Deep Purple / Tokyo, Japan 04.11.2026 Complete

Deep Purple, who have returned to Japan for the first time in three years with their masterpiece “=1,” now have a superb original recording that captures their latest performance. This recording captures their “April 11, 2026: Nippon Budokan” concert, a truly exceptional audience recording that conveys the entire event. Although “=1” is a new album, it will be released in 2024. In the time leading up to this visit to Japan, Deep Purple have been busy with a world tour, and we have reported on them, starting with the pro-shot masterpiece “ROCK IN RIO 2024.” This is a good opportunity to get an overview of their activities to understand what they have been up to. May 1, 2024: Singapore performance; June 13 – August 8: Europe #1 (26 performances) [July 19: “＝1” release]; August 14 – September 8: North America #1 (19 performances); September 13 – 17: South America (3 performances) ← *ROCK IN RIO 2024 – October 17th – November 10th: Europe #2 (16 shows) 2025 – June 15th: São Paulo show, November 16th – 23rd: Asia #1 / Middle East (3 shows) 2026 – April 11th – 22nd: Asia #2 (5 shows) ←★HERE★, June 11th – July 19th: Europe #3 (16 shows), August 4th – September 12th: North America #2 (24 shows), September 11th – November 25th: Europe #4 (37 shows), December 13th – 19th: Mexico (4 shows) Outstanding, superb recording that won the record-breaking competition This is the schedule for 2024-2026 that has been announced so far. In 2025 they were hardly active with only four live shows, but this year they are on a full-fledged tour. This visit to Japan is part of their “Asia #2” tour, marking a fresh start, and this recording at the Nippon Budokan was their first concert of the tour. This recording, which perfectly captures that show, is an absolutely superb masterpiece. As this was such a highly anticipated concert, we have received numerous masterpieces from renowned recording engineers, but this recording stands out among them for its exceptional quality. The sound is incredibly thick and direct, without any sense of distance, and the contours are sharp and clear down to the smallest detail. Each note is beautifully separated, and even when the five musicians’ playing intertwines, it doesn’t blend together. It’s the kind of recording that’s “just like a soundboard,” but what creates an even greater dynamism is the subtle hall resonance and the palpable excitement of the live performance. It’s as direct as a raw, direct-connection soundboard, yet it adds an exquisite richness and depth, resulting in a magnificent balance that is powerful yet free from muddiness or distortion—it’s simply breathtaking. To simply call this “perfect soundboard quality” might be an insult to this sound…that’s the kind of beautiful sound that crosses your mind. This masterful sound portrays a “latest MADE IN JAPAN” that is different from their previous visit to Japan (2023). Here, let’s organize it by comparing it with their previous masterpiece, “BUDOKAN 2023”. Classics (4 songs + 5 songs) – Machine Head: Highway Star / Lazy / Space Truckin’ / Smoke On The Water – Others: Hard Lovin’ Man (★) / Into The Fire (★) / When A Blind Man Cries / Hush / Black Night – Others (3 songs + 3 songs) – =1: A Bit On The Side (★) / Lazy Sod (★) / Bleeding Obvious (★) – Others: Uncommon Man / Anya / Guinnesis (★) *Note: Songs marked with “★” were not included in the masterpiece “BUDOKAN 2023” from their previous visit to Japan. …And so it goes. In addition to the familiar classics, the setlist is sprinkled with new songs from the much-talked-about masterpiece “=1”. It’s not just that there are more new songs; “Hard Lovin’ Man” and “Into The Fire” from “IN ROCK” have also been revived. And what’s most noteworthy is the new songs. Three tracks from “=1″—”A Bit On The Side,” “Lazy Sod,” and “Bleeding Obvious”—are featured, along with the debut of the instrumental jam track “Guinnesis.” Newer repertoire not included in the previous release is firmly incorporated. “Lazy Sod” in particular features an excellent transition from Don Airey’s keyboard solo to “Lazy,” showcasing a beautiful blend of old and new—a hallmark of the current Deep Purple. Meanwhile, “Uncommon Man” and “Anya” remain from their post-reunion discography, resulting in a well-balanced and fulfilling setlist featuring classic hits, staples, and new material. Since Simon McBride joined, Deep Purple has steadily updated their band identity. This album, a vacuum-packed representation of their latest form with the world’s finest sound, is truly a “2026 version of Made in Japan.” A new masterpiece from Japan that the world can be proud of. This is a superb audience recording of the “April 11, 2026: Nippon Budokan” performance. Capturing the first day of their comeback tour and first visit to Japan in three years, this is a truly exceptional original recording. The beautiful sound, with its thick, direct core blended with the subtle resonance of the hall, surpasses even soundboard recordings. The setlist, including three new songs from “=1,” has been significantly revamped since their last visit, resulting in a beautiful fusion of old and new, creating the “2026 version – MADE IN JAPAN.” Budokan, Tokyo, Japan 11th April 2026 Disc:1 (54:56) 1. Intro 2. Highway Star 3. A Bit on the Side 4. Hard Lovin’ Man 5. Into the Fire 6. Uncommon Man 7. Lazy Sod 8. Keyboard Solo 9. Lazy 10. When a Blind Man Cries Disc:2 (51:00) 1. Anya 2. Keyboard Solo 3. Bleeding Obvious 4. Space Truckin’ 5. Smoke on the Water 6. Guinnesis 7. Hush 8. Black Night