A Trip Down Memory Lane with Deep Purple & Yes

By Roman Sobus

Deep Purple, Yes and Hannah Wicklund

Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre

August 23, 2024

When I heard Deep Purple was playing in Chicago, I knew I had to be there. Seeing that they were on tour with Yes only reinforced my determination to attend. Two bands that I count among my favorites in one evening!

It was almost like being teleported back in time fifty plus years. I’m no spring chicken by any stretch of the imagination. I first saw Deep Purple in 1973, Yes in 1976. At the time the former was billed as the “loudest band on the planet” and even then, they were filling arenas and stadiums. It is a credit to the longevity of their music, being at an age where most want to retire and chill on a beach, they opted to take the show on the road!

Ian Gillan (lead vocals) Roger Glover (bass) and drummer Ian Paice have been with the band since the 1960s. Don Airey on keys and Simon McBride on Guitar are more recent additions. Having that number of original core members is certainly a factor in their success.

Seeing a band early on in their career and then decades later is truly enlightening. Like the early days, they hit the stage strong and never looked back. Opening with Highway Star, then a Bit on the Side, they rolled through their sixteen song setlist. McBride on guitar is the youngest in the group but fits into the mix seamlessly.

What would a Deep Purple concert be without their defining classics, Hush and Smoke on the Water along with newer cuts such as “Into the Fire”, “Space Truckin”,” Lazy” and “Anya” They sound great, after all these years and sharing their music with fans around the world!

Deep Purple is touring with the legendary prog-rockers Yes. Guitarist Steve Howe is the only member from those early days. He is the eldest member of the group, but seems to prefer blending off to the side as opposed to taking the spotlight, but there is no doubt he is the driving force behind Yes. The current lineup consists of Geoff Downes (keys), Billy Sherwood on bass, Jon Davison doing guitar and lead vocals and Jay Schellen on drums. They performed a set lasting more than an hour consisting of material including “I’ve Seen All Good People,” “Roundabout” and “starship Trooper.

Opening the evening’s performance was a solo set by guitarist Hannah Wicklund. She has a wonderful voice and a vibe I don’t often see from young performers these days.