To: ELP-digest@reluctant.com From: Nick Zales Subject: ELP Mishmash Date: 8/25/98 8:59 PM As I did when I saw the joint Jethro Tull/ELP performance a few years ago, I was disappointed that ELP is playing back-up band on this summer tour. At least Tull was interesting. I saw the show in Milwaukee on August 24th. There were about 2,500 people in the 18,000 seat outside venue. They were so desperate to sell tickets they put good seats on sale for $12. ELP was excellent. But Deep Purple sucked and Dream Theatre is a bombastic guitar band with NO subtlety. Deep Purple's set sounded like the same song being played over and over again with breaks for "guitar hero" Steve Morse to jam. Jon Lord was a joke. Great keyboard player? That's a laugh. His doodlings could be copied by a freshman in music school. After ELP about 1/4 of the people left. ELP by themselves would have drawn just as many people. I didn't enjoy wading through the mediocre music of lesser hack bands to hear ELP. Next time ELP should either tour alone or forgo a tour. I hate to say that but I want ELP, not two other hack bands that lack class and good taste. Now if they would tour with Yes or Genesis - that would really be something - but Deep Purple was a joke and deserves to be placed upon the scrap heap of old raunchy washed-up rock bands. Nick Zales