von Joanna Ostrowiecka

The Opole concert was very well organized this year. First of all, the accompanying band was much better than the one 2 years ago. I'm happy Ian Paice invited Free Blues Band from Szczecin, the best Polish bluesrockers. The Kochanowski Theatre is a very nice place. The seats are comfortable, so we could see the whole stage from our 3rd row. This time, Paice's drums were blue. My favourite colour:).

At first, the drum master greeted us and played solo his own composition. Super! Lots of surprises, a great deal of energy, as usual. The drummer is always full of fantastic invention. I was about to go mad with enthusiasm. The audience was delighted, too. After his awesome solo, the great drummer came up to the mic and announced Free Blues Band, the group that supported Deep Purple in Szczecin last year. Unusual people. They had only just entered the scene when the atmosphere got still hotter. They started with their own song, "Big Game", but in general, the band played Deep Purple's songs. The first one was "Rosa's Cantina" (it was a big surprise to us). Then "Highway Star", "Knocking at Your Back Door", "Perfect Strangers" (of course!), "Space Truckin'", "Strange Kind of Woman", "Smoke on the Water" (absolutely!), "Black Night"... During "Strange Kind of Woman", another guitarist stepped on stage: Andrzej Nowak from TSA, our best heavy metal band. Smiling the whole time, he was shaking his long fair hair and twisted his body funnily. I needn't say he played perfectly. As for FBB, the leader Andrzej Malcherek was in turn standing continually on one leg, showing us the size of his shoe:))). The bass player, Kamil Zuchowski, was always making funny faces. We had a ball indeed. Yes, the band members have an exceptional sense of humour. Only the organist Agnieszka Malcherek couldn't move, but she smiled all the time:).

I think I needn't say Ian Paice was great. Were it not for those chairs, I'd start do dance. I could stamp my feet only. He played perfectly, beautifully, also the FBB's compositions. He was pleased with that band, it could be seen. I know well Free Blues Band; they often play "Perfect Strangers" and "Smoke". They always interpret Deep Purple their own way and they did so in Opole as well. Awesome performance. Therefore we didn't let the artists go, so Ian Paice came back and he promised us to play again "if I manage to call the band" as he said. And we heard another FBB's song: "Time Quest", from their latest album. Unfortunately, it was the last song of the evening. Finally, Andrzej Malcherek invited us to Piekary, to the next IP's show that had to be the next day. I wish I was there. I heard the Piekary gig was still more exciting.

After the show, Ian Paice came to see us. He allowed us to take as many photos as we desired and he signed all our record sleeves. He must have got exhausted again because there were lots of fans in the foyer! But he was very kind and he kept on smiling. He did n't go until he signed everything. By the way, he's a quite handsome fellow:))). I regret I can't go to Piekary. but I hope Ian Paice will come to Poland again. If he wants to play in Opole, he must do it at the Kochanowski Theatre, nowhere else. Many thanks, Ian, Free Blues Band, Mr Nowak. You were unbelievable!

-Joanna Ostrowiecka