Deep Purple – Around The World Live
Reviewer: Tom Leins
Issue 105 July 2008
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Rocking all over the world!
Review: If there was an award for the most luxurious music DVD package of the year, Deep Purple’s new Around The World Live quadruple-whammy would effortlessly scoop the honours. Comprising of four DVDs and a specially commissioned book (penned by Classic Rock magazine’s Joel McIver), all enclosed in a lavish hardback book-style sleeve, Around The World Live is a must-have for fans of the veteran hard-rock titans. With approximately nine hours worth of hard rock on display, you get plenty of riffs for your money! The package breaks down as follows: Disc 1 contains a full-length concert in India from 1995, Disc 2 contains a 1999 Australian concert, Disc 3 weighs in with a 2002 gig in England, and the package is topped off with a feature length ‘Access All Areas’ documentary on Disc 4.
The first concert, in India, sees the 70s survivors clinging on to the last vestiges of youth, with Ian Gillan’s bushy corkscrew perm a particular eye-opener. The footage looks pretty creaky, but the set is well judged and goes down a storm with the Indian audience. The 1999 Melbourne gig is a slicker, more presentable affair, which sees a now-short-haired Gillan (resplendent in some kind of bizarre tassled cavalry jacket) lead his hard rock troops through the hits once more. The third (and most recent) concert sees the guys back on home turf, celebrating the last ever show of founder member Jon Lord. After three discs of unadulterated hard rock, the ‘Access All Areas’ documentary offers some welcome respite and goes behind the scenes with one of Britain’s most successful rock exports. The documentary, pieced together using interview clips, concert footage and other excerpts, clocks in at nearly 90mins, finishing off the package nicely.
This hardback set may be stunning, but is it actually worth shelling out for? Yes and no… Deep Purple discs are traditionally very good unit shifters, so the band are on safe ground with a package that effectively preaches to the converted. None of the shows are truly revelatory when taken on their own, and the main interest is likely to be on a rarities level. 2002 gig ‘Live At The NEC’ and the ‘Access All Areas’ documentary have never been seen before, whereas ‘Bombay Calling and ‘Total Abandon’ have only ever been available as imports. Considering the sought-after nature of much of this material, fans will surely lap up this plush compendium. Considering the repetitive nature of the three set-lists, casual fans will probably be better served by a more succinct encapsulation of Deep Purple’s gifts. However, any Purple fans worthy of the tag should make a beeline towards this stylish collector’s edition. At just over 20 quid, can the hardcore rock collectors amongst you really afford to miss out?
FILM: 7 EXTRAS: 5
DVD Info:
Certificate: E
Directed By: Various, 1995-2002
Distributor: Eagle Vision
Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0, Dolby Digital 5.1
Visuals: 4:3 Fullscreen, 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen
Running Time: 541mins
Price: £20.99
Special Features:
Disc 1:
‘Live In Seoul 1995’ Bonus Tracks:
Black Night
Woman From Tokyo
When A Blind Man Cries
Perfect Strangers
Child In Time
Speed King
Highway Star
Smoke On The Water
Disc 2:
‘A Band Down Under’ Featurette
Disc 3:
Interviews With Ian Gillan & Roger Glover
Tracklisting:
Disc 1: Bombay Calling (India 1995)
Fireball
Maybe I’m A Leo
Black Night
The Battle Rages On
Woman From Tokyo
Perpendicular Waltz
When A Blind Man Cries
Perfect Strangers
Pictures Of Home
Child In Time
Anya
Space Truckin’
Guitar Solo
Lazy
Speed King
Highway Star
Smoke On The Water
Disc 2: Total Abandon (Australia 1999)
Ted The Mechanic
Strange Kind Of Woman
Bloodsucker
Pictures Of Home
Almost Human
Woman From Tokyo
Watching The Sky
Fireball
Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming
Guitar Solo
Smoke On The Water
Lazy
Perfect Strangers
Speed King
Black Night
Highway Star
Disc 3: Live At The NEC (England 2002)
Fireball
Woman From Tokyo
Mary Long
Ted The Mechanic
Lazy
The Well Dressed Guitar
When A Blind Man Cries
Space Truckin’
Keyboard Solo
Perfect Strangers
Speed King
Guitar Solo
Smoke On The Water
Hush
Black Night
Highway Star
