Deep Purple – Phoenix Rising (2011)
Celebrating a legend’s return and the mark of Jon Lord’s legacy
Released in 2011, Phoenix Rising is a live/compilation hybrid and tribute package dedicated to Jon Lord, featuring recordings from the reunion tours, live concerts, and archival footage, along with interviews and bonus content. It was issued as both a CD/DVD set, combining audio and video to provide a full sensory experience of Deep Purple in the 2000s, with emphasis on Lord’s enduring influence.
The title Phoenix Rising reflects rebirth, resilience, and the enduring spirit of the band, symbolically linking Lord’s solo orchestral projects and his final years with Deep Purple.
🎧 Mini Album Review
Phoenix Rising is less a traditional studio or live album and more a celebration of history, performance, and personality.
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Audio-visual experience: DVD footage offers concert visuals, behind-the-scenes insights, and interviews.
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Focus on Jon Lord: Highlights his organ solos, compositional voice, and orchestral contributions.
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Curated setlists: Combines classic Deep Purple hits with newer material (Rapture of the Deep, Bananas), showing the band’s continued creativity.
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Collector’s value: For fans, it is both a tribute and a historical document.
Verdict:
A compelling package for archival enthusiasts and Deep Purple fans, capturing the band’s modern-era energy while honoring its musical pioneer, Jon Lord.
🎶 Tracklist – Representative Highlights (CD/DVD)
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Pictures of Home (Live)
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Rapture of the Deep (Live)
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Wrong Man (Live)
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Perfect Strangers (Live)
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Smoke on the Water (Live)
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Keyboard Solo / Lazy (Live)
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Interview & Behind-the-Scenes Footage
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Documentary Segments on Jon Lord
The DVD format allows extended performances, solo showcases, and candid insights that cannot be fully captured in standard audio releases.
📊 Commercial Performance
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Targeted fans and collectors, rather than mainstream charts
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Strong reception in Europe, Japan, and North America, particularly among audiences interested in Jon Lord’s orchestral contributions
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Frequently cited as a definitive celebration of Lord’s later Deep Purple years, bridging modern live shows with historical context
While not a blockbuster release, the package was praised for quality, depth, and emotional resonance.
👥 Personnel – Mark VIII/IX Lineup
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Ian Gillan – Vocals
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Steve Morse – Guitar
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Jon Lord – Hammond organ, keyboards
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Roger Glover – Bass
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Ian Paice – Drums
This lineup reflects Deep Purple’s stable Morse-era personnel, with Lord as the central musical anchor.
🎼 Performance Highlights
🔥 Pictures of Home
Expanded solo sections highlight Jon Lord’s improvisational brilliance.
🌊 Rapture of the Deep
Shows the modern band’s cohesion and energy, balancing groove with classic Purple elements.
🎹 Keyboard Solo / Lazy
Lord’s solo blends classical motifs with rock improvisation, a signature moment of the package.
🔥 Perfect Strangers & Smoke on the Water
These classics are treated with respect, showcasing the band’s tight interplay and live energy.
🎸 Fun Facts & Trivia
🎹 Jon Lord’s final tribute
Though Lord would still perform with Deep Purple until his retirement from touring in 2009, Phoenix Rising became a retrospective showcase of his influence.
📀 CD/DVD hybrid
This release combined audio recordings with extensive visual material, giving fans a full immersive experience.
🎤 Behind the scenes
The DVD features interviews, rehearsals, and documentary segments, showing the personal and musical dynamics of the band.
🤔 Did You Know?
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Jon Lord’s keyboard work remains a focal point, emphasizing why he was considered a rock-classical hybrid pioneer.
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The live recordings often include extended improvisational sections not found on studio releases.
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Phoenix Rising captures Deep Purple performing material spanning over 40 years, from early classics to modern compositions.
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The project also highlights the band’s mentorship and camaraderie, with Lord as a central figure in maintaining musical cohesion.
🎼 Album Credits
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Recorded: Various live performances and archive material (2005–2010)
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Released: 2011
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Label: Eagle Rock Entertainment / Purple Records
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Producer: Roger Glover / Jon Lord archival supervision
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Format: CD/DVD, digital
🧠 Legacy & Final Thoughts
Phoenix Rising is not just a live album — it’s a tribute, a historical archive, and a celebration of Jon Lord’s artistry. It showcases Deep Purple’s modern-era strength, their ability to reinterpret classic material, and their continuing relevance as a live act.
For fans, it provides a unique combination of music, visuals, and history, cementing Lord’s status as the architect of Deep Purple’s sonic identity. More than any other release of the 2000s, Phoenix Rising is about honoring legacy while embracing the present, making it a cornerstone for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
