Deep Purple Return to Laval with Another Legendary Performance [Photos]

Some bands hold an immortal place in history. Deep Purple certainly has a place in that group. One could trace the lineage of hard rock and heavy metal back to the group’s beginnings. It has been over 50 years since the band witnessed a casino engulfed in flames. And still we stop whatever we’re doing today when that opening riff plays over the radio or stereo at home.

Their current North American tour rolled through the Place Bell in Laval. I ended up missing their previous visit, so I was really happy to get the message that I could cover the show. Though some of the names and faces have changed over the last 50 years, the music that the band has created continues to rock as hard today as it did then.

Joining Deep Purple on the tour were Jefferson Starship and Kansas. Those bands also have many different names and faces today. However, their music remains timeless. We didn’t get to cover Jefferson Starship, but my spies in the crowd said they put on a great show. The current formation of Kansas treats the songs with the respect they deserve. Speaking of respect, singer Ronnie Platt got a healthy dose of it from the crowd when he chatted a few words en français with the crowd. A sure way to win over a Quebec crowd.

They opened with “Point Of No Return,” and the crowd was rocking. There hasn’t been any new music from the band in a while. But a set list full of their greatest hits is a sure winner. “Paradox” followed, and their classics-heavy set rolled on for another 11 songs. Straight through to the immortal “Carry On Wayward Son.” These songs are part of the essential classic rock playlist. They will remain there long after we’ve all become dust in the wind.

As the dust settled, a rumble began to be felt from the crowd. We were mere moments away from seeing some legends. I, for one, could not wait. As the arena went dark, a video played featuring an aspect of every Deep Purple album released. From 1968’s Shades Of Deep Purple up to this year’s Splat!. Ian Paice led the band on stage. Rather appropriately, as he remains the only member to have appeared in every version of the band.

Simon McBride’s guitar roared to life with the opening notes of “Highway Star.” Roger Glover was laying down a rocking groove on the other side of the stage, rarely straying from Paice’s side. Finally, Ian Gillan appeared from the center of the stage. It may have looked like he was straining from time to time, but that voice is still there. And still remarkable.

The band did play a few songs from Splat!. Notably “Diablo,” for which Jefferson Starship’s David Freiberg and Cathy Richardson returned to the stage. Of course, the hits got the biggest reaction. Deep Purple closed out the show with “Perfect Strangers” and “Space Truckin’.” But it was “Smoke On The Water” which saw the fans in attendance explode. The flammable energy threatened to blow the Place Bell roof straight to Montreux.

Though they are old enough to be grandfathers to a number of current rock stars, Deep Purple demonstrate that one’s age is merely a number. The band continues to release rocking albums and tour the world. The band put on a show for the ages. They proved that you are never too old to rock. Deep Purple are indeed immortal.