Deep Purple made their debut at the Monsters of Rock festival with an unforgettable show this Saturday, the 22nd. With Allianz Parque packed and night approaching, the veterans showed what it means to be a true rock monster in their 1 hour and 30 minute set.
Despite his age, Ian Gillan still delivers a moving performance, even when quiet on stage. Meanwhile, Ian Pace and Roger Grover seem to remain the young men of the 1970s, charming, cheerful, and always singing along to the classic songs they perform.
Deep Purple's new guitarist, Simon McBride, may seem a bit out of place in the band due to his age. At 44, the musician took over from Steve Morse in 2022, and fulfilled his role with a technically perfect performance.
The show set the tone for the evening by opening with "Highway Star," a great way to immediately win over the audience. The band also delivered emotional moments like "When A Love Blind Man Cries," demonstrating how their classic repertoire still resonates with fans.
The mere experience of seeing musicians like the skilled keyboardist Don Airey, such a legendary figure, would already be worth the price of admission, but of course Deep Purple offers more. Airey playfully performed the most famous intro he ever created, "Mr. Crowley," to the delight of the stadium, before his solo which included tributes to Brazil with "Sampa," "Brasileirinho," "Tico Tico no Fubá," and "Aquarela do Brasil," immediately followed by "Perfect Strangers."
With the night's peak being the absolute rock anthems – “Smoke On The Water” and “Hush” – Deep Purple brought an energetic and unforgettable show to a close at Monsters of Rock .
See the photo gallery from our contributor Leca Suzuki below (swipe to the side to see more photos).
