Deep Purple – Live at Montreux 2011 (2011)
Celebrating decades of power, precision, and passion
Released in 2011, Live at Montreux 2011 captures Deep Purple during a late-career peak, performing at the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival. By this point, the band was firmly in the Steve Morse era, with a lineup that had matured into one of Deep Purple’s most technically accomplished and cohesive formations.
Montreux, a location forever linked to the band’s history, provides the perfect backdrop — a festival stage where Deep Purple could honor their legacy while delivering high-energy performances for longtime fans.
🎧 Mini Album Review
Live at Montreux 2011 is confident, polished, and musically adventurous.
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Tight and dynamic: The band sounds precise but never mechanical, balancing powerful riffs with melodic improvisation.
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Steve Morse’s artistry: Morse brings fluidity and versatility, reinterpreting classic Deep Purple songs while adding modern textures.
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Ian Gillan’s vocals: Mature, controlled, and expressive, proving his voice remains a defining element decades into the band’s career.
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Jon Lord’s legacy honored: While Lord had retired in 2009, his spirit resonates in Morse-era arrangements and keyboard interpretations.
Verdict:
A vibrant, late-era Deep Purple live album that balances nostalgia with current musical excellence.
🎶 Tracklist – Representative Highlights
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Pictures of Home
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Rapture of the Deep
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Wrong Man
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Strange Kind of Woman
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When a Blind Man Cries
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Contact Lost
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Highway Star
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Smoke on the Water
The setlist mixes classic Deep Purple staples with modern compositions, emphasizing both continuity and evolution.
👥 Personnel – Mark VIII Lineup
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Ian Gillan – Vocals
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Steve Morse – Guitar
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Don Airey – Keyboards
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Roger Glover – Bass
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Ian Paice – Drums
This lineup reflects Deep Purple’s stable modern era, combining legacy members with masterful newer talent.
🎼 Performance Highlights
🔥 Pictures of Home
The opening track immediately showcases the tight interplay between guitar, keyboards, and rhythm section, with Morse bringing nuanced solos.
🌊 Rapture of the Deep
Highlights the band’s modern compositional strength, retaining groove and intensity.
🎹 When a Blind Man Cries
Emotional and measured, Airey’s keyboards replace Lord’s signature voice while maintaining the song’s dramatic impact.
🔥 Highway Star & Smoke on the Water
Classic tracks are reinterpreted with maturity and precision, balancing familiar riffs with live spontaneity.
🎸 Fun Facts & Trivia
🎹 Keyboard transition
Don Airey’s style honors Jon Lord while adding modern harmonic sophistication.
🎤 Gillan’s longevity
At nearly 70, Ian Gillan delivers controlled, powerful performances, demonstrating remarkable stamina.
📀 Festival significance
Montreux has hosted Deep Purple repeatedly, making each appearance both a celebration and a homecoming.
🎸 Modern-era reinterpretation
Songs like Rapture of the Deep showcase how the band continued to innovate, even decades after their classic era.
🤔 Did You Know?
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Deep Purple have played Montreux more than almost any other major rock band, solidifying a unique historical relationship.
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Live at Montreux 2011 was released as CD/DVD and digital, capturing both audio fidelity and the visual energy of the festival.
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Steve Morse joined Deep Purple in 1994 and has since become integral to the band’s live sound, reimagining classic tracks with flair.
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Ian Paice remains the only member present on every Deep Purple recording and tour, including Montreux 2011.
🎼 Album Credits
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Recorded: July 15, 2011
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Venue: Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland
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Released: 2011
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Label: Eagle Rock Entertainment / Purple Records
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Producer: Roger Glover / Deep Purple
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Format: CD/DVD, digital
🧠 Legacy & Final Thoughts
Live at Montreux 2011 captures Deep Purple at peak maturity — technically flawless, musically adventurous, and emotionally resonant.
It demonstrates that decades into their career, Deep Purple could still:
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Deliver explosive classics with new energy
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Integrate modern compositions seamlessly
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Honor the legacy of Jon Lord while embracing Don Airey’s contributions
For fans, it’s a celebration of the band’s endurance, proving that Deep Purple’s spirit — their riffs, melodies, and improvisational fire — remains undiminished.
