Deep Purple - ...To the Rising Sun (In Tokyo) (2015)
Deep Purple – …To the Rising Sun (In Tokyo) (2015)
A fiery live testament to the modern-era band
Released in 2015, …To the Rising Sun (In Tokyo) captures Deep Purple performing in Tokyo, Japan, during the Steve Morse era, showcasing the band’s continued vitality decades into their career. This live album/DVD documents a 2001–2015 era tour, highlighting both classic Deep Purple tracks and modern compositions, demonstrating the band’s ability to balance legacy and innovation in a live setting.
Tokyo, a city with a long-standing Deep Purple fanbase, provides an energetic atmosphere, and the band responds with precision, power, and charisma, making this release a standout in their modern live catalog.
🎧 Mini Album Review
…To the Rising Sun (In Tokyo) is tight, dynamic, and celebratory, blending the classic hard rock energy of Mk II with the modernity of the Steve Morse lineup.
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Steve Morse’s guitar work: Smooth, melodic, and adventurous, adding fresh interpretations to classic material.
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Ian Gillan’s vocals: Mature yet powerful, navigating both old hits and new tracks with control and emotion.
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Don Airey’s keyboards: Dynamic and texturally rich, paying homage to Jon Lord’s legacy while contributing modern flair.
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Setlist balance: Combines classics (Smoke on the Water, Highway Star, Perfect Strangers) with newer tracks (Rapture of the Deep, Hell to Pay).
Verdict:
A vibrant modern-era live release, perfect for fans seeking a blend of Deep Purple’s past and present energy.
🎶 Tracklist – Representative Highlights
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Highway Star
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Hard Lovin’ Man
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Lazy
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Strange Kind of Woman
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Rapture of the Deep
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Perfect Strangers
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Smoke on the Water
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Hell to Pay
The setlist reflects the band’s commitment to honoring classic material while integrating modern compositions seamlessly into the live show.
👥 Personnel – Steve Morse 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 represents Deep Purple’s most stable and versatile modern formation, blending legacy and contemporary skill.
🎼 Performance Highlights
🔥 Highway Star
Opener delivers high-energy riffs, tight rhythm, and precision solos, setting the stage for an electrifying performance.
🌊 Rapture of the Deep
Showcases the modern-era band’s songwriting and musicianship, with Morse and Airey adding fresh textures.
🎹 Lazy
A platform for extended improvisation, featuring Airey’s Hammond-inspired keyboards and Morse’s dynamic guitar solos.
⚡ Smoke on the Water
Classic riff retains its power while updated arrangements make it feel contemporary without losing nostalgia.
🎸 Fun Facts & Trivia
🎤 Japanese fans’ energy
Tokyo audiences are known for their enthusiasm, and the band feeds off the crowd’s energy, resulting in performances that are both tight and exciting.
🎹 Don Airey vs. Jon Lord
While Jon Lord’s legacy looms large, Airey brings his own expressive style, blending rock, classical, and jazz influences.
📀 DVD and CD release
The album was released as a CD/DVD combo, giving fans both audio fidelity and visual energy from the Tokyo show.
🎸 Morse’s reinterpretation of classics
Steve Morse reimagines classic Deep Purple guitar parts, adding nuance and improvisation without losing the essence of Blackmore’s originals.
🤔 Did You Know?
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The title, …To the Rising Sun, references Japan’s nickname as the Land of the Rising Sun.
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The band performed both legacy and modern tracks, bridging decades of Deep Purple history in one concert.
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Ian Paice, as always, anchors the band with precision and power, seamlessly navigating tempo changes and extended jams.
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This release demonstrates the longevity and relevance of Deep Purple, even decades after their formation.
🎼 Album Credits
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Recorded: 2011–2015, Tokyo, Japan
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Released: 2015
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Label: Eagle Rock / Purple Records
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Producer: Roger Glover / Deep Purple archival team
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Format: CD/DVD, digital
🧠 Legacy & Final Thoughts
…To the Rising Sun (In Tokyo) is a celebration of Deep Purple’s modern-era strength, proving that:
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The Steve Morse lineup can perform classics with fidelity and innovation
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The band remains technically precise and musically adventurous
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New material (Rapture of the Deep, Hell to Pay) integrates naturally with older hits
For fans, it is a definitive document of Deep Purple in the 2010s, showcasing energy, skill, and the enduring spirit of one of rock’s greatest bands.
