Don Airey – Metal Express Radio

DEEP PURPLE (Live)

November 8, 2024 Mick Burgess

It’s quite incredible to think that over 55 years after cracking the American singles chart with “Hush”, rock legends, Deep Purple, have, 23 albums and 100 million album sales later, have finally landed a UK Number One single with “Lazy Sod” from their latest release =1. Quite an achievement for a band in the twilight of their career. Kicking off with traditional set opener “Highway Star”, the first of four from their classic Machine Head opus and the finest driving song of them all was always going to set things off with a bang. Guitarist Simon McBride’s interplay with keyboardist Don Airey was astonishing. Close your eyes for a moment, it was if the originals Jon Lord and Ritchie Blackmore were duelling as if their lives depended on it. They were that good. While most bands of their generation seem content to sit on their laurels and live off their past glories, Deep Purple are no ordinary band and with =1 they may well have delivered their best album in 40 years, since the stunning reunion album Perfect Strangers. Maybe some of that comes from the introduction of new guitarist Simon McBride who replaced the previous incumbent Steve Morse. McBride has brought a new vigour and fire to the band with a sense of dynamism and passion which nods towards their illustrious glory days while keeping them relevant in the 21st century. His solos paid homage to the originals yet with his own vision stamped right through them. It’s no surprise therefore that six songs were aired from their new album including “A Bit On The Side” and the powerhouse drive of “Now You’re Talking” sitting proudly next to those glorious classics “Space Truckin’” and “Lazy”, where drummer Ian Paice’s effortless swing was a joy to behold aided and abetted by …READ MORE

DEEP PURPLE (Live at The First Direct Arena, Leeds, U.K., October 23, 2022)

IAN GILLAN (DEEP PURPLE): “[SIMON MCBRIDE]’s Given Us Our Mojo Back”

November 1, 2024 Mick Burgess

With the release of their 23rd album, =1, Deep Purple may well have delivered their best album since Perfect Strangers in 1984. Mick Burgess caught up with lead singer, Ian Gillan on the eve of their UK Tour to chat about the album and what they have planned for the tour. In a few week’s you’ll be embarking on a five date UK arena tour. Are you looking forward to it? Absolutely. We’re very much looking forward to it. This tour actually started in May but we are finishing in the UK so we are definitely looking forward to it for sure then we’ll be off the road for Christmas and then I’ll get a holiday but we will be working after the tour is finished. You’ve called it the One More Time Tour. Is this really going to be your last tour or do you still intend to play select dates as and when you want? We actually changed the name to the =1 Tour when we realised what everyone was thinking because that’s what it sounds like but we didn’t think of it like that. We meant it more in musical terms of “let’s go again”. We had a previous tour with similar problems called The Long Goodbye Tour so this is definitely not going to be our last tour. Many of your peers have long since retired from the road. What is it that keeps you inspired to travel the world to play? We’ve never stopped playing live. That’s how we started. I’ve been on the road since I was 16 years old and I’ve lived out of a suitcase since then apart from a period in the ’70s but since 1978 or 1979 I’ve been on the road and I can’t think of a better life. It’s very …READ MORE

DEEP PURPLE – =1

August 8, 2024 Bryce Van Patten

The legendary band that helped pave the way for the creation of Heavy Metal, the hardest working band with over 100 million albums sold has given us another great record. Deep Purple is easily one of the most influential bands in the world, as anyone visiting a guitar shop is still very likely to hear someone playing the classic riff to “Smoke on the Water” still to this day. The band has no quit in them, as the recent departure of guitarist Steve Morse hasn’t slowed them down a lick. New Blood Enter Simon McBride (Snakecharmer, ex-Sweet Savage, Don Airey and Friends) to step in and step up to fill the shoes of not just Steve Morse, but also of legend Ritchie Blackmore. The north Irishman had already worked with Don Airey and friends in 2016, as well as Ian Gillan in 2019, making him a natural choice when Morse retired due to personal reasons in 2022. McBride feels like a perfect fit with the band, and the new album showcases his guitar work quite a bit. Final Notes =1 is once again produced by legend Bob Ezrin (producer for Kiss’ Destroyer, and many other classic albums), who definitely knows how to capture the essence of the band. Gillan still has an amazing voice, Airey is perfect on the keys, Glover is as solid as ever, and Paice is still one of the best drummers ever. The new songs sound fresh, yet still have that classic Deep Purple vibe that is unmistakable. =1 is a great album, and more than worth picking up in a physical format, whether it’s vinyl or CD. Two horns up for the continued great music from Deep Purple! Lineup Ian Gillan – vocals Roger Glover – bass Ian Paice – drums Don Airey – keyboards …READ MORE

DEEP PURPLE / BLUE ÖYSTER CULT (Live)

October 24, 2022 Mick Burgess

Now this is what you call a tasty bill. Two of Hard Rocks legendary names on stage together with over a century’s worth of music between them, this was a veritable feast. For those lucky enough to have caught Blue Öyster Cult on one of their own headlining shows earlier in the week, tonight was an opportunity to catch them again. As a band who are no strangers to switching their set lists from night to night, those who had seen them on those earlier shows were treated to some songs not previously performed including opener “Stairway To The Stars”, the epic “Then Came The Last Days Of May” and the sizzling “Hot Rails To Hell” performed in spirited fashion by Richie Castellano. Occupying the “Special Guest” slot meant a shorter set for the New York veterans but for an hour they thrilled the large and appreciative audience with the Biker Rock anthem “Golden Age Of Leather” replete with the toast raising acapella intro and the riff heavy “Extra Terrestrial Intelligence” With original members Eric Bloom and Buck Dharma sharing the bulk of the lead vocals it was a night of quality music delivered in their own unique fashion with heavy weight riffs, beautiful melodic guitar work and mesmerising, dark harmonies. New songs “That Was Me” and “Box In My Head” were well received but it was the cacophonic riff of “Godzilla” and the wistful melody of their iconic hit, “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” that brought the Arena to their collective feet. With the bar set unfeasibly high, Deep Purple had to pull out all the stops and an opening salvo of “Highway Star” swiftly followed by “Pictures Of Home” both from the classic Machine Head album were the perfect start. Coming bang up to date with “No Need To …READ MORE

GRAHAM BONNET BAND – Day Out In Nowhere

May 17, 2022 Bryce Van Patten

The True Voice of Alcatrazz When it comes to iconic singers in the Hard Rock and Heavy Metal genres, there are few that have the voice and songwriting style that make them completely unique. Graham Bonnet is one of those few, and with the release of his new album Day Out in Nowhere by The Graham Bonnet Band he again shows us that he is one of a kind. The album is the follow-up to 2018’s Meanwhile Back in the Garage, and for this reviewer is a big step up in almost every way. Graham is accompanied by Beth-Ami Heavenstone on bass, Conrado Pesinato on guitars, Alessandro Bertoni on keyboards and a slew of great guest musicians from Roy Z to Don Airey that help put this record over the top. It’s All About The Song Graham Bonnet has always been known for having lyrics and melodies in his songs that capture our imagination, and take us to another place. Day Out in Nowhere shows that not only does Graham Bonnet still have the voice, but also he still knows how to weave a tale that makes you stop and think. A great example is the dark themed “Uncle John”, telling a haunting story of a trusted adult that molests children. Few have the bravery to approach such a topic, let alone make it work in a meaningful, thought provoking way within a song. The opening track “Imposter” is full of intensity and energy, and reflects upon aging, and how we view ourselves as we grow old. Do we try to hold onto our youth? Or do we accept our appearance as a badge of honor as we grow old. One positive effect of the pandemic is that it has given many artists the time to really dig deep and …READ MORE

Don Airey of DEEP PURPLE (Live at the Keller Auditorium, Portland, OR, USA, September 10, 2019)

DON AIREY (DEEP PURPLE): “It’s All A Bit Risky Covering Such Great Songs But I Think We Got Away With It”

December 14, 2021 Mick Burgess

Being prevented from getting together in a room wasn’t going to stop Deep Purple from making another record so soon after the release of Whoosh! last year and with no touring on the horizon for the foreseeable future it was time for something completely different. The result is Turning To Crime, their first album of covers. Mick Burgess called up keyboardist Don Airey to talk about why they decided on making a covers album and how they chose the songs to record. How have things been for you since you released your last album Whoosh! in August last year ? I’ve been living a very quiet life, staying in and limiting where I go. Not going to the pub, not going to restaurants, not going to gigs or the football. It’s been very strange. Has it opened up any opportunities for you to do other things while you’ve been off the road? We spent some time recording our new album, Turning To Crime and I’ve done quite a few sessions too for other people. People send me tracks and ask me to add some keyboards. One of the best things I’ve worked on is Kee Marcello’s album, From Another World. It’s an absolutely brilliant piece of work. He was the guitarist in Europe for a while. Your UK tour with Blue Öyster Cult has been postponed twice now because of Covid. That must be so frustrating for you. It is yes. We’ve now released two albums since we last toured so it’s really frustrating that we haven’t been able to go out and play any of the new songs live. You’ve just released your new album Turning To Crime. How do you feel now it’s out? Very hopeful. When we started doing this, it didn’t sound such a great idea. …READ MORE

DON AIREY (DEEP PURPLE): “If JON LORD Hadn’t Been A Musician, He’d Have Been A Great Foreign Secretary”

August 28, 2020 Mick Burgess

Don Airey came to prominence on Rainbow’s Down To Earth in 1979 before going on to play with a myriad of bands including Ozzy, Michael Schenker Group and Whitesnake amongst many others. Almost 20 years ago he was invited to join Deep Purple to replace Jon Lord. Mick Burgess called him up to talk about the new Deep Purple album, Whoosh!, next year’s UK tour with Blue Öyster Cult as well as some recollections of his days in Rainbow and love of Sunderland Football Club. We’re living in strange times at the moment. How’s Covid 19 affecting you both professionally and personally? It’s had a profound effect actually. I think it’s the longest time I’ve spent at home for 40 or 50 years having spent so much time on the road. It’s been a difficult adjustment, not for me but for my dear wife, who is not used to having me under feet for so long. I have enjoyed one side of it though being stationary and in the same bed every night. It gives you time to think and to do all of those things you’ve been meaning to do for years. It must be very frustrating for you having just released a new album and being unable to tour and play those songs live? It is very frustrating. I was very much looking forward to that. The album was great to make. We had such a great time in Nashville. You can always tell how an album is going to turn out by how it goes during the sessions. It was a fun time for all of us. Your new album, Whoosh!, came out a couple of weeks ago. You must be pleased with the reaction so far? Yes, the reaction has been great so far and everyone …READ MORE

DEEP PURPLE – Whoosh!

August 18, 2020 Bryce Van Patten

Deep Purple still Going Strong With 50+ years making kick ass music and basically founding Heavy Metal in the 5 piece format it’s a pleasure to see that Deep Purple are still making music to please themselves, which means that we as fans are treated to more great music from our heroes. One could write and go on for hours about how important Deep Purple is as an influence to the heavy metal scene today, so when we get a new release from them we tend to look at things a bit differently than we might from a lesser known (not legendary) band. When I heard their 21st album Whoosh! I was both surprised and happy that it sounded just like the Deep Purple I grew up with. With Ian Gillan on vocals, Steve Morse on guitars, Don Airey on keyboards, Roger Glover on bass and founding member Ian Paice on the drums we have a line up of legends with one thing being very clear, these guys still love making and playing music. 3rd Time’s a Charm Legendary producer Bob Ezrin (Aerosmith – Get Your Wings, Kiss – Destroyer, Alice Cooper – Welcome to my Nightmare just to name a few) is along for the ride for the 3rd time, helping the band put together songs that all tell a story, and sound like they were crafted in the glory days of the early to mid 70s. I’ve never been a fan of older bands that try to sound modern by playing in a style that may be the sound fashion of the day, and in Bob Ezrin the band has found a kindred spirit to help them stay firmly in their wheelhouse of playing heavy blues based rock. Whoosh! is a collection of 12 new songs by the …READ MORE

DEEP PURPLE (Live)

September 12, 2019 Bryce Van Patten

Deep Purple continues to amaze with incredible musianship Tuesday night the Portland, Oregon audience was blessed with one of the greatest heavy bands of all time playing at the Keller Auditorium. I am of course talking about Deep Purple: one of the most influential bands for Heavy Metal. Kicking off the show the band opened with one of their most revered classics: “Highway Star.” It was almost like being back in the 70s, listening to “Made in Japan” as the band rocked the house with an amazing wall of sound. Deep Purple features the Mach II lineup of Ian Gillan, Roger Glover and Ian Paice joined by Steve Morse and Don Airey. Ian Gillan has always been one of the most influential singers in Heavy Metal, and he still puts on an amazing performance. Gillan teased the crowd at one point at the end of a song with the line from Jesus Christ Superstar: “I don’t want to taste your poison”, leaving fans hungry for more. Machine Head featured heavily in the set Next up, the crowd was delighted by “Pictures of Home” off of the epic Machine Head album. In fact, the band played 5 songs from Machine Head out of 13 total tracks, and rightfully so. “Pictures of Home” has always been a personal favorite, and the band did not disappoint with this incredible performance. With so much material to possibly pull from, it’s hard to include everyone’s favorite song, but for me the set was a perfect mix of their best work. Guitar virtuoso Steve Morse was fantastic, and on “Sometimes I feel Like Screaming” off of the Perpendicular album he really showed his emotion and brilliant technique. Don Airey was beyond incredible on the keyboards, doing justice to the legacy of Jon Lord on every song. As …READ MORE

WOLFPAKK – Cry Wolf

August 30, 2013 Dan Skiba

Wolfpakk is a Melodic Metal band formed by Mark Sweeney (ex-Crystal Ball) and Michael Voss (Mad Max), and Cry Wolf is their sophomore release. As with their debut, Sweeney and Voss must have run billboard ads throughout the entire Metal kingdom, because they’ve assembled more guest musicians than flavors at Ben & Jerry’s, such as Herman Rarebell (ex-Scorpions), Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear), Tony Mills (Shy, TNT), Kee Marcello (ex-Europe), and Don Airey (Deep Purple). Overall, Cry Wolf is an enjoyable Melodic Metal album, and the variety provided by the cornucopia of guests proves to be both its strength and weakness.