Rod Evans was one of the founding members of Deep Purple when the band started to rise to the top of Rock history in the years 1968/69. After recording three albums, Shades Of Deep Purple , The Book Of Taliesyn and Deep Purple. Rod left the band in 1969, together with bass player Nick Simper, and went to the USA. He released a 45rpm single in November 1970 (Hard To Be Without You / You Can´t Love A Child Like A Woman) before he decided to join Americas new band "Captain Beyond", featuring the Iron Butterfly members Lee Dorman and Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt and ex - Johnny Winter´s drummer Bobby Caldwell. After recording Captain Beyond in 1972, Sufficentley Breathless 1973 and various live performances in Europe and America he left the music business until 1980.
In the year 1980 Rod got involved in a project of a management company who tried to reform "Deep Purple", disbanded in 1976, in an even particular way. Before that, the same company made some good money with a new "Steppenwolf" band, with only original band members Goldie Mc John and Nick St. Nicholas in the group, but after a lawsuit John Kay received back the right to the Steppenwolf name.
From May 17 to September 20, 1980 the "New" Deep Purple band performed several concerts in the United States, Mexico and Canada, before they finally got stopped by former Deep Purple management. The first big event took place when about 40.000 to estimated 70.000 people attended their performance at the "Estadio Inde Olimpico" in Mexico City. Another show took place in August at the legendary "Long Beach Arena" in Los Angeles, when about 6.000 people saw their show with many laser and pyrotechnic effects.
Due to the fact that the famous Los Angeles based William Morris Agency belived in the project and arranged the tour for the band, they got offered a contract with Warner Curb Records (a record lable which was a cooporation between producer Mike Curb and Warner Bros. in the years from 1972 to 1983). A few songs had been recorded at L.A.'s Village Recording Studios for a forthcoming planed record, to be released in November 1980. The group recorded a new version of Deep Purple's first big hit in America, "Hush", and a song titled "Hold On Me", two other titles of the tracks are known, "Blood Blister" and "Brum Doogie", but any tapes seem to be (or stay) lost.
Though, the group had been filmed at their performance in Mexico City by a local television station, but only "Smoke On The Water" has appeared until today, which can be seen on Youtube. (Right: Concert poster for the Swing Auditorium show, San Bernardino. Photos above and below: Chris Walter, Sounds magazine, 20.09.1980)
DEEP PURPLE, INC.
Registered by the State of California on March 27, 1980 by
Geoffrey Emery and Tony Flynn
Registration No. 9558
In June 1980 an action was filed by HEC Enterprises Ltd. DP(O), Blackmore & Co. against the "new" Deep Purple band at the L.A. Federal District Court to get an injunction to stop the band performing under the Deep Purple name and sued them for damages under the regulation of the Lanham Act, a primary federal trademark statute of law in the U.S. containing trademark infrigement, trademark dilution and false advertising. On October 3, 1980, Rod Evans and his band lost the lawsuit. Rod disappeared from the music business and the publicity after that. In April 2016, Rod Evans was admitted to the "Rock'n Roll Hall Of Fame" as a founding father of Deep Purple.
You can read an very informative article about the court case, written by John Sippel for Billboard magazine in 1981, here .
ROD EVANS: Born on January 19, 1947, Roderick Evans lived in the Buttermere Avenue in Slough, Berkshire. With his first band, the Horizons (1962-65, featured later Tremeloes member Chip Hawkes on bass and Colin Butt, who has died some years ago, on guitar), Rod Evans also was in Germany in August/September 1965 for a month, playing locations in Berlin/Neukölln. When playing in Germany, they had to replace their original drummer, as he was under 18 years old and, for legal reasons, was not allowed to play on a public stage there. He was replaced by drummer John Kerrison (born in August 1947), who also worked with later Deep Purple members Nick Simper (The Pirates '67), Ian Gillan (The Javelins '62/64, Episode Six '67/68) and Roger Glover (Episode Six '67/68). John Kerrison recalls: "Rod and I shared the same room but again like most of the bands then we never got paid! It was cold so most day we would play table football when we were not working. We lived mainly on bread and jam rolls except for one meal of chicken and chips and one of some great pea Soup and bread again. We got back to England after Colin sold his guitar."
_ Later in 1965 Rod Evans became the singer of the Jumping Jimmy Band, who changed their name to M.I.Five later. In the middle of 1966, the original drummer parted and later Deep Purple drummer Ian Paice joined the group. Again they changed their name, calling it "The Maze" then. Alongside Rod and Ian, they were Roger Lewis on guitar, Eric Keene on bass and Chris Banham on the keyboards. One single was released under the former name M.I.Five in 1966, three more singles and a four track EP by The Maze followed in 1966 and '67. The band performed in the U.K, but also in Italy (Piccolo Teatro di Milano) and Germany (at the legendary Star Club in Hamburg, known of Beatles fame), where Ian Paice got known with Ritchie Blackmore the first time, as Ritchie loved his drumming style. But due to the missing success of the group, Rod and Ian decided to leave the band at least. A link to the special feature of the group with more information, their records, cover sleeves and the lyrics of their songs is at the end of the site.
_ In march of 1968, after winning the audition, Rod Evans and Ian Paice joined the band Roundabout (originally formed by Searchers-drummer Chris Curtis, who died in 2005), which changed it's name about a month later into "Deep Purple". The first concert took place in Denmark on April 20, 1968, the United Kingdom and Switzerland followed. From October 17 to the end of 1968 they played their first United States tour, including two shows in Canada. Again, U.K. shows and two television appearances in Denmark followed, before they toured the USA the second time from April to June 1969. Less than ten shows followed in the U.K and one in Belgium, before the last performance of 'Deep Purple Mk 1' in their original lineup took place in Cardiff on July 4, 1969.
After 4 million (!) sold records at the end of 1968 in the U.S. and huge further success in the States and the United Kingdom in 1969, Rod Evans and bass player Nick Simper were replaced by Ian Gillan and Roger Glover (Deep Purple Mk 2). Today (Mk 10) drummer Ian Paice is the last member who is from the original lineup when Deep Purple started in 1968. Original organist Jon Lord died on July 16th 2012 at the age of 71 years, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and bass player Nick Simper got their own band projects running (Blackmore's Night / Nick Simper & Nasty Habits, The Good Old Boys). More information about Rod Evans you can find at Wikipedia or at 'The Highway Star' website.
External links to some related sites you can find at the end of the page.
Rod Evans (1980 official PR picture)
TONY FLYNN: Born in 1956 in San Francisco, California, Tony Flynn lived in the Hollywood area in 1980. His great-grandfather´s family was Spanish, his mother and her ancestry are from Denmark. When he was eight years old he went to the Sacred Heart College. His first guitar he got at the age of nine, being educated by guitar teachers Buddy Matlock and later Lee Beeder. About his musical inspirations he mentiones B. B. King, Howard Roberts, the flamenco guitarist Charlos Montoya or Paco De Lucia, a friend of him. In 1973, at the age of 17 years, Tony worked together with Rick Derringer at Wally Heider recording studios in San Francisco. In September 1977 he replaced guitarist Kent Henry in the new Steppenwolf band, where he played together with original keyboarder Goldie Mc John and bassist Nick St. Nicholas. He stayed in the band until the spring of 1978 before he parted, to be replaced by Ruben Raven. He joined the Steppenwolf band again in October 1979 (when Geoff Emery was on the organ) and stayed there until early 1980. Tony planned to record a solo LP in Mexico with Rod Evans, Goldie Mc John, Paul Butterfield and Geoff Emery in 1980, but this never was realized.
In an interview for a mexican magazine in 2011 he talks about his musical career and his life in Mexico, where he emigrated to in 1990.
From the age of 19 years on Tony Flynn had played in bands like John Mayall, Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin, Paco De Lucia or Southern Pacific (1976, with Paul Butterfield, Goldie Mc John, Dallas Taylor, bass player Richard Reed and vocalist Peter McGraw). When being asked in the interview about his most exciting memory as a rock musician he mentions his participation in Steppenwolf, that they made some good money in fact of the well known band name when they were touring, but he does not mention his later "Deep Purple" membership or Rod Evans in any way. A link to the original interview you find at the end of the site. According to a mexican TV report, Tony Flynn also was a member of the band "Traffic" before joining Deep Purple in 1980.
GEOFF EMERY: Organ player Geoffrey W. Emery, born in 1951, was also a member of the new Steppenwolf band before his 'Deep Purple' membership: In the spring or summer of 1979, Goldie Mc John left Steppenwolf and was replaced by Geoff, who stayed there until early 1980. In different formations Geoff played with both - Dick Jurgens and Tony Flynn. In 1979, ten tracks had been recorded for an album in Hollywood, CA, but never been released. Emery was a member of the band during the recording sessions.
_ According to a statement of 1980 Deep Purple´s road manager Bob Baron, Geoff was part of an (only planned? - ed.) "Iron Butterfly" lineup before. Yves Monast, who spoke with Baron before the 1980 Quebec show, mentioned this later in his article for the 'PopRock' magazine. In his book 'Smoke On The Water - The Deep Purple Story' Dave Thompson wrote about an earlier cooperation between Geoff Emery and former Iron Butterfly guitarist Mike Pinera in "The New Cactus Band".
In the later '80s and '90s, Geoff has been working in the music industry for an independent record label. Groups he produced (and also played on the keyboards) are Ringleader (album "If Licks Could Kill", 1989, featuring '85 Uriah Heep member Stephen Fontaine on vocals), Steve DeLuca ("I’ve Got What It Takes", 1989) or Mark Tatham (album "Mark Tatham", 1996), mostly using his artist name Geoffrey England.
Geoff Emery (1980 official PR picture)
TOM DE RIVERA: Growing up in the southeast of Los Angeles County, Tom De Rivera was a founding member of the American band "Corroboree" in 1968. The group featured him on bass and most parts of the vocals, Rik Shannon (drums, harmonica and vocals), Brad Zapper (guitars and vocals, he later played with "Spread Eagle") and Randy Chambers (keyboards), who was replaced by Phil Christian (later with "Cheap Trick"). Alongside the groups Emperor and Burlesque, Corroboree was one of the three best paid bands in the club scene in Orange County and Los Angeles, playing locations like the "Gazarri's" (Hollywood) or the "Fatfingers" in Huntington Beach, OC.
_ A concert at the Long Beach Auditorium is mentioned in the Independent Press-Telegram (31.05.1971), featuring Corroboree, 'Turnquist Remedy' and 'Pacific Oil And Gas'. Being the youngest group on the program with it's members still visiting school, Corroboree is mentioned as the "most recently formed and most under-exposed band" of the night. "The group seems to be in the process of developing its own tight, personalized style at this point" and that "they´ll get there right on time", rock-music critic Preston Hekse figured out. After the split of the original lineup, Rik Shannon and Tom De Rivera continued the band with new members Ron Ravenscroft (guitars) and Gerald Michineau (keyboards).
_ According to Conecte magazine author José Luis Pluma, Corroboree played at the Cero-Cero bar in the Camino Royal hotel in Mexico City in the seventies. "Van Nuys News" magazine published an article concerning the band´s features on February 2, 1973: "Corroboree, a four-piece rock music group featuring four-part harmony with strong musical back-up, is the new featured band at the Hong Kong Bar dance spot at the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles. The group, named with an Australian word which defines a native assembly of festive character, has just returned from a six-month engagement in Mexico City, reported a hotel spokesman. The members of Corroboree grew up together and have been together for five years. Bass player and lead vocalist is Tom DeRivera; on percussion is Rik Shannon: Brad Zapper is lead guitarist, and Randy Chambers is at the keyboards. At the Hong Kong Bar, Corroboree will play nightly except Sunday. Doors open at 8:30 p.m."
_ Another group is mentioned at the "OC Clubbands Circa 1970's" website, a band named "Scoundrel", that consisted of Tom De Rivera (bass and vocals), Mark Monroe (guitars), Will Blount, Chuck Ruff and Tim McClean.
In the beginning of 1980, after original Deep Purple bass player Nick Simper refused the job offer by Rod Evans to join the "New" Deep Purple band, Tom won some audition when the group was searching for a bass player. After the court decision against the band in September 1980, he seemes to have disappeared from music business. The latest news are, that, for the time of a few months, Tom De Rivera played together with a band in South Orange County, California, in 2006. In February that year, they recorded two songs on which Tom is playing bass and doing the lead vocals. Also two rare PR-like photographs of him do exist from this time, but never were published.
Tom De Rivera (1980 official PR picture )
DICK JURGENS: Born 1959 and coming out of family fame, Dick went to high school in Sacramento, California, in the early 1960´s. He got his first drumming experiences when playing in a school band at Cerritos College near Santa Fe Springs. His uncle managed the "Sacramento Memorial Auditorium", so Dick was given frontplaces and backstage passes to all the shows that came around. Being just a young man, Dick got to meet many of the Big Stars there like The Doors, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix with Dick´s drumming hero Mitch Mitchell, he also met original Deep Purple there in their early days. In the mid of 1979, for the time of about a month, Dick was also part of the new Steppenwolf band when bassist Nick St. Nicholas hired him out of Los Angeles. The same time, keyboardist Geoff Emery was in the band. Tony Flynn came in later, after Jurgens left.
_ In family tradition, Dick is correctly named Dick Jurgens III. His grandfather, Dick Henry Jurgens, was the founder of the legendary Dick Jurgens Orchestra in the early 30´s. In 1940, when original vocalist Eddy Howard parted, Harry Cool became the new singer. Over 30 years later, in 1973, Dick was in a group together with his father, Dick Jurgens II, and vocalist Harry Cool, performing as the "Harry Cool Trio". The only known confirmed live appearance took place on June 6, 1973, at the Aragon Ballroom in Cleveland, Ohio. You can view the original autographs the group signed that night in the "Picture Galery".
_ In 1978, the well known 60s group "Association" dissolved, with only original member Ted Bluechel left with a huge dept. On November 1, 1978, he leased the group´s name to another company who put a fake "Association" out on the road (source: wikipedia). According to bogus Deep Purple road manager Bob Baron, who spoke to 'PopRock' magazine author Yves Monast before the 1980 Quebec show, Dick Jurgens was a member of this band. In an interview with Cindy Bin in 1985, original member Larry Ramos said that the group performed one day as the "Association", the other day the same lineup was billed as 60´s band "Grass Roots" or "Loving Spoonful". The management even used his photo for their publicity pictures, and when people asked for Larry, they told them that he was sick. "It was misrepresentation," he said (Many thanks, Cindy, for this informations!). When the original group came back on the road in 1980, the bogus band disappeared.
DEEP PURPLE, INC.
Torrance, CA 90501
Management: Steve Greenberg (aka Steve Green),
Advent Talent Associates, Phoenix, Arizona
Tour management: William Morris Agency, Inc.
Booking agent: Robert Ringe
Road manager: Bob Baron
Sound engineer: Steve Kovatch
PA systems: "Rainbow Sound", Los Angeles
* * * *
"Civic Center" - Auditorium, Amarillo - Texas, USA – 17.05.1980
presented by E.S.I. Audience: min. 1.400 (tickets $ 6,50 general adm.)
First show of the tour
Tony Flynn:"There were about 70 dates starting in Amarillo Texas"
* * * *
"La Villa Real" Convention Center, McAllen – Texas, USA
* * * *
"Civic Center", Laredo – Texas, USA – 07.06.1980
Support: The GodZ (?) ($ 8,50 in advance, general admission)
view the original ticket and read Gilbert Garcias review
of the show in the Galery
* * * *
"Civic Auditorium", San Jose – California, USA
Audience: estimated 2.500
Setlist included (not in order): Highway Star / Smoke On The Water / Kentucky Woman / Hush / Woman From Tokyo
Reportedly the show lasted a bit more than an hour.
* * * *
NEW. "Arcadia High School", Arcadia – California, USA
Gymnasium
* * * *
"Swing Auditorium", San Bernardino – California, USA – 21.06.1980
National Orange Show. Audience: min. 2.500
($ 7,50 in advance /$ 8,50 day of show)
Support: STEPPENWOLF, Facelift
Presented by Entertainment Systems & Kola (a local radio station) Playlist included: Highway Star / Might Just Take Your Life / Hey Joe / Hush / Kentucky Woman / Space Trucking / Woman From Tokyo
Read the review of the San Bernardino show by Jon Trask,
the Steppenwolf story and view the original concert poster and ticket
in the Galery
* * * *
"Estadio Inde Olimpico", Mexico City – 28.06.1980
Festival with Black Oak Arkansas and Dugs Dug´s
Audience: estimated 40-70.000 (Boletrónico, $ 220,00 MXP )
Originally planned at the 'Palacio de los Deportes' (June 28/29)
Setlist was: Highway Star / Mandrake Root / Space Trucking /
Hey Joe / Smoke On The Water
* * * *
"Celebrity Theater", Phoenix. Arizona – USA – 29.06.1980
'Renaissance & Heavy Metal'
Presented by Virgo Productions & Pegasi Prod.
Special guest: Llory McDonald, Caz Morai ($ 6,50/$ 7,50)
two shows at 7 and 11 PM
Setlist included: Hush / Smoke On The Water / Space Trucking /
Burn / Might Just Take Your Life a.m.
View the original ticket in the Galery
* * * *
NEW. "University Of Hawaii", Oahu, Honolulu – Hawaii, USA
According to Tony, this show could also have happened before
they performed in Mexico, even Rod mentioned it being after
the Phoenix show in an interview for Conecte magazine in 1980.
Promoter Terry G.:"These guys have been put through the hoops legally. I went to Honolulu personally to hear them, three weeks ago, and that's when I decided they should come to Anchorage."
Setlist was: Hush / Kentucky Woman and some Jam Session (reportly for about 45 minutes)
* * * *
NEW. "The Ritz (The Main Act)" – Roseville. MI, USA – 04.07.1980
Support: The Sirens. Audience: 3000
Promoted via local radio stations, the concert took place at a Rock'n Roll bar venue. According to reports, the show lasted less than an hour and ended when police cleared out the place after smaller riots.
The setlist included Highway Star, Might Just Take Your Life and Burn.
* * * *
South America
A few years after the band split, bass player Tom De Rivera mentioned to
a friend of him that the 1980 tour did quite well in South America!
"I saw those guys in Dallas TX; July 15, 1980 at a beer joint on Maple Ave called ‘The Rose’ and was leery about the show before hand, given the venue and the 6.00 ticket price. I saw The Who play the very first concert ever at the brand new Reunion Arena (July 2, 1980) and I remember thinking “why is Deep Purple playing a beer joint instead of Reunion Arena?” I knew right away that it wasn’t Deep Purple, but didn’t mention it to my date because she was enjoying it so much and they did do a pretty good job on a lot of DP songs. Then on the way home, she looked over at me and said 'that was really good, but who the hell were those guys?' LOL" (James Reeves)
"I do remember passing by the place the 'New' Purps were supposed to play in Dallas, and their name was on the marquee (as "Deep Purple"). But, I recall hearing the gig and the tour were cancelled. There was a newspaper article about it. That's where I read Evans tentatively planned to go to Puerto Rico with this band, though, I see they did these other gigs in Texas." (John, Dallas)
View current pictures of the former 'Rose' club in the Galery
* * * *
"The Factory" (Snoopy´s), Staten Island – New York. USA – 17.07.1980
'An Evening With Deep Purple - At The Factory'
(Soap) Factory, 100 Johnston Terrace, S.I.
Support: Samantha, Betrayer. Audience: min. 600 ($ 6,00/7,00)
The show has been advertised in the "Aquarian Weekly" magazine before. Unlike the adverts - flyers, launched on the day of the concert, showed pictures of the group and named Rod Evans' "Deep Purple" membership.
[Still searching for both!]
MrX, who attended the event, remembers:
"That show took place @ "At the Factory" on July 17, 1980 in Staten Island, NY. Well, that was a long time ago and I was in a different state of mind that night, but I distinctly remember the band coming on stage (although very briefly) sans Ritchie. It was a packed house and the crowd immediately went apesh*t and started screaming for Ritchie and within a minute (or so) beer bottles started flying toward the band members. It quickly turned into a chaotic scene so I don't recall for sure, but I believe a few of them were hit and injured. And if that wasn't bad enough things only escalated once the bouncers tried to intervene (not that they even had a chance). It was a night I'll never forget."
(Thanks a lot, MrX, for sharing your memories! )
Bobby Rondinelli, who joined Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow later, was the drummer of a New York band named "Samantha" in the early 1980ies, but he doesn't remember if they performed that night.
* * * *
"The Great Canadian Picnic" – Oakville. Ontario, Canada – 19.07.1980
'Featuring the New Deep Purple live - they're back'
Bronte Creek Park, near Toronto. Audience: 5-10.000
Presented by Q107 and Ram Productions
with Deep Purple, Long John Baldry, Savoy Brown, The Powder Blues Band, Telemann, Frank Soda and The Imps, Sheriff
read a review of the show by Brian Jacksonhereand
view the original concert poster in the gallery
* * * *
"Baby'O", Seaside Heights, New Jersey. USA – 20.07.1980
Before it was Baby'O, the location was "The Sheik's Tend", and after that it was the "Temptations". Reportly the venue closed doors in 2005.
* * * *
"Utah County Jam II", Saratoga Resort. Lehi – Utah, USA – 26.07.1980
'Deep Purple featuring Rod Evans'
Presented by Way To Gold Inc. Organizer: Mick Eastmond
Audience: 3000
($ 9,00 advance /10,00 gate)
with Hot Rockets - News - Mannequin - Kraynk - Crossfire - Zeke - Likely Suspects - Nobody's Fault - Bondage - Villians and more.
The speaker system went out before Deep Purple had performed, what caused a big riot that required a 100-man Police contingent. You can view the original concert flyer in the Galery and read the "Provo Daily Herald" newspaper article at the left.
Scott from the band "News" tells in the Memories section about the event.
* * * *
"Metra Park", Billings. Montana, USA – 29.07.1980
Promoted by Gary Evje
show has been cancelled
* * * *
"Music Hall", Houston. Texas, USA – 31.07.1980
Presented by Creative Energy
Support: Myst
Audience: 2700 ($ 7,00 orchestra /8,00 upper balcony)
* * * *
Detroit – Michigan, USA
The show was promoted in local radio ads before,
announcing "Deep Purple featuring Rod Evans"
* * * *
"Forum d'Edmundston" – Brunswick. Ontario, Canada – 08.08.1980
'En Spectacle'
Presented by Lata Productions
Support: MC5 Detroit. Audience: min. 3.000 ($ 12,50)
view the original ticket in the Gallery
* * * *
"Capitol Theater" – Quebec City. Quebec, Canada – 12.08.1980
'Les Murs De Sons'
Presented by Les Productions Le Cafe Limitée (Gilbert Ghosn),
Disquerie Lemieux Ltée
Promoters: Robert Boulay, John Gold (New York)
Support: Corbeau. Audience: 1.500 ($ 12,50)
originally announced for August 14th
The setlist was: Highway Star / Might Just Take Your Life / Wring That Neck (Hard Road) / Space Trucking / Drum Solo / Woman From Tokyo
View original concert photos and read the newspaper article
for PopRock magazine by Yves Monast in the Gallery.
Jean Millaire of 'Corbeau' tells about the show in the Memories section.
View the original concert ticket in the Gallery!
* * * *
"Capitol Theater" – Quebec City. Quebec, Canada – 13.08.1980
secondshow has been cancelled
* * * *
"International Banquet House", Anchorage – Alaska, USA – 14.08.1980
'Rock & Roll - Live And In Concert'
Presented by Terry Garrett and Ron Kurtz (L.A.)
Tickets: $12,50 reserved seats and $ 10,00 general admission
Playlist included: Highway Star / Woman From Tokyo / Smoke On The Water / Hush / Hey Joe / Burn(Tony used his 12 string Carvin guitar for the song)
* * * *
"International Banquet House", Anchorage – Alaska, USA – 15.08.1980
(Two shows each night)
* * * *
"Paramount Theater", Portland – Oregon, USA – 17.08.1980
Presented by World Assembly
($ 8,50 general admission)
show has been cancelled
* * * *
"Long Beach Arena", Los Angeles – California, USA – 19.08.1980
'The New Deep Purple featuring Rod Evans' -
'Avalon Attractions is proud to bring you. Deep Purple In Their Only Southern California Appearance' (flyer)
Presented by Avalon Attractions (Gary Perkins)
Support: Randy Hansen (?) Audience: 6.000
Tickets: $ 8,75 reserved seats and $ 7,75 general admission
View the original ticket in the Gallery
The setlist was: Highway Star / Smoke On The Water Might Just Take Your Life / Woman From Tokyo Wring That Neck (Hard Road) / Space Trucking / Hush / Burn
Michael Floodrecalls the show:
"I went to that concert and don't remember a riot but I was up in the upper deck area so it certainly wasn't going on there. I remember it as the loudest concert I had ever been to (my ears rang for a day after that), a guy walking around with a "What's Purple without Paice" shirt and the drummer getting booed during his drum solo.
I knew they were bogus but it might be the only chance I had to see something akin to the old band. I had a t-shirt from that concert and that was about it. The shirt is long gone though.
Last song was 'Burn' since that was the song that got me listening to Deep Purple. I was taking drum lessons at the time so Ian Paice's work in the song fascinated me. I was disappointed that Ian wasn't there but still enjoyed the show."
The previous five shows had been announced in the "Anchorage Daily News" in August 1980, before the group performed at the International Banquet House. Some of these shows could have also happened in September 1980.
* * * *
Hartford – Connecticut, USA
local radio station was advertising the show,
announcing "Rod Evans and the new Deep Purple",
but he show has been cancelled .
* * * *
"Condesa" – Somerset. Massachusetts, USA – 19.09.1980
'The New Deep Purple'
Presented by Mike Lynch. Audience: 300 ($ 9,50)
Setlist included: Hard Road (Wring That Neck) / Burn
View the original ticket in the Gallery
For the first time, it is confirmed that Rod Evans' Deep Purple band has also performed in September 1980. Possibly, to counter legal action, the band called itself now "The New Deep Purple". Many thanks to David K. Despault for this new information with the ticket scan he has sent.(30.12.2012)
* * * *
"Le Forum" – Rouyn-Noranda. Quebec, Canada – 20.09.1980
(last show of the 1980 Rod Evans' Deep Purple tour)
Support: Bunz & Zeta Brothers / Audience: 300
Peter Dawson, who performed with Bunz that night, remembers the show.
Read his really funny and interesting review about that nighthere
NEW. "It´s unbelievable that as soon as they see one is earning a few dollars honorably with a product that I form, and which I have not only refused royalties from record sales but any involvement, now leave the bush and cut us into pieces. They have money and we do not, and I wonder, now as they won the lawsuit, what the hell will they do with the name?"
( Rod Evans. Conecte magazine, November 1980, interview by Ing. Javier Navarro)
NEW. "Worst of all, Javier, is that it was not even the former Deep Purple who wanted to fight the name but cold and calculating men who are not interested in rock, just want to swell the pockets, it´s disgusting how far people come by a few dollars."
( Tony Flynn. Conecte magazine, November 1980, interview by Ing. Javier Navarro)
NEW. "…he (Rod Evans - ed.) was treated unfairly. In the litigation as a founding member he should have had the right to move forward since no one at the time was using Deep Purple. Rod was one of the great voices of the 60’s era, we came very close to giving that voice a path forward in 1980. With the help of agents at William Morris Rod was able to meet with several HIT producers of the day, an album was in the works, great plans were being made and Rod would have had a 2nd bit at the apple.
I think most of the animosity came from Ritchie Blackmore who I believe had a deep dislike for Rod. Then there were the English business men who really owned the Deep Purple Business."
( Geoff Emery. June 2015, via email)
NEW. "This is the FIRST time we play in Mexico!"
( Ian Gillan. Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City, 23.11.1994)
"The last time I saw Rod was across a court room. I had to go and appear in court because it had to be stopped because it just wasn’t Deep Purple."
( Jon Lord. Metal Express Radio, 2008, jonlord.org)
"It was a very silly thing to do, an example of poor judgment I would say. He (Rod - ed.) was an idiot. He was misled by people that wanted to cash in on the name, with no regard to quality. They didn't care that it could hurt the name, the reputation that we spent years in building. We felt very sad about that. Had we not fought them according to American law for six months they could have recorded as Deep Purple, which would have been the worst lie."
( Jon Lord. Swedish Radio 1, Stockholm, Mike Erikson, May 7, 1981)
"I feel like I've been duped. We just didn't know what we were getting into. I though the group was more legitimate."
( Gary Perkins. organisator of the Long Beach show, Los Angeles)
"One, two. one, two. here is Space Trucking. "
( Rod Evans. Quebec, August 12, 1980)
Q: Are you annoyed about the new Deep Purple?
A: "No, I think it did annoy me for about a day, I was just reading the interview with Rod Evans in 'Sounds' and he hasn't changed, he's really a nice guy, there's no malice intended. He probably wanted to make some money out of it, which he felt he might not have done in the beginning. But that's all over and now the lawyers are in and that's been stopped."
( Ritchie Blackmore. Sounds magazine, October 11, 1980, Pete Makowski)
Q: Oddly, Rod Evans, Purple's original singer, formed a bogus reincarnation of the band in 1980 for west coast bar gigs.
A: "I heard about that. I think it quickly fizzled when they were threatened with legal action. It was an unusual move for Rod, because I like Rod as a person - but I suppose it was worth trying."
( Ritchie Blackmore. Guitar magazine, 1999, H.P. Newquist and Jeffrey L. Perlah)
"Can you belive that something like that can happen?" Lord said with a laugh. "I mean these guys actually played at Long Beach Arena using the name Deep Purple. They played Smoke On the Water and all our best known things until they were booed off the stage. Can you imagine what might happen if we didn´t try and stop this fiasco? By next month there'd be thirty bands calling themselves Led Zeppelin, and maybe fifty more who called themselves the Beatles. The worst part of the whole thing is the damage it might do to our reputation. If we do get back together and decide to tour, what happens if word gets around saying, 'Oh yeah, I saw them last year at Long Beach, and they weren't anything like I remembered.' The name Deep Purple still means a lot to most rock and roll fans, and I mean to see that it stays that way."
( Jon Lord. Hit Parader magazine, February 1981)
"Briefly, I don't comment about that group or speak to anyone about it, the 1980 dates are public information, performance magazine, there were about 70 dates starting in Amarillo Texas, El Paso, Mexico City, Honolulu Hawaii, Anchorage, Quebec, Rouyn Canada, Minnesota, Phoenix, Houston, Hawaii seemed to be before Mexico City though, this topic is off limits for me, I don't speak, none of the group members do of that formation, I hope you respect this. Good wishes, Tony"
( Tony Flynn. June 2014)
". here is one of our 'Burn' album. "
( Rod Evans. introducing 'Might Just Take Your Life' in Quebec, August 12, 1980)
"They do not deserve to be paid, it is revolting."
( Robert Boulay. organisator of the August Quebec show, 1980)
"It will be another sense as we are required to change the music. It's more than what we want to do. We will be doing a sixty percent of Deep Purple and we will be changing. That's it. We don't want to do something like the Who with Tommy. It is another concept. We want to write songs about what happens in our way, we mean. Of course we change the sound by the new techniques that are used now, as the Polymoog and different effects in the studio, but no doubt it will be a turn towards Heavy Metal."
( Rod Evans. about the supposed new "Deep Purple" album, in June 1980. Conecte Magazine)
"(We obtained the rights to the name 'Deep Purple') in a totally legal form. I was the founding singer of the group and when I decided to form a new one with the guitarist Tony Flynn, we saw that we had abandoned that great name and decided to use it. Before this we spoke with Ritchie Blackmore, of Rainbow, and with the people of Whitesnake. And they agreed."
( Rod Evans. Sonido Magazine, June 1980)
"I think it's pretty disgusting that a band has to stoop this low and take somebody else's name. It's like a bunch of guys putting together a group and calling it Led Zeppelin."
( Ritchie Blackmore. Rolling Stone Magazine 1980)
"We haven't really tried to get hold of Ritchie. Whether Ritchie gives his blessing or not is of no real consequence to me as my blessing to him forming Rainbow would be of no consequence to Ritchie. I mean, if he doesn't like it I'm sorry, but we're trying."
( Rod Evans. Sounds Magazine, August 1980)
"The band has a federal trademark, and is by all intends and purposes Deep Purple. Those two guys (Ritchie Blackmore and Roger Glover - ed.) – who are with a band called Rainbow – want to get back. They see a successful thing, and they want part of it. The band has envolved into something more modern, with new faces and sounds reflecting the 80s. We’ve got a younger look. Those original guys would be 35 to 43 years old now. The band has been in hibernation for several years, and has reemerged."
( Ronald K. Los Angeles promoter, 1980)
"Highway Star!"
( Rod Evans. opening the Mexico City show, June 28, 1980)
"Of course he (Rod - ed.) was not that naive - he thought he'd try it to see what happened, but try to imagine what would you have said when it all went wrong? I only blame Rod for being silly. He should have known it was going to be difficult to get away with a fake Deep Purple. After all - he was doing it in public."
( Jon Lord. 1998, from Hartmut Kreckel's (un)official European Captain Beyond website)
"Rod Evans, the group’s singer, owns the name. There are no injunctions, no restraining orders and no box-office attachments. Deep Purple has to prove themselfes as Deep Purple. It would be distracting to have the individual names on the ad. It’s not a bogus situation, Deep Purple never really broke up. There was just a constant changing of people. This band does all the original Deep Purple hits."
( Bob Ringe. the band’s booking agent, 1980)
"We didn't make that money, it went all to the lawyers involved. The only chance to stop that band was to sue Rod, as he was the only one receiving money, all others were on wages. Surely Rod did get involved with some very bad people!"
( Ian Paice. 1996, from Hartmut Kreckel's (un)official European Captain Beyond website)
"Rod phoned in 1980, when I was not at home, so he told my wife I should call him back, which I - in some wise anticipation - never did."
( Nick Simper. 2010)
"It was not just Rod who was sued - it was the organisation that was behind the fake Deep Pur-ple who were most responsible and it was they who were hit with the greatest part of that 'very large sum of money'. In respect of that money - what price would you place on your reputation and on the right of the public not to be sold something under false pretences? And also you should be aware that these people were informed on several occasions that they were breaking the law, and yet they continued to do it. Sueing them was the last option there was to try to stop them. I did not enjoy having to appear in court against a guy I'd once worked with - but he who steals my purse steals trash; he who steals my good name takes everything I have."
( Jon Lord. 1998, from Hartmut Kreckel's (un)official European Captain Beyond website)
"People are paying good money to see something that isn't what it's purported to be. Even tough Rod was in the band originally, it's not really the band people know."
( Roger Glover. Rolling Stone Magazine 1980)
"(. our group) sounds exactly the same and looks exactly the same. In all respects we are the same product."
( Tony Flynn. Rolling Stone Magazine 1980)
"I have always been a little sheepish as a member of the big name bands I played with. I wasn't really anything more than a hired player (because the band would have looked pretty silly without a drummer, I guess. ). I got a letter from Geoff Emery, who is some sort of record industry executive now. I haven't heard of Rod, Tony or Tom but there seems to be a lot of interest in getting hold of them. Rod is a very nice fellow."
( Dick Jurgens. 2003)
"It´s also ironic that I put up our website DickJurgens.com as a tribute to my Dad's big band days, but I mainly got Deep Purple related mail on it now. Ironic, because "Deep Purple" (the song) was one of his hits. One of the quirks of the Deep Purple experience for me, was that the son of my Dad's original William Morris booking agent turned out to be the agent for the Rod Evans' Deep Purple! Small world."
( Dick Jurgens. 2003)
"It was a very expensive business. And, of course, we'll never be paid the damages. Rod Evans just doesn't have the money. He no longer receives the royalities from those first three albums though."
(Manager Tony Edwards. source: Deep Purple - The Illustrated Biography by Chris Charlesworth, 1983)
Here you can find more information about Rod Evans and his 1980 bogus "Deep Purple" band:
The Highway Star – Bogus Deep Purple 1980 Special
Informative website about the 1980 story with a lot of concert reviews, press clippings, the court case.
Click here to enter the site.
The (un)official European Captain Beyond website
Info on Rod Evans & "Deep Purple" 1980
Hartmut Kreckel has done great researches about Rod Evans and his 1980 "Deep Purple" affair.
Click here to enter the archived version of the site (original website unfortunately disappeared)
The Highway Star – The Rod Evans Discobiography
The site about Rod Evans records with the Maze, Deep Purple, his solo single and Captain Beyond
Click here to enter the site.
Deep Purple Tour Page – New Deep Purple 1980
Dirk Kahler´s website includes some great pictures of original concert tickets for shows of the 1980 New Deep Purple lineup
Click here to enter the site.
Wolf Sightings 1977-80
Kevin Collier´s very interesting researches about the Steppenwolf formations touring from 1977 to 1980 that included also three of the later New Deep Purple 1980 band members. Great website with a lot of information!
Click here to enter the site.
Wikipedia
The free encyclopedia about Rod Evans
Click here to enter the site.
Please get in touch if you've got some further
The Cream Revival Band
information about the band or the 1980 tour
Sources / Thanks and credits go to:
Tony Flynn, Geoff Emery, DickJurgens,Nick St. Nicholas, John Kerrison, Hartmut Kreckel(and his unfortunately disappeared (un)official European Captain Beyond website), Kevin Scott Collier('Wolf Sightings 1977-80'),Conecte, Sonido, Rocks, Discotheque Rock-Pop, Provo Daily Herald, PopRock, Anchorage Daily News andSounds magazines, La Jornada Guerrero, Yves Monast,Rik Shannon, Mark Hallorun (Musician's Business & Legal Guide), Gilbert Garcia, Melody F.C. Cindy Bin, David K. Despault, John (Dallas), James Reeves III, Jon Trask, Peter Dawson & Tommy Solo, Michael Flood, Brian Jackson, MrEd45 (Deep Purple Fan Forum runboard), MrX (thegearpage.net), Robert L. Canada, TheHighwayStar website and everybody else who supports me in my researches.
Thank you all for keeping history alive!