jimjamtwo
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Registered: 10-2014
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My failed attempt to interview DC about DP Mk IV
In May 1978, I was on a camping tour of the UK. When I found out that DC would be performing with his new band Whitesnake at a venue in Hatfield (I'm pretty sure this is where it was) north of London, I decided to take a break from the tour for a couple of days to catch the show.
After the concert, I hung around the hall to see if I could meet DC. This turned out to be extremely easy. After the show, in fact, the crowd vacated the venue fairly quickly and I was the only person left there hanging around to meet him. Before long I found myself sitting down on the long wooden bench that ran along the side of the wall talking to DC in a completely empty hall!
DC was friendly and relaxed and gave me the impression that he was willing to talk for quite a while, or at least until the roadies had packed away all the band's gear and he had to go.
I was thus handed a golden opportunity to interrogate him about the fate of DP Mk IV, which has long been one of my obsessions since I saw Mk IV play their sixth show at the Milton Tennis Courts in my home town, Brisbane, in November 1975. Here was my chance to find out firsthand what had really happened, what had gone wrong etc., subjects that weren't being covered by the British music press of the day.
However, I completely blew it. Not having been aware that it would be so easy to meet David, and certainly not aware that he would be so generous with his time, I hadn't prepared any questions in advance. I also realised, as I began to speak, that I may have been raising a sore subject. After all, I had no idea what David's personal feelings about DP were at the time.
As a result, I asked him weakly, "How did you feel about Tommy Bolin?" This is obviously not a very specific question and David looked blankly at me and responded "Tommy Bolin?" He gave me the opportunity to rephrase my question and come up with something more specific, but there were so many questions crowding into my head at once that I wasn't able. I suppose what I wanted to ask was something like: "Looking back on the experience now, how do you feel about the Tommy Bolin phase of Deep Purple?" I didn't manage to do so and I don't recall what happened next.
The only sensible part of my conversation with David was that I had told him that I thought the band's version of "Mistreated" was much better than the one on the Rainbow live album. He seemed gratified and said something to the effect that he was pleased to hear me say that. (I didn't tell him that I actually loath the Rainbow version, as I find Dio's voice completely and utterly soulless!)
So that's the story of how I met DC and failed to gain a single insight into the history of DP Mk IV, a band that at the time I thought had enormous potential and could really have been very successful indeed.
Last edited by jimjamtwo, 2/7/2015, 0:02
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2/7/2015, 0:00
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RatBatBlu
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Registered: 08-2012
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Re: My failed attempt to interview DC about DP Mk IV
You lost me when you called RJD soulless....
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2/7/2015, 2:43
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jimjamtwo
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Re: My failed attempt to interview DC about DP Mk IV
I think I'm entitled to my own opinion. I never liked his voice.
Last edited by jimjamtwo, 2/7/2015, 3:06
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2/7/2015, 3:05
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purpletemple
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Registered: 09-2003
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Re: My failed attempt to interview DC about DP Mk IV
quote: RatBatBlu wrote:
You lost me when you called RJD soulless....
I get what you mean. I've never liked Mistreated sung by RJD.
I do think he's a great great great GREAT singer, but he doesn't have the R&B, funk "soul" that DC or GH have.
--- "Did you know you have hairs up your nostrils?"
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2/7/2015, 7:32
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Rezi
Registered: 04-2004
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Re: My failed attempt to interview DC about DP Mk IV
Rainbow's version was, IMO, even better than DP's. Dio sang it so well.
Having said that, MIE perhaps is the ultimate version of the song.
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2/7/2015, 8:08
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Rezi
Registered: 04-2004
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Re: My failed attempt to interview DC about DP Mk IV
Thanks for the story, JJT!
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2/7/2015, 8:15
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Big J
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Registered: 09-2003
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Re: My failed attempt to interview DC about DP Mk IV
quote: purpletemple wrote:
I do think he's a great great great GREAT singer, but he doesn't have the R&B, funk "soul" that DC or GH have.
I think he did, but chose not to use it. Elf?
--- Video clips from various gigs -> http://youtube.com/weissheim
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2/7/2015, 11:41
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Big J
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Re: My failed attempt to interview DC about DP Mk IV
Thanks for the story, Jimjamtwo. I've met quite a few of the Purple family musicians, and almost always ended up "tongue-tied" and unable to speak a sensible word!
--- Video clips from various gigs -> http://youtube.com/weissheim
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2/7/2015, 11:43
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Wojak
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Registered: 01-2004
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Re: My failed attempt to interview DC about DP Mk IV
It is a good story and i would have been the same.
Ronnie James Dio was a great singer but not right for Mistreated imho.
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2/7/2015, 12:32
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lightintheblack0
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Registered: 07-2006
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Re: My failed attempt to interview DC about DP Mk IV
that is indeed a great story
As for the RJD versions of Mistreated then I loved them.Ronnie had the vocal talents to cover ANY kind of music he was an immense talent.Dont understand the no soul comment at all?Dio sang many tracks throughout his career with great soul and passion.
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2/7/2015, 20:45
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