Phoenix Rising[DVD/CD Combo]

Ironically, living in a small town in Wisconsin (I am 49), my first Purple album was a cut out of "Come Taste the Band", and I worked back from that. I also haven't seen much of this footage at all, prior to this DVD. So, while I was very familiar with the music, I wasn't with the particulars. This package is an enlightening view into the changes of the band, and its ultimate demise. The concert footage is the only Bolin era that is available, per Glenn Hughes. The documentary is fascinating, in its candidness and also breadth of experience. Be aware, the only two current contributors are Jon Lord and Glenn Hughes, so it is through their very honest eyes, but theirs only. There may be some disagreement, especially the Indonesia incident, if you do research on your own. It also ends up having a lot of Hughes' drug issues, and by association, Bolen's. I did find it fascinating, and as my title says, sad. A great band, in name, morphs into a different, but very skilled version (face it, Purple was never stagnant when it come to members). Curious what could have happened, but it would have been different from MK II. I enjoyed it very much; not everyone may.

This concert video is from the Tommy Bolin era of Deep Purple, which was a much less aggressive version of the band once the pressure of playing with the super uptight Ritchie Blackmore was relieved. Unfortunately at this point, Tommy's drug addictions had started compromising his otherwise excellent guitar playing. The pressure of trying to play Blackmore's parts was apparent on the more classic Purple, but Tommy otherwise was much more competent playing material from Come Taste The Band which was obviously his own jazz inspired style. Unfortunately the concert footage is only just under an hour, but it's just as well for the reasons listed above.As far as the extra features, if you enjoy watching obviously stoned, aging rockers (primarily Glenn Hughs, to a lesser extent the late Jon Lord) reminiscing about their drug-laden past exploits (it's normal to snort coke off a hooker's butt, right Glenn?), then you are in for a treat! Glory days... Otherwise, just watch the actual show and save yourself two hours of constant repetition (sometimes repeated with alternate footage, but constatntly repeated) that you'll NEVER get back!

I've been a Deep Purple fan for years and always found it a challenge trying to find music or video from the MK IV period. This pretty much has it all! Although the story of Tommy Bolin is tragic, he did leave us with some great music. It's just too bad his arm was screwed up when they took the quality video of him. The concert footage is pretty bad by today's standards, but it is fun to watch. The documentary is fantastic. It's nice to hear Glenn Hughes and Jon Lord (may God rest his soul) tell first hand accounts of the various tribulations that the band went through. If you are a Deep Purple or Tommy Bolin fan, you will love the whole thing. If you are a music fan, skip the concert footage and watch the documentary - it will still be worth it.

Buen precio

I hadn't seen the Rises Over Japan footage since it's brief appearance on VHS tape (which I rented at my local Tower Video store back sometime around the mid 80's). The performance is everything that I remember it "not being"... shame it was an off night! That being said, for the DVD release they've cleaned it up nicely and given it a 5.1 mix and after all, it is a chance to see Tommy with Purple.The Interviews and documentary footage are priceless... what a dark period for the band. Crazy times indeed!Thank you to the powers that be for putting this release together!

It was a Christmas present for my husband

I was there at this concert in Tokyo. I was 15 years old then and this is the one of the most exciting concerts I've ever been. Yes, Bolin could not perform well in this one but what a heck. They were great band even Bolin was not perfect. They were the coolest guys in the world to me. I'll never forget this concert and I'm so thankful for Deep Purple to give me a joy.

First of all the dvd is great.As others have stated,the footage is greatly improved from all the boots and the doc is very informative.However,the cd stinks. There is that annoying pop or gap between each song ,even if the songs are from the same gig.There must be a way to smooth that out in the mastering.If they take the time to hand pick the songs why did they not at least make it sound like a real show? That aside the sound is vastly improved from any other versions. I am probably nitpicking here,but it is aggravating.

Being in my mid 50s I’ve consumed all deep purple audio and video material from mark 1 to mark 4.(Thereafter, I discount Dp, the moment has gone)This is a very honest appraisal of deep purple mark 3 and 4.It’s tragic and brilliantThe band can’t carry Hughes and Bolin on drugsHowever Bolins songwriting with Coverdale on Come Taste The Band is brilliant.Technically not as good as In Rock, Machine Head or Burn.But it still sounds fresh to this dayThe late Jon lord also got thatVery breezy albumAn incredibly human presence from glen HughesJon a tad inconsistent at times

This is just my opinion, and me being a bit picky, cos the content, on the whole is excellent. It is a very good dvd, great insight into MK IV Deep Purple. Right, to the If I'm being very picky bit, too much MK II on it, and Jon Lord certainly pushes Gillan and his way of lyrics/ voice etc over David Coverdale, as the voice of Deep Purple.But, this is a MK IV dvd and tells of MK III's inception and endings which is very good and it would be great to have had David Coverdale and Ian Paice on it too. Glenn Hughes' contribution is very personal and in depth and adds to the snapshot of 1975/76 and everything that was happening. Tommy Bolin is honestly and respectively commented on by both Glenn and Jon Lord, if the dvd covers Roger Glover's Butterfly Ball that much (maybe cos the guy who filmed the concert footage in Japan did that too) then Tommy's Teaser album should have been represented, as Glenn sung on it too, and Purple played his songs at their gigs ( Wild Dogs should have been on the CD rather than Homeward Strut) and I think, maybe, a little more reaction to Tommy's passing rather than a couple of throw away comments.Geez I'm picky !! But, it is an excellent DVD and the addition of the Come Taste The Band EPK is brilliant. I'm very happy with the dvd, and as a Purple fan it is well worth buying. As a 70's child, I got into Purple in the late 90's, my favourites are Burn, Stormbringer and I love Come Taste The Band, so maybe that's why I get a bit picky that MKII is the best and defensive of MKIV as I didn't grow up with the band and got into it retrospectively.It's a very, very good dvd though, for fans of Deep Purple, in any band line-up.

This is a very well produced, high quality release, that is as interesting for the documentary as it is for the live footage of the notorious 'numb arm' gig, that was first released back in the 70's as Last Concert in Japan. If you want to hear the mark IV lineup at it's very best then track down the double live CD On the Wings of a Russian Foxbat. Ian Paice and Jon Lord are on top form and considering the circumstances, this is not a bad gig in it's own right. As a lifelong Purple fan, I loved it :)

Hi. I'm very happy because i'm a fan from Deep Purple and i order yesterday and today arrives my order. Great job. A perfect sound, image and the great music of my group. thank you. Abilio

I bought this DVD for my Dad for Fathers Day and he was delighted with it. It includes a CD and two interesting booklets about the band.