Blast From The Past Vol. 5: Deepest Purple (Athens 2026)

Here is a new “Blast From The Past” article about me and Deep Purple. This band has been one of my main musical influences since I started listening to rock music when I was very young. Ritchie Blackmore and his guitar playing, both with Deep Purple and Rainbow, defined the way I listen to music and I always admired his compositional skills with both bands.

My history with the Purple family tree and their live performances in Greece starts way back in 1998 in my hometown Thessaloniki, where Blackmore's Night played a show at the International Exhibition Center. I was hysterical, watching my guitar hero a few meters away from me. I still remember fans screaming between the songs and when he picked up his electric guitar we went crazy. This was my second ever concert ( just a few days after Iron Maiden). Luckily I had a crappy film camera with me, so there are a few archival snaps from that day!

Going deeper into their music, once Steve Morse joined the band, I fell in love with his playing as well and his perspective on the Purple classics. The albums featuring him brought a completely fresh air to their live performances and new compositions. During the Abandon era, it was announced that they would play in Thessaloniki for the very first time in 2000. An unforgettable experience. I remember standing outside that venue at the International Exhibition Center from 15:00 just to get as close to the stage as possible (little did I know what was to come in the years ahead!). And then they were, supporting a great second album featuring Steve Morse, which would also end up being the last for the late Jon Lord. Some archival photos below, thanks to my film camera!

Two years later, I had moved to Athens and Deep Purple announced a two-day show in at the Lycabettus Theatre. A few days before the concert, we went to Revenge of Rock, a rock/metal club in the center of Athens where their fan club was hosting a pre-show event. I participated in a trivia quiz and won the grand prize: a backstage pass to their show! I was about to lose my mind! After the second night, we were let backstage to meet all the band members except Ian Paice. It was an unforgettable experience in the best possible way.

I could never have imagined how friendly, humble, and down-to-earth these superstars would be up close. Ian Gillan greeted everyone in person, shook hands, and thanked us for being there. Unbelievable! Don Airey, a legendary musician who has just replaced Jon Lord, signed my Finyl Vinyl booklet with the funniest signature I had ever seen, pointing out that the man in the background was actually him!

In 2009, Purple played live at Terra Vibe park in Malakasa. This was the last time I saw them as a fan without my photographic identity. In the meantime, back in 2023, I had the privilege of meeting the legendary Glenn Hughes (of the MKIII/IV Purple lineup, who I also adored, as described in this blog post) backstage, where he and his tour manager personally handed me a full-show photo pass. Fourteen years later, I finally got to shoot Deep Purple as headliners at Rockwave Festival 2023, such a milestone moment for me, featuring their new guitarist, Mr. Simon McBride.

And as always, fans are like “this must be their last tour", but the band once again proved us wrong. They continue releasing new music almost every two years, and touring the globe, even some if some of their members have passed the age of 80. These men were born musicians: playing live music is the only thing they want to do, just as they did back in the ‘60s.

You can read the full review by Yannis Poullos on Documentonews.

Enjoy my photo gallery from Deep Purple‘s show, part of their SPLAT! tour at Telekom Center, Athens, Greece on Tuesday 13/10/2026.