Deep Purple Bring Their Portable Door To Singapore Rockfest

May 2, 2024

After Incubus brought nostalgia to the mid-’90s generation at the opening of Singapore Rockfest on 29 April, for the Mayday holiday, it was the legendary Deep Purple, one of the pioneers of world rock and metal, who set fire to Singapore Rockfest.

Deep Purple – Singapore Rockfest 2024

Words And Photography: Umar R

The Deep Purple audience was dominated by the ’70s to ’90s generations and there were also several young people and small children brought by their parents.

Around 8 pm, with no introduction, Deep Purple immediately shocked the crowd at The Star Theater with Highway Star and then Pictures Of Home and No Need To Shout.

Singapore Rockfest is very special because it’s the first time Deep Purple performed the new single Portable Door, which will be part of their new album = 1 to be released soon. Portable Door is the seventh song out of a total of 13 performed in tonight’s set.

Deep Purple’s performance closed with two encores, Hush and Black Night.

Deep Purple, with four members over 70 years old, even Ian Gillan and Roger Glover, who are approaching 80, are still excellent. Ian Gillan can still shout, grinningly with his high voice; Ian Paice remains stable and strong enough to hit the drum set.

Roger Glover is stable in maintaining each Deep Purple rhythm with his energetic style, and Don Airey is a wizard with his keyboard set. Airey inserted the melody of the folk song Rasa Sayange, which originates from Indonesia and is also very popular in Malaysia and Singapore, in his solo.

Meanwhile, Simon McBride, the young blood of Deep Purple, appeared very impressive with his shredder actions on his PRS guitar.

Deep Purple could be said to literally provide a ‘portable door’ to each person of the thousands who filled The Star Theater to fill their imaginations of the music.

MetalTalk Indonesia thanks Lauretta and Ross Knudson of LAMC Productions for the opportunity to provide coverage. We can’t wait for the performance of the guitar maestro duo Yngwie Malmsteen and Marty Friedman in their next act at Singapore Rockfest on 2 May.

Singapore Rockfest will be closed by All Time Low on 5 May 2024.