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PETER GOALBY – My time with RAINBOW

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PETER GOALBY – Rainbow

 Singer Peter Goalby is mainly known for years during the 80s fronting Uriah Heep, with whom he recorded 3 albums, and prior to that a few years with Trapeze, where he recorded one studio and one live album. But in-between there, very briefly, Peter was chosen to sing for another, bigger band, at the time. His time with Rainbow didn’t last long, and he’s often (if at all) merely mentioned as a footnote as someone who auditioned for the band. Goalby’s story of that time, and his first ever detailed recollection of that period is a very fascinating read. Peter recalled it all to myself and Peter Kerr (Rock Daydream Nation). The 3rd part of this article contains questions (from Peter Kerr & myself), answered by PG.

Please note, Peter has wanted to tell this story for a long time. I know he has a very good memory of his career, and fine details. This is his account being told for the first time. It was a long time ago, and it came at very busy period in his career, while he was still with Trapeze. He would soon record a project later in 1980 under the name ‘Destiny’, followed by Trapeze tours and a live album. By late ’81 he was ready to step into the role of lead singer for Uriah Heep. Ironically, the 1982 album Abominog, a fantastic album, was comparable in direction (that American Hard-rock/AOR) to what Rainbow was also recording during the early 80s with Joe Lynn Turner. So, frankly, I don’t see how Peter wouldn’t have been a good fit for that band, but oh well….On to Peter’s story….

My Audition / Initiation

The day before New Years Eve, sitting in my unfurnished flat (apartment) in Wolverhampton phone rings – “Hello is that Pete?” , I said yes, it is. “Pete this is Ritchie Blackmore “, Fuck off I said, who is this? I thought John Thomas from the band Budgie; he was a prankster.” Pete, its Ritchie really (LOL) “He said I “got your number from…”  I can’t remember who he said but I thought, ‘Oh Its Ritchie alright’.

“Would you be interested in joining my band, Rainbow? I have heard a lot of great things about you and your work with Trapeze. Mel Galley is gonna hate me even more if I steal you That will be twice.”

We chatted for a few minutes and then he asked, ‘do I have anything I can play to him?’  I said I have a copy of the new Trapeze album Hold On, “I can play you a track down the Phone(?)” I played him “Don’t Break My Heart Again” (phone to the speaker).  It’s 6 minutes long, I thought he will have hung up by the end. “Are you still there?”, I said. “Very much so. Would you like to come to New York? “, I said ‘yes when’. “Tomorrow”, he said. 

I was told to arrive at Euston Train station. I would be met and taken to the Airport. I was given a ticket and some money and put on a plane

(In New York) I was detained at the Airport upon arriving and taken to a back room where I was questioned and my luggage searched. They thought I was trying to work in the U.S I said I was there for an audition. I was asked who the band was. I said Rainbow. One of the security guys said Ritchie Blackmore(?), “then re pack your case you can go”.

I was met by a member of the Rainbow crew and taken to the Holiday Inn, Connecticut. I was there on my own for 2 days waiting for someone to greet me. I spent New Years Eve on my own, well me and the barman in the hotel.

Next evening I was in the Bar and who should walk in – Cozy Powell (LOL). Then in walks Don Airey (LOL). WE all got on great from the off. I had met Cozy before.

I said, ‘where is Ritchie?’, I was told he lives next door to the hotel. So, I had been left on my own for 2 days with Ritchie living next door celebrating the New Year. I was starting to get the picture and the way they all spoke of Ritchie, he was the Boss for shit sure.

Ritchie walked in the bar with his then very large breasted girlfriend, and we spent the evening talking – me, Ritchie, Don, and Cozy. I can’t remember when Glover arrived.

We arranged to meet for rehearsals next morning.

Down To Earth (with a Bang) LOL

I arrived at the Geneva; the place was incredible with a Moat and a Drawbridge, WoW.

Don arrived soon after me, we got on so well it was all fantastic. There was a guy called Jack Green there he was the new bass player, as Roger Glover was producing Down To Earth he was not playing – only producing. There was a mobile Recording Studio outside belonging to Jethro Tull. All the band gear was set up in the Dining Hall which was the size of a banquet Hall.

Cozy arrived, he was such a compete gentleman, he was such a complete person he really was great.

We were all there for a couple of days before Ritchie arrived with the girlfriend. He spent a few days in his room only coming out to have meals. We had a Cook living in with us. From time-to-time Ritchie would come out and ask me and Jack to write some lyrics for an idea he would have. Then he would say forget that one. “Can you do some words for this?” That would be another Idea he would be playing. I was finding it frustrating as we did not seem to be doing much at all. I used to have a play on Don’s Hammond organ to pass the time. We were all just waiting for Ritchie.  After a few days Ritchie had come up with some riffs. One night about 10.30 to 11pm I was going to bed and was told Richie wants to rehearse now. I foolishly said I was about to go to bed. Never mind. We went down into the Dining Hall They all started jamming led by Ritchie showing them the ideas he had. I was expected to just sing something over them. Something I had never done before. I was used to having a structured song to sing knowing the melody etc. I just looked at Don thinking ‘what the fuck does he want’. So, I started warbling some nonsense. So, we did this for some time. Don was looking at me and encouraging me to sing anything by pretending he was singing. I found this all a bit bizarre. Next morning there was a bad atmosphere from the off. I did not see Ritchie at all. Roger said “can we talk in your room”. I said of course.

Roger said Ritchie is not happy. I said neither am I. I don’t know what he wants I am not used to working like this. Roger said you are fired. I said couldn’t Ritchie face me and Fire me himself.

Roger said I will take you to the airport now. So, I went and told the guys I was fired they were shocked. Ritchie did not even come to say goodbye. He did send me a message through Roger, he said You Know that riff you have been playing on the Hammond could you show Don how it goes before you leave?  On the way to the Airport Roger said did I know any good bass players as Ritchie was not happy with Jack Green either

I was given no reason other than Ritchie was not happy.

It later transpired he was not happy with my vocal range he said my top note was an A which is not true as the world can hear on the Heep albums I did.

I did not apply for the job in Rainbow I was invited by Ritchie Blackmore after listening to me singing “Don’t Break My Heart Again” by TRAPEZE I made no claims about my vocal range.

I am very happy to finally tell the true version of my very very brief time in such a great band

Peter   Goalby 09-09-2025

Did you talk for a while with Ritchie before having a sing?

It was all quite natural mainly down to Cozy being such a great and honest guy (what a lovely man)

What was he like?

Ritchie enjoyed being Ritchie and enjoying being number uno.

Were there any band members at this first meeting? Describe the rehearsal with the band? What songs did you play? Any of your originals or non-Rainbow songs were played?

A tiny rehearsal room. I was stood facing Cozy when he hit his bass drums My jeans blew back at the ankles LOL, He was making me laugh to make me feel at home. In fact, Don was the same very friendly as if they were relieved, they had got me there.

WE did “Long Live Rock and Roll”, I enjoyed that, not too many words LOL

I think Cozy said “we have this song demo with a girl singer”. He said Ritchie does not like it, but the record company want us to do it as a single. I said it’s a great song. I think. We ran through it. I can not remember what else we did. I kept thinking this is me singing with Rainbow LOL.

Did you get a good vibe as to how things were going?

I got great feedback from the guys they were talking like it was a done deal. Like I said I felt they were relieved they had a singer. Ritchie was very reserved I think that’s how he liked people to see him.

What was said at the end of the play through?

All very positive but what was weird is It was as though I was in, but no one said You are our new singer. I was given a plane ticket and told Bruce Payne (manager) would contact me, which he did when I got home. I was put on the payroll. I think it was £2000 per month. Little knowing it was to last only 2 months at that time. Bruce said we were to do a demo of “Since You Been Gone” at Roger Glover’s house, which we did. I remember Ritchie playing the wrong chords when we were recording LOL.  

Then the recording date for the album was announced and I went off to Geneva to the chateau.

Did you think you would be offered the role?

Of course. I would have been great in that band

I am curious – Had you told anyone on your side (bandmates, management) that you were off to NY to possibly join Rainbow(?) 

I did not have time; I was called and then the next morning I was on a plane. I only told my wife, I don’t think she believed me at first. And Then I told her I got the Job then a couple of months later I told her I was FIRED LOL

What were you up to when Ritchie called? Was there a Trapeze tour being planned or any other recordings? 

I was in my apartment (flat) with no furniture I can’t remember what was happening with Trapeze. I had just got the first copy of “Hold On”, the Trapeze album. Thank you, Mel, for writing the song that got me in and out of Rainbow LOL.

Considering Ritchie was concerned about image (i.e. he hated Graham Bonnet’s short hair and choice of clothes). Did any appearance or image stuff come up? 

No, he knows a star when he sees one LOL.

Was your audition or time with the band given any press treatment? Ie: photos taken, bios written, or mention in the press?  

Only my local town paper; I was on the front cover if I remember correctly.

Did you really get to talk to Ritchie much at all? (Even in the bar) And was it all business? 

I did talk to him, yes, I did get on with him socially. But then again, I get on well with everybody.

“And we had a singer called Pete Goalby, who did great things with Uriah Heep, but he didn’t quite get what Ritchie was going on about” – Don Airey (Rolling Stone)

“I was the one who helped talk Ritchie into doing it. His manager Bruce Payne NEEDED A HIT SINGLE. We did a demo at Roger’s house with Jethro Tulls’ Mobile.” – PG

PETER GOALBY & GRAHAM BONNET

There is one song that ironically both Peter Goalby and Graham Bonnet sang, and that is a cover of Paul Bliss’ “That’s The Way That It Is”, which I’ve put below. The song appeared on Bonnet’s 1981 album Line Up, as well as Uriah Heep’s 1982 album Abominog, and released as a single in both cases. Interestingly, Bonnet also covered Argent’s “Liar” (written by Russ Ballard) on that album, while Goalby had sang the song years earlier as a demo for his band Fable! Abominog would instead feature a different Russ Ballard track, “On The Rebound”.

I could not find any songs that both Goalby and Bonnet’s successor in Rainbow – Joe Lynn Turner both sang, but both Heep (w/ Peter Goalby) and Rainbow (w/ JLT) both took a similar direction in the 80s, which is discussed with Martin Popoff in an episode of History In 5 Songs – https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/history5songs?selected=PAN4285683323

Goalby’s post-Heep solo recordings are also much more in the 80s AOR style that would’ve definitely suited either Foreigner or Rainbow in that decade (Ironically, Goalby’s name came up when Foreigner was looking for a singer when Lou Gramm left the first time, but not bigger discussions or offers came about). But check out tracks like “Take Another Look”, “Waiting For An Angel“, or “It’s Just My Heart Breaking” and “Show Some Emotion” (from his upcoming 3rd album), they would sit comfortably on an 80s Foreigner or Rainbow album, IMO. As for the one ‘new’ song that Goalby sang with Rainbow, “Since You Been Gone”, no recording from those rehearsals exists, but both Bonnet and it’s writer, Russ Ballard, both have new versions of it in 2025.

LINKS:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/petergoalby

https://www.chateaurosu.com/the-helios-story.html

DEEP PURPLE – Seven Decades of, by Martin Popoff

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Canadian rock writer Martin Popoff has a new book on DEEP PURPLE, coming out October 28. Popoff has penned a number of Deep Purple and related books, notably Gettin Tighter (2005) and Castle Full Of Rascals (2009). *Check out book info below, as well as ordering link at the bottom.

Dive into the saga of Deep Purple and unravel the untold stories behind the legendary band, from their groundbreaking albums to their tumultuous journey through rock history to the present.

Seven Decades of Deep Purple tells the electrifying story of one of the most iconic bands in rock history.

From the band’s explosive formation in 1968 to the classic Mk. II lineup—Gillan, Blackmore, Glover, Lord, and Paice—and through all the iterations to the present day, this book delves deep into the band that brought the world unforgettable hits like “Hush,” “Speed King,” “Child in Time,” “Smoke on the Water,” “Highway Star,” “Burn,” and “Perfect Strangers.”

Through nearly 50 interviews by the author with Purple alumni, plus dozens more with others who are part of this story, readers will journey through the group’s formation, lineup changes, album sessions, and live performances, with the narrative emerging as the story of creativity itself, a tale enhanced by the use of over 450 images.

Album by album, it’s Deep Purple’s music that gives this book its solid-rock foundation. Starting with 1968’s Shades of Deep Purple, the book discusses all their genre-defining albums, including In Rock, Fireball, Machine Head, Burn, Purpendicular, Whoosh!, and 2024’s =1.

Seven Decades of Deep Purple captures the essence of a band whose influence transcended generations and shaped the sound of modern rock.

Whether you’re a lifelong fan or new to their music, this book is a must-read for anyone wanting to explore the legacy of one of rock’s most enduring and relentlessly vital and creative forces.

https://schifferbooks.com/products/seven-decades-of-deep-purple?srsltid=AfmBOopUfFQIenrLF6_u2XgdIkobuVwunp7tlJwwKCtdqnrYFm5Q_B5h

PURPENDICULAR (feat. Ian Paice) announce new album ‘Banned’

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PURPENDICULAR, the band named after one of my favorite Deep Purple albums, and also features Ian Paice , on drums, have their 4th album ‘Banned‘ coming out on October 4th! Check out the bio below, as well as the 2 videos released so far, band photos, and links below.

In the hot summer of 2024, PURPENDICULAR decided to write their fourth album in a remote village high in the mountains near Porto, Portugal.

The concept was agreed on the first night, but that concept took a twist when the devastating fires took place that very evening, putting the lives of the band in grave danger.

The band were rescued off the mountain from their villa, to a safer option and to an alternative accommodation, where they spent the night watching the fires rage on the veranda.

It was here titles and more ideas came to fruition, to add to the already conceptual theme of Banned, which summarizes today’s sensitive culture, in that the slightest wrong word can get you banned, adding the pun Banned with the last two letters before the last D in the word being crossed out equaling the word BAND.

With all this in mind and the whole band in agreement, it was then decided to add an autobiographical theme also, telling the story of events as they unfolded that treacherous night where many people lost their lives and homes.

The final recordings of the album were completed in Italy, Poland, and the UK. The record is produced by Alessandro Debiaggi and Robby Thomas Walsh. It is a fresh modern look back at the ’70s! It is advised to play this record very loud!

Line-up:  
Robby Thomas Walsh (Ireland) – vocals (Roger Glover, Tony Carey, Joe Lynn Turner)
Ian Paice (UK) – drums (Deep Purple, Whitesnake, Gary Moore)
Murray Gould (UK) – guitars (Eric Clapton, Elton John, Joe Bonomassa)
Alessandro Debiaggi (Italy) – keyboards (has toured with Ian Paice Purpendicular since 2022)
Mauricio Torchio (Italy) – bass (has toured with Ian Paice Purpendicular since 2022, here replacing the unavailable Nick Fyffe)

LINKS:
www.facebook.com/PDworldwide 
www.youtube.com/@linxband

www.metalville.de   
www.facebook.com/metalville 

DEEP PURPLE 1980 – An interview with author Steve McLean

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Steve McLean is primarily known as a stand-up comic, originally from Scotland, but now in London. McLean also is a passionate music fan, and particularly of Deep Purple. In 1980, originally DP singer Rod Evans fronted a new band that took the name ‘Deep Purple’ (or ‘The New Deep Purple’), as the group was defunct at the time, and began doing shows throughout North America. They were ultimately stopped, and through the court case it cost Evans in fines and future royalties. From then on Rod Evans disappeared from the spotlight completely, and hasn’t been heard of since. But in Stealing Seep Purple, McLean has researched throroughly and published the story of that strange chapter in Deep Purple’s history, often not mentioned so much.

Below Steve’s answers my questions pertaining to this period and the making of his book. A very interesting story, well worth checking out. *You can find out more on Steve and Stealing Deep Purple at the links at the bottom.

Did you have any connection to this 1980 era of Rod Evans DP? (did you see the band or follow the story at the time?)

Alas, I was four or five years old at the time. The first I heard part of the story was when I was 17 (1993). I was visiting London to see Aerosmith at Wembley Arena. I was in a bar called The Royal George which used to be a rock pub and there was a guy from the U.S. who said he saw Deep Purple in a small club near Boston in the autumn of 1980. The friend I was with, who was a bit older than me  and a massive Deep Purple fan, called the guy out for talking bullshit, since Deep Purple were not together at the time. It got quite tense.

I later learned of the Rod Evans group and have been kind of fascinated about the tale since then. Now, the show that the guy in the bar was talking about near Boston (I think in Lowell or Lynn) might have been cancelled, there are conflicting reports. So it is possible that the guy was bullshitting in a different way. He might have seen the adverts for the show before it was cancelled and decided to tell young and naive strangers a tale. And it’s possible that the shows weren’t cancelled and did go ahead and he was there. But it’s also possible that he went to a different show in the same town on a different day. There was no publicised ‘tour schedule’ as such. The plan for the band was to play in small towns and just advertise the shows locally. 

What we do know is that there was around 70 shows and there is printed evidence of about half of them. That’s the kind of fuzzy details we’re dealing with when it comes to “The New Deep Purple”. The book attempts to unpick the facts from fiction.  

During the late 70s there was a lot of band’s ‘resurrected’ in questionable ways. Curious if you dug in to some of these other bands at all (for research). The one I’m thinking about it Steppenwolf, where there were a number of versions of the band on the road at the same time (a couple of these guys wound up in DP1980). Much of this came from John Kay’s book.

John Kay’s book is excellent. It does however tell us a story that we don’t often consider in our appraisals of the events. 

The ‘questionable ways’ that the band was resurrected were initially empowered by Kay granting a license to the band name. Now that license ended up getting abused by multiple Steppenwolf members and also by musicians who had never been anywhere near the original Steppenwolf (namely Tony Flynn and Geoff Emery who both went on to be in the New Deep Purple), but without Kay agreeing to the license for original reconstituted band, well I wonder if the others would ever have happened. 

I don’t blame John for what he did, he had bills to pay and licencing deal from the name of a band that he no longer had any interest in must have seemed like free money. It appears Kay took over two years to launch legal action against the multiple bands using the Steppenwolf name and even then it seems, to me at least, he was only really outraged about it when the licensing fees stopped coming in. 

I think a person would have to be incredibly naive to believe that John Kay wasn’t aware what was being done to the Steppenwolf name. This sort of behavior was as old as the entertainment industry; From fake circuses pretending to be connected to Barnum, the unofficial versions of Gilbert and Sullivan musicals to the multiple versions of the Zombies or The Animals. It only really seems to be a problem for the venues or the promoters when the ruse is discovered by the general public. Personally I think the industry operated under a blanket of plausible deniability. 

I spoke to a few members of reconstituted bands to try to get an understanding of how things worked in such a group. Musicians from the likes of The New Cactus Band and The New MC5 (who did shows with The New Deep Purple). In contrast to the rock and roll luxury lifestyle, they often painted a bleak picture of working bands on gruelling schedules singing for their supper. 

What sparked your interest enough in this period to want to write about it?

I just think it’s totally WTF! The Mexico chapter of story alone has its roots in the Mexican revolution, it also involves the civil rights movement, a burgeoning rock scene and a happy ending. Not bad for a episode that also includes a riot, a crowd crush and a Red Cross emergency triage unit!  I was interested because it’s the kind of story I’d like to read. I’m a stand up comedian and I write hour long shows. I don’t write shows about things I don’t love or I’m not interested in. I think anyone reading the book will understand that I love Purple’s music and I love the tale, fans can tell if you’re a fraud and the last thing I’d want is for any hardcore Deep Purple fan to think I’ve done a disservice to the band they’ve devoted their lives to. 

This period is often overlooked or unmentioned in Deep Purple books and stories. Do you feel it is a valid period that deserves to be told and mentioned In the band’s history? And do you feel this tour might’ve had any connection or influence in the band’s eventual reunion a few years later?

It’s definitely a valid part of their history and I think it should be embraced by the band. There’s line in this book that says something like ‘This is an interesting story because Deep Purple are a great band. Without Deep Purple being as great as they are then this story would be nothing’  

I found the most negative opinions of the The New Deep Purple come from people who didn’t attend the shows. I spoke to folks who went to the shows and had a great time (as well as those who thought it sucked!) 

I think the resulting court case was the first time the Deep Purple members had all worked together in any capacity for years. Probably the first time Blackmore had anything to do with them that wasn’t through third parties. I would say the court case did a lot to defrost the atmosphere between everyone. It’s weird to say this but I think it was the first step on the road to the reunion and without it, who knows, the reunion may not happened or might have been a few more years away. 

I get why fans are reluctant to embrace this part of history. It’s stirs complex emotions and the book highlights the darker side to the musicians we love. As mentioned above, I spoke to a few fans of the band who attended the shows, plenty had a good time (a match in number for those who had a bad time). One person went to a show with her brother and that was her last memory of him before he passed away and another person met a girl at the show, they dated, got married, had kids and now have grandchildren… his whole family is thanks to that show. As I ask in the book, who are we to take that away from them? 

There is a lot of stories and photos from this tour online; what gems have you dug up through your research? (people you’ve interviewed, photos or video you came across, etc…)

Most of the stuff I acquired were memories and clippings from newspapers. That said I came across a few ticket stubs and such. Norm from the Whisky River Band sent me a lovely colour version of a poster from the Northland Summer Jam II. It was a grandly titled small festival, akin to a county fair and it was the ideal stomping ground for the New Deep Purple. A rural small town that didn’t get much in the way of entertainment that attracted mainly a casual fan who had little idea of what the band was supposed to look like. In such an environment, where there was no pressure from a partisan crowd, The New Deep Purple seemed to put on a good show. 

One of my other favourite bits I came across was Jim Dandy’s performance supporting the band in Mexico. It’s on Youtube, The clip was also great for contacting people who had been to the show and had first hand accounts of the gig. History has remembered the trouble in Mexico as being down to the New Deep Purple’s performance but the reality is somewhat different…  

Did you search out fans for stories and memorabilia or did you get enough that simply came out with previously unwritten recollections of shows and encounters?

There’s a lot of accounts online already but yes I actively sought out fan accounts, mainly from the larger shows. The problem with this is that memories are fuzzy and it was 45 years ago, so I had to be wary of what to trust.  One excellent bit of information I found out from a staff member from the Baby O bar in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. The show didn’t actually go ahead, even though there a previous reports saying it did. It was cancelled not long before the band went on stage. I’ve read online that people had attended the show but that’s not true according to the door staff. Now, once again, that’s not to say that a show at the Baby O didn’t take place on a different date or that there wasn’t a show in Seaside Heights on that day. If you read the book you’ll read about a string of cancelled shows and postponed dates and moved venues. It was hard sorting out false memories for actual fact, but I think I’ve done a decent job in piecing it all together.    

The band, at the time had said they were recording an album. This obviously never came out, but did you find any truth to this and what do you think the impact of this might’ve been had it come out back then?

I honestly don’t know what to believe here. I know that the same claims were made by the versions of Steppenwolf (and the Zombies etc), 

It seems to me that  if I wanted to give legitimacy to a band trying to convince the public they were the read deal, then I would certainly say ‘we’re recording an album’ or ‘we’re in talks with a label’ as it’s the kind of thing a legally-sound band would say in an interview.  

That said Mike Curb was reportedly interested in the band and he wasn’t a fool. It’s likely Warners-Curb paid for some demos until they realised the legalities of trying to release a record as The New Deep Purple.     

Did you find yourself feeling sympathetic for Rod Evans after all this?  I was always under the impression he was simply duped into this whole situation.

The book started out as an investigation but evolved into a document of understanding and perhaps a plea for clemency.

 I don’t however think he was ‘duped’ into what he was doing. It’s a popular fan opinion because, fans being fans, don’t like to think that the people that they love would behave in any way we wouldn’t like them to, but to say Rod was duped is a bit of insult to his intellect. He had been involved in the industry for about a decade before his 1974 retirement, I think it was an idea that he was fully onboard with but I also think it got away from him. 

Part of the reason that it got away from him was that I think he thought he was legally in the right, to begin with at least. I think he thought he had, if not the blessing from the Deep Purple management, then the begrudging verbal agreement from them. There’s enough evidence in the book to suggest this. 

Reading between the lines of the statements that came out from the band and management, it reads to me very much like a lot of non-denial denials. A lot like when Mick Fleetwood commented on the fake Fleetwood Mac. 

Personally, I think he had some rights to the band name, but not the brand, if that makes sense. Put it this way, if he’d gone out a Rod Evan’s Deep Purple or Rod Evans From Deep Purple and just played Deep Purple Mark 1, I don’t think he’d have been hauled through the courts in the same way.  

If taken in the context that Deep Purple had broken up and they weren’t really bothered about playing together again, then the prospect of licensing revenue, (perhaps unbeknownst to the Lord, Paice & Co) would have once again seemed like free money to Deep Purple’s management, just as it may have done to John Kay.

Although for balance I should probably point out that Purple’s management team moved a lot quicker than Kay to put a stop to things… The Steppenwolf saga may have even changed the Deep Purple management’s minds. By that time the damage to the name of Steppenwolf was highly evident for the whole industry to see.

The whole mystery of Rod Evans, and what became of him after this period has quite a following of its own online. Did you find much on Rod and those that knew him after the court case and all?

I spoke to a couple of people who claimed to know him but I after a few questions it turned out they were probably talking shit. There’s one guy going around various Facebook comments section claiming to know Rod and his movements, but it seems to be a desperate cry for attention. Bobby Caldwell, Captain Beyond’s drummer says he is in touch with him and guards his phone number like ‘Fort Knox’ I sent Bobby a message asking if he’d put me in touch but I got no reply, If you’re out there Rod, I’d love to hear from you. I’m happy to amend anything in future editions of the book if you think I’ve got it wrong, please get in touch. One of my main goals of this book was to ‘open the story out to the floor’ …which it has already done. I’ve had few people get in touch, nobody has contradicted me yet but I’ll be happy if someone says ‘you’ve got this bit wrong…. I know because I was there’  

It’s been heavily reported that Rod has lost his Deep Purple royalties, I wonder if that only means officially and that they band are in fact ‘looking after him’ and making sure he gets his share. It would make sense based on their comments that they felt he was in with bad people and that the only way to stop him was to sue him. But then maybe that’s what I want to believe. 

How is the book been made available at present? Will it be available via Amazon, etc..?

It’s available through my site Deeppurplebook.com and through Lulu Publishing. I’m trying not to use Amazon… mainly because of the disgustingly low fees they pay authors. Can you believe they uploaded my book to their in-house publishing without my permission? And then paid me pennies for the copies they sold. I was several emails before they’d take my work off of their website. The more authors I speak to the more I hear of how Amazon seem to behave like gangsters. 

What other books have you authored? Any details of rock books of interest?

This is my first book! I’m a stand up comedian and in a previous life I was a development producer for documentaries. If you’re reading the book and you think it’s paced like a documentary film, that’ll be why.  I’ve previously written reviews and opinion pieces for magazines and websites. 

Are you planning on or working on any other rock n roll books?

So, my next project is to turn Stealing Deep Purple into some kind of show. I envisage it being a multi media presentation that’s funny and informative. 

I’d quite like to pull at the threat of the numerous fake Iron Butterfly bands that existed in the late 1970s, so that might be my next book. 

LINKS:

https://deeppurplebook.com/

https://www.facebook.com/SteveMcLeanComedy/

https://www.instagram.com/withstevemclean/?hl=en

New DEEP PURPLE book: ‘Stealing Deep Purple’

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A new DEEP PURPLE book is available. Stealing Deep Purple tells the story of the short-lived bogus band from 1980, and fronted by original DP singer Rod Evans. Deep Purple 1980 (the ‘new’ Deep Purple, then) played shows throughout Canada, the US, and Mexico before being stopped. This period is a curious and often overlooked chapter in the band’s history, though not being Deep Purple. There’s been many articles and DP fan accounts written online in the past, but Scottish author Steve McLean has researched this thoroughly for this book (373 pages). Looking forward to this one. Deep Purple 1980 kinda capped off an era where many big bands saw their name hijacked by corrupt managers and used to make money using bogus line ups (see also Fleetwood Mac, Steppenwolf, Herman’s Hermits…)

Order Stealing Deep Purple HERE.

About the book:

This is the story of Rod Evans, the little known original singer of Deep Purple, who decided to reform the band for a continental tour in 1980. The problem was that this Deep Purple contained no other members of the original group and that Rod, who had been fired long before their 1970s heyday, had no real legal rights to use the name.

The tour was comprised of riots, cancelled shows, on-stage fights, arrests, terrible performances and a massive court case. The who episode has become stuff of legend, with no two accounts seemingly the sames. Evans effectively ‘stole’ Deep Purple….. And he would have gotten away with it too if it wasn’t for all the posters, ticket sales and press coverage.

Using over 200 newspaper, magazine, book and media sources plus brand new testimonies from the people who were there, Steve McLean attempts to piece together what actually happened in this real life Rock’n’Roll Swindle.

“They all had something down their spandex pants. We couldn’t tell if it was vegetable or plastic… Let’s just say it was pretty obvious those bulges weren’t real...Every time I watch that scene in Spinal Tap, I think of Deep Purple 1980.” Llory McDonald.

LINKS:

About

TEN WORDS OR FEWER INTERVIEW: Steve McLean, author of Stealing Deep Purple

https://www.thehighwaystar.com/news/2025/07/16/stealing-deep-purple/

HEAVEN And EARTH – a look back with 10 songs

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Photo: Alun Williams, Chambers Of Rock

HEAVEN And EARTH is the band lead by British born guitarist/ songwriter Stuart Smith, with the band name taken from Smith’s 1998 solo album. As of 2021, Heaven And Earth released 5 albums (including Smith’s debut), as well as a mini-album of new and previously released songs. In his younger years Smith played in a band (in England) named ‘Stallion’, who made some recordings (unreleased). He also became a friend to Ritchie Blackmore, who Smith learned from as a player. Needless to say if you’re a fan of Deep Purple and Rainbow, Heaven And Earth fits in that class, and is highly recommended . And like Blackmore, Stuart Smith’s band would. Change line ups from album to album, always featuring great players and singers.

From the time of the first album I interviewed Stuart then, and as well for the the next few after. I’ll try and add these links below. Choosing just 10 songs was a tough task, for this sort of retrospective of Heaven And Earth. The band has been put on pause since the last album, while Smith is working on other (non recording) projects, but here’s hoping we’ll hear more from the band (in some version) in the future.

Heaven And Earth

Way back around 1999, this debut solo CD from Stuart Smith was sent to me. I had no idea who he was at the time, but going through the album’s credits and seeing names like Glenn Hughes, Richie Sambora, Joe Lynn Turner, Chuck Wright, Carmine Appice and even Kelly Hansen (yes, I had the Hurricane albums!), I thought this might be good! And I wasn’t disappointed. A number of excellent songs and performances here, but it’s the album’s title track that I liked the most, and I think best represents the album. This one, sang by Joe Lynn Turner is kind of a power ballad,; reminds me of something that might have suited Deep Purple’s Slaves and Masters. Later editions of this CD (as Heaven And Earth, featuring Stuart Smith) included a number of bonus tracks.

Prisoner

I believe Kelly Hansen was intended to be the H & E singer after Stuart’s solo album, but when Hansen got the opportunity to join Mick Jones’ new version of Foreigner, Smith had to find someone else. So, new singer on 2000’s Windows To The World was Kelly Keeling (ex Baton Rouge, Blue Murder, MSG). I loved this album, it is packed with classic songs ala 80s Rainbow, Deep Purple, early Whitesnake…

A classic riff/intro leads in to a smooth melodic rock tune, not overly heavy, but a memorable chorus, brilliant solo. An easily likeable song. I really liked Kelly Keeling as the singer on this album, he really fit that Deep Purple family (closer to Coverdale, IMO) In another era this could’ve been a huge hit for a number of bands.

Politician

Another killer riff, and this rocker is another highlight here, taking aim at a politician Stuart disliked at the time. Windows To The World was produced by Howard Leese (Heart, Bad Co), who also adds guitar, bass, and strings to a few songs here. Richie Onori on drums, Marvin Sperling on bass, Arlen Schierbaum on keyboards , The Japanese edition (which I’d like to find), adds a couple of extra tracks, notably a cover of “I Don’t Need No Doctor”.

Windows To The World included a number of other good songs, a very solid album, including “Dogs Of War”, “World’s Apart” and “Away From Harm”.

Screaming For Redemption

Following Windows To The World, there was a brief phase with legendary LA singer Paul Shortino. This short lived line up recorded 4 songs as part of the Taste Of Heaven CD, which featured 4 previously released songs, as well. Dave Chamberlain on bass, Scott Warren (Dio) on keyboards.

Waiting For The End Of The World

When Dig came out in 2013, it featured another new line up. It included upstate New York singer Joe Retta. At the time Retta and Smith were also part of Steve Priest’s SWEET, and had released Live In America in 2009. Fantastic production on this album. There is lots going on in this track between the guitars, acoustics, synths and Hammond organ…It’s only 5 minutes, but feels longer. Reminds me a bit of Rainbow, a bit of Kansas…and although not on my list, I like the way the ending flows in to the next track “Sexual Insanity” .

House Of Blues

It was hard not to choose more from Dig,; the run of the first 8 tracks is awesome! In there are a few other greats like “Victorious” and “Back In Anger”. But this is another favorite, a heavy blues rock track. Excellent album, cover design / photography by Glen Wexler, cool band logo by Ian Wexler.

I Don’t Know What Love Is

This is the ballad from Dig. Such a grand production, with the backing vocals, strings, acoustic guitar, Stuart’s big solo and Joe Retta’s vocal. Not to forget Chuck Wright’s bass lines. Chuck was a huge part of this album, and a few others. Again, in another time this song could’ve been a huge hit for someone.

Hard To Kill

The title track to the band’s follow-up to Dig, (IMO, a hard act to follow!) When I initially got this album (1 of 2 H&E albums on vinyl), I liked it, but was pre-occupied at the time with personal stuff (moving, etc…), so I kinda put it on the back burner for a bit. It later became a fast grower of an album, and with the similarities n cover art, a nice partner to Dig. The title track is a great lead off rocker for this album.

Walk Away

Also from Hard To Kill, Stuart comes up with another fine riff and intro. This one is easily likeable, with a great, memorable chorus. As a follow up to Dig, Hard To Kill is a bit more blues rock, and a bit less polished, like the band has settled into a comfortable sound. Ty Bailie on keys, Kenny Aranoff on drums.

At The End Of The Day

From the last Heaven and Earth album ‘V’, released in 2021. A strange time for the band, as more changes occurred, most notably gone was singer Joe Retta. I gotta admit, the album caught me off-guard, not just because of the changes, but because what seemed like a lack of press at the time, and I was not overly floored upon first listen. Whether it was the overall sound, the change of singers, or whatever, it took me a while to warm up to this one, and it is the album’s last song that really stood out for me before anything else. There is a lot of good songs here like “Drive”, “Ship Of Fools”, and “Nothing To Me”, and the band sounds great, but this song here is classic, with Stuart’s opening riff/intro, and most significantly this being the best to feature the powerful vocals of Italian singer Gianluca Petralia here. Starting off as a ballad, and building into a heavy 70s styled rock epic, heavy on the guitar, bass, and Hammond organ. Joining Stuart Smith here were keyboard players George Barabas and Mike Mangan, bass player Lynn Sorensen (also credited as producer), and legendary drummer Simon Wright.

LINKS:

https://www.facebook.com/officialheavenandearth (*the band’s website it no longer up and running, as far as i can tell. there is also a FB fan group)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1464569973726123

https://www.travellersintime.com/UniversalWheels/ssmith.html

https://www.travellersintime.com/UniversalWheels/stuartsmith.html

https://www.travellersintime.com/UniversalWheels/SSmith13.html

https://www.travellersintime.com/UniversalWheels/JRetta13.html

https://www.travellersintime.com/UniversalWheels/GlenWexler2014.html

https://www.travellersintime.com/uw/index.htm

*I have a couple further interview, which links to, are no longer working. One day I will just transfer all these to a new site.

DEEP PURPLE – release new single from ‘Rapture Of The Deep’ remix

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DEEP PURPLE RELEASE REMIXED SINGLE “CLEARLY QUITE ABSURD” — FEATURING PREVIOUSLY UNHEARD INSTRUMENTAL TAKE OF “MTV”

RAPTURE OF THE DEEP — 20TH ANNIVERSARY REMIX TO BE RELEASED AUGUST 29 — PRE-ORDER HERE

As part of the upcoming Rapture of the Deep — 20th Anniversary Remix, Deep Purple today release a new single: a newly mixed and remastered version of “Clearly Quite Absurd,” backed with a previously unreleased instrumental studio rehearsal take of “MTV.”

Roger Glover today recalls, “‘Clearly Quite Absurd’ is a very unusual Deep Purple song, which I like. We’ve always liked being unusual. We don
t follow traditions, really. We are just who we are at a specific time.”

The single’s B-side, “MTV (2005 Studio Jam),” is a previously unheard instrumental take from an early rehearsal session — with Don Airey, Steve Morse, Roger Glover, and Ian Paice running through a track that later appeared as a bonus on select editions of Rapture of the Deep.

The single is a preview of the Rapture of the Deep — 20th Anniversary Remix, out worldwide on August 29, which includes a brand new mix of the full album, revised artwork, and a bonus disc filled with rare studio rehearsals and instrumental jams.

The album will be available as 2CD Digipak, 3LP Vinyl (black, 180g), and the strictly limited 3LP Transparent Sky-Blue Vinyl.

Access the album here.

DEEP PURPLE – Rapture Of The Deep, 20th anniversary edition- remixed

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Originally released in October of 2005, DEEP PURPLE’s Rapture Of The Deep was the 4th of the Steve Morse era, and my favorite (up until then) after Purpendicular. It included favorites like “Wrong Man”, “Money Talks”, “Don’t Let Go”, and the ballad “Clearly Quite Absurd”. So (see press info below), Rapture Of The Deep has been remixed, with added tracks, and colorful new artwork!

Deep Purple‘s Rapture of the Deep turns 20 – and it’s celebrated with a complete remix and remaster, striking new artwork, plus a bonus CD/LP featuring never-before-released recordings.

It’s no secret that Rapture of the Deep isn’t the first album that comes to mind when listing Deep Purple’s classics – and while it was met with interest at the time, it gradually faded from view. Despite solid sales, the album arrived during a period when there was little spotlight on the world of classic rock, and over the years, Rapture of the Deep developed into an overlooked chapter in Deep Purple’s rich discography.

It’s equally true that this record, and the story behind it, marked a turning point — the quiet beginning of a run that would eventually lead to four consecutive No. 1 albums (2013, 2017, 2020, 2024) and the kind of success few bands experience even once, let alone decades into their career.

New insights by Kerrang! founder and Classic Rock magazine writer Geoff Barton pull back the curtain on a time when Deep Purple were navigating an uncertain era in the music industry that saw the downfall of many once-great artist careers — and unravel the strange chemistry that gave birth to Deep Purple’s 18th studio album.

As bassist Roger Glover reflects, “We were going through a bit of a hard time when we started the songwriting and production of Rapture of the Deep and, strangely enough, we didn’t have a record company at that point. Let’s face it, we were a bit lost (…).”

But from that uncertain moment emerged an album bursting with sharp songwriting, masterful playing, and pure Deep Purple grit.

Now, newly mixed with the supervision of Glover, analogue-mastered at renowned Chameleon Studios in Hamburg, and presented with bold new artwork, Rapture of the Deep finally shines with clarity and color. “It’s a new album now to me,” says Roger Glover. Fans will hear it blooming for the first time.

This new edition also includes a bonus CD/LP featuring previously unreleased instrumental takes and studio rehearsals recorded during the songwriting process — providing a rare, unfiltered insight into the band’s creative work in the studio. Captured on multi-track in 2005 and mixed for the first time in 2025, it’s one of those rare instances where recordings resurface decades later from archives long thought lost.

Among the highlights is the track “Closing Note,” a never-before-heard piece by former guitarist Steve Morse — recorded during the album sessions and now officially released for the first time.

These tracks are available exclusively on all three physical formats — CD Digipak, 3LP Vinyl (black, 180g), and the strictly Limited 3LP Transparent Sky-Blue Vinyl.

With Deep Purple riding high on the success of their latest No. 1 record =1, the time is right to (re)discover the album that set the path for Deep Purple in the 21st century.

Order HERE

Photo Credit: Bruce Payne
Deep Purple in 2005 — Ian Gillan, Ian Paice, Don Airey, Roger Glover, Steve Morse.

RAPTURE OF THE DEEP 20TH ANNIVERSARY REMIX TRAC KLISTING:
CD + LP:
“Money Talks”
“Things I Never Said”*
“Rapture of the Deep”
“Clearly Quite Absurd”
“MTV”*
“Back to Back”
“Wrong Man”
“Girls Like That”
“Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye”
“Don’t Let Go”
“Junkyard Blues”
“Before Time Again”

*Not on original studio album

BONUS LP+CD
2005 Studio Jams & Rehearsals:
“MTV”
“Money Talks”
“Back to Back”
“Before Time Began”
“Closing Note”**
**Unreleased instrumental track by Steve Morse

FORMATS:
*2CD Digipak
*3LP (black, 180g, Gatefold)
*Ltd. 3LP (Transparent Sky-Blue, Gatefold)
*Digital

LINKS:

https://linktr.ee/DeepPurple

http://www.earmusic.com

AVI ROSENFIELD releases ‘Very Heepy Very Purple XV’

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The recording machine who is Israeli guitarist/songwriter AVI ROSENFIELD has released a new album in his ‘Very Heepy Very Purple’ series, making this one ‘XV’, featuring 10 original tracks than are in the vein of that classic heavy early 70s sound. This one features a number of guests, most notably Canadian singer Nick Walsh (Slik Toxik, Moxy, Famous Underground), American singer Harry Conklin (Jag Panzer, The Three Tremors), American guitarist Brian Young (David Lee Roth, Jeff Scott Soto), singer Bryan Ketelaars (August Life), and Argentiian singer Pablo Sanchez. A series of albums worth checking out. Highlights on ‘XV’ include “Metal Tears”, a Rainbow inspired rocker (reminiscent of “Stargazer”), one of a few tracks featuring Nick Foley on Hammond organ and “Lady Luck” features Nick Walsh on vocals, with a Gillan era Purple vibe and Heep-ish backing vocals, as well as a cool Hammond organ intro and performance by Niall Temple (of UK band Lost In Thought). Later on “Wheels Are Turning” lightens things up a bit here, and features Italian guitarist Claudio Acampora, while Atomic Punks’ guitarist Brian Yooung (and ex David Lee Roth) lays down a killer solo on “It’s Alright”. Check it out!

You can listen to & purchase the album Very Heepy Very Purple XV @ https://avirosenfeld.bandcamp.com/album/very-heepy-very-purple-xv

LINKS:

www.facebook.com/AviRosenfeldBand

avirosenfeld.wix.com/avirosenfeldband

www.youtube.com/user/AviRosnfeld