Deep Purple: Live At Montreux 1996

I won't wax rhapsodically about Ritchie vs Steve, but instead I will just rate the dang DVD.

The musical direction is great. This compilation of tracks recorded at historic Montreux in '96 and '00 is just fantastic. The sound quality is better than most systems are capable of, so you'll probably get the best sound your equipment can give.

I own Purples Australia '99 as well as Scandinavian Nights, New Live and Rare, and the Come Hell or High Water reunion tour with Blackmore. Montreux is in the top two, and I have enjoyed it almost every night since it arrived last month. Paice, Morse, Lord, Glover and Gillan mesh perfectly [as always] and obviously have a great time playing together. They joke around occasionally, and theres a few surprizes that spontaneously erupt on stage [Sooo, thats 'funky Claude' eh? hmmm].

This DP line-up clicks extremely well together, and it shows [I can't believe I am the only one that noticed Gillan giving Blackmore the "finger" at the end of 'Paint it Black' on the High Water DVD. If you got it - watch the last second of that track .. BOING! Up goes the 'bird' at Ritchie, who should have gotten a butt kickin instead of just the finger].

If you are a purple fan, or just a music lover who enjoys those nice long live instrumental riffs of great rock & roll that highlight not only the guitarist but all facets of the bands talents, buy this disk. These guys blend better than Tequila and Lime. Theres plenty of deep-cut material on it I'd bet money you have not heard before and that in itself is reason enough.

rock and roll is a lot like dancing, you can either do it or you can't. there is no way to fake it. and these members of deep purple, all 50 plus still have the goods. the concert really gets going on ted the mechanic, a newer song that really rocks. this might be the greatest collection of musicians ever gathered for one band. steven morse is a marvelous replacement for blackmore, retaining just enough of ritchies style for the deep purple sound while adding his own terrific licks. good for you boys keep rocking until you can't rock no more.

Here we have yet another live DVD from Deep Purple. This one is neither bad nor good. It is interesting to hear Ian Gillan fumble over the words on "Ted the Mechanic," and that gets you ready for the kind of performance you get here - just average. However, with just average Deep Purple can be pretty good.

I love Steve Morse and what he brings to the band, but his playing is extrememly repetative, and since this is my 6th or so Morse DVD purchase, I find myself predicting riffs before they happen.

Don't get me wrong,the band is in high form, but it sounds and looks like all the other DVD releases. If you have a lot of other Purple DVDs from this era, this one is nice but not essential. If you have none, this is a fine place to start.