"Deep Purple, Highway Star" Topic

I'm a little drunk, so please excuse me…

Highway Star was the song that initially connected my uncle and I. Now, we are as tight as can be, he is more a brother to me than an uncle, Best Man at my wedding, 20+ years ago, etc.

Only five years separate us, him being the son of my Grandfather from a previous marriage before my Grandmother and Grandfather (his Dad) met.

Music is something that crosses boundaries and lubricates connections. Despite our divergent backgrounds and experiences (which are substantial), it was this song (Highway Star) and our love of Deep Purple as a band in general that we found serious common ground on and started communication openly with.

It all started with his buying me the Deep Purple record, "Machine Head," for my 8th Grade graduation. Though we were separated by years, miles and a lifetime of experiences, our mutual love of ANYTHING Deep Purple bridged that gap.

As we've both grown up, he is decidedly Left-leaning while I am more Libertarian-Right, yet Highway Star bridged the gap in our likes/dislikes and created a common frame of reference for us to start communicating to one another that has carried on for many decades.

I can recall being in dance clubs and yelling out in chorus with Erik, "DEEP PURPLE" whenevr the band on stage asked for requests (even though we BOTH knew they'd never play anything by them!!!)

Such great times!

Just thought I'd share.

This got to me today-thinking about friends and life

YouTube link

My daughter sometimes tells me that she's minding her own business and all of a sudden one of my "Deep Purple" songs that she was always bombarded with on the weekends while we were home together bursts into her skull and she starts either humming or singing to herself.

More often than not a Glenn Hughes tune, but either way I get a lot of good natured grief over it from her.

We were at a used CD store years ago and I p/u some rare DP Family CDs, there was a German customer there who saw what I picked up at the register and he told my daughter that I had terrific musical taste.

Of course I had to hear the sarcasm from my sixteen year old daughter regarding my "taste" the whole ride home, but it was fun.

A few years ago, she told me in private that she actually didn't mind my music and thanked me for not only opening her up to good music and musicianship, but for the background to allow her to go make her own music choices via independent bands and labels, rather than "liking" something that is fobbed off on the radio as a "hit"!

I haven't listened to commercial radio in over thirty years and I think me rotten daughter is going on her fifteenth year of radio/commercial free crapola!

Mardaddy, you have EXCELLENT musical taste, if I do say so myself!

"Machine Head" for your 8th Grade graduation, very nice!

Highway star is a GREAT song! the start, when the drums roll in, and it all kicks off? Amazing!!!!!

John

Their live version of "Smoke On The Water" was right up there too.