Live at The Rainbow London: Expanded Edition

Cherry Red are proud to announce the resurrection of Purple Records with the release of Silverhead’s classic catalogue.

Deep Purple were originally signed in 1968 to Parlophone Records in the UK, before switching to EMI’s progressive imprint, Harvest, the following year. Purple Records was set up in 1971, not just to release Deep Purple’s records from “Machine Head” onwards, but also the various side projects that the band members were developing, and artists that they were discovering and respected. The label would eventually become home to debut solo releases from Deep Purple’s Jon Lord, Roger Glover, David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes, as well as early releases from Yvonne Elliman and Ronnie James Dio with Elf.

Purple Records tenth release was from a new band called Silverhead, which featured Blondie bassist Nigel Harrison, future Robert Plant guitarist Robbie Blunt, and fronted by the legendary Michael Des Barres. Their much feted self-titled debut was released by Purple in 1972.

Each 2016 reissue features rare memorabilia, exclusive bonus tracks, and liner notes based on new interviews with Silverhead frontman Michael Des Barres, plus founder members Nigel Harrison and Rod Rook Davies.

LIVE AT THE RAINBOW LONDON (PURPLE 003)
When Silverhead supported Nazareth at North London’s famed Rainbow Theatre on November 9, 1973, they didn’t even know that they were being recorded, which no doubt added to the lively and spontaneous recording here. Posthumously released in Japan only in 1975, by which time the band had sadly disbanded, it is a collection of the best songs from their first two albums, plus ‘James Dean’ from what would have been Silverhead’s third LP. As well as an alternative live recording of the aforementioned ‘James Dean’, plus the obligatory cover of Chuck Berry’s ‘Roll Over Beethoven’, this release also includes the band’s previously unreleased “In Concert” recording at the BBC’s Paris Theatre on August 31st, 1973.

The life and times of Michael Des Barres, including the short but incendiary career of Silverhead, are included in a new documentary “Michael Des Barres: Who Do You Want Me To Be?”