Bedrock in Concert

AMG Review of Bedrock in Concert

Greg Prato
All Music Guide

Vocalist Ian Gillan has appeared on countless live albums over the years -- either as the frontman for Deep Purple or as a solo artist. But one of the more interesting Gillan-related live albums was undoubtedly 2002's Bedrock in Concert. Issued as a double-disc set (one CD, one DVD), the track listing manages to combine Purple classics, several latter day Gillan solo tunes, and also a few interesting cover tunes. Just about every single live album Gillan has ever appeared on has included a version of the Purple classic "Smoke on the Water," and Bedrock in Concert is no different. However, longtime fans will be happy to learn that the other two Purple selections are not nearly as common -- "Demon's Eye" and "When a Blind Man Cries." Elsewhere, "Gut Reaction" shows that Gillan remains in fine voice (and that his solo material sounds identical to Purple), while a metallic reading of Stevie Wonder's "Living for the City" makes a surprise appearance. Wonder how many headbangers have a copy of Innervisions tucked away in their album collections?