But as I’ve been playing around with various online AI programs over the past few weeks the idea popped into my head again. Having already written an AI-assisted piece about Hulk Hogan joining Metallica, I began to think about this idea again. I got together with my AI assistant, tossed around a few plot ideas, and came up with this second What If story.
So now I present to you the first chapter of my second What If story: What If…..Deep Purple Held a 50th Anniversary Concert?
Chapter One: "The Unlikely Dream"
It was a chilly winter morning in January 2018 when the idea of a 50th-anniversary concert for Deep Purple was first floated. The brainchild belonged to Bruce Payne, the band's longtime manager, who had been toying with the notion for months. Payne sat in his London office, surrounded by memorabilia and photos of the band's illustrious career, sipping his tea as he pondered the logistics.
"I'd been thinking about it for a while, and I thought, 'Why not celebrate it in a big way?' A concert at Wembley Stadium would be the perfect tribute," Payne recalled in an interview. "I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I was determined to make it happen."
Payne's first task was to track down Rod Evans, the original vocalist who had been a part of Deep Purple's formative years. Evans had long since retired from the music industry and was living a quiet life in the United States. Payne enlisted the help of a private investigator to locate Evans, who had reportedly moved several times over the years.
"I was living a normal life, far removed from the music industry," Evans said in a rare interview. "I was surprised when Bruce contacted me, but I was intrigued by the idea of a 50th-anniversary concert. I hadn't spoken to any of the guys in years, so I wasn't sure what to expect."
Evans was hesitant at first, but after discussing it with his family, he decided to take part. "I thought, 'Why not? It's a chance to celebrate the music and the memories.'"
Payne's next task was to convince the other members of Deep Purple to participate. Ritchie Blackmore, the band's iconic guitarist, was notoriously difficult to pin down. Payne had to navigate through Blackmore's team to schedule a meeting, which took place over a lavish dinner at a private club in London.
"Ritchie is a complex person, and it takes time to get through to him," Payne said. "But once he understood the concept, he was on board. He's always been passionate about the music, and he wanted to make sure it was done right."
Blackmore himself was more candid about his initial reservations. "I wasn't sure if it was a good idea, to be honest. I've had my differences with some of the other members over the years, and I wasn't sure if we could put our differences aside. But Bruce convinced me that it would be a celebration of the music, not a battle of egos."
With Blackmore's agreement, Payne turned his attention to the other members. Nick Simper, the band's original bassist, was easy to convince, having always been a proponent of reunions. Ian Paice, the drummer, was also enthusiastic, as was Roger Glover, the bassist who had joined the band in the late 1960s.
"I've always loved the idea of playing with the guys again," Glover said. "It's a chance to relive some amazing memories and make new ones."
Ian Gillan, the vocalist who had fronted Deep Purple during their most successful period, was initially hesitant. "I wasn't sure if it was a good idea, to be honest," Gillan said. "But when I heard that Rod was on board, I thought, 'Well, this could be interesting.'"
David Coverdale, who had replaced Gillan as vocalist, was also cautious. "I wanted to make sure it wasn't going to be some ego-fueled exercise," Coverdale explained. "But when I spoke to Bruce, I realized that this was about celebrating the music, not individual egos."
Glenn Hughes, the band's iconic bassist and vocalist, was thrilled at the prospect of reuniting with his former bandmates. "I've always loved the idea of playing with those guys again," Hughes exclaimed. "It's going to be a wild ride."
Steve Morse, the guitarist who had joined Deep Purple in the 1990s, was enthusiastic about the project, as was Don Airey, the band's keyboardist.
"I'm honored to be a part of this," Airey said. "It's a chance to pay tribute to Jon Lord's legacy and celebrate the music of Deep Purple."
With all the surviving members on board, Payne scheduled a press conference for February 15, 2018, at the iconic Wembley Stadium. The room was packed with journalists and camera crews as the members of Deep Purple took the stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is our great pleasure to announce that Deep Purple will be celebrating their 50th anniversary with a concert at Wembley Stadium on September 15, 2018," Payne declared to thunderous applause.
The members of Deep Purple took questions from the press, with Evans and Blackmore fielding queries about the concert and their experiences with the band. When asked about the lineup for the concert, Payne hinted that it would be a special occasion.
"We're going to have a few surprises," Payne teased. "Let's just say that it's going to be a celebration of Deep Purple's music, past and present."
One of the surprises was a supergroup of musicians who had been inspired by Deep Purple's work, fronted by none other than Bruce Dickinson, the iconic vocalist of Iron Maiden. The group, dubbed "The Purple Project," would be opening for Deep Purple at the concert.
"We're thrilled to be a part of this special event," Dickinson said. "We'll be playing a setlist of classic rock anthems and some of our own material. It's going to be a wild ride."
The supergroup's rehearsals were intense, with the musicians working tirelessly to perfect their performance. "We're all huge fans of Deep Purple," said Joe Bonamassa, the guitarist. "We're honored to be sharing the stage with them."
As the concert approached, anticipation grew. Would the various members of Deep Purple be able to put aside their differences and come together for one night of music? The world would soon find out.
The Wembley Stadium staff were busy preparing for the big night, setting up the stage and sound system. "We've had Deep Purple here before, but this is going to be something special," said a Wembley official. "The fans are going to go wild."
The tickets had sold out in record time, with fans from all over the world clamoring to be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime event. The excitement was building, and the band was ready to take the stage and celebrate 50 years of music.
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