Having evolved in 1968 Deep Purple has become one of the great rock acts of all time. Thirty Five years later and with 150 million album sales, Deep Purple continues to deliver their brand of sophistocated rock n’ roll. Deep Purple have spent the past nine years demonstrating the awesom energy and intensity that earned them their legendary superstar status.

Deep Purple’s visits to Australia during thirty five year career haven’t always been frequent, but they have been memorable. Back in 1971 with the original line-up that the group first made the trip, playing four festival dates which climaxed in the Randwick stadium gig, supported by Free - shows that passed into Australian rock history. It took another rock festival , this time the legendary January 1975 Sunbury bash, to lure them back, this time with singer David Coverdale and bassist Glenn Hughes. Verbals between members of Deep Purple and local upstarts AC/DC made the headlines. Deep Purple surprised everyone by playing further Oz dates towards the end of that same year, though by then they had their own upstart in tow - new guitarist Tommy Bolin - and one of the biggest PA systems ever toured by a rock band.

When the group reformed in 1984, Australia was named for the world debut of the Perfect Strangers tour. This time biker riots outside some of the gigs made headlines. After that Deep Purple’s tours failed to make it to Australia. By 1995 Deep Purple had shaken themselves down, recruited former Dixie Dregs guitarist Steve Morse to their ranks, and underwent a creative revival. First came the excellent 1996 album “Purpendicular”, which saw the band pushing in all directions, and with an energy and enthusiasm that promised much for the new line-up. After the tour the band took a breather.

They regrouped in late 1997 to start recording their new studio album “Abandon” which was released the following year. Deliberately going for a powerful more unified and much heavier sound, the disc produced a batch of songs which were tailor made for the stage, as the subsequent world tour proved. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, “Abandon gigs produced some stunning performances of the new material, alond with superb reworkings of earlier classics as well. All that was lacking was an official live album to prove it - and where better to record it but Australia.