Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan has spoken about the band’s upcoming studio album, Splat!, due July 3 via earMUSIC, in a new interview with Meltdown of Detroit’s WRIF radio station — including why the record represents the band’s heaviest work in many years. Splat! was once again produced by Bob Ezrin (Kiss, Pink Floyd, Lou Reed, Alice Cooper).
Asked why Splat! turned out to be such a heavy record, Gillan said (transcribed by Blabbermouth): “Well, I think Simon [McBride, Deep Purple guitarist of the past four years] settled in, so it’s more relaxed as things come naturally. We find a good groove, and we tend to develop that, even if it’s just a simple structure. If it feels good, we put it to one side and think, ‘Well, this may be an idea that we can work on, develop that structure, without losing the feel.’ And so his energy is really… He’s an immaculate player — immaculate. And I think also you’ll find the drums and bass are higher in the mix on this record than they have been previously — on any record, I think, Deep Purple record. So it’s got a lot of energy.”
On the guitar-keyboards interplay showcased in the album’s first two singles, “Arrogant Boy” and “Diablo,” Gillan said: “Yeah. Well, we can’t escape what we are. And so this happens every night — they’re trading off in their playing. These guys play their instruments the same way as you and I use words in a conversation. We don’t think ahead; you sort of respond and get on with it. And so they talk to each other instrumentally all night long. It’s a joy to watch. But the other thing is they know when to back off and to be part of the rhythm section, too. My favorite part of the evening, actually, is when I’m not singing. I step back between the drums and the keyboards, and I’ve got the best seat in the house. The sound balance there is perfect. So, I just get off on that and forget to come back sometimes.”
“Diablo” features a guest appearance from Grammy-winning guitarist, singer, and songwriter Keith Urban on second guitar. McBride joined Deep Purple in July 2022, when guitarist Steve Morse officially left the band to care for his wife Janine, who was battling cancer. Morse had taken a hiatus four months prior with the hope of rejoining once her health improved.
Deep Purple has 86 tour dates scheduled across 28 countries, beginning with European summer shows in Finland, Norway, France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, and Italy before the Splat! World Tour moves to North America.
Splat! is the latest entry in a late-career run that includes =1 (2024), Whoosh! (2020), inFinite (2017), and Now What?! (2013), all produced by Ezrin. The current Deep Purple lineup is Gillan (vocals), Roger Glover (bass), Ian Paice (drums), Don Airey (keyboards) and McBride (guitar). The band has sold more than 120 million albums since forming in 1968, was named Planet Rock’s “Fifth Most Influential Band Ever,” and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016. The celebrated MK II lineup — Gillan, Glover, Paice, Jon Lord and Ritchie Blackmore — created defining albums of the early ’70s, including Made in Japan, widely regarded as one of the greatest live albums of all time.
