Ian Gillan rubbishes Deep Purple retirement rumours
Singer also recalls Ritchie Blackmore setting fire to amps to disrupt a Yes festival set…
Last updated 13th Aug 2024
Ian Gillan has quashed any suggestion that Deep Purple are close to the end of the road, despite their current tour with Yes having been billed as the ‘=1 More Time’ tour, in reference to new album ‘=1’.
“Well, you know what, it was only recently that I heard somebody mention (the tour name)”, he told Ultimate Classic Rock.
“I’d never heard that before. I’d never even spoken to anybody about it. No one asked me. That’s rubbish. (Laughs) That’s not the name of the tour. I think the tour is called 'Unleashed'.”
The tour was certainly billed ‘=1 More Time' on the Deep Purple website and promotional materials, but the singer added: “Not that it matters; it’s a Deep Purple tour and we’re happy and whatever.”
He continued: “But to answer your question: It is what it is. As soon as you start feeling unable to deliver at that level – of course, you adjust, of course, you adapt and make do the best you can. But when the energy level goes, that’s time to stop because then it gets embarrassing and nobody wants that.
“But so far, so good. I think that’s a much better title than what you just said (Laughs)."
Elsewhere in the interview, Gillan recalled the time Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore set fire to his amps after a disagreement with current tour mates Yes over who should close the Plumpton Jazz and Blues Festival in 1970.
“I think Yes were a bit miffed, because they wanted to close the show and it wasn’t in their contract. It was (in our contract) that Deep Purple would close the show, so they refused to leave the hotel room. Jack said, ‘Guys, would you mind going on a bit earlier? I don’t want to push you but it would help me and it would help the crowd.’ ‘Yeah sure, okay, no worries.’"
Watch: Deep Purple - 'Lazy Sod'
He continued: "Then, Ritchie decided that if we weren’t going to close, nobody was. He ordered some gasoline to be brought in. He threw it all over the equipment and then had the roadie light a broom, which had a petrol-soaked rag on the end of it to ignite the lot.
“Of course, it did ignite – because the fumes just exploded. Within a half-hour, there were blue lights flashing. The police, the fire brigade and ambulances were all coming in and there was complete chaos. Everything was on the front page of the Sunday papers the next morning and it was all quite rock 'n' roll.”