live on stage, and I’ve had the opportunity to change things in the score that weren’t sounding quite right. It is therefore a marvellous and exciting prospect to have the definitive recording of the definitive version of the score.” - Jon Lord, May 2012

 

Jon Lord recorded the rhythm section - Guy Pratt (Pink Floyd, Madonna) & Brett Morgan (Jon Anderson, Sting) and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (with whom Jon had recorded twice before) in June 2011 in Liverpool, under conductor Paul Mann. The production then moved to Abbey Road Studios in London to record additions from such noted artists as Iron Maiden‘s Bruce Dickinson  (on vocals with Steve Balsamo and Kasia Laska) and Joe Bonamassa, Darin Vasilev and Steve Morse.

 

Happily, Jon got to hear and approve the final mixes a few weeks before he passed away. 

 

The family and earMUSIC decided to proceed with the release of the album in September as scheduled, as this seemed the best way to celebrate and pay tribute to Jon and his beautiful music. Thus this superb studio recording of Concerto For Group And Orchestra is exactly the way Jon wanted us to hear it and will now hopefully become part of Jon's legacy for generations to come.

With his legendary blues-rock sound, Deep Purple’s founder/organist Jon Lord has influenced decades of rock musicians. He is with no doubt the pioneer of fusing rock and classical/baroque forms and became one of the most important composers of the last few decades.

 

Jon Lord co-wrote many of Deep Purple’s legendary songs including “Smoke On The Water” and played with many bands and musicians throughout his career (Whitesnake, Paice Ashton Lord, George Harrison). Best known for his orchestral work Concerto For Group And Orchestra first performed and recorded at Royal Albert Hall with Deep Purple and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1969, conducted by the renowned Malcolm Arnold - a feat repeated in 1999 when it was again performed at the Royal Albert Hall by the London Symphony Orchestra and Deep Purple.

 

Jon’s solo work was universally acclaimed when he eventually retired from Deep Purple in 2002 but he continued to tour the Concerto around the world to sell-out crowds and standing ovations.

 

Eagle Rock Entertainment is the largest producer and distributor of music programming for DVD, Blu-Ray, TV, Audio and Digital Media in the world.  Eagle works directly alongside talent to produce top quality, High Definition and 3D programs, both concerts and documentaries, including The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Who, Queen, The Doors, Jeff Beck, U2, Peter Gabriel, Paul McCartney and Ozzy Osbourne. Eagle is a Grammy Award winning company and has received over 30 multi-platinum, over 50 platinum and over 90 gold discs, worldwide.  Eagle Rock Entertainment has offices in London, New York, Toronto, Paris and Hamburg.