DESCRIPTION
Deep Purple’s reunion in 1984 was a dream come true for its legions of fans: Particularly as it reunited the classic line-up that had split in 1973. Following the release of the comeback album Perfect Strangers they embarked on a nine-month world tour, kicking off in Australia in November ‘84 and working its way around the globe, taking in North America and Japan before the band reached Europe in June 1985. Purple played four sold out shows in Sweden, two large festivals in Germany, three gigs in France and many more around the continent. Yet in their homeland fans had to settle for just one open-air concert at Knebworth House in Hertfordshire on 22nd June. It was the wettest June day since records began but for the 75,000 who attended it was an experience to savour, with many too young to have seen Purple in the seventies, witnessing them for the first time. The Road To Knebworth is a celebration of that day, based around the huge number of previously unpublished photos of the event. But the book is much more than that as Purple aficionado Jerry Bloom also looks at the build up from the start of the reunion the year before as well as the aftermath. Drawing on interviews and memories from the band and crew it also includes personal recollections from the photographers, the fans plus a timeline of events connected to all Purple members through 1984-5 plus a complete list of concerts played on that first reunion tour.