| Main Performers | Glenn Hughes,
Al Matthews,
Helen Chappelle,
Eddie Hardin,
Barry St. John,
Tony Ashton,
Neil Lancaster,
John Gustafson,
Earl Jordan,
John Lawton,
Mickey Lee Soule,
David Coverdale,
Twiggy,
Liza Strike,
Judi Kuhl,
Ian Gillan,
Roger Glover - synthesizers,
Jon Lord - keyboards,
Eddie Jobson - keyboards, strings,
Mark Nauseef,
Jack Emblow,
Chris Karan,
Martyn Ford,
Mike Moran |
| Orchestra or Band | New World Symphony Orchestra,
Fancy (Mo Foster, Ray Fenwick, Les Binks) |
| Choirs | Trinity School of Croydon Boys Choir |
| Performance Notes | Language Warning: This record contains ableist language. For historic accuracy we have chosen not to remove or hide contentious language but instead retain and address its inclusion.
A one-off performance of the Butterfly Ball with a star-studded cast of rock musicians, most notably Ian Gillan who was drafted in at the last minute and received a standing ovation on his entrance, having replaced Ronnie James Dio. Gillan had not perfomed since leaving Deep Purple in 1973. The concert featured most of the musicians involved in the studio recording of 'The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast' album by Roger Glover, along with Jon Lord.
The event was filmed and released in 1976 produced by Tony Klinger.
"PROCESSION OF ROCK PEOPLE.
Conceived in 1807 as a poem by William Roscoe, revived two years ago by the artist Alan Aldridge for a sumptuous children's book, and most recently set to music by Roger Glover for an album, "The Butterfly Ball" was given an ambitious one-off performance at a crowded Albert Hall last night in aid of two charities.
It pleased superficially as a procession of rock music personalities and a series of attratcive songs with an unusually comfprtable fusion of amplifiers and orchestra. But the evening sagged limply as a structured concert.
This despite some immaculate readings by the gothic and lugubrious Vincent Price, intoning William Plomer's verses from a wicker chair in the organ loft.
Twiggy sang the final number "Homeward! beautifully, Ian Gillan and David Coverdale - successive lead vocalists with Deep Purple - greatly lifted morale and Tony Ahston played killing, irreverant blues. But the inevitable gaps between these cameo appearances were ruinous."
(The Daily Telegraph, 17 October 1975) |
| Related Archival Material | Programme (RAHE/1/1975/158) |