A little bit of my admiration for Deep Purple went when they played that iffy show for the Russian Vice President back in 2008. We all do daft things in life but that was a real two fingers both to the fans in a country suffering the privations of what is now basically a dictatorship with all free press stifled, as well as those who found shows cancelled at the last moment in favour of this Kremlin event.
We have met a lot of great people through the DPAS, including some in Cyprus (Mike and his mates popped up to see us not long ago, driving all the way from London so we could take them for a traditional British pub lunch!), so we know at first hand how the announcement that Deep Purple will play in the occupied part of the country towards the end of May has gone down there. Utter disbelief. They will all be boycotting the show. It’s not to hard to go online and research the division of Cyprus, although it is a very complex story (with needless to say the British heavily involved in causing division on the island well into the 1960s). But the current facts are that the area is an occupied territory recognised by nobody except Turkey, who organised the invasion in the first place.
There has been a lot of comment online about the show, so much so that Ian Gillan has felt the need to defend the decision on his website and argue his case for the show. For me (as I wrote in DTB59 at the time of the Kremlin farce) lines do sometimes have to be drawn, and I think this is one of those times.
Tags: deep purple
darker than blue 
April 14, 2014 at 11:54 am |
Simon, who are you to rate to something as farce etc? Is anybody interested of YOUR personal opinion about political issues? Deep Purple stayed out of politic so, if you support this band (as I hope), you have to respect heir decisions. You are Nobody to point them what to do or not to do.
April 16, 2014 at 9:56 am |
So I’m not allowed an opinion then? I’m in touch with massive DP fans there who are very upset at this and asked me to say something.
April 5, 2014 at 6:34 pm |
To be fair, I agree with Ian Gillan on this issue. I would also argue heavily that why do politics have to come into discussing Deep Purple all the time. Listening to music I say, and don’t carp on about politics all the time. Two pen’ath and all that!
April 3, 2014 at 10:14 pm |
The opinion of Ian Gillan is the right one. Music has lots more to say than politics. Music is the best. If I were a Deep Purple fan in Cyprus I like to hear them life, no matter the politics of the governments of this world. And Putin? I believe the politics of the EU, NATO and USA is hypocrit. Deep Purple plays honest hard rock all over the world!
April 2, 2014 at 12:16 am |
Yes, I totally accord and much commendation for your comments and stance, Simon. I have read Ian’s comments and, obviously, I do see his point of view – and I like his comments ‘I love them all’ – and for me love is all! However, as I gather DP have done in the past (e.g. not play Sun City – unlike others!) there is here a time to make a stand with their beloved music! X
April 1, 2014 at 3:21 pm |
I don’t know that I would have come to the same decision as DP regarding the Cyprus show, but I commend Ian for defending their decision, and the way that he did it.
April 1, 2014 at 2:49 pm |
Just shows despite being a great band they have no moral scruples. Just in it for the money
April 1, 2014 at 1:33 pm |
I agree that the cancellation of other shows in Russia to do the Kremlin gig was out of order, although maybe Purple took the view that it was better to keep on the good side of the political hierarchy for the sake of future tours. Otherwise I agree with Ian Gillan that Purple should remain a band who will play to anyone, anywhere; at least that is consistent. I suspect that if they started boycotting certain countries on political/moral grounds then they would be setting themselves up for accusations of inconsistency and hidden agendas.
April 11, 2014 at 9:18 am |
The problem is they’re being suckered in to this, and if they do go ahead they could find themselves boycotted for shows in other countries as well as risk problems in Europe as well. This was pointed out to other bands / artists who have been asked to play there, and it is apparently an ongoing issue.