Deep Purple
La Dernière Séance, Live in Paris 1975 (disc 1)

THE REVIEW

It is "the last session" for Deep Purple, as highlighted by the subtitle of "Live in Paris 1975" ("la Dernière Séance"). The Mk III is at its final stages: Blackmore is increasingly focused on the idea of forming Rainbow with Ronnie James Dio (and his "elves"); Jon Lord begins to engage in solo projects and Glenn Hughes falls into the abyss of drug addiction (not to mention that Hard Rock has never been his favorite genre). The only one keeping the band afloat is the force of nature that is David Coverdale, aware that DP is his only chance to escape misery.

Despite this, the English band records in Paris, on April 7, '75, a ferocious and powerful live (which would be released only in 2001).

"Live in Paris" is the last trumpet call of a band on the verge of a revolution and is also the final live where the band plays with the "Man in black", Ritchie Blackmore.

The first of the 10 tracks on the record is, as usual, "Burn" (which with the Mk III replaces "Highway Star" as the opener-track). Ian Paice's sharp hit and the instrumental noise that follows precede the flaming riff of this splendid song that talks about pyres and witches. Hughes's frenzied screams precede the neoclassical solos of Blackmore and Lord.

Coverdale's leonine cry announces the title track of Mk III's second album: "Stormbringer". A hard rock piece with a solid rhythm, one of the few songs that stand out from the eponymous 1974 album.

The next two songs are also from this album: they are the hypnotic "The Gypsy" and the crude hard boogie of "Lady Double Dealer". Despite the rust, the band is in excellent shape. Lord and Blackmore showcase all their skill, chased by Ian Paice's precise and powerful drumming.

Glenn Hughes announces a song from the "Burn" album: it's "Mistreated", the splendid hard blues ballad written by Coverdale and Blackmore. The audience follows David's passionate singing in reverent silence, only to then light up and join in with clapping during the "Man in black"'s solo.

The epileptic intro of "Lazy" sets up the quintessential Deep Purple song, the one that talks about a fire at the Montreux casino: "Smoke On The Water". Unfortunately, the performance suffers from Coverdale's take, whose warm voice doesn't quite fit the original by Ian Gillan. No matter, the result is excellent all the same.

No time to applaud as the singer introduces a song "opened by the 'master' Jon Lord, featuring a guitar solo by Blackmore and his magical fingers; but there's more: Mr. Ian Paice will perform a powerful drum solo!" It's "You Fool No One", a driving rock song with a samba rhythm.

It's the time for the collaboration between Ian Paice and Jon Lord. Ian hits the hi-hat at high speed while Jon starts playing Strauss's "Also Sprach Zarathustra" on his Hammond organ, and in a rock crescendo, here comes the megalithic riff of "Space Truckin'". Once again, Coverdale's voice doesn't quite measure up to Gillan's piercing screams and the song itself is replayed in a funky version, losing much compared to previous live performances.

For Deep Purple, the concert should end here, but not for the fans, who loudly call for an encore. And an encore it is. As they recover their instruments, here comes "Going Down", a cover by Don Nix. At the end of the song, a change of speed, drums intensifying, Jon Lord playing the main motif: yes, it's "Highway Star". Blackmore plays his Fender frantically, creating an epic solo. The finale is a musical trance in which both the musicians and the audience fall, a "symphony" of noises. A triumph.

And with this concert, the Mk III bids farewell to its audience forever. And what a concert!