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JON LORD & CRY FREE: the second Russian Tour on video and the first studio collaboration?9 June 2011, 15:04

It's only been a few weeks since Hungary's Deep Purple Cover Band arrived home from their second Russian Tour with Jon Lord. Ever since their first visit to Russia together back in 2009 the band had been asked so many times about what it was like to tour the world with a true rock star like Jon that they had decided to record the next one on video for all to see. They seem to have made the right decision, as A), it is virtually impossible to describe with words the magical atmosphere of the rehearsals, concerts, and other events of the tours, and B), the final version of the film edited from personal camcorder recordings is astonishingly professional and thoroughly amusing. The 44-minute video follows around "the Hungarian Deep Purple" in the company of Jon Lord and his team during all of their Russian adventures. Thus the viewer can travel with the band on their planes and buses, can listen to their rehearsals and soundchecks with Jon Lord and the symphonics, can have dinner with them, and can even get a sneaky peek into their dressing rooms and hotel rooms. But the point of all the travelling and the hard work is of course the live performances themselves, and the video offers a great deal of concert footage as well, recorded both on stage and from the audience, some of which can only be found here. Thus the tour diary is a real treat, and it finally gives you the chance to see what has so far been impossible to imagine, how Cry Free, the band that has got further than most acts in the tribute scene, spend their days in the company of a touring rock star, 2000 km's away from home. Check it out.



Related news and real rock n' roll sensation is that 42 years after its premier, the classic Concerto for Group and Orchestra is to be recorded in the studio by Jon Lord, and a collaboration with Cry Free has been considered again in this new field as well. So far only live recordings have been available from this groundbreaking piece, so Lord supplies a long felt need when he finally goes into the studio to make the version he calls "decisive". In the above mentioned two live versions the musicians of Deep Purple comprised the "Group", but the new recording will see no other DP member than the composer himself. The line-up that will record the Concerto is not yet known, but Cry Free drummer Tamas Tatai is among the potential percussionists considered, some of them real rock legends.

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Jon Lord who was born exactly 70 years ago! Many happy returns of the day, Jon!