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A new tone and a new direction

Ian Gillan, Moscow, Oct 28, 2012; photo Serge Adamovich http://koncert-photo.livejournal.com/1780222.html

In his new interview with 100% Rock (out of Perth, Australia), Ian Gillan talks about the late Jon Lord, the upcoming Down Under tour, having his first joint at the tender age of 38, being pigeonholed, Tony Iommi’s health, and the new album:

So you’ve recently finished work on a new studio album. What can you tell us about that?

Well not a lot. It’s being mixed as we speak. We’ve finished recording. It’s a new tone, it’s a new direction, it’s fresh stuff. I think it was all written and recorded in Nashville, and the reason we went there – not to make a country record, but because Bob Ezrin, our producer, lives in Nashville and so it made a lot of sense because he had all the studio facilities and back up and everything else. So it made it really easy.

It was a great environment to record in and yeah, there’s a bit of diversity on the record. There’s some sort of… defining music is just so hard; it’s just really… it’s hard to define. If you think of a solo artist, you normally know them by their name; you don’t normally describe their kind of music, you just say, “It’s so-and-so or it’s so-and-so.” But with bands everyone feels an obligation to categorise then. I think when you’ve been around the block as many years as Purple has and a lot of other bands, you just listen to see what comes out. It’s not the same at all. So it’s kind of hard for me to describe it. I can’t compare it with any other album either, as far as I know. It will obviously find a niche somewhere when it comes out in April, so I’m looking forward to hearing it. [laughs]

He also hints that no new material will be performed live at least until the album is released:

And will you be playing some of the new stuff on the tour?

No. Christ, you can’t, can you? You play one song, it’s out on YouTube in five minutes, so you can’t do it. And that’s the whole bit that spoils it for everyone. But no we won’t…

Read more in 100% Rock.

Thanks to Yvonne Osthausen for the info.



67 Comments to “A new tone and a new direction”:

  1. 1
    Karl-Heinz says:

    I’m really looking forward.

    But why do some musicians frighten for enemy “You Tube” instead of seeing is as a big chance. We have 2013 tomorrow.

    If they bring a great new song live (and the WILL have great new songs) and it appears on You Tube, then they can arouse the peeple curiosity and they will buy the new album.

    Bring a fantastic new song. Tell the audience to film this song – and I’m sure a good sounding and looking version of it will appear on video-platforms as a priceless comemercial for the new album. I’ll bet you.

    You don’t should bring all songs of the album, but one or two teasers would be a real treat for everyone.

    IMHO I think that DP frighten, that the audience won’t like the new songs…. (no self-confidence).

    Karl-Heinz

  2. 2
    purplepriest1965 says:

    An operator that does decide you are calling too long?!

    I thought we were in the 21st Century.

    It is long, the interview, isn’t it?

    Twisting the tale again could have been a adapt title for the interview, IMHO.

  3. 3
    kraatzy says:

    A very nice interview.

    For me, it is a real and strong argument, he explain us:

    >>Q.:
    And will you be playing some of the new stuff on the tour?
    I.G.:
    No. Christ, you can’t, can you? You play one song, it’s out on YouTube in five minutes, so you can’t do it. And that’s the whole bit that spoils it for everyone. But no we won’t. < don´t play any new stuff.

    But the only result for this for me is: Don´t go to a purple gig …

    That is my opinion …

    LongLiveRnR
    &
    LLDeep´N´Purple

    -kraatzy-

    But for the audience at the live gig it is bad 🙁
    Because they pay the bill for the gig and wan´t to hear maybe new stuff.

  4. 4
    kraatzy says:

    @ Karl – Heinz

    The record company will see and make money
    verkaufen – verkaufen – verkaufen

    … only money makes the world go round …

    In April or May we get the new album and then we can wait a while and then the will go on a new world-tour …

    kraatzy

  5. 5
    buttockss says:

    Dosen’t sound like it will be a hard rocking album by the sound of ian, an album with a lot of diversity ?

  6. 6
    Randy says:

    That interview flowed effortlessly. Well done on both ends of the line. Happy New Year, all!

  7. 7
    EdwardsColetta says:

    Well, as for his first joint – this is what Ian says in his biography (reminiscing on DP & Buddy Miles tour in 1972):

    Then Buddy sees me and says; “What’s up, boy?”
    I said: “I can’t sleep”
    And he replied: “Well, maybe you should take a tote of this?”
    He rolled a joint and passed it to me. I took a puff for the first time in my life, then another, and again (…) This was the first time I’d ever touched anything illegal (…) Desperate for sleep, I suddenly realized I’d got an erection, and I’d later learn why: I’d been smoking marijuana and opium.

    So definitely back in 1972 Ian had to be less than 38 🙂 But maybe, with the passage of time, he forgot about this incident?…

  8. 8
    Russ says:

    Can someone please provide at least one example where a band played a newly recorded song live, before it was officially released, it showed up on youtube and it negatively affected album sales (and can be proven)?

  9. 9
    Pete says:

    Really looking forward to the new album,but as the recording’s finished,why do we have to wait until April??!!

  10. 10
    purplepriest1965 says:

    Watching the top 2000 on Dutch television.

    Appearantly they have taken up the grace and respect to play the top 10 numbers in FULL.

    Still wonder if they will have the patience and love to give both parts a chance. (…)

  11. 11
    purplepriest1965 says:

    Oh my God!!!!

    They finally understand that is sacrilege to cut it after the first half.

    And they did the Doing Their Thing version!!!

    Btw, 3 songs by Pink Floyd in the top 10.

    In recent years it seems that ” actions” are taken to realise things like this.
    I mean, a fanclub effort.

    I wish we could get more DP and Blackmore stuff in.

    When A Blind man Cries
    BURN
    Soldier of fortune.

    Gates Of babylon, Stargazer, things like that.

    Well, at least we do have a bit of justice here.

    It leaves me stone cold silent that after all these years Child In Time still gets so many votes.
    Ok, not number one years in a row as it was once.

    But still….

    I should know better maybe but an effort like thise makes me full of awe.

    And to see Lord and Blackmore on national TV in this context is priceless.

    Always loved the Doing Their Thing version, although the song probably is chosen because of the studioversion and that solo is IMPECCABLE.

    I wish the sound of the DTT version could be boosted, I turned up the volume and hiss is clearly audible, the volume quite tame.

  12. 12
    Micalonues says:

    re: IMHO I think that DP frighten, that the audience won’t like the new songs…. (no self-confidence).

    (I rolled my eyes.) Personally, I think it’s the right move.

    Does any one remember anticipation?

  13. 13
    videoman190 says:

    A new tone? That scares me. I personally would prefer the old tone. This will be the third tone change. How about Steve switches to a Strat and some Marshalls and we go back to the sound that made Purple famous.

  14. 14
    Boswell's Johnson says:

    It’s a shame the band doesn’t “get” youtube, but today’s concert footage is the equivalent of music videos 25 years ago. Great advertisement, especially since albums don’t really sell…and it’s not like the music will be played on the radio.

  15. 15
    LRT says:

    Nice interview, the only yawn appears above this post. 🙂

  16. 16
    JamesGemmell says:

    We ARE in the 21st century, and that’s why Purple is holding off on playing the songs until everyone gets to hear the album fresh out of the box, rather than some amateur-hour video shot by a drunken fan.

    I’m sure this will be a great album. The musicians are all raving about it.

  17. 17
    LRT says:

    Ha ha ha, the one above that is even more exhausting. A clear example of forgetting what promoters and labels do. They don’t own the recording, the record company does and they’re not letting them play it befiore it’s out. It might just be a convenient new policy but it is what it is. Plus, there isn’t a promoter on the planet who cares about new material from an old artist, and they’re a lot more ruthless at it than you think. New music can only sell tickets after the new music has sold well, and that doesn’t appear to be the order of things anymore. So, they might like it, but it is the record company policy according to report about it. Missed the memo? Sorry, the source part isn’t what I remember about it. But I whistle no dixie about it. This is no different than you will see in around 7 months or so from now when a good five to seven songs have been p[layed to the lucky, and get knocked back down to two, as usual. That’s what bothers me, they don’t even get half way around the world before it’s oldies again. Glad to hear they might be in the US by April time. Glad they didn’t get Ezrin thru their German publishing company as well, like they did with Bradford who gave them zero US priority. I think you just might not have confidence in it, from the sense of that. 🙂

  18. 18
    LRT says:

    One more thing… just because there are apparently hundreds or low thousands at best on the internet complaining about this, doesn’t mean the rest give a rooty toot! They get the respect because they’re not demanding, just demand to see them no matter what. It’s like a small crew up against a global army. Think wisely. 😉

  19. 19
    Tommy H. says:

    YouTube is sort of a two-sided blade. On the one hand you are able to provide your fans with video material on one of the greatest promotion platforms about. I would really take more advantage of that because there’s nothing wrong with it. I guess most of us don’t get why they don’t do that. However, on the other hand there is a possibility of cutting down the sales volume of their upcoming record by playing songs from it before its release which has already happened to quite a few bands because of YouTube. Ian Gillan mentioned that in another interview. But apart from some pop- or rap-artists I ask myself: What band could rely on album sales anyway without a proper promotion-tour nowadays. So more or less we talking about peanuts but I understand the sentiment. You have to pull all strings to really get money out of an album. But touring still is the key-element and they are very successful doing so.

  20. 20
    Bob says:

    The entire music industry has seen an overall decline in ablum sales do to the availablity of digital music. It’s gotten to the point where CDs & the album format are endangered species.

  21. 21
    Michel De Pourcq says:

    this is the 19th Purple album
    and they always have been playing new songs live before the album gets out, since their early days. In the beginning they even tried them live before they recorded them!
    And now….!?! That is … µ****€

    I have been a huge Deep Purple (and Rainbow) fan since I was 14 (now I am 54)
    and reading: “It’s a new tone, it’s a new direction, it’s fresh stuff.” that scares me to pieces (or how do you say that?)

    and @ purplepriest: I only saw the last 2 minutes of CIT in that programme (and wasr eally angry at myself) Luckily we have internet and the re-issue of the programme

  22. 22
    George Martin says:

    I feel bad for any country seeing them before the new album comes out. I don’t understand how playing a couple of new songs is going to hurt anything as far as sales go. I would think, play the 2 best new tracks and really kick ass on them. This would make everybody really pumped to buy the new record. I think not playing anything new might mean the new record may not be as great as we all hope. Time will tell.

  23. 23
    purple1 says:

    purple played some songs from abandon in concert before it was released. how did that go…I think pretty well.

  24. 24
    Erik says:

    So what ?
    A new album is fine , at least there is one.
    They could all retire.
    But they don`t.
    It`s the bands damn right to hold back new songs till the album is out in April.
    Ian is right, Youtube and MP3 spoils not only the economy of new music these days , it spoils music in its whole entity.
    I remember the times when vinyl albums were produces, we waited for the day a new lp was out, rushed to the store and bought a copy – it felt right.
    I am 43, no old fart
    So a new DP album in April is great !
    A new tone ? Why not ? Does anyone want Ian to do Machine Head again ? He is 67, he delivers what he`s able to and so are the Boys in the band.
    Thanks they are still around, so many are not anymore.
    Just my 2c

  25. 25
    purplepriest1965 says:

    Following Larry’s reasoning, which sounds solid, I think DP has got them self a BAD DEAL.
    That’s the way I feeeeeeeeeeellllllll.

    Or has someone a bad attitude?

    Or has things so much detreiorated since The Battle Rages On, then they played 4 or 6 songs for a long time, that rules have changed that badly?

    @ 7

    True. Old news from the book about DP by Chris Charlesworth.
    That’s why I said Twisting The Tale Again : )

    It is just 1 example.

    What more is nonsense in Gillan’s answers?
    I think you know already : )

  26. 26
    purplepriest1965 says:

    ad.

    Not to forget the Purpendicular tour
    .Also lots of new songs for quite a while.
    That combined with oldies never played and classics people persist they should play, . IMHO : THE GOLDEN FORMULA.

    Yeah, I know, we did not have youtube then, but boots aplenty.

  27. 27
    Darryl says:

    videoman190 ….I hear you. I’ve been wanting that since 1995.

  28. 28
    Chip says:

    If Deep Purple “got” how to market themselves in 2013, they might have a wider audience…especially in the US. But there fear of youtube videos is par for the course. I love them for the music and not their media savvy though…so this quibble doesn’t dampen my enthusiasm for the new album. I look forward to the new record. Purpendicular is my favorite reunion era CD (more so than even PS) so I am optimistic the “diverse sound” harkens back to that recording. Six years between recording sessions ought to yield some interesting stuff.

  29. 29
    Errol Arias says:

    I don’t understand why to be so careful about the new songs from the new album.. As Bob (#20) said ” CDs & the album format are endangered species”… so why to avoid the promotion of the new material on the www ? Sounds ridiculous to me . I am sure that as soon as the album is released , you will be able to find thousands of ripped mp3 (or even flac!) versions of this material free to download on the Internet.

    So why don’t you enter on XXI century and use internet to promote the “music” and not the “album sales” ?

    Or maybe DP Management is waiting for this new album to be GOLD or Platinum in sales ?

    Sincerily I cannot understand this move.. As i said above, it sounds ridiculous to me .

  30. 30
    LRT says:

    CD killed the album format, it just might’ve taken two decades to prove. And digital music didn’t do it, theives of it did. This probably isn’t seen as anymore criminal than the industry itself in taking so much from the writing, releasing and performing music by the artists. There are unseen inner workings at play, always, which include proceeds to areas the general public are neither aware of nor concerned with.

  31. 31
    purplepriest1965 says:

    @ 20

    Like many others I buyed myself into extra external harddrives and thousands of CD’s/dvd’s and some usb sticks.

    But hearing about this ” cloud” thing I wonder……

    What should I do?

    I dont want to bury myself under all those carriers in my house.

    Uptill now it is attractive because I still dont have the possibility to(I guess thats what it is called?)stream everything from my pc or even a cloud to the stereosystem.

    Or do I have an inbetween solution?

    Thanx for suggestions.

    Mark

  32. 32
    RB says:

    The band need another ‘Purpendicular’, such diversity and joy clearly evident at a new start. For me the last two albums are quite poor; I’m hoping that having a decent producer will help, but their writing has most definitely suffered without dear Jon. Paicey has said it’s going to be quite a heavy album and therefore his playing is fairly straight, so perhaps this ‘new direction’ isn’t very diverse at all. Hopefully Ian will sing in more comfortable keys in line with his matured voice, however, the older material will still sound weak as he clearly can’t perform most of them anymore (Jon also voiced concerns over Ian’s vocal abilities in 2010). I’m hoping that they call it a day in the not too distant future as they are a mere shadow compared to their halcyon days.

  33. 33
    purplepriest1965 says:

    @ 30

    By now I understand where you are coming from.

    And you are partly right.

    But never forget the vast change in people’s attitudes would have been tempered from the start if CD’s would not have been sold at a too high price all the way from the start.

    I am one that preferres a original album et all, but after many years of paying the full price for inferior product I had no other choice than to find cheaper ways.

    Ofcourse I could have said :

    ” Well, I dont have that kinda money(At least twice it happened that I bought myself in bankruptcy because of my overzealous love for music/concerts and so on)and will accept buying an album once in a long time.

    Unlike me, I think that countless others DO steal by downloading.

    Because IMHO onse should pay as much for original product(But not over the top because they like to live the lives of an overpaid footballplayer) to endorse artists.

    I know that in this world it simply has become a way of thinking that earning money for your work is not enough.

    I never really thought about it in the past but ….halfway I thought :

    ” Why on earth should there be so much difference in paying people for whatever they do?!”

    I m not unrealistic in a sense that each human being should earn the same.
    But in essence, why should someone that does hard labour, breaking his back due to laying bricks on OUR roads earn so much less than a banker?

    I could raise thousands of comparisons ofcourse.

    Call me a lefty or some other bullshit, but….
    If you think clearly and out of your comfortzone/box you cant defend that such inequalities.

    Ofcourse I, but that tends to be selective if I think about it and thus wrong) I m ok when when hardworking people earn shitloads of money.
    But hey, at a certain moment it should be enough.

    You might think : I dont agree because I have responsibilities and I did a major in this or that.
    And a favourite one : I m special, so I have the right to have no limitations in means and other(Very important)possibilities.

    Why would have you have more right to give your children a high education and those many others not?

    I ve heard that DP never were rich and they have to pay bills and all that.

    Is that really the truth?

    And if, Gillan’s opnion, that aid to lesser fortunate people generally is wrong, why then could he not have drunk way less and saved all that money so that he now could retire bigtime?

    It might be so that he does the concerts because he loves doing it.
    Even more reason to ask : Why are those ticketprices often that high?
    Dont tell me that you dont have power over that, please.

    Apart from all this above :

    Be pragmatic and USE whatever is possible in THIS TIME.

    Not playing new stuff because of YT is ridicilous.

    I ve read that ” they” have little space to do what they really like.
    That they have to play old classics because otherwise the organisers of concerts block you.

    1
    When I look around it seems that it is still possible to do new stuff.

    2.If you really love your music, step down a noth and GO FOR IT.

    But yes, buisness wise it would mean playing (even)smaller clubs in which you can play as much of your own(Morse era) and earning less.

    I m all up for being enthusiastic about new material(One never knows what they are able to, although with this line up I hold my doubts)but….

    Face it : Its buisness, a machine. Its money forst, then the rest.

    Since Don arrived it can be seen as a new line up.
    Meaning : Bursting with new blood and spitting out great new songs by the hour.

    Well, at least more often than this.

    Lets not be sour.

    It is what it is.

    Regarding musicians I d dare to say for something you really loved in the first place)

  34. 34
    Boswell's Johnson says:

    CDs didn’t kill the album format, digital music and playlists did.

  35. 35
    purplepriest1965 says:

    Typo’s.

    The last line should have been somewhere else as well.

  36. 36
    deepoz says:

    I feel cheated.
    When I purchased tickets to Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide I thought they’d be playing stuff from the new CD which was slated for release in February. Given that Perfect Strangers tour commenced in Australia then I think this was a pretty valid assumption.
    With the release date now confirmed as April and IG stating that no new songs will be played ahead of the release then I do hope that the set-list has a revamp. Perhaps they should write a song about their (irrational) fear and loathing of You Tube (ala MTV).
    Bands should be promoting their concets so that they can be viewed worldwide (by subscription). I’d pay $10 a concert to watch them from the comfort of my lounge and my big TV. Hell, I’d even invest in a better TV, one of those new Bose TV might fit the bill.

  37. 37
    Martin Johannessen says:

    Slaves And Master remaster out in February – with bonus tracks: http://heavyrocktheplaylist.blogspot.no/2013/01/deep-purple-slaves-and-masters-remaster.html

  38. 38
    LRT says:

    @31 -take an anti-theft class!

  39. 39
    LRT says:

    @rb -it really does make me wonder when people say stuff like that, when from the likes of the most recent dates Ian handles just about EVERYTHING fine. The entire band sound completely different thanks to some either proper, or very clever engineering. However you get there, a good live result is all that really matters. ‘Cant’t handle the old material?” Are you lsietening thru a transister radio? Last I checke, 2010 was three years ago. Man people should follow if they’re going to crtitique. 🙂

  40. 40
    purplepriest1965 says:

    ad.

    ” Unlike me, I think that countless others DO steal by downloading.”

    Meaning : if you have money, endorse the artists as much as you can.

  41. 41
    Tommy H. says:

    @ 32:

    To me the last two albums were a lot better than e.g. “Abandon” which was the last album with Jon on organ. Both had strong moments. “Purpendicular” was special because you could feel that the entire band had to proove something after Ritchie left. And there was a good vibe going on because Steve joined.

    I wouldn’t say that the songwriting has suffered when Jon left. It got different and definitely a jazzier edge. What I really missed all these years is a fast rock ‘n roll song.

    Regarding the new direction: Has anybody seen Robert Plant with the Strange Sensation? I wonder if Purple could pull off such a thing.

  42. 42
    Masse444 says:

    @11, 31, 33

    I love this band inside out, but I also from time to time have a few issues with how they think and how they do business, however…it’s their call…apparently millions of people think they’re doing something right! And don’t forget..they’re a big employer, money has to come in at all times as with any big company. If you think these guys make a fortune travelling the world and being away from their loved one’s and kids 8-9 months a year you’re wrong. Yes, I hope they make a lot more money than you do, cause they created music history…that’s why they’re still here enjoying us (not you apparently)

    Sorry man, what are you “on” with your posts that go on forever (and lead nowhere)?

  43. 43
    Roberto says:

    I’m very happy hearing those news about Purple… It’s great to know they were working on a fresh material and soon it’ll available. I agree with Ian Gillan, Youtube is a kind of knife that cuts in both sides… it can be usefull sometimes, but must of the time… can distroy any kind marketing strategy.
    I hope to see Deep Purple doing a Gig in São Paulo soon… and I’d like They could Record a DVD here! It would be Fantastic for us Brazilian Fans!
    Best Regards!
    p.s. forgive-me for the English mistakes.

  44. 44
    CP says:

    I bet AFTER the new cd comes out their marketing strategy will be NOT to play any tunes from it so you’ll have to buy it to hear it,circumventing the need to add any new material to the set list.Brilliant marketing from these guys!

  45. 45
    purplepriest1965 says:

    @ 41

    Hi Tommy

    As far as I could follow all this routes I think The Strange Sensation is not really a new route.

    Like Priory of Bryon TSS follows nicely in a long trail of ” world-music” he tries to explore.

    Listen to Zeppelin and UNLEDDED, his soloalbums , it is already there.

    I find it fascinating and sometimes very exiting stuff.

    But I must admit certain things bore the hell out me soon after starting a dvd or cd.

    But on the whole it is much better than just playing old Zepp stuff.

    Maybe Gillan could do a tour of Cherkazoo stuff plus tracks newly wrote, some new covers, whatever.

    I think his voice could hold up much better and include a mini orchestra that newly arranged or not oldies zealously plays.

    Leave the white pyama’s at home and you ve got me!

  46. 46
    purplepriest1965 says:

    Maybe MK 2 could do a one off in O2 Arena like Zepp did?

    A large rest for Gillan before they do that, make a AWESOME reunion dvd, promote the hell out of it, including asking Letterman et all that to let them come for an interview.

    Maybe Blackmore will have enough after 1 evening but Gillan, Glover and Paice could do the interviews? : )

    Maybe Obama wants to rock out in public during SOTW, playing air guitar?

    Much better than that R & R Hall Of fame shit.

  47. 47
    purplepriest1965 says:

    Ad. Sjeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeshhhhhhhhhhh, how could I forget…..

    Jon is dead : (

  48. 48
    Pete says:

    For me,Deep Purple in Rock is far and away the best album of all time,nothing else by anyone even comes close,it has everything.I would absolutely love a new album in this style with all the bombastic majesty of the band shining through.Abandon gets slated by many,but i like the extra power it has compared to anything since,so a heavier direction again would be great!Let’s have a nice long keyboard solo in a tribute to the incomparable Sir Jon Lord.

  49. 49
    LRT says:

    My lord some people take the loss of Blackmore so ridiculously offenseive that they feel the need to expose their weekness through such diatribe against those who actually define the spirit of a band. Silly behavior if I ever saw it.

  50. 50
    LRT says:

    @34 -and you can prove this? Since when does an album need anymore than 8 or 9 songs to please? Overkill man, overkill. I do agree that shuffling your earphone preferences doesn’t help, but it has nothing to do with sales and marketing being affected concerning the album format. I’m surprised people carry on from the ourtside looking into the inner workings of the business itself, this is where speculation gets way out of hand.

  51. 51
    RB says:

    There are a couple of tracks on ‘Abandon’ that are weak but they are in the minority and Roger’s production is first class. Overall the performances are really good and for my money that album contains Gillan’s last really good vocal performance on a Purple album. LRT – now now, no need to get irritated, after all we all love the band and every comment posted here is merely a personal opinion. For me songs like ‘Seventh Heaven’, ‘Watching The Sky’ and ‘Don’t Make Me Happy’ beat anything on ‘Bananas’ or ‘Rapture’ (I do know of a fan that believes that the material with Morse is a vast improvement on anything that Blackmore played on! I don’t agree but he is entitled to his opinion). I am aware of the time that has elapsed since Jon’s comment about Ian, and I actually DO follow everything about the band (otherwise why would I bother to post comments on here?) and having heard Purple’s gigs since then right up to the present I do feel that Ian doesn’t sound particularly comfortable. Oh by the way why would I listen to Purple via a transistor radio (you’ll notice that it has an ‘o’ rather than the ‘e’ you incorrectly replaced it with) when I have two very good system at home?

  52. 52
    Boswell's Johnson says:

    LRT: Wow. You should stop taking yourself so seriously. Lighten up, dude.

    Most people no longer listen to an entire album by a single artist. (Perhaps because they don’t have to perform the physical act of putting a record on the turntable–or a CD in the player–thus no longer commit to listening to an album for 20-40 minutes).

    Most people out there don’t even sit down to listen to music anymore. People want catchy 3-4 minute songs playing in the background. Therefore, they’re far more likely to download (either legally or otherwise) one or two songs off an album rather than spend something above their price-point.

    The Industry fails to understand modern commerce. Look at the number of apps people buy for their phones–$1-2 is considered “disposable” by consumers and they are willing to spring for something, even if it turns out to be a piece of crap. $20 for a collection of potentially s**tty songs is above consumer disposable spending.

    It’s a sad fact, but the “body of work” represented by an album is not really relevant to the mainstream. I don’t like it, but that’s the way it is. I don’t know why bands don’t just sell single songs as they produce them.

  53. 53
    purplepriest1965 says:

    @ 42

    I must say….I m very willing to answer your(everyone’s btw) post but I simply dont understand it.
    For now I think you re putting the infamous black & white screen on me.

  54. 54
    Tommy H. says:

    @ 45:

    Hey,

    yeah, I know that Plant did this kind of music before he played with the Strange Sensation. But nonetheless I agree that their performance of old Zeppelin songs is inspiring. I don’t really miss the high voice Plant had back in the day. He sings very economically and still has this unique timbre. I like how he uses his voice and it sounds good. Something like that would be interesting with Purple. But maybe this approach just suits Zeppelin’s material, I don’t know. I just thought that this actually would be a new direction for Purple.

  55. 55
    highveldlion says:

    Maybe the reason that they are not playing new songs is the fact that is tour is a double package with Deep Purple and Journey on the same bill. I wonder which band is going to open for the other one ? This is not a tour to promote the new Deep Purple album…. This is a summer tour package similar to the one offered in the US in summer where you have several bands on the same bill ( Chicago/Beach Boys ) ( Foreigner/Journey )…. and so on…. As for the new Deep Purple material I hope for a return to the classic sound of the band… After all Bob Ezrin best produced albums where Billion dollar Babies and School’s out in 72 73…. I am kind of worry by Ian interview in that respect….Also the fact that they are not going to play a new title on the tour is a source of concern… Do they lack confidence…Highway Star was played on tour in 71 way before being recorded in studio… We will have the response in april, I will buy the album of course … But is it going to be another let down like all the previous albums since The Battle Rages On….
    Like one of you guys said earlier I hope that Morse switched to a Strat…. I hope they are going to kick Journey out of the stage too…. By the way Neil Young and Crazy horse is also touring Australia and playing in the same venues the same months in Australia… Pretty good summer down under…

  56. 56
    RB says:

    I think that ‘Purpendicular’ is better than ‘The Battles Rages On’ – you can hear that Ritchie is merely going through the motions. Anyone else feel that the Purple/Journey combo is an odd one? So is the Whitesnake/Journey tour also. One would presume that each band would alternate top billing. With the radio-friendly Journey and no new Purple tunes it sounds like a dull evening to me. Sad state of affairs when they have to do theses package tours. They were trying to do a similar thing with Purple and ZZ Top some years back but the market wasn’t interested. Shame as Gibbons is a real tasteful tone-hound.

  57. 57
    LRT says:

    @52 -thank you I make my living in music and it could be worse. I’m mostly chatting with people with who’re aware of me and vise versa. Now to simply get way back to the actual topic, is this a new enough tone???? Nearly a minutes worth of the new album oughta get the bickering going in a “new direction!” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6l0fRxB7I8&sns=fb

  58. 58
    Ted The Mechanic says:

    http://www.hennemusic.com/2013/01/deep-purple-guitarist-talks-about.html

    Will be interesting to read how all of us bloggers offer each one’s “review” of the new album. Always somewhat amusing with respect to what Purple, or any other band or artist for that matter, should offer on an album. Are we not producers in our own minds? :>

    Peace,
    Ted

    P.S. As far as Steve’s contribution to the Purple family, Purpendicular still blows me away.

    Vavooom! Less I forget, Happy New Year to all!

  59. 59
    purplepriest1965 says:

    @ 58

    Well, that also did not say much.

  60. 60
    purplepriest1965 says:

    A bit of an opinion on HOW Bob Ezrin works with musicians.

    Kevin Valentine, drummer way back in Shadow King, Lou(FOREIGNER) Gramm’s band is being interviewed on his ” contributions” to KISS cd’s and working with Ezrin.

    Interesting line :

    ” He seeds discontent.”

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkagsHAY6Hk

  61. 61
    Tracy(Zero the Hero)Heyder says:

    Great. Leave it to Priest to dig up a negative remark by somebody….
    Mark/Re-Mark. What’s the diff? Dude, is that your presumed existance on this planet? Sitting around, waiting for a statement or situation you can find fault with? I have to look up the meaning of your name.” Mark” must be short for “Negative Re-Mark”.

    Jeez.

    CheerZ

  62. 62
    purplepriest1965 says:

    We ll see what the album brings, ok?

  63. 63
    Tracy(Zero the Hero)Heyder says:

    Yes Mark, we will obviously have to wait and see. Some of us are willing to stand positive in the waiting period while other are willing to charge and convict with no evidence. Most of which I have noticed reside where one is ‘guilty until proven innocent’…..
    It’s obvious which side of the fence you stand on.

    CheerZ?

  64. 64
    purplepriest1965 says:

    63

    In general that is so, Tracy.

    But I m always ” hoping” (Not really on my mind as it would be way back, to be honest)for a surprise like Purpendicular.

    Gillan, espescially in the studio, has it in him, to sound with that great unique voice.

    Songs like he did with Lordy on The Hoochie Coochie album, the Gillan Inn’s album and WHO CARES show that ability.

    So yeah, it will never be the same again(friendly/positive enough for you : ) but …….

    A quite enjoyable, not just nice(…), might still be on the cards.

  65. 65
    Tracy(Zero the Hero)Heyder says:

    PP,
    I’d have to state that ROTD (aside from the meager production) was ‘quite enjoyable’. There are many fine tunes on it that are much different and creatively new and standout regarding present time PURPLE. Surely you can’t deny that. Nothing wrong with being a critic. It’s when one becomes critical overall that it then loses credibility…..

    CheerZ?!

  66. 66
    purplepriest1965 says:

    I d have loved to have been less cynical about some records and changes and…..whatever.

    I m not critical all over, although what is wrong about being critical?

  67. 67
    Tracy(Zero the Hero)Heyder says:

    Constantly critical usually leads to becoming negative. I’d have state here that in your case the evidence is in…..

    CheerZ?!

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