A classic rock band is still going strong after nearly six decades.
Deep Purple will release a new album soon, singer Ian Gillan said during a new interview with the “Songwriting for Songwriters” podcast. It’ll be the heavy metal pioneers’ 24th studio album and their first new music collection since 2024’s “=1.”
Gillan said he didn’t want to give away too much information yet, such as a release date and album title, but the album is expected to be released in June. He didn’t list any song titles, but described them as “basically very optimistic.”
Let’s say there’s a general theme. It’s a fairly loose conceptual idea of the end of humanity, but not as grim as it sounds. In fact, it’s very optimistic. It’s about the metamorphosis of humanity into a metaphysical state, our next incarnation,” Gillan told the publication.
Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover previously told Ultimate Classic Rock that they’re working with producer Bob Ezrin for what will be their sixth album together since 2013’s “Now What?!” Ezrin’s past credits include work with Pink Floyd, Alice Cooper, KISS, Lou Reed, Taylor Swift, Phish, Peter Gabriel, Deftones, Thirty Seconds to Mars, and Joe Bonamassa.
“Well, we’ve not been idle. We’ve been working on and there’ll probably be an album [in 2026],” Glover told UCR in August. “I want this next album to be… it’s hard to say what, because I can’t pinpoint things, but a bit beefier. Not quite so compressed, not quite such high vocals. A better drum sound. You know, lots of things like that. I pick holes in the albums all of the time. I’m a fan. I start from being a fan — what do I want to hear and what am I hearing? Sometimes they match.”
Deep Purple is an English rock band known for its mix of hard rock, heavy metal and progressive music on hits like “Smoke On the Water,” “Hush,” “Highway Star” and “Black Night.” The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group’s lineup still includes original drummer Ian Paice with Glover and Gillan, who both joined in 1969. Past members include Glenn Hughes, David Coverdale and Ritchie Blackmore.
Gillan, 80, shot down rumors in 2024 that Deep Purple was retiring anytime soon.
“That’s rubbish,” the legendary vocalist said. “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.”
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