DamneD purple!

I really loved this issue, as I grew up with the Purple offshoots and discovered the mothership via them rather than the other way round. I also adore The Damned (the first three albums I bought were

Rick Wakeman’s King Arthur, Damned Damned Damned and Peter Gabriel), and have long considered them massively underrated.

So I was trying to think of a link between them, as your editorial suggested. I thought I’d cracked it with Paul & Barry Ryan’s Eloise as I think it was an Arthur Greenslade arrangement, and Jon Lord did sessions for him… But no, although Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones were on it. I really can’t come up with one, though that’s surprising considering The Damned have more prog and heavy connections than any other punk band.

And I haven’t even mentioned the Wishbone Ash piece yet… Incidentally, I’m probably the hundredth person to mention it, but the conductor on Purple’s Concerto For Group And Orchestra was Malcolm Arnold, not Michael. I hate to nitpick, but I mention it as he was a complete loon and probably made the Purps look like reasonable and safe chaps. Anyway, seriously good issue – my favourite for almost a year (since the NWOBHM one).

Andy Boot, via email Good issue this month. The Greta Van Fleet review nails it. I went to see them in Manchester, and really didn’t want to like them. However they were spot on, great night, good fun – terrific guitar and bass player. What’s not to like? (Led who?)

The question on links to all the old school via the Damned – sure loads of people have already told you that the current damned bass player, Paul Gray was an 80s member of UFO. Where’s Pete Frame when you need him most?!

Jonathan Jordan, via email Heh! It’s tangential, but we’ll take it. Purple to Schenker to UFO to The Damned. Nice one.