Live in Stuttgart 1993

By most accounts, Deep Purple's 1993 European tour was quite a memorable one, not so much for the musical performances, but because it was in the middle of this tour that founding guitarist Ritchie Blackmore left the band for good -- marking the last time the group's classic Mk II lineup ever toured together. With the band supporting the appropriately titled The Battle Rages On... at the time, there are a few latter-day Purple songs included, but to the delight of many fans, the vast majority of 2007's Live in Stuttgart 1993 is comprised of classics. It doesn't sound like the group was resting on its laurels during this advanced stage of its career, either -- as evidenced by a simply ferocious reading of "Speed King," as well as other highlights like the set-opening "Highway Star" and "Knocking at Your Back Door." There may have been some tension behind the scenes at this time, but on the concert stage, Deep Purple were definitely still a functioning unit, as evidenced throughout Live in Stuttgart 1993. ~ Greg Prato