DVD/CD
Released: May 30, 2006

Singer Ian Gillan once stated that the situation was toxic when guitarist Ritchie Blackmore left Deep Purple. Though Joe Satriani filled the empty space adequately to finish the tour, the pursuit for the original guitarist’s replacement was finally ended when the band welcomed in Steve Morse. Though Morse is more than just an accomplished and adequate guitarist, it was no doubt a difficult task to fill the shoes of the departed Blackmore, especially in the eyes and ears of the millions of devoted Purple fans. To this day, many rock guitar aficionados view Ritchie Blackmore as one of the most talented players in the business. His passionate style mixed with tasteful speed picking and Stratocaster tone is signature only to him.

Steve Morse is no slouch either, as his professional career spans back to 1974 when he started the successful rock fusion band known as The Dixie Dregs. The Steve Morse Band followed, along with a stint with classic rockers Kansas. Though the fan base love for Ritchie Blackmore will never die, the test of time was all that was needed for most to apprehend the amazing talent of Morse, and to understand that if the band was to go on without Blackmore then it would do it with him at the axe helm. Steve not only does justice to the signature riffs and runs, but he adds fine originality to those classic songs. And one can’t overlook what he has brought to the band as guitarist of record on original and new material.

Deep Purple Live At Montreux - 1996 was recorded the year the band was back on their feet and rockin’ to their fullest again. The set immediately opens with a smoldering ‘Fireball’ and then goes into ‘Ted The Mechanic’. It’s interesting to hear Morse handle the Blackmore penned original with panache and fervor before entering into the song from ‘Perpendicular’, the album that introduced him to Deep Purple fans. Another amazing song from that album done live here is ‘Hey Cisco’. However, it’s ‘Pictures Of Home’ that really displays his adequacy as the band's replacement guitarist. He flies through the signature runs with polished precision, yet adds original flamboyance throughout. His solos are astounding. He gets downright bluesy in ‘When A Blind Man Cries’ and totally cranked in ‘Speed King’.

Okay, enough with Steve Morse; I think I’ve made my point. Let’s focus a bit on the rest of the band now. Ian Paice, often a drummer who doesn’t get the recognition he deserves, starts the show off with a dynamic entrance into ‘Fireball’. Throughout the whole show the amazing percussionist sets the ever-changing pace with energy and flair. Ian Gillan is still an amazing vocalist, and he elevates to those soaring shrills as well. Roger Glover still has it, too. That memorable bass run following Lord’s organ solo in ‘Pictures Of Home’ is enormous. I can’t say enough about Jon Lord. His sound, one that’s as signature as Richard Wright of Pink Floyd and Ray Manzarek of The Doors, is, as usual, incredible throughout the concert. His piano intro into ‘Smoke On The Water’ is stunning, and it moves nicely into the inventive sounds Morse conjures from his guitar.

The CD and the DVD are a bit dissimilar in material, and, in addition to the main ’96 show, contain different bonus tracks recorded at Montreux in 2000. Both are amazing. You not only get to see these amazing musicians in action on the DVD, but it contains ‘Lazy’, one of my favorite all-time Purple songs. ‘Fools’, only on the CD, is a journey in itself. It suffices to say that I needed a copy of both.

Deep Purple Live At Montreux - 1996 Track Listing

CD

1. Fireball

2. Ted The Mechanic

3. Pictures Of Home

4. Black Night

5. Woman From Tokyo

6. No One Came

7. When A Blind Man Cries

8. Hey Cisco

9. Speed King

10. Smoke On The Water

Bonus Tracks 2000

11. Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming

12. Fools

DVD

1. Fireball

2. Ted The Mechanic

3. Pictures Of Home

4. Black Night

5. Cascades: I’m Not Your Lover Now

6. Woman From Tokyo

7. No One Came

8. When A Blind Man Cries

9. Hey Cisco

10. Speed King

11. Smoke On The Water

Bonus Tracks 2000

12. Sixty-Nine

13. Perfect Strangers

14. When A Blind Man Cries

15. Lazy

16. Highway Star

Eagle Rock Entertainment 2006

Links
Deep Purple
Spitfire Records