Malice in Wonderland - Album Review

"I like this LP a lot.That doesn't mean it's faultless though, Ashton's limited vocals are likely to put a lot of people off.Why don't they get a good vocalist in, and let him get on with his superb keyboard work? I was also sorry that they failed to do anything startlingly original with the girl singers and the brass section. There is so much potential in this idea. 'Ghost Story' is the most promising number on the album, hopefully there'll be more along those lines on the next one (which they will record next month)". Ann.

Birmingham Odeon, 26th March 1977 - Live Review

This concert, along with the Rainbow Theatre gig, were filmed to add footage to a documentary on the group. The sound was loud and powerful, and had quite an impact. The dual keyboards, Martinez' excellent bass and Paice's drumming all combine to produce a classy sound. However, it is lacking something to work over that basic sound. By the time the set was half way over, and Bernie Marsden was getting wild applause for a really mediocre solo, I felt there was only me left unconvinced by it all.

Details of the Paice Ashton and Lord DVD:

T2 Media will release a DVD from PAL (PAICE, ASHTON, LORD) a group which emerged after the collapse of DEEP PURPLE in 1976. The band, which consisted of Ian Paice, Tony Ashton and Jon Lord, plus Paul Martinez (bass) and Bernie Marsden (guitar), didn't last long very long, having released just one studio album in addition to having played a few live concerts. The DVD includes the "Sight & Sound In Concert" from 1977. The tracks are as follows: 01.GhostStory 02.On the Road Again 03.Silas and Jerome 04.Arabella 05.The Ballad of Mr. Giver 06.I'm Gonna Stop Drinkin 07.Steamroller Blues 08.Malice in Wonderland 09.Remember the Good Times 10.Sneaky Private Lee The DVD also includes the "Lifespan" documentary with auditions, rehearsals, back-stage footage and live footage from the U.K. tour. release date 2007 . Not the cover on the DVD (Thanks: The Highway Star)   15 Sep 1974, Paladium, London, UK Only 3 days before another German Deep Purple tour Jon Lord did two shows at the London Paladium to showcase his 'First of the Big Bands' LP with old mate Tony Ashton. Ian Paice assisted on drums for these 2 shows - an indication of things to come in 1977 with PAL?.   A Special Thanks to Tony:     Tony Ashton Testimonial Concert June 16, 2000: Abbey Road Studios Though not a Who event, a few members of the band did participate: The Tony Ashton Testimonial Concert was held to celebrate Tony Ashton's (then) recovery from his recent illness. 300 tickets were made available to the public. The event was to be filmed and recorded for possible future release. The musical guests come from all eras of Tony's work, and included: Pete York, Geoff Whitehorn, Chris Barber, Eddie Hardin, Zoot Money, Mash, Johnny Johnson, Dave Williams, Bernie Marsden, Mick Moody, John Entwistle, Zak Starkey, Joe Brown, Jon Lord & Ian Paice. Tony Ashton passed away peacefully on Monday, 28th May, 2001 at his home. His wife Sandra and daughter Indira were at his side. Shortly before passing away Tony sent this message: Dear everyone, Thanks for all the messages and enquiries - recent tests show the cancer has spread and I've decided to refuse further treatment and come home. So - thanks to all, have a drink for me - cheers and bollox - Tony Ashton. This special commemorates Tony Ashton's unique talents, with particular focus on his connections to Deep Purple. Walid Itayim runs an excellent Tony Ashton web site with more details on the man in general. May his memory live with us forever. Tony Ashton DVD Release: TONY ASHTON Jon Lord's Eulogy "On Monday the 28th May 2001, the world became a sadder place. My best friend died that day, and part of me went with him. But because the world continues to turn - sadder and less bright though it may be - an accident of timing means that I cannot be there to stand with you and share with you the unbearably poignant yet beautiful release of saying "au revoir" to someone who meant, and still means, so much to us. This accident of timing puts me on another tour in another hotel room, on the road again, again. The timing is my fault - not, of course Tony's. Timing was actually one of his passions. Way before good jokes, good beer and bonhomie. Timing. The search for just that exact tempo for a song; just the right, laid-back groove. While we were in Munich making the Paice Ashton Lord album "Malice In Wonderland", sessions were very often put on hold while Tony and I "discussed" his vision of the tempo of a new song and Ian Paice sat behind his drum kit with a fixed and mildly exasperated smile on his face as Tony shaved another millisecond off the tempo. But the end result gloriously justified his exacting means, and 25 years - my God, a quarter of a century later - that album shines as one of Tony's great achievements. Ian & I could not have come close to it without him. Tony and I first met in the mid sixties in an R & B club in Chester called - appropriately enough - Quaintways. He was in The Remo Four and I was in my first band The Artwoods. We hit it off, talked abut the wondrous Hammond Organ for a while, then after agreeing to try to meet again some day, he went North and I went South. That day turned out to be a couple of years later in the office of Deep Purple's managers, and from then on we were buddies. Somehow we became a one-piano-four hands duo that we nicknamed "Jed & Ted" , and when I said goodbye to him the other day, it was: "See you Ted," that I said, and he said "See you Jed. I'll send you a postcard." He already has. I loved this lovely, genuine man, from the bottom of my heart. How I shall miss him. I shall miss his raucous humour and his humanity, the swift un-expected softness, and I shall miss his forthright dismissal of cant and hypocrisy. He didn't suffer fools gladly, but he gladly suffered the fools he loved. A clever chap once said "It is far more impressive when others discover your good qualities without your help." Well, Tony was never a self-advertist. He was a most self-effacing man who would be embarrassed by eulogies. At Tony & Sandra's wedding, I was the so-called Best Man and since then, Sandra usually opens a tel-ephone call to me with: "Hello Best Man, Bride here." Well, Tony was the best man at that wedding, and he was one of the best men I ever met or hope to meeet, and I will look forever on Tony Ashton and say "Nice one God". Jon Lord   Tony Ashton Memorial Concert, Buxton Opera House. 4th November 2001 - Live review