Deep Purple/Perfect strangers recording session - friend's recollection

[Bent out of shape]

On seeing this video i touched base with a mate in the US,  a magician who was a friend of Ritchie's in the 1980s.  I forget how we got chatting  but he was present at the 1984 recording sessions and related the following which he said i could share with you guys. 


Yes that video brings back memories, but I’m guessing it was AFTER I was there, as they set up a “screen enclosure” by the steps going up to the mobile unit. That’s where RB sat and played his solos, so must’ve been set up for him. When I was there Cooky asked me to sit next to him with a fly swatter to keep the mosquitos away. It was the solo on Knocking at your back door, I sat there for 6 hours!! It was awesome, heard about 30+ different solos. Anyway, looks like they got smart and just mosquito proofed the steps. My recollection though, the steps were facing the opposite direction. Very cool to see that. Thanks!! Yea, his amps were in the garage (the doors you see), and had 4 mic set up at different distances. The truck was further away, so I really don’t remember if I heard the amp feed, probably just acoustically like you said. Ritchie was wearing headphones.It was daytime, so no moon or stars Yea man, I LOVED that album!! I only heard Knocking at your Back Door and Under the Gun while in Vermont, and couldn’t wait to get back home and work them out on my guitar by memory, so I could give my mates a preview of the new material, haha I only heard the songs without Ian’s vocals, was so pleasantly surprised when the album came out, just brilliant vocals. Oh yes, I was staying with Ritchie in the ski chalet he rented. They took me out for every meal, dinner at “The Pub” in Stowe, which was their hangout. Also staying in the chalet, Tami with Ritchie, and Cooky and his then wife (forget her name), she was Swedish. I didn’t bring athletic clothing, so I wore Ritchie’s shorts and running shoes to play soccer   
 
 
 
 

[Stitsel]

Awesome story, thank you!