Back in early 2020, Australian Comedy Rock musician Cameron Hons was planning to work on his next album, when all of a sudden, the world was shut out due to the emerging COVID pandemic. Many places were shut, people couldn't go anywhere, and worst of all, live music for a while was cancelled!
While not going out during these tough times didn't bother Cameron much, he records music at his home anyway. "The lockdowns were the main inspiration of me wanting to do a "Deep Purple" tribute album." says Cameron. "Originally, I wanted to do our own version of the "Machine Head" album. When I asked some friends what songs they wanted to play with me, they said stuff like "Strange Kind Of Woman", or "Black Night" as well. So I ended up turning the album into a full blown tribute album of some of our favourite Deep Purple songs."
This was Cameron's first ever tribute - covers album. He had never made one before. "At the time, I thought ... I don't sing like any of the Deep Purple singers. What should I do?" Copying the songs exactly wasn't part of the plan. "In the end I thought, the only reason we can do this album is if we make these cover songs sound like our own versions, rather than flat out copying them directly, unlike most commercial Tribute Albums do. This ended up being more fun not only for me, but for everyone involved."
In the end, 15 classic Deep Purple tracks were chosen by Cameron and his group of musical friends. Thanks to the internet, during global lockdowns, music was recorded around the world by the guests, or at Cameron's place for his own songs, and then he'd set up and do the rest, unless if someone else was producing said track.
Looking back at the experience, Cameron says "It was a lot of work, and a [lot of] money involved for using some of the people. But it was a very interesting experience. I met loads of nice people as well as using some of my existing musical friends on the album." Some musicians were from the UK, America, Singapore, and Australia. They did it all when you couldn't go around and travel very far.
Upon release, Cameron decided that the process was so fun he ended up doing not 1 but 2 more Deep Purple tribute albums. "I ran out of space on the first album!" Said Cameron. "I wanted to put 'You Keep On Movin'" and "Mary Long" on there but decided to put it on the next one. They were gonna be released in 3 consecutive years, from 2020, 2021 and 2022. But I ended up releasing 2 in the one year several months apart, just because they were so fun."
"Perfect Strangers" cover featuring Cameron Hons (keyboards), Alberto Rigoni (bass), Albert Marshall (guitars), Stefano Stex Sprignadello (vocals), Marco Minnemann (Drums) from the album 'Cameron Hons & Friends - A Tribute To Deep Purple Volume 2 (2021)Over the 3 Tribute To Deep Purple albums, were there any songs that didn't make the cut? "I really wanted to do 'The Cut Runs Deep' from the [Slaves & Masters] album, but I couldn't sing it. I tried "Wrong Man" from the [Rapture Of The Deep] album, and had played the Instrumentals but couldn't sing it. I wanted to do "Mad Dog" from the [House Of Blue Light] album, but I couldn't find anyone to sing it!" Cameron laughs.
Now Cameron has recently, personally re-mastered all three 'Tribute To Deep Purple' albums. Giving them a fresh new life, and hopefully new listeners can discover the albums and enjoy them too.
"I had people telling me 'You're crazy, you can't do this. It's impossible" some said. Well here they happened and not only that we ended up doing three of them!" Cameron laughs.
Listen to the newly remastered "Cameron Hons & Friends - A Tribute To Deep Purple Volume 1 - 3" albums on his Bandcamp page today.
Cameron Hons & Friends - A Tribute To Deep Purple (Deluxe Edition)
03 Black Night (Feat. Harris Stamos)
05 Never Before (Feat. Lucas Shady)
10 Pictures Of Home
11 Speed King (Feat. Pirate Party The Band)
15 Stormbringer (Feat. AEONIX)
Cameron Hons & Friends - A Tribute To Deep Purple (Volume 2)
Cameron Hons & Friends - A Tribute To Deep Purple (Volume 3)
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