Softback 128 pages, Fully illustrated in colour throughout
A Nasty Piece Of Work focuses on the final tumultuous year for the classic Deep Purple MKII line-up. When the line-up reformed in 1984, it proved once again that this was the definitive Deep Purple and their 1985 US tour was the second biggest grossing that year. Sadly by 1989 the friction between Blackmore and Gillan that had led to the spilt first time around did so again and Gillan was fired.
With all eyes on the 25th anniversary of the band's 1968 inception, there was huge pressure both from within and outside the band for Gillan to return to the fold so that the occasion could be celebrated in style.
The critics said it wouldn't work — it did. And they said it wouldn't last... well they were certainly right about that! Upon Gillan's return in ‘92 they finished the album and planned to embark on a world tour. The American tour was cancelled, leaving just Europe and Japan. Despite tensions within the band, Jon Lord said, “the shows were done at an energy level and ability level I’ve rarely seen attained before. I think we played as well as we’ve ever played.”
In all there would be just thirty-seven shows — the last hurrah of the ultimate Deep Purple line-up. Bloom caught ten of the thirty-seven shows and was privy to some of the shenanigans that went on, making him the ideal person to document the last MKII tour in detail.
Along with the comprehensive narrative, this book includes many shots of the band both on stage as well as backstage, in hotels, on aeroplanes and relaxing as the tour wound its way across Europe culminating in Blackmore's last show with the band in Finland on 17th November 1993. The definitive word on the last days of the definitive Deep Purple line-up.
