"Vavoom: Ted the Mechanic" is the first song on ''

Purpendicular ''Purpendicular'' is the fifteenth studio album by the English rock band Deep Purple, released in 1996. It is their first album with guitarist Steve Morse from Dixie Dregs, who replaced Ritchie Blackmore. Recording The album was recorded at G ...

'',

Deep Purple Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in London in 1968. They are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal music, heavy metal and modern hard rock music, but their musical style has changed over the course of its existence. Ori ...

's first studio album featuring

guitarist A guitarist (or a guitar player) is a person who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of guitar family instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselv ...

Steve Morse. The song is notable for its use of

pinch harmonic Playing a string harmonic (a flageolet) is a string instrument technique that uses the nodes of natural harmonics of a musical string to isolate overtones. Playing string harmonics produces high pitched tones, often compared in timbre to a w ...

s. It remained as the first song in the band's live sets after the album's release so that Morse could start the show by playing the first notes of the new album.

Vocalist Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...

Ian Gillan has stated that the lyrics are based on the true-life story of a man he once met in a pub during the recording sessions for the 1987 album ''

The House of Blue Light ''The House of Blue Light'' is the 12th studio album by British rock band Deep Purple, released in 1987. It was the second recording by the reformed Mark II line-up, and the sixth studio album overall by this formation of the band. Recording ...

''. The two started talking, and Gillan wrote down the man's story on some napkins which he then put away and forgot about. He discovered them years later and they became the basis for the lyrics of "Vavoom: Ted the Mechanic". The song was a live staple during the ''Purpendicular'' tour, and was also played during more recent tours as well. The "Vavoom" in the song's title comes from the end of each verse, where Gillan says the word, leading into the chorus. On all live albums that feature the song, though, the title is simply listed as "Ted the Mechanic".

Personnel

* Ian Gillan -

vocals Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...

* Steve Morse -

guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...

* Roger Glover -

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gui ...

* Jon Lord -

organ Organ may refer to: Biology * Organ (biology), a part of an organism Musical instruments * Organ (music), a family of keyboard musical instruments characterized by sustained tone ** Electronic organ, an electronic keyboard instrument ** Hammond ...

* Ian Paice -

drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...

References

{{Authority control Deep Purple songs Songs written by Ian Gillan Songs written by Roger Glover Songs written by Jon Lord Songs written by Ian Paice Songs written by Steve Morse 1996 songs