By worldlive 
So sweet: lan Gillan Deep purple 1 more Time tour Officially breaks a legendary record as =1″ album makes unbelievable” history that will surely go down to long memory” Rock band “Reef” opened the evening’s entertainment at the O2 Arena in London with a high-energy” here is the first thing to go with….
It is unfortunate and unbelievable that I had never seen Deep Purple, one of my all-time favorite bands, before Wednesday. Given the July release of the new album “=1” and the ongoing tour, appropriately named “1 More Time,” I reasoned that it was either now or never.
Actually, I think I might be mistaken. I have reason to believe that this band is not quite done yet because their 23rd studio album, “=1,” is full of heavyweight songs that have a peculiar familiarity and flow so well on stage that the audience feels like they have known them for years.
Rock band “Reef” opened the evening’s entertainment at the O2 Arena in London with a high-energy set that was so captivating that it seemed to end quickly. The band’s performance included eleven songs in total, with the hit song “Place your hands” being performed to thunderous applause around the halfway point. The band’s finale, a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain,” had the audience in a state of ecstasy as they awaited the main act.
The present lineup of Deep Purple, which includes guitarist Simon McBride, who took Steve Morse’s place in 2022, Gillan, Glover, Paice, and Airey—all of whom are among the most legendary and gifted musicians of all time—could well be classified as a supergroup with a 56-year history. Gillan was by no means exaggerating the skill of their newest addition when he called McBride “immaculate.”
It was clear from away that the band was in good form as they opened their 19-track set list with the crowd-pleasing song “Highway Star.” My favorite Deep Purple vocalist is Ian Gillan, whose skill, adaptability, and broad vocal range have allowed him to have a very successful solo career in addition to his work with the band.
His performance at Wednesday’s gig was simply amazing. An all-seated event turned into an all-standing one, demonstrating the audience’s enthusiasm. The show was interspersed with songs from the new album, which were greeted with the same fervor as old favorites.
Ian Paice, a master drummer, and Roger Glover created a rhythm section that was truly amazing to see, with the great Don Airey contributing the distinctively “Purple” sound. This ensemble of incredibly talented musicians seems to have been completed by Simon McBride, who enthralled the audience with multiple lengthy solo interludes.
Smoke on the Water, unquestionably one of the best and most instantly recognizable rock songs ever, was played at the end of the set. The band then returned for three encores, which included “Old-Fangled Thing,” “Hush,” and the grand finale, “Black Night.” The band appeared to be enjoying themselves so much that they were hesitant to leave the stage, demonstrating their appreciation for the crowd’s pure energy, passion, and appreciation.
If this was the last time I ever saw Deep Purple, it was amazing, both musically and lyrically. At 79 years old, Ian Gillan, the band’s eldest member, is the superstar he always was, taking the stage with the energy and skill of a man many years his junior and sharing a few anecdotes along the way.
Age is just a number, as they say, and I like to think rock stars live forever unless they join the 27 club.