Live At California Jam 74 Deep Purple Released – 1996 by Mausoleum Classics Track List 1. Burn 2. Mistreated’ ‘Might Just Take Your Life 3. Lay Down, Stay Down 4. Mistreated 5. Smoke On The Water 6. You Fool No One 7. Space Truckin’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recorded live at the Ontario Motor Speedway, this disc showcases the might of the third incarnation of Deep Purple at what was one of the largest music festivals in the United States on a bill with E.L.P., Black Sabbath, The Eagles and Earth, Wind and Fire. 

It was a time of great upheaval in the ‘Purple camp.  Having lost both lead singer Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover, the band regrouped with former Trapeze bassist Glen Hughes and future Whitesnake vocalist David Coverdale to release the stellar ‘Burn’ album in early 1974. 

Taking this new material out on the road, the band showcased new tunes such as the epic ‘Mistreated’ ‘Might Just Take Your Life’ and ‘Burn’ alongside such classic hits as ‘Spacetruckin’ and ‘Smoke On The Water’. 

What is almost more notable than the music performed was the performance itself.  Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore (well-known as being one of the most difficult people to deal with in the history of the business) was adamant that the band not appear on the stage before sunset.  So with the risk of being arrested, he forced the band to wait it out at the risk of never being able to perform in the states again. 

If that wasn't enough, the show itself went another step further.  Annoyed with the presence of cameramen on the stage, Mr. Blackmore decided to take his Stratocaster and do hundreds of dollars worth of damage to a network camera during the latter half of the set.  He then decided to destroy his guitar and set fire to a Marshall amp for the finale.  The problem was that Ritchie's roadie used WAY too much gasoline on the amp and when he lit it, Ritchie wound up destroying half of the stage in the process.  Such is the life.......

Visit: www.deep-purple.com – www.myspace.com/deeppurple

DirtyRock.net review by ‘Snake’ 2008

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