Live At The NEC (DVD)

Deep Purple

Eagle Rock Entertainment, 2015

http://www.deeppurple.com

REVIEW BY: David Bowling

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 09/03/2016

Deep Purple founding member Jon Lord announced his retirement from the band in 2002. He had other projects in mind after nearly 35 years with the group and he was feeling his age. He would pass away in 2012. The baton was officially passed on September 14, 2002, when Deep Purple took the stage at the NEC in Birmingham, England.  New keyboardist Don Airey played with the band for the first half of the show and was then joined on stage by Lord for the second half.my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250

For years, this seminal concert by Deep Purple was only available as part of the massive and pricey box set Around The World Live. Now the 109 minute performance has been issued as a stand-alone DVD.  The video is clear and the sound crisp as it presents the modern-day version of Deep Purple at its best.

Given the historic nature of the concert, the set list is made-up of their well-known songs. “Fireball,” “Woman From Tokyo,” “Space Truckin,’” “Speed King,” Smoke On The Water,” ”Hush,” “Black Night,” and “Highway Star” all make this trip through the first two decades of their career.

The transition occurs with Airey’s keyboard solo at the conclusion of “Speed King,” when Lord comes on stage to join him as they move into “Perfect Strangers. “  Whether Airey, Lord, or both; the music is straightforward. At this point in their existence, they take few chances but give the fans what they want with passion and energy.

The concert provides a dividing line in the career of Deep Purple.  The music would remain the same but Lord’s absence took a major presence out of the mix. Live At The NEC is a historic concert for the band in that it offered both a farewell and a look toward the future.

Rating: B+

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