Deep Purple used to be the kings of rock - but that was getting on for a quarter of a century ago, before the good name of the band was irredeemably sullied by endless changes of line-up.

It is generally conceded that the band are long past their sell-by date yet last night was a chance to see what's regarded as the definitive line-up, minus moody guitarist Richie Blackmore.

After all these years the end result might have been two hours of crashing rock tedium and it is true that the dreaded bass guitar solo manifested itself as early as the fourth number.

But Deep Purple can draw from a stockpile of copper-bottomed rock riff classics which age cannot wither.

Thus the opener Fireball,the old chestnut Smoke On The Water and, possibly best of the evening, My Woman From Tokyo were warmly welcomed.

Other classics like Black Night and Speed King rapidly became mired by numbing instrumental interplay between organ and guitar.

The new stuff from the Purpendicular album unsurprisingly failed to elicit much excitement.

Vocalist Ian Gillan introduced the Purpendicular Waltz by saying sheepishly: "There's not a lot of reason for it but there it is.''

Much like Deep Purple in their current state.