The concert opened with Gustav Holst’s ‘The Planets’ accompanied by a video animation, before the band took the stage with ‘Highway Star.’ Roger Glover once called this song the ‘ultimate Deep Purple song.’ Singer Ian Gillan, nearly 81, commanded his voice with confidence, while drummer Ian Paice, a founding member, provided rhythmic precision.
Don Airey, who has been with the band since 2002, had a glass of red wine served during his solo and placed a weight on the keyboard to produce a sustained note. Into this colorful potpourri, he wove ‘In München steht ein Hofbräuhaus’ and encouraged the audience to sing along. The band performed both fast-paced numbers like ‘Into the Fire’ and quieter pieces such as ‘When a Blind Man Cries.’
Simon McBride, the youngest band member, impressed with his playing, even if his sound didn’t quite match Ritchie Blackmore’s. The concert ended with the global hit ‘Smoke on the Water,’ a cultural fossil that shaped music history. The show was not a mere nostalgia trip but a magical moment of timelessness.
Source: Stadt München
