Shiba Inu Puppies at play......

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The first tri - Scary Swim...... - Part 1

And finally the race day arrived for which i was waiting for a long time. My first triathlon race The Music City Triathlon. Got up early at around 4:15 am and was ready. Maria came to pick me and Csaba along with our bikes. By 6:00 we were are the race place.

Then went through the basic checking of the stuff and got my bike and rest of the stuff in the transition area. A few familiar faces were around me from the University and also some from last nights dinner get together. Warmed up with a some stretching exercises. The weather predictions were not very good and since morning there were gusty winds blowing. We were praying to get the waters calm so that we could start properly and go along. By 7 i was ready with all the stuff laid out and ready to go.

Since entering the collegiate category i was in the first wave of the swimmers. So made a point to hit the shores a bit early to get the fee of the water. The signs were not good since there were high waves all over with gusty winds around and that was tough. Before the start an announcement was made that those who want to back due to the weather conditions can back out :) hmmmmmmm that's quite interesting for a first timer.

So as per the directions the WAVE 1 participants entered the water till a marker from where the start was given. And so finally started my maiden triathlon. The waves were quite high and initially i was not sure if i could even make it to the finish line because mid was the winds got too rough. But made a point to stay close to the other swimmers. I was hardly able to see the marker since every time i had my head up there was a big wave in front of me . At time i felt i was along .... freakkkkked out .... but all were around me :).

Mid way into the race even the race boats were not see as due to the bad weather they were not able to make it. And on the way back from the first marker i could see swimmers scattered all over and that was mostly because the waves were just throwing us around like anything. At the second marker for the turn towards the shores i was able to see the lighthouse and the pack of swimmers.

But the cross winds were drifting all of us away from the shore. That was the last part but completely against the wind.... i could see most of the swimmers going to the other side they just could make it against the winds. But all of them were trying their best. Finally made it to the shores and that too in a comparatively higher end of the pack. The best part was that made it to the shores. Half way towards the shores we were told that the swim part of the race was canceled due to the rough weather conditions. So of the total of 14 WAVES only fist three WAVES made it to the water.

The race was stopped for some 45 mins just to make sure that everyone was out of the water and no one was left in there. Later swimmers were helped by the boats and some who had drifted to the other end to come to the race point.

In all the first tri swim was really really scary. But was very happy that i made it and that gives me a good confidence for the later races to come.

Bumpy roads

A good article i came across regarding the increase in the usage of bicycle around due to increase in the gas prices .........


Bumpy roads
Jul 31st 2008 | SEATTLE
From The Economist print edition


It’s not all free wheeling


WITH petrol the price it is, more and more people are riding a bicycle to work. In Broward County, Florida, about 35,000 people a month typically put their bicycles on a bus bike-rack, thereby shortening a cycle commute. In May of this year, 68,000 people did so. Denver saw 25,000 people register for a recent “bike to work” day, up from 15,000 a year ago. In Seattle cyclists complain about a shortage of bike stands, while in Portland, Oregon, some 6,000 cyclists cross just one of the city’s many bridges each morning.

Bicycle-boosters are thrilled with the sudden popularity of their humble machine. “Ridership is just skyrocketing,” says Elizabeth Preston of the League of American Bicyclists, a Washington, DC, advocacy group (even cyclists have lobbyists these days). Performance Bicycles, a retailer with shops in 15 states, says bicycle sales in June were the highest ever recorded.

But cycling’s popularity has a downside. The people of Portland, for instance, have been entertained over the past few days by a series of altercations between bicyclists and motorists. In one, a motorist and cyclist came to blows after the motorist berated the pedal-pusher for ignoring a stop sign. The enraged cyclist used his bike to batter the motorist’s car until a bystander punched him.

In Seattle, meanwhile, two cyclists were arrested after they attacked a motorist during a so-called “Critical Mass” ride, events where large groups of cyclists ride through city streets to demonstrate their right to the road. New York cyclists are up in arms about an incident in which a police officer, for no apparent reason, knocked a cyclist off his bike and then arrested him and tried to pretend the man had run into him until a video recording proved him wrong. And in Colorado, reports the Los Angeles Times, cyclists have been feuding with the sheriff of Larimer County for his aggressive—cyclists say unreasonable— enforcement of bike-related traffic laws. More seriously, most bicycle advocates say cycling deaths are sharply up, although the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has no figures as yet for 2008.

After years of federal and local spending on bike routes and other amenities, most cities are ready to handle more cyclists. But many motorists simply don’t see their two-wheeled brethren or, when they do, find them aggravating. Managing more cyclists is going to take more than new bike paths or fresh stripes on the roads. It looks as though there is a need, on both sides, for a revolution in manners.

Dreams made for some ... destroyed for some ........

While Phelps was breaking all the records that came along his way to make history there were some who quite actually were confident to make history of their but then could not realise those dreams come true.

Grant Hackett would have become the first male swimmer to win the same event in three consecutive Olympics and came very close in the 1500 freestyle to miss it by 0.69 secs.

An idol for long distance swimmers and one of the greats of all time though always under the shadow of Ian Thorpe ......... he still is one of the greatest long distance swimmers i have seen. Vladimir Salnikov was the greatest long distance swimmer before him who too was eluded of this feat. I did not personally see Salnikov swim in the races but he is considered one.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/17/2337854.htm?site=olympics/2008

Friday 15th August......

The 61st Independence day celebrated in India. It feels so good to read about all the news on the independence day and you missed it. Its something, that when you are around you never care for those things but when you are away you just miss them like anything.

And then away from home on a different soil you miss it much more. You enjoy the 4th of July fireworks but surely miss the Hindi commentary from the Red Fort on DD.


Just one more day passes by .....................


JAI HIND.......

Insipirations at the Olympics

Eric Shanteau is just 24 and cancer stricken but that does not put him back to be with the best in the world. After beating Hansen in the US team trial he qualifies 7th fastest for the 200 mts Breast stroke finals.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/blogs/blog=alanabrahamsonsblog/postid=150082.html


A real inspiration for all the young athletes ................

Todays Cross Country Ride

Today it was decided to to go for a 37 mile ride. Got up early and was up at the meeting point. There were 10 of us. All of them being pro were with the better ones while i was only the one with the straight handle. Started slow and slowly started to gain speed. We started from the Opry mills area then the beautiful parkway then downtown and then towards the Percy Warner Park. Some time into the ride then took good speed though was behind the grp since they had went a bit ahead.

But then some 10 miles ahead i happen to take a wrong turn and just to look around lost control and was off the bike all over. Fell down on my knees and bruised them badly. Just got up with them bleeding and started back. The bike got a beating too as the back rim started wobbling. Over the course of time again too some pace and continued till the Percy Warner Park and started back. On the way Carl and Maria were kind to come back to check on me and Carl being with me for some 8 miles till i was ok.........

Since the knee was getting soar and the back rim not in good shape cut short my ride to complete the 27 miles and returned back.

But in all a good practice for the month end and will sure try to make more rides till then.

My New Bike

I have been biking for a quite some time back home to different places around Pune.But then over the period of last one year after coming to US i was not able to select on any specific bike i could ride on. There were a couple of them which were quite expensive. I have been making rounds of different stores around the city and websites for a good bike and finally my eyes got fixed on the SCOTT Speedster P6 and falling in love with her was almost inevitable. The specs say it all and with my budget i happen to find the best of the lot. I know there are a quite good bikes in higher range and much better ones but then i was in lot of constraints and she was the best one i could find.


Her picture to follow soon :)



My old bike ( I am missing her so much ) was a HERO mountain bike and i have details in my previous blogs. And this one is a hybrid so its very light in weight and sturdy enough for mountain terrains.


After getting her i have been on short rides around the city which were from 10 miles till the max i went was 16 miles till date. But with the Triathlon schedule fast catching up i will be biking in the mid 20's and mid 30 miles in the coming days. That sure will prepare me for the coming competitions.

So its all set ...........

Making it for the Triathlon

It’s been a long time since anything was written just been lazy all the way. Nothing to write much too. After running the Mumbai Marathon in January 2007 did not do much on this front. But then couple of weeks back some random thoughts crawled back along with the Olympic season which pumped some spirit in me and I started practicing again. But this time for the Triathlons. It’s always been described by many that if you are making for a triathlon either you are a professional athlete or you are crazy. I definitely fall in the second category. Have started with the basic workouts and long runs and long biking but still a long way to go. But time is running out since I will be participating in my first every competition by the end of August.

The following is the schedule of the competitions to be held and I will try to make all of these that’s what I am target ting for. No time just completing will make me more than happy.


August 31: Callaway Gardens (Intermediate)
September 14: Music City (Olympic)
October 11: Hickory Knob (Intermediate)


For all these I will be participating and working out along with the University team. Not sure how much i will be able to compete but will surely give my best shot.

Inspirational Comeback.........

happen to read a article on Dorra Torres who at 41 is making a come back and made it to the Olympics this July ....... really inspirational and a real role model .......


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/01/AR2007080102538_pf.html

One Day to go.................

Its time for the event i was waiting for a long time since the Pune Marathon.Tomorrow morning 21st Jan 2007 starts the Mumbai Marathon and i will be running the 21 km half marathon.
Have been running distance for the last couple of months and now ready and confident to run the big event .All set will update of my performance tomorrow after the marathon.

Third Day....... at Sawai

Day three of the 54th Sawai Gandharva festival saw the audiences hear in rapt attention as first timers presented their classic acts.

The day began with vocalist Hema Upasni presenting a bandish in Raag Madhuwanti followed by a composition in Raag Hansdhawani. The audience, clearly impressed by the performance, then requested for a gazal. They were definitely not dissappointed as Upasni presented Poet Himanshu Kulkarni’s composition that was aapplauded by many of the Punekars ...............

Next, to perform was sitarist Manju Mehta, disciple of Pandit Ravishankar and younger sister of Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhat the lineage of the Bhats of Gwalior Ghanrana ..... she enthralled the gathering with Raag Purvi. Mehta was brilliantly accompanied on the tabla by Ramdas Palsule.

Then came the performance for which every one was egarly waiting for .... and that of Rahul Deshapnde grandson of the legendary Dr.Vasantrao Deshpande.
I myself had listened to Vasantrao Deshpande very less since you cannot listen to everthing and everyone all around and that too with a person like me of very less knowledge with classicla music it was difficult.

Legacy continued .................

He began with Raag Marwah followed by a bandish in Raag Maru Bihag. Even as the crowd applauded, it was his rendition of the famous Surat Piya ke chinn bisarayi from Sangeet Katyar Kaljat Ghusli that left them wanting for more. To listen to him was Rahul's grandmother wife of Dr.Vasantrao Deshapande and Rahul sang all his grandmothers choice list of favourites.His performance was too good and the crowd was at times thinking that as if it was Dr.Deshpande taking the stage again after almost 25 years he last performed at the Sawai Gandharva Festival.

It was then Pandit Debu Chaudhary who enticed the audience with his sitar recital in Raag Bageshree. The finale of the evening was Malini Rajurkar who performed Raag Jogkauns, Puriya Dhanashree followed by semi-classical renditions.

The Second Day ....... at Sawai

After missing the first day i was right on time for the evening session of the second day .It started with Kamlakar Naik whose rhythmic aalap Baaje More Paayaliya in Raag Barva, before he switched to Hoon Jo Gayi in the rare Raag Ramgauri. But it was the bhajan Sab Jhooti Jag Ki Mehmani in Raag Bhimpalas that set the evening’s musical pace.

As vocalist Padma Deshpande took over in an aalap in ek taal in Raag Shudh Kalyan, she showed off her perfect tonal balance with the fast-paced taana, Mandarva Bajo Re. Added to that, the perfect rendition of Roop Bali To Tar Shardul Saacha in Raag Kaafi (from the Marathi musical Sangeet Swayamwar) made for an exquisite set of whirling taanas.

There was a loud appaluse when it was announced that Pt.Shivkumar Sharma was to take the stage .The recital started with a very rare Raag Rasik Priya — one of his favouriteswith . In fact, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi arrived just in time for the first half of Sharma’s recital. Deconstructing the raag with a slow aalap, jor and jhala and, Sharma then presented three of his compositions in roopak taal and teen taal.

The performance was a perfect symbiosis of his santoor with accompanist Aneesh Pradhan’s tabla beats. Sharma even presented his signature Raag Pahari when he got a ‘once more’ from the audience.

Then came the surprise packeage of the evening and i will not be wrong if that would be of the 54th Sawai Gandharva festival.When it was announced that Kaushiki Chakravarty was to take the stage half of the Punekar's typical..... went out to have tea as if it was a tea break party or something and there were more ppl outside the pandal than inside .

And the same crowd was back to their seats in not more than 15 minutes into the recital including myself and thats the best thing i did to get back to my seat .Because what was heard after that was the most mesmering performance i have ever listened to in my life .

Kaushiki Chakravarty ...... mesmerising the audience .......

She had a perfect control over the aalaps and tanas in Raag Rageshri, the highlight of her performance being the Boltana Sab Sukh Deho and a thumri in Raag Pahari that won her many an accolades.

Then to evening came Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj whose presence made the whole crowd in a common wave of praise.He started his rendition of Jai Jai Shri in Raag Jaijaiwati accompanied by Kedar Pandit on the tabla and Appasaheb Jalgaonkar on the harmonium.He was in his usual jolly mood of pleasing the audience and he did that to the best.Its just he beeing on the stage the crowd gets attracted to his aura and then rest when he sings ...... ohhhhhhhhhh yes he is GOD to say ...... with the Shankarachyarya recitals ...................Panditji led the audience to a musical climax with the fast-paced bhajan Govinda Damodara before ending his recital with the pleasantly slow-paced Nirajani Narayani in Raag Bhairavi.

The programme started at sharp 4:00pm and ending at 1:15 am with the Bhairavi of Panditji.It was the time limit that made both the audience and Panditji to come to the end of the day ..He was eager to sing more and the people like me never want to get up and leave.

One Step Forward .....

With my first marathon done i got to practice for the coming Mumbai marathon as said .From today onwards increased my distance to 10kms from the previous 5 kms i was doing .But that was along with the 2 kms swimming i was doing .But then the long run practice was a must ..... and so started with the extra mile to be added ...........

But it was quite tough as i started slow and completed the 10km sucessfully was completely tired by the time i was in my room .But then it has to be done to complete the half marathon at Mumbai .......... yes and i am sure will make it .......

54th Sawai Gandharva Music Festival 2006

Was egarly waiting for this years Sawai Gandharva Festival to attend it and the day came on 8th of December 2006.Actually the festival started on the 7th but could not attend it on the first day.
My liking for classical music has been ramping up over the period of time though i admit that i cannot sing or play any instrument but like to listen .

So this year it was decided that me,rohit,abhay and nd would be attending the concert and i took the repsonsibility of the tickets .The baithak tickets were taken and so began the excitment to attend the concert .

This years artists :-

Details:

54th SAWAAI GANDHARVA SANGEET MAHOTSAV, PUNE.

7th December 2006 - 10th December 2006:
Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Venue: New English School, Ramanbaug, Pune


Performing Artists:

SHAILESH BHAGWAT, SHENAI

SARANGI JUGALBANDI - DILSHAD KHAN & SABRI KHAN

FLUTE - RAKESH CHAURASIA

SATAR - MANJU MEHTA

VOCAL -
SHASHVATI MANDAL, KAMLAKAR NAIK, KAUSHIKI CHAKRAVARTI, HEMA UPASANI, RAHUL

DESPANDE, ANANT TERDAL

DANCE - DIPAK MAHARAJ

OTHERS:
USTAD AMJAD ALI KHAN, PANDIT SHIVKUMAR SHARMA, PANDIT DEBU CHAUDHARI,
USTAD RASHID KHAN, MALINI RAJURKAR, PANDIT JASRAJ, ASHA KHADILKAR, SHUBHA

MUDGAL, PARMESHWAR HEGDE, MADHAV GUDI, HEMANT PENDSE, PANDMA DESHPANDE,
MEENA PHATARPEKAR.

SAMAROP: VOCAL : DR. PRABHA ATRE.

Pune Marathon................

The Pune Marathon is being held for the last 20 years and always wanted to be a part of it.So it was this decided that i will take part this year for sure .As decided started practicing for 4.5 kms run every day at the campus .....
This was in addition to the 2 km swimming i do everyday at the IIT pool.Intially it was difficult but eventually was able to make it ..
The Pune marathon was held on the 26th of Nov .I took part in the AIDS Charity Run which was of 4.5 kms cause was not sure if could make the 10km .Since this was my first marathon.
Started the race with lots of hoppala going around the deccan area where many enthu junta had come .
Lot many stars were around the place and and junta was too busy waving to them but i was focused to complete the run .

The run started from the Deccan chowk,Lakadi Bridge,Laxmi road, via vishrambaug wada ,end of bajirao road,making a turn from the back of Peshawe Park and then around Saraus Baug and ended at the Nehru Stadium.

Though its was just 4.5km junta may think but running in the heat with the sweat is really difficult but finally made it in time of 22mins.Though slow relatively but made it running the ACR completely .hurrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayuyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

The next i will be trying for the half marathon at the Mumbai Marathon which is to held in the second week of January.I am trying to go there for running the 21 kms in the heat and humidity of Mumbai.

My sessions for the same have started with a initial run of 5km and then 2 km swim which really makes me tired but then 21kms is far away and i have to make it at the Mumbai Marathon.

Cricket Match

The last time i played for my college was at the Kaware Engineering Trophy back in 2001 .After that i played cricket but then it was just usual cricket with the tennis ball.And completely out of touch with complete gear cricket as you may call .
Just a couple of weeks back a few of us came up with the idea of playing a match between the Senior Players who repserented the college at the Inter-College Matches with the present team of the college .The Venue Anna Saheb Magar Statium ,Pimpri where quite a few presvious MCA matches are held.The offical time decided was 2nd October 2006 10:00 AM but it being Dassera the junta was late and the match started a bit late at around 12:00.
My mom scolded for running away to play cricket on such a day but then nothing could resist me not to go and play again .
So we all assembeled after a gap of almost 4 years together with the team spirit in the same high when we last played .



The team.Left to Right (Standing:Sandeep,Vikram,Kiran,Jeevan,Chetan,Amit,Shardul,Sagar.Sitting:-Paresh and Parag,Ritish-missing)

We lost the toss and the seniors were put into field .In 35 overs the present team managed a score of 117/All out .With some good bowling from Jeevan,Sandeep and Vikram.


We were put into bat then and intially lost the wicket of our opener Amit Dhaiwal the star for a DUCK .I stepped in one down and after some steady play with Paresh we made a good scoring around the field .But then some misunderstanding between me and Sagar and i was run out .........

Parag played steadly but he too got out after when we needed just SIX runs to win and we eventually lost the match .

But more than losing the match getting all together after a gap of almost 4-5 years was the most important thing and then playing it in the best of spirits .

A really good day as it was being DASSERA when the present team beat the Invincilble Team of 2002 .

The SCORES in Detail :-

DYPCOE Present Team

YASH(RHB) ----------- -----CAUGHT BEHIND --------------------- 01
JUNAID(LHB) --------------BOLD ---------------------------------- 06
PRASHANT(RHB) --------- LBW ----------------------------------- 10
VISHAL (RHB) ------------- CAUGHT -------------------------------- 29
RAHUL(RHB) -------------- RUN OUT ------------------------------ 00
SIDDHARTH (RHB) ------- CAUGHT -------------------------------- 13
MRIDUL(LHB) ------------- CAUGHT ------------------------------- 08
PIYUSH (RHB) --------------LBW ----------------------------------- 07
KAPIL(RHB) -----------------CAUGHT ------------------------------- 05
ABHIJEET(RHB) ---------- - NOT OUT ------------------------------ 01


EXTRAS :- 38

TOTAL : 117/ ALL OUT IN 26 OVERS

DYPCOE SENIORS

AMIT(RHB) ------------------ CAUGHT BEHIND ------------------- 00
PAREHS(RHB) --------------- CAUGHT ---------------------------- 08
CHETAN(LHB) --------------- RUN OUT --------------------------- 11
SAGAR (RHB) ---------------- CAUGHT --------------------------- 06
SHARDUL(RHB) ------------- BOWLED ---------------------------- 00
JEEVAN(RHB) --------------- CAUGHT ---------------------------- 14
PARAG(RHB) ---------------- RUN OUT --------------------------- 18
VIKRAM (RHB) -------------- STUMPED -------------------------- 08
KIRAN(RHB) ------------------- BOLD ------------------------------- 04
RITISH(RHB) ------------------- NOT OUT ------------------------- 05
SANDEEP(RHB) ----------------- DNB


EXTRAS:- 38

TOTAL : 112/ALL OUT IN 28.6 OVERS

FINAL SCORE : THE PRESENT TEAM WINS BY 6 RUNS

Deep Purple – Introduction

Deep Purple is the name of a British rock group, and is also the name of a song composed by Peter De Rose, from which the band borrowed its name. They are one of the first and most famous hard rock bands. They are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though have never considered themselves a heavy metal band.

Roger Glover, Ian Paice, Ian Gillan, Don Airey, Steve Morse during their North America Tour in 2004

One of my favourite bands that I like to listen all the time .Can listen to them any time any where .I got the opportunity to go for the live show at Calgary ,Canada in September 2004 during their North America tour .
I had a gr8 time then during the live performance at the show by what they call the GOD of HEAVY METAL .........

Pre-History
The band Episode Six released several singles in the UK during the mid-sixties. It featured Ian Gillan on vocals, Graham Dimmock on guitar, Roger Glover on bass, Tony Lander on guitar, Sheila Carter on keyboards, and Harvey Shields on the drums. Despite extensive touring, they never had their big break.

In 1967, a band called The Flowerpot Men and their Garden was formed, formerly known as The Ivy League. It was concentrated on a trio of singers. The new name was clearly derived from the children's show The Flowerpot Men, with the obvious psychedelic-era puns on flower power and "pot". The band's most popular song was "Let's Go To San Francisco." Some listeners assumed that the song was a parody of Scott McKenzie's "If You're Going to San Francisco," but the band has denied this. It featured Tony Burrows, Neil Landon, Robin Shaw, and Pete Nelson on vocals, Ged Peck on guitar, Nick Simper on bass, Jon Lord on organ, and Carlo Little on drums. Jon Lord had formerly played in The Artwoods, Nick Simper had been with Screaming Lord Sutch's The Savages, where he also played with guitarist Ritchie Blackmore.

The Dawn of Purple

In 1967, former Searchers drummer Chris Curtis contacted London businessman Tony Edwards in the hope that he would manage a new group he was putting together. Curtis’ idea was that the members of the group would get on and off a musical roundabout, and suitably impressed, Edwards agreed to finance the venture with a couple of business partners, John Coletta and Ron Hire (Hire-Edwards-Coletta – HEC Enterprises).

Curtis then set about building up the group, to be known as Roundabout. His first encounter was with Hammond organ player Jon Lord, then he persuaded session guitarist Ritchie Blackmore to return from Hamburg, Germany, to audition for the new group. Curtis himself, however, soon dropped out, but HEC Enterprises, as well as Lord and Blackmore, were keen that the project should continue, so firstly bassist Nick Simper, then finally vocalist Rod Evans and drummer Ian Paice (both of whom were from the group The Maze), were recruited. After their first few gigs on a brief tour of Denmark in the spring of 1968, the band agreed on a new name suggested by Ritchie – Deep Purple.

In October 1968, the group had tremendous success in the US (but not the UK) with a cover of Joe South's "Hush," taken from their debut album Shades of Deep Purple, and they were duly booked to support Cream on their Goodbye tour. However they were soon kicked off the tour, allegedly because they were upstaging the headlining act! In 1969, two more albums followed: The Book of Taliesyn and Deep Purple, the latter of which contained a symphony orchestra on some tracks. After these three albums and extensive touring in the States, Rod Evans and Nick Simper were unceremoniously sacked, and replaced by vocalist Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover both ex-Episode Six. This would create the quintessential Deep Purple "Mark 2" lineup. Initially, this version of the band released a single probably influenced by the then-popular stage musical "Hair", a cover of a Greenaway-Cook tune titled "Hallelujah", which flopped, and then the Concerto for Group and Orchestra, a three-part movement written by Lord and performed at the Royal Albert Hall with the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Malcolm Arnold. Together with Five Bridges by The Nice, it was one of the first collaborations between a rock band and an orchestra, although at the time, certain members of Purple were less than happy at the group being tagged as "a group who played with orchestras" when actually what they had in mind was to develop the band into a much tighter, hard-rocking style.

Deep Purple - The Legends ...

Ian Gillan (born Hounslow, Middlesex, August 19, 1945)

Ian joined Deep Purple from Episode Six in 1969. His first Purple album appearance was on ‘Concerto for Group and Orchestra’ but Gillan made his greatest vocal impact on ‘In Rock’, ‘Fireball’ and ‘Machine Head’. The band’s most famous anthem ‘Smoke On The Water’ emphasises his ability to deliver a lyric with smouldering intensity and rock’n’roll exuberance.Gillan led his own band during the late Seventies before rejoining Deep Purple for ‘Perfect Strangers’ in 1984. In 1989 he toured as Garth Rockett before releasing further solo albums including ‘Naked Thunder’ (1990), ‘Toolbox’ (1991) and Dreamcatcher (1998). Ian is presently working on several projects, both as a writer and vocalist, with a book under construction and a new solo album taking shape.


Roger Glover (born Brecon, Wales, November 30 1945)

The bass player and composer, joined Deep Purple from Episode Six in 1969, then left to become head of A&R at Purple Records. He wrote the ‘The Butterfly Ball’ (1974) concept album which yielded the hit song ‘Love is All’ sung by Ronnie James Dio. He worked as a producer with such bands as Nazareth and Status Quo, as well as working with Ian Gillan on their album ‘Accidentally On Purpose’ (1988). Roger played with Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow (1979-1984) before returning to Deep Purple in 1984. "The last eight years have been especially enjoyable. It is such a joy to be in the band now. After Steve joined it reawakened in me that feeling of why I was in the band in the first place. It’s like a great big adventure. That’s the way it was in the beginning and then, of course, politics and personalities, success and money get in the way of the fun. For a while it became a job or a bore. The last eight years have been the exact opposite. It’s back to the fun it was in the first place, which is a wonderful thing!”



Ian Paice (born June 29, 1948)

Deep Purple’s drummer since he joined the band (age 19) in 1968. Armed with a dazzlingly fast technique, Ian has also worked with Paice, Ashton & Lord, Gary Moore and Whitesnake.A recent highlight was guesting on Sir Paul McCartney’s ‘Run Devil Run’ (1999) rock’n’roll album. Steve Morse says about Ian Paice: “He’s like a real heavy Ringo. He’s just so good on the drums, but doesn’t want to make a big deal about it.”

Deep Purple - Studio albums

Mk I

o Shades of Deep Purple, September 1968 #24 US
o The Book of Taliesyn, December 1968 #54 US
o Deep Purple, November 1969 #162 US

• Mk II
o Deep Purple in Rock, June 1970 #4 UK, #143 US
o Fireball, September 1971 #1 UK, #32 US
o Machine Head, March 1972 #1 UK, #7 US
o Who Do We Think We Are, February 1973 #4 UK, #15 US

• Mk III
o Burn, February 1974 #3 UK, #9 US
o Stormbringer, December 1974 #6 UK, #20 US

• Mk IV
o Come Taste the Band, October 1975 #19 UK, #43 US
• Mk II, reunited
o Perfect Strangers, November 1984 #5 UK, #17 US
o The House of Blue Light, January 1987 #10 UK, #34 US

• Mk V
o Slaves & Masters, October 1990 # 45 UK, #87 US

• Mk II, again reunited
o The Battle Rages On, July 1993 #21 UK, #192 US

• Mk VII
o Purpendicular, February 1996
o Abandon, May 1998

• Mk VIII
o Bananas, August 2003
o Rapture of the Deep, October 2005


Live albums

• Mk I
o Live in Inglewood, 1968 (released 2004)

• Mk II
o Concerto for Group and Orchestra, 1969
o Kneel & Pray, 1969 (released 2004)
o Gemini Suite Live, 1970 (released 1998)
o Scandinavian Nights, 1970 (released 1988)
o Space Vol 1 & 2 , 1970 (released 2004)
o Made in Japan 1972, #16 UK, #6 US
o Deep Purple In Concert, 1970-1972 (released 1980) #30 UK
o Denmark 1972, 1972 (released 2004)

• Mk III
o Made in Europe, 1975, #12 UK, #148 US
o Live in London, 1974 (released 1982), #23 UK
o Just Might Take Your Life , 1974 (released 1996 2004)
o Perks And Tit, 1974 (released 2004)
o Mk III: The Final Concerts, 1975 (released 1996)

• Mk IV
o Last Concert in Japan, 1976
o King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents: Deep Purple in Concert(=On the Wings of a Russian Foxbat) = , 1975 (released 1995)
o This Time Around: Live in Tokyo, 1975 (released 2001)

• Mk II, reunited
o Nobody's Perfect, 1987 (released 1988) #38 UK, #105 US
o In The Absence of Pink: Knebworth 85, 1985 (released 1991)
o Come Hell or High Water, 1993, (released 1994)
o Live In Europe 1993, 1993 (4-CD box set - due for release March 2006)

• Mk VII
o Live at the Olympia '96, 1996 (released 1997)
o Total Abandon: Live in Australia, 1999
o In Concert with the London Symphony Orchestra, 1999
o Live At The Rotterdam Ahoy, 2000
o The Soundboard Series, 2001


Compilation Albums
• Purple Passages, September 1972; # 57 US
• 24 Carat Purple, July 1975; #14 UK
• The Mark II Purple Singles, April 1979; #24 UK
• When We Rock, We Rock, and When We Roll, We Roll, 1978
• Deepest Purple: The Very Best of Deep Purple, July 1980; #1 UK, #148 US
• The Anthology, June 1985; # 50 UK
• 30: Very Best of Deep Purple, October 1998; #39 UK
• Listen, Learn, Read On, October 29, 2002 (6 disc box set)
• Winning Combinations: Deep Purple and Rainbow, 2003
• Deep Purple: The Platinum Collection, 2005

Hit singles
• 1968 "Hush" #4 US
• 1968 "Kentucky Woman" #38 US
• 1969 "River Deep - Mountain High" # 53 US
• 1970 "Black Night" #2 UK, # 66 US
• 1971 "Strange Kind of Woman" #8 UK
• 1971 "Fireball" #15 UK
• 1972 "Never Before" #35 UK
• 1973 "Smoke on the Water" #21 UK (1977 release), # 4 US
• 1973 "Woman From Tokyo" # 60 US
• 1974 "Might Just Take Your Life" # 91 US
• 1977 "New Live and Rare EP" #31 UK (including an unheard live version of Black Night)
• 1978 "New Live and Rare EP II" # 45 UK
• 1980 "Black Night" (reissue) # 43 UK
• 1980 "New Live and Rare EP III" # 48 UK (including Smoke on the Water)
• 1985 "Knocking at Your Back Door" # 61 US
• 1985 "Perfect Strangers" # 48 UK
• 1985 "Knocking at Your Back Door / Perfect Strangers" # 68 UK
• 1988 "Hush" (re-recording) # 62 UK
• 1990 "King Of Dreams" # 70 UK
• 1991 "Love Conquers All" # 57 UK
• 1995 "Black Night" (reissue) # 66 UK (remastered CD single)