Contact: irockinparis((@))yahoo((dot))fr
Updated Jan 25 with links to videos
Rock Meets Classic @
Zénith, Paris Jan 24 2012
Feat: Ian Gillan (Deep Purple), Steve Lukather (Toto), Chris Thompson ( Manfred Mann), Robin Beck, Jimi Jamison (Survivor) + Matt Sinner Band
Jimi Jamison (Survivor)
"Rock Meets Classic" What's this ? A few years ago there was the British Rock Symphony with singers like Roger Daltrey, Paul Rodgers, Alice Cooper playing pop-rock covers with a classical orchestra, I guess it's the same concept, we shall see...
Apart from Deep Purple's Ian Gillan and Toto's Steve Lukather the other singers are completely unknown over here so it's not a big surprise to see when we get into the Zénith that's it's a (very) small Zénith (2500 capacity).
Literally there's no standing pit and only a few rows on the floor and the stalls are half empty.
In fact from what people told me they only sold around 800 tickets. Hard to believe.
Maybe a lack of publicity or the tickets were too expensive, in Germany this Rock meets Classic is playing in front of sold out arenas.
There's a classical orchestra in the back (30-40 musicians) & the Matt Sinner hard rock band.
In fact there's almost no classical music at all apart from a couple of intros, after a a good version of "Jump" sung by one of the backing vocalist we have the first "star" of the night Jimi Jamison singer from Survivor who was consider very seriously to join Deep Purple but his managers didn't wanna let him go so Joe Lynn Turner was hire.
The man has a great voice he's playing His songs (AOR music) with some classical arrangements for the orchestra, it will be like this for the whole show.
Cool set
SETLIST:
Intro "1984" + "Jump" from Van Halen
1) Burning Heart 2) Didn't know it was love 3) The search is over 4) I can't hold back 5)
Eye of the tiger with
Jimi JamisonRobin Beck1) Hide your heart 2) Tears in the rain 3) First time
Female pint-size american singer Robin Beck is playing a few songs, she's sexy and has a great voice but she's dressed like shit and looks more like a (sexy) house-wife who's been ask to sing a couple of tunes.
Another soft rock singer that would please american audiences but here in Paris ?
Chris Thompson4 songs :You're the voice,Davy's on the road again ,
Blinded by the light ,The mighty Quinn
Then we have Chris Thompson , Chris Who ? Another completely unknown singer in France playing songs that nobody knows.
He's doing his best to get the audience of 40 something standing up, it's not bad but it's difficult to appreciate songs you've never heard from a guy you don't know.
Overall good first part before a 20 min intermission
Intermission Steve Lukather
Intro 1)
Rosanna 2)
While my guitar gently weeps 3) Africa 4) I'll be over you 5)
Hold the Line (here on video)
Luckily Steve Lukather is rocking with his Toto covers and the guitar playing is neat, nice George Harrison cover too
Great set
full review in the morning
Ian Gillan
Last in line is Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan for some Purple songs, Ian looks a bit tired and his right foot is in a cast but he's gonna deliver a great performance, can't go wrong with songs like this. Great to hear "knocking..." at last(here on video),Deep Purple should play it.
1) Highway Star 2) Knocking at your back door" 3)
Perfect Strangers 4) When a blindman cries 6) Woman for Tokyo 7) Hush
Encore 8) Smoke on the water (with everybody)
For the last song all the singers are joining Ian for a very good rendition of "Smoke on the water".
A/S with Steve Lukather
Good show with some great songs but I'm not too sure about the concept.
Rock Meets classic it's more Classic rock with some classical musicians for extra flavour.
This might be popular in the USA or Germany but over here in France?
Or maybe with other singers because who knows jimi Jamison, Robin Beck & Chris Thompson ?
Overall good first part and great second part but it sounded more like a rock version of
"Age tendre et tête de bois"
The Musical Box (Genesis cover Band) is playing @ Olympia on
Feb 26Don't forget to check our reviews of:
- Deep Purple @ Zénith, Paris Nov 10 2010 ( With LOTS of great pictures) Part 1, Part 2
- DEEP PURPLE @ Fete de L'Humanité on Sept 12 2009 in front of more than 60 000 people (with Pics FROM the stage, setlist & videos)
- Ian PAICE clinic in Paris @ Trianon Hall on Sept 20 2009 with once again Pics from he stage (with Video)
