Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan has declared the band's forthcoming album, Splat!, marks a vibrant return to the "dynamics, the balance and the fun" of their seminal early 1970s sound. The British rock band, formed in 1968, will release their 24th studio album on 3 July.
New Album Details
The new record sees the iconic group collaborating with acclaimed producer Bob Ezrin, known for his work with Kiss, Pink Floyd, Lou Reed and Alice Cooper. Described as "the heaviest Deep Purple album in many years," it promises a powerful sonic experience.
Gillan expressed enthusiasm for the band's current direction, stating: "Where we are now with this incarnation of Deep Purple feels very much like a very 'now' version of Deep Purple as it was in the 70s." He added: "I have to say, now we are very much back in with material that is compatible with Highway Star, Smoke On The Water, Lazy – the dynamics, the balance, and the fun of the music we made from 69 to 73. Deep Purple is in a great place right now."
Legacy and Tour
Pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, Deep Purple's enduring legacy includes the anthem Smoke On The Water, from their 1972 album Machine Head. Famed for its iconic guitar riff, this track recounts the true story of the 1971 Montreux Casino fire. Highway Star and Lazy also feature on the same landmark album.
Fans can experience the band live later this year on a UK tour, kicking off in Newcastle on 18 November. Dates include Glasgow, Birmingham, and Manchester, culminating in London shows at the Eventim Apollo and the Royal Albert Hall on 24 and 25 November.
Meeting with Japanese Prime Minister
Elsewhere, the group recently paid a special visit to one of their most high-profile fans, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, during their return to the country they first toured over 50 years ago. Ms Takaichi, known for her passion for hard rock and heavy metal and her skills as an amateur drummer, has long cited Deep Purple among her favourite bands, alongside Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden.
During the brief encounter, a visibly excited Ms Takaichi presented drummer Ian Paice with a signed set of Japanese-made drumsticks, telling him in English, "You are my god." Following a photo opportunity with lead singer Ian Gillan and other band members, the Prime Minister recounted her long-standing connection to their music.
She revealed purchasing their iconic Machine Head album in grade school, an LP featuring hits like Smoke on the Water and Highway Star. Ms Takaichi also shared her past as a keyboardist in a Deep Purple tribute band during middle school, before switching to drums at university. She light-heartedly quipped, "These days, when I fight with my husband I drum to 'Burn' and cast a curse on him."
