![[hand]](/hs-pics/portraits/hands/gillan8.jpg)
![[face]](/hs-pics/portraits/faces/gillan2.jpg)
Skipping stones
There is a new interview with Gillan and Paice in the Uncut magazine, and the two Ians are adamant to continue making music into the foreseeable future. The online version is dated June 1, 2026, so which issue it appears in the printed version — your guess is as good as ours, and probably better. and offline one appears in July 2026 issue of the magazine, with Kate Bush on the cover.
Such is the drive of the new-look Purple that Paice claims they’re considering a return to the studio for another new album in 2027: “We don’t have six, seven, 10 years, everybody knows that.” But he also suggests the Splat! world tour might be their final long-haul around the globe, and they’ll play shorter runs in future. “There’s other stuff in my life. But the idea of actually stopping, that doesn’t compute.”
Read more via Pressreader.
Thanks to Scott Cranidge for the offline location.
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
I don’t see an issue with Ian’s eyesight either, it never held Ray Charles or Stevie Wonder back. Or Jeff Healey for that matter, a musician Ian adored. For someone who reads a lot, deteriorating eyesight is bitter, but singing?
May 25th, 2026 at 00:33“Someone connected it with my failing eyesight, but I don’t see how that’s going to ever stop me singing,” Gillan tells Uncut today. “I will retire or stop when I haven’t got the strength to do it, or when it becomes embarrassing.”
– yes 🙌🏼
“You’re getting an interpretation of events,” he says of his AI experience. “They don’t do cryptic, they don’t do humour, they don’t do irony, they don’t do most of the things that enrich our lives.”
– but so hard to avoid these days, however the great man is right!
Seems to me they are still alive and very much kicking 😃🙏🏼💜
Found this nice little review of ‘Arrogant Boy’:
https://youtu.be/3OVWaRc5bF4?is=8WC4xiIVt_5ohQW5
And this is so funny😆 :
May 25th, 2026 at 03:47https://youtu.be/zo-uGi9YNKw?is=3vhwFi2gMFoUcZB9
Well, it has been answered then, who are the two members Steve Morse said they were glad after him gone.
May 25th, 2026 at 06:56OMG – the Dolchstoßlegende lives undeterred, there it goes again.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT3iygMZiNQjnYe8zla0cSjwWedhGGQNKwIFQJROdORPTX3F3PYBn2TZqan&s=10
Dark satanic forces within DP plotted against St. Steve, the “evil Ians” scheming: “Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn, and cauldron bubble.”
People get laid off unjustly all the time. Most of them don’t have half a dozen aircraft in their private hangar or can look back at almost 30 years of a well-paid career in an international rock band.
May 25th, 2026 at 11:01Surely they can add Australia to their 2027 schedule before they retire from touring, just one more time?
May 25th, 2026 at 11:11# 3 Andre- I agree.The Simon putting “…the dynamics of the band back on track…” type of statement is growing thin and tiresome.
May 25th, 2026 at 11:23Another album in 2027!!!
That is the greatest and the best news I’ve heard so far.
The only thing that would beat that is another album in 2028!!!
May 25th, 2026 at 14:29I correct myself, Big Ian doesn’t want to die on a tour bus, he wants to die in a recording booth! 😂
All power to him for that. 🤘
May 25th, 2026 at 14:48Don‘t forget that all these interviews have to be seen in the context of a marketing-campaign for the new album! Of course, they praise Simon – what else should they do? The current version of the band is and has always been the best incarnation of the band.
May 25th, 2026 at 16:23Just like the audience at any particular gig gets always schmoozed with being “0ur best audience on this tour”. 😂
May 25th, 2026 at 20:50A new album in 2027 and a subsequent tour? Deep Purple and the Rolling Stones are now neck and neck as to who will be the longest-running band in rock history!
May 25th, 2026 at 21:30@3 @6 – Andre, Mike
I agree with you guys! As I said before – go for dignity, if there’s a path available – and there is, but the old fart doesn’t take it, because he’s so oh! anti-system.
“I hear they’re gonna try out something new…
I can feel it sticking to my shoe…”
That’s one one hand ultra conservative – on the other – almost punk attitude, isn’t it?
But you know – we can quote the lyrics writer himself even more so here to sum an attitude going – from not so long way back:
“What a bunch of crap you have exuding from your ass
That’s not the sh*t I want to hear” (wrong, IG, in that case you will see it – if observed properly closely from right angle, watch out not to get underneath the source of substance :P)
@4 – Uwe! Come on! You’re bitching upon ‘St. Steven’ going on, but we have a lady here who is shamelessly doing ‘holy IGy’ here in truckloads and you yet praise her for it. Be consequent, or watch out which saint do you side with 😛 🙂 All in all – you’re right in one aspect – “the best version ever of the band is schmaltzing and schmoozing the best version of their audience ever on their best tour ever happening now, promoting their – undoubtedly best ever! – record”.
PS. I’m siding with St. Steven, simply because in reality he was closest possible to being in the business and actually almost being ‘a holy man’ in practice. His goodness and unquestionable decency are virtues I’m ready to praise any day, any time. And yet he flies everything and plays those wooden things like no other. I like that!
May 26th, 2026 at 05:45@ 11- a long way off Fla76. The Stones as we know commenced a lot earlier than DP and they didn’t take a break for seven years. As in, NOT existing for seven years. How much does that all add up to? About thirteen years there for DP to catch up. ZZ Top would probably be in front of DP, So third place if someone else doesn’t steel their thunder. Purple’s that is. Cheers.
May 26th, 2026 at 07:39@11 I don’t think so. Not to sound like a prophet of doom, but I think the end of the road is in sight. Our boys are old, they know it, despite all the bravado in interviews. I am pretty sure the Royal Albert Hall shows are meant to be their goodbye.
Speaking of the comparison to the Stones, DP and the Stones are two opposite ends of rock. Our boys play intelligent and technical music with classic and jazz influence. It takes skills, but also the fluidity and stamina that they may no longer have, except Simon and, to an extent, Don. The Stones play simplistic faux blues, and their popularity is based on sensuality and attitude. They may all be dead, and their estate will still be issuing studio albums of “new” material based on archived bits and pieces and glued together by a half-decent producer and AI. And people will keep buying it.
May 26th, 2026 at 08:31I am old enough to remember IG and RG talking about TBRO …and of course it was an instant fave of theirs, best since Fireball and would have an impact on the live set just like Machine Head for years to come.
May 26th, 2026 at 08:57I guess PR talk is best to swallow with a grain of salt or two.
#13 MacGregor:
sure, but anagraphically there is a year and a half between Gillan and Jagger, the generation of musicians is the same, even if the generation of the two bands is not the same
May 26th, 2026 at 12:28@12
May 26th, 2026 at 13:40You nailed it! I would never call Steve a “saint”, but a wonderful role-model for many things – inside and outside the music(business), perhaps even a little more “outside” the music.
Did you ever ever read the “Guitar One Presents Open Ears: A Journey Through Life with Guitar in Hand” book? That gives a very good impression of his mindset.
@ 15
Gillan saying Bananas was their Sgt. Pepper, making up things about the attendance during the TBRO tour, the age of the audience…..
May 26th, 2026 at 15:32@14 Georgivs …now that is quite a statement.
The Rolling Stones leave behind a legacy second to none. That DP’s music takes skills whereas the Stones’ 60+ years success with critics, fellow musicians and fans (only just when it comes to songwriting, performing and playing of course! 😂) all over the globe is based on attitude alone is an interesting point of view to put it mildly.
You may remember that DP covered one of their songs.
May 26th, 2026 at 15:49@18 ….to be continued … 😉
May 26th, 2026 at 15:51If i do count the years that Uriah Heep are around, no hiatus from 1970 to 2026 they too are ahead of Purple
May 26th, 2026 at 15:57What do you expect them to say: “Our new album is not as good as the ones before and frankly we are past our prime, but you should still buy it?” That’s like asking “Was it good for you too?” and expecting a frank answer.
We must be honest at all times, but please let’s not be bloody silly about it. 🤣
Thorsun, you’ll never hear me say a bad word about Steve, but since when is being a nice guy and doing your job properly an insurance against being laid off? Not my experience, sorry. Ask how Roger Glover felt in 1973.
https://www.deepest-purple.de/index.php/Attachment/4742-2023-06-30-16-41-09-Roger-Glover-leaving-Deep-Purple-29th-June-1973-Osaka-Japan-/?thumbnail=1
As for my baby-sis’ undying crush on Mr Gillan, I simply admire her unquestioning adulation of the man as I would be awed by a geyser in Iceland,
https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTZjMDliOTUyYW9pOGo4NXUwOGd3OTU3YXZibnB1ejJwN3A5MHBtb3ZvYXpsNTR3dSZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/R0nKQhFzhANJ6/200w.gif
never mind whether it is completely warranted or not. 😎 Karin is living proof how no amount of knowledge can beat faith and devotion! 😇🙏😇 Moreover, Big Ian has reached an age where any kind of (younger!) female adulation is most welcome even if you no longer quite know what to do with it. 🤗
Speaking of: Has that drum stick 🍗 now finally arrived, Randers Chick?
May 26th, 2026 at 16:09Bananas is an album based (Gillan has himself said that most of the album’s lyrics deal with his anti-EU stance) on the urban myth that EU Rules regarding the import of non-EU Bananas somehow applied to their curvature – that is debunked nonsense (though according to Martin Popoff’s bio both Big Ian and Roger falsely believed it a the time of the recording of Bananas). As a matter of fact, the domestic EU bananas to be protected (from EU tropic territories such as Réunion) are smaller and more irregularly crooked and curved than the rank and file Chiquitas from non-EU territories. Curvature rules wouldn’t have made any sense and would have in fact harmed domestic EU produce.
And Big Ian’s EU antipathy stems according to Roger from the simple fact that he had to finance some modifications on his private boat in the UK due to EU regulations coming into force re boat security. How unselfish of him.
And now he sits and complains how BREXIT has made touring on the Continent much more difficult for smaller bands – duh!
May 26th, 2026 at 16:28@21
The most important first:
No Uwe, no drumstick 😫😭😭
I guess the coveted item is vanished out in thin air and now I will never touch the item touched by Ian Paice who at one point had to have hugged Ian Gillan 🥺😖 (yes I know, a brain dead fan 😁)
Which brings me to the next:
So you, Uwe, actually think I’m so unbelievable einfach that I am having the biggest crush on the great man and therefore I cannot be trusted to have my own valid opinion! 😝
“whether it is completely warranted or not.”
– it is, you know!
Well, it speaks well for you that you after all acknowledge me as some sort of baby-sis (🥰)
And I guess Ian Gillan would indeed know what to do with that.
As I have been told by a very reliable source: that ability is the last thing that vanishes….
Btw: have you heard this fine young man:
May 26th, 2026 at 17:07https://youtu.be/epQfZhQ09OM?is=hsrIIUUQDg49ggT6
@23 Ian has regrets regarding Brexit as far as I know. After all he’s man enough to admit he was wrong.
His lyrics to Pictures of Innocence still – or maybe more than ever – ring very fitting …I guess it was never really about the bananas (in Germany it was the cucumbers) but about a lot of other nonsense. That bananas myth sside there are silly regulations that I think have helped to make right winged nationalists stronger all over Europe. I think IG had a point there.
May 26th, 2026 at 19:27@ 21- yes I forgot about Uriah Heep, despite a slight ‘stutter’ in the early 1980’s when Mick Box attempted to get David Byron active again. They have certainly been treading the boards for longer than the Purple people, in their respective ‘behemoth’ band that is. Down to fourth position on the ladder now for DP, we wonder if they will slip down a little further? Cheers.
May 26th, 2026 at 22:44Not convinced by the hiatus argument at all, last I heard they all continued to make music and tourwd during it with the exception of Ian who took a two year vacation between the last Mk II gig in Osaka and his performance at Roger’s Butterfly Ball in the fall of 1975. And even he dabbled with solo recordings in his intermission.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRR5LCwR_ts
PS: He was auditioning to be Tina Charles at the time,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nS7YL8JCSzo
but then balked at the long dresses. Strangely so, given his well-documented occasional exploits into x-dressing in the past. Like Karin always says, the man can wear anything!
Or nothing at all. She’s fine with it either way.
PPS: I do not share the view that the Stones are poor musicians, far from it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBfbprawaFU
With all due respect, I think DP would have a hard time replicating that groove.
May 26th, 2026 at 23:38@ 14- no one is talking about the musical differences Georgiv’s, just the longevity of the bands. I am no Stones fan, however I do respect them for their dedication to their art. The only album I have ever owned was Tattoo You, when I was younger and in party mode with other folk. They have kept on rolling, pun intended, they have never stopped have they? They are down to a couple of original and longstanding relevant members, just like some other bands from that era so long ago. They still record ‘new’ music and they continue to play the hits etc. Sounds rather familiar to other ‘dinosaur’ bands to me. Although the Stones are much bigger in popularity than the other bands. Cheers.
May 26th, 2026 at 23:59@22
FINALLY it has arrived 🤩🤩😍
Found it at my front door this very early morning 😃
Thank you so much Uwe Hornung!
I will immediately start practicing to become the new female Mick Tucker….
And yes, Anton has promised me it will be safe 😊
https://youtube.com/shorts/-eMomlv3IrY?is=lhkB4Aez2-coM47W
And this!
https://youtube.com/shorts/BfOy9c4vzYM?is=j2RRfNAw7WEIi14o
I owe you a cup of coffee…
May 27th, 2026 at 06:24I’m very happy for you Karin. I’m also relieved; the way things were going I thought that I was going to have to send you one of mine.
May 27th, 2026 at 08:46@ 29 – One very dejected looking little doggie @ 0.46. The poor little thing, his life now shattered beyond belief. All for one stick, one that he cannot ever touch, one stick that he can only ever dream of chasing and then bringing it back to his master! Shame on you Karin, teasing and taunting Anton like that on camera for all to see. For punishment Karin, don’t forget to learn your paradiddles. And that is just the start of a tortuous and fiendish regime of endless punishment that I am sure Anton will enjoy in his macabre little way. Cheers.
May 27th, 2026 at 09:14@27
“Like Karin always says, the man can wear anything!
Or nothing at all. She’s fine with it either way.”
– Uwe I have never said that! 👆🏼
What I did say is that I never notice what he is wearing, because I listen to his voice …
F.i in this video:
https://youtu.be/SoSr0sStFaE?is=rGkAKEHL6p0PKssI
I had no idea his shirt was inside out until one of you guys mentioned it.
I do find what ever clothes they are wearing to be less important compared to the music and singing.
And this young man is promising, at least I think he is:
May 27th, 2026 at 10:04https://youtu.be/qTGI9qHPDzI?is=mZJ6V1ilj4DR5XQY
@26
Scorpions, active since 1965, with one founding member and two historical ones remaining. Still going and no hiatuses in between.
Regards, J.-
May 27th, 2026 at 12:49@24
I had direct contact with him, but being young and dumb, was not smart enough to keep his DNA.
(Those were simpler times)
Cheers.-
May 27th, 2026 at 12:53#21 Erik
Uriah Heep released their first album in 1970 and formed in 1969, with Mick Box (the only living member) being born in 1947.
so in terms of the age of the band and the chronological age of the members, Deep Purple are older than Uriah Heep
May 27th, 2026 at 12:56When it comes to who is who in the section of last band standing we shall not forget The Who, The Beach Boys and … drum roll here … the german band The Lords that is said to be along since 1959. So there’s quite some way to go for DP … let’s hope so.
May 27th, 2026 at 13:13Well, I am relieved the darn thing finally made it over, getting it to you couldn’t have been more turbulent and difficult and if we had enjoyed an affair in WWII – with you as the Danish Resistance “Fremdsprachensekretärin Fräulein” and me as the SS intelligence officer …
https://youtu.be/ifiZ49P251Y (ok this is The Netherlands, no similar Denmark drama was available)
That ticket stub I included is from the gig where Little Ian threw it at me = Certificate of Origin! 🤣
And that twirl is already coming along nicely! Üben, üben, üben!
https://i.redd.it/jtzy1a8ikvla1.gif
Don’t forget to listen to IGB now and then. ☝️🥸
May 27th, 2026 at 13:15“Btw: have you heard this fine young man:
https://youtu.be/epQfZhQ09OM?is=hsrIIUUQDg49ggT6“
Nope, but he sure has pipes, Karin! Someone to watch out for.
May 27th, 2026 at 14:57Oh, and he actually played with that stick during the encore before chucking it to me. I was totally baffled because in situations like that I normally never get thrown anything, much less am I coordinated enough to catch it. He must have felt sorry for me.
I was at a Cherie Currie gig and did she throw one of her worn knickers at me? No. 😤
May 27th, 2026 at 15:17With Ms Verndal now busy practicing those Mick Tucker twirls, I fear
May 27th, 2026 at 16:42the lovable mutt… Anton won’t get out much anymore …@30
Russ you also have drumsticks 😃
Well, please send me one so I have two, and can actually play the drums 😁
P.s please also send a drum kit… 🤭
May 27th, 2026 at 17:06@3
Oohhh boy MacGregor!
I promise you Anton is very happy and content 😃
Of course I let him sniff the drumstick and he wagged his tail to be completely honest 😃
But not once did he try to take it from me.
I will practise every day, and this afternoon it actually was a bit better 😊
May 27th, 2026 at 17:19@34
J, you do know you have to tell the whole story, right? 😃
In return I PROMISE that if I ever get in direct contact with any member of my favourite band, I will tell everything about it in here 😇🫡
If I had been more scientifically in my studies, I might have been able to make a new Ian Paice today, could I have borrowed someone’s lab 😁
May 27th, 2026 at 17:25@37
Well Uwe I’m both relieved it finally arrived here, and a bit disappointed too because I had hoped you would have taken Edith and you next door neighbour Max with you to come here and get some yummy coffee 😃
But of course the most important thing is that the drumstick arrived in one piece 😁
Ticket stub….. I have to go thoroughly through the packing then, because I haven’t seen any stub!
I actually listen to Ian Gillan Band, not every day, but several times a week!
I made a playlist! So don’t think I’m insincere 😇
@38 – And yes Sir, Dan Byrne can sing! The studio recordings are great, but live he sounds even better! Well, not Ian Gillan great, but you know.. ☺️😉
May 27th, 2026 at 17:46I my head some of the same colours and forms are happening as when our hero is singing. Which is weird because they don’t remind of each other. Well, never mind 😊
@40
The darling doglet was out walking with me today, this morning and this afternoon, in a total of: 13762 steps, or 10,6 km! So you really don’t need to feel sorry for him 😃
Actually now he is fast asleep while I’m listening to Whitesnake! (Burn, because someone in here has been quoting this song so much, it’s actually stuck in my poor brain 😝😁)
May 27th, 2026 at 17:561. Did Russ really mean drum sticks and not just wood? 🤐 The man is an abyss of steep-sloped innuendo, most of it irretrievably downward.
2. I wanna hear Faraway J‘s account of I WAS A MALE GROUPIE FOR DEEP PURPLE too!!!🍿
3. Surely, the Danish heks will not cast one of her notorious mandrake root spells 😱 with that drum stick one shudders to worry?
https://www.kew.org/sites/default/files/styles/original/public/2019-02/Male%20mandrake%20.jpg.webp?itok=E3q90791
4. My numerologist brethren, I believe DP wins the “mammoth contest” by sheer headcount: Name me one other band that had its heydays in the early 70s that still has three members from that time period and tours and records new songs?
The Stones and The Who: down to two (Ron Wood joined only in the mid 70s);
Status Quo: down to one and no longer touring the band, only Rossi tours as a solo artist/raconteur;
Scorpions: down to one, Klaus was not an original member of the Scorpions, he joined them together with Michael Schenker from Kopernikus prior to recording Lonesome Crow;
Wishbone Ash: down to respectively one in two different incarnations of the band;
Nazareth: down to one;
Uriah Heep: down to one, Mick Box is a bit like George Harrison touring with three unknowns and calling that outfit The Beatles;
The Beach Boys: Isn‘t Mike Love the sole original member in the band? And haven’t they stopped recording new music?
The Gillan-Glover-Paice triumvirate is so ancient in comparison, I’m sure they don’t even speak with each other anymore because by now they can all read each other’s minds! 🤗
May 27th, 2026 at 18:28@23. Gillan is a skillful lyricist, no doubt. But no way he is to ne trusted on geopolitics. Not the lob of his, amyways.
May 27th, 2026 at 18:58#34 J From Far Away:
Okay, but that’s not fair!! The Scorpions’ first studio album was from 1972! By ’72, Purple had already released 6 studio albums and 2 live albums!!
#36 Max:
The Beach Boys’ last studio album was in 2012, but their first was in 1961!
on the other hand, Al Jardine and Mike Love were born in 1941, so a generation before Purple & Rolling!
The Who started in 1965 setting fire to the hard rock fuse, Pete and Roger are the same age as the Purples, They played their final farewell concert in September 2025,
May 27th, 2026 at 22:41and in their career they have only released 12 studio albums (the last one in 2019)
@ 39 – “He must have felt sorry for me.” Indeed! Ian must have had a ‘feeling’ that you are a bass player Uwe. Cheers.
May 27th, 2026 at 23:16@ 33- well done J, I totally forgot about The Scorpions and also Golden Earring. They only ceased to exist in 2021 due to George Kooymans health. They started out a long long time ago, similar to the Scorpions time I think. Cheers.
May 27th, 2026 at 23:31@ 42 – Anton doesn’t look ‘happy’ to me Karin. I know that forlorn look from dogs, as many of us do, when their ‘world’ has crashed around them. He would be saying to himself, ‘why did that horrible man from Germany have to send that stick up here, why do people do these things”? Anton would have also been very frustrated as the courier left the parcel outside the front door, where he couldn’t get hold of it and tear it apart. Pure frustration for the poor little thing. Regarding your elation at receiving the drumstick, I wouldn’t have bothered mentioning poor ole Mick Tucker, he is cast into the same abyss as Cozy and Bonzo by Uwe. You should have mentioned Ian Paice, after all he was the one playing it last. Before he made the fateful mistake of throwing it to a bass player of all things! Unless there was some symbolic meaning to Ian’s message to Uwe, he he he. Cheers
May 27th, 2026 at 23:43@43
Of course, dear lady.
On May 2nd 1992, just a few days before my 20th birthday (Maybe I’m a Taurus) the great Ian Gillan played my hometown as part of his ‘Toolbox’ world tour.
I loved the album and was a massive “post fact” Purple fan so I was over the moon with the possibility of seeing THE LEGEND in the flesh. Keep in mind this was before the internet, social media, cellphones and globalization, so it was very exciting!
A mid-sized sports arena was the venue (capacity four thousand). However, on that cold autumn night only a few hundred of us showed up.
Nevertheless, the 4 piece band took the stage and played a BLINDING set, Ian giving it his all.
And we fans loved it.
On bass, the hilarious Brett Bloomfield stood out, a “life of the party” kinda guy! Leonard Haze, nicknamed “The Mayor of Hell” by Ian, pounded skins gladly and often. Disappointingly, guitarist Steve Morris did not make it south and a young [even more] unknown guy was in his place.
After the show was over, said guitarist started picking up his gear and a few of us approached the stage to talk to him. I asked his name and I thought he said “Dane”, but much later I found out he was Dean Howard, from the english pop band T’Pau.
On exiting the building, we noticed a white van waiting for the band and again a few of us decided to stay there like side door Johnies, in hope of a final glimpse of our idol, which then happened! The guys exited through an actual side door and in that short walk a deranged little fan took the opportunity to grab the ultimate souvenir: to touch Ian’s legendary black mane! (he still had his iconic long black hair, as displayed on the ‘Toolbox’ cover).
I had to reach out, since I’m only average height and Ian is REALLY a big guy.
He may have thought “WTF?!” or “Where the hell AM I?” or “Why so few people?”
Or perhaps he thought “This will be my life if I don’t sit down to talk with Bruce Payne soon”, but we shall never know…
In any case, we loved it and I refused to wash my right hand for days, my dear mom thinking I was truly nuts! Eventually I relented and soap met hand again (however, my mum’s opinion did not really change).
Ian would visit my country again, as Deep Purple, some 15 years later (featuring a former Rainbow keyboard player onstage plus another former Rainbow keyboard player as a roadie!), but by then I had given up on the band, heartbroken by Jon’s exit, so I refused to attend. However, this time 10.000 other people did. Good for Ian, I was happy for him. The meek shall and DID inherit the earth (I’m looking at you Roger!).
My next Purple People close encounter would come in 1996 in another city (Buenos Aires), but that’s a story for another day…
“In return I PROMISE that if I ever get in direct contact with any member of my favourite band, I will tell everything about it in here 😇🫡”
I really, really hope you get to meet him and share your magic coffee blend with him.
Just remember not to utter the words “black” and “more” together in his presence, ok!!
Kind regards, J.- 🙂
May 27th, 2026 at 23:57@ 42- at least it is a genuine Ian Paice drum stick, as in one that he actually used. I was wondering over time if it was one of these below! I couldn’t remember if Uwe had ever mentioned previously that the stick was from a DP gig where Ian threw it out into the audience. Get practising Karin, that drumstick only knows one way, perfection. Cheers.
https://www.justpercussion.com.au/promark-hickory-808l-wood-tip-ian-paice-drumstick?srsltid=AfmBOormAAuWIfv3O96ltSn9mfagyfv89DxqdJlBdWS_lqXKQ3_qqHIw
May 28th, 2026 at 00:01All this ‘longest’ band existence is only a bit of fun, why not have a comment or three about it. However the lawyer here amongst us, aka Uwe Hornung has spoken, all be it in mixed up bias forgetting some of the facts, yet again. Members of DP in Gillan and Glover left the band in 1973 and rejoined 11 years later. And Big Ian was out of the band again late 1980’s (1989) through to the 1992 era. So in regard to Ian he is minus a total of approximately fourteen years not being member of the Purps since the glorious early 70’s. Are we splitting hairs, yes indeed. Do I support a band with only one original member, not really, although I did with Tony Iommi in the 80’s era with ‘Black Sabbath’ even though I knew it should have been under a different moniker. Does Uwe not count Phil Lanzon in Uriah Heep? Although Uwe has conveniently turned the screw back to the early 70’s, I almost forgot about that. Trick lawyer talk if ever there was a sad attempt at winning the ‘argument’, eh Uwe, he he he? What about Bernie Shaw in UH. Anyway I digress little there, The rolling Stones from 1976 officially with Ron Wood joining are still three members uninterrupted to this day, not to mention that Charlie Watts was there for most of that time until recently. There you go Uwe, count, add up and subtract. Numerologists in deed. Have to have a laugh though, don’t we. Throw another dice, we never know which way it will end up. Cheers.
May 28th, 2026 at 08:41@28 I acknowledge the Stones’ longevity and their carefully crafted brand way more than their music. They are good at playing a decent groove and occasionally coming up with a nice melody. That’s it. If you look at the whole duration of their career, their accomplishments are spread quite thin. 1-2 good songs per album make enough material to pack a set list or a “the best of” compilation but are not much to write home about otherwise. Ironically, if you check solo stuff by Keef and Ron, their albums are surprisingly good from the musical standpoint. Mick’s solo oeuvre is pretty average, though.
@19 DP have covered the Stones, indeed. Yet the Stones would not be able to cover DP to save their lives. Give them a throwaway song from Stormbringer or WDWTWA, and they won’t know what to do with it.
May 28th, 2026 at 09:15It wasn’t from a Purple gig, my coordination abilities are not such that I could catch a drum stick in a large hall 🤣, it was of course my first Purpendicular gig.
The Bloomfield/Haze rhythm section was kick-ass on the Toolbox tour, very impressive. Too bad that Bloomfield never achieved a similar position in another popular band again.
Golden Earring are contenders for longevity, no doubt, I love that band and they were together for ages.
May 28th, 2026 at 10:13“Ticket stub….. I have to go thoroughly through the packing then, because I haven’t seen any stub!”
🙄🙄🙄
https://youtu.be/cgbHZyXSs_A
It was attached with gaffer tape to the cardboard tube in which the drum stick was, woman! 🤣
You threw it away, admit it!
May 28th, 2026 at 10:26@46
§3: ohhh so we’re back at the Danish witch again, are we 😁
If I could I would, but I can’t..
Actually I practised just now, and wanted to record how good I’ve become.
May 28th, 2026 at 10:47But I am afraid the camera is making me overly nervous because the second I turned it on, I dropped the drumstick, on the floor.
@51
He doesn’t MacGregor?!
Oh well, he is though.
This morning I got some parcels and as Anton normally does, he jumped out of the door, ran to the postman and jumped up and down (Danish-Swedish Farmdogs do that, a lot!) and usually the postmen say hi and walk away fast.
But this man, he jumped too, and little Anton got so surprised, he sat down, and got very quiet.
It’s the first time that ever happened 😊
“Before he made the fateful mistake of throwing it to a bass player of all things!”
May 28th, 2026 at 10:52– well Uwe did say Ian P felt sorry for him 😁
@52
Thank you so much J 😃
It must be a memory up there with memories of wedding days and first time bathing in the sea etc 😊
I’m pretty sure Ian adores all his fans 🙏🏼
I laughed out loud by your recommendation not to mention Black and More if I ever get to serve my world famous coffee to Ian 🤣
Of course, now that’s stuck in my head, so if I ever meet him, that will surely be the first words I utter 😝😁😁
Well, a girl can dream, can’t she….
May 28th, 2026 at 10:57@53
MacGregor at Facebook there is this guy who also is a huge fan of everything Purple.
He saw my new drumstick and mentioned that I can buy that..
But Uwe assured me that Ian P held it in his hand before he gracefully threw it to our favourite lawyer!
And yes, I found the slip, but sadly I tore off a piece. But the rest of it is in the safe 😃
Of course I practise!
May 28th, 2026 at 11:02I have become better already, but the second I turn on the camera to make a proof, I drop the stick….
But I am not a quitter 😃
@46
“I wanna hear Faraway J‘s account of I WAS A MALE GROUPIE FOR DEEP PURPLE too!!!🍿”
🤣🤣🤣
May 28th, 2026 at 15:05@53: Shouldn’t she learn the hi-hat for SOTW – with just one drum stick to give it some challenge?
May 28th, 2026 at 17:40@ 56 – I was wondering if it was from a Purpendicular concert. I was also trying to make it more ‘authentic’ in the DP sense for Karin. Although that isn’t going to help Anton at all. To him it is a stick not being thrown. At least it was thrown once when you caught it Uwe. Just don’t tell Anton that! Cheers.
May 28th, 2026 at 22:51Darn, MacGregor caught me! I buy these drum sticks wholesale and then give them away to assorted Little & Big Ian fans worldwide – all of them female, gullible + much younger than me of course and preferably from rural areas. With the honey trap thus laid out, it is only a question of time …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSFfxCbtvqM
They call me the groomer …
https://youtu.be/ZdyKneo3anA
I have to diversify now: Beate, are you by any chance interested in a worn G string from muscle shirt Steve?
May 28th, 2026 at 23:13@57
“You threw it away, admit it!”
May 29th, 2026 at 01:09– na-ahh Uwe 😄 I did not.
Actually I put the drumstick in that very well handcrafted box every time after I’m done practicing 😃
I cannot believe that drumstick has managed to ‘hit the floor’ occasionally, as Karin says. Is Anton not in the room Karin, or perhaps he has been sedated to slow him down little. Usually a dog would have that stick in their mouth before it touched the floor and be out the door before the owner knew what going on!
May 29th, 2026 at 03:05Although the poor little thing has been ‘warned’ no doubt. When Karin showed Anton the stick up close, the fear for Anton as he heard those spine chilling words that Karin uttered, “Anton, don’t you even think of it”. Maybe Uwe should have placed a few ‘conditions’ on Karin receiving that stick. One being that Anton be allowed to play with it too. Cheers.
@63
Uwe, my level of ambitions are low… if I can twirl for about 10 sec without dropping the stick, I am happy 😃
May 29th, 2026 at 05:09@55 …’ occasionally a good melody’… ‘1-2 good songs per album’….
May 29th, 2026 at 06:16You must be kidding. I cannot think of any band with a catalouge that comes close to the that of the Rolling Stones. They delivered first class songs for decades. Countless tributes by various artists (many accomplished Blues- and Jazz-players among them) prove that. Ans I guess they could easily cover any band. But why bother? They got so many first class material in a wide range of styles to pick from.
Their last album was disappointing though I think.
@41
“Well, please send me one so I have two, and can actually play the drums.”
Mine were actually signed by Ian & the ink is already fading on them… I’m afraid you would wear the signature right off of it with your attempts to twirl it. I have a Bobby Rondinelli stick that I got at a Rainbow gig in the early 80’s that I’ll part with.
“P.s please also send a drum kit…”
I don’t have one anymore… I’ll tell you why: After I emancipated myself from the bonds of my marriage & went to retrieve my belongings that I hadn’t had time to take when I initially left I found that my drum kit had been disassembled all the way down the literal smallest parts possible. I’m sure it was done to piss me off. I took one look at them and told her she could keep them… but if you can find her you can ask her for them. I’ll even reimburse you for the postage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyY5ZXhg-F4
May 29th, 2026 at 06:39@64
Oh but MacGregor, I also like Perpendicular too!
Attended a concert with that lovely band September last year.
I wanted so much to have talked with them, but ‘someone’ (no name mentioned) wanted to go home immediately so I never got the chance.
But I have a proof and everything:
https://youtube.com/shorts/YS3gyX0BWqo?is=sasXQQn2rhFhihmT
And:
https://youtube.com/shorts/4StGRkhfYO4?is=bUB_BJYoWs8V7NlR
(Oh cannot listen to this without tearing up 😢😢)
And now I guess it’s about time I tell you that Anton, the loveable mutt, has a big drawer filled with toys of all kinds, colours and designs 😄
May 29th, 2026 at 09:52He does not need anything more – and add to that: I walk him two times a day 😃
And furthermore: he gets very lovely and nutritious food, and yummy goodies made of dried salmon..
So MacGregor, please do not add to my guilty conscience 😃
@67
Well MacGregor, I am a fool! What can I say 😄
I do have a very interesting question for you:
May 29th, 2026 at 10:01The former drummer in Rolling Stones, Charlie Watts, well, as far as I can tell he reminds me a lot about Ian Paice in his style of drumming, is that also how you see him?
@70
Well Russ, as much as I would simply love to talk to your ex-wife, I better not 😄
And you better wish I never do, because she would most likely reveal things about you, things I couldn’t keep for myself in here no matter how much I tried 😁
The quote about the drum set was a joke, because I do not have room for such a set, and I’m afraid the very angry and old lady living in the house beside me, would finally call the police and have me arrested for disturbing the peace…
May 29th, 2026 at 10:11– on the other hand 😆..
@65
Uwe, hasn’t Steve made some jewellery out of his guitar strings?
May 29th, 2026 at 10:19I seem to remember have been reading about it in here 😊
#69 Max:
you’re right, Uwe overdid it,
May 29th, 2026 at 12:42let’s make even 3-4 good songs for some albums
Could it be that Russ holds a grudge re his first (?) wife … 🤣
I think the most consistently good Stones album was Sticky Fingers (and perhaps Let It Bleed as well), and that album IS a milestone. Overall though, the Stones never shied away from including a few fillers to get their albums full. However, the good songs were often so good, you simply forgave them the not so great ones. With the Stones it is much like with Queen, individual songs stand out more than the albums, unlike Purple both bands never gave up on singles as a principle and that is perfectly ok.
Jagger’s rhythmic finesse when singing is vastly underrated.
May 29th, 2026 at 14:10“very well handcrafted box”
You mean ist was the right decision for me then to refrain from entering the gift-wrapping business? Bösartige Karin! 🤣
May 29th, 2026 at 14:17@60
Nice words Karin! 🙂
Ok, let’s go through the dream scenario:
“IG: Great coffee Karin, I loved it!
KV: Black? More?
IG: Never. Again. !!!”
😀
May 29th, 2026 at 14:23@55 Georgivs – unlikely the Stones would try a DP song, but if they ever did it would surely be interesting to hear.
Just to keep things interesting, on their upcoming record they have re-interpreted an Amy Winehouse number.
Always exciting to hear a new release from MJ, KR & co., and find out where their muse has taken them.
Though admittedly they have made some strange choices over the years, usually recording far more songs than they release, which sometimes results in leftovers that equal or surpass the material that sees publication.
Speaking of the Stones’ solo records, always thought Bill Wyman came up with some of the most entertaining ones. Especially his first, “Monkey Grip”…
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mYymirtgIg8TX8cwhvyRUJxXIbBU-aP6E
And his self-titled third LP from 1982, which saw him incorporating early 80s electronic sounds in a fun way. At times sounding a bit like Gary Numan; at others more like Ian Dury.
May 29th, 2026 at 19:05https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m6CJuFf1x8sYLxVMMhSLEgMhUrDbirlPM
@74: Not Steve himself but a (Swedish, I believe) woman does that.
https://www.katyaarts.com/artist/steve-morse-jewelry-collection/
May 29th, 2026 at 20:50@76
“Could it be that Russ holds a grudge…” Nah, Life’s too short for that kinda shit.
May 29th, 2026 at 23:05@73
“…she would most likely reveal things about you, things I couldn’t keep for myself in here no matter how much I tried”
I’m not worried about the things she might reveal about me that are true…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDUfELBtU4A
May 29th, 2026 at 23:29@ 76 -“Overall though, the Stones never shied away from including a few fillers to get their albums full.” What, and other artists don’t do that too, including DP. We do hope that you do include many if not all other recording artists at various stages of their careers in your comment Uwe. Cheers.
May 29th, 2026 at 23:47#79 Skippy:
I fell madly in love with Bill Wyman’s album Anyway the Wind Blows with his Rhythm Kings, I still listen to it with pleasure, one of those albums that after 30 years I have never tired of, very simple but played very well, I would define it as one of the underrated gems from 1990 onwards.
May 29th, 2026 at 23:54or bought in a used record shop for 2 or 3 euros at most!
@75 Uwe might overdo a lot but I wasn’t responding to him here.
I don’t know too many albums in gendral that do not contain weaker tracks. Interesting enough it’s often debated which ones actually are the fillers.
One example: Time to kill from TBRO. I think it’s essential others not so.
May 30th, 2026 at 03:25@78
I better never meet Ian Gillan then 😝
Would ruin everything for me 😁
May 30th, 2026 at 06:04@77
Uwe I am not suggesting you’re not a gifted giftwrapper…
NOT AT ALL!
But I’m immensely happy you had another day job and stuck with that 😁
May 30th, 2026 at 06:18@80
Thank you Svante 😊
No of course Steve isn’t the manufacturer, but I meant he is delivering the strings 😊
And they are still available (and a bit pricey I have to say…)
May 30th, 2026 at 06:21@82
Russ, speaking as some sort of a female, this:
“I’m not worried about the things she might reveal about me that are true…”
– I need to say to you that women sometimes interpret situations, words, writings etc a bit differently that they were meant to be understood.
Let me give you an example from my own life:
I had this boyfriend, and we had been dating for a while.
Then it was my birthday, and the dear guy asked me if I had something like a wish list.
Well, I do not like wish lists, to me it is deadly for any relationship if you simply ask for this or that… then I could just get some money and buy the present myself. Where is the romance in that?
Well, the soon to be single guy bought a gift – ohh yes he did! A shower curtain, in a plastic bag 🤣 (see, can laugh at it now…)
When he told the story, it was completely different to the situation as I recalled it..
Who was wrong? Well not me 😁
Well, where was I? Ohh yes, the things your ex-wife experienced can be right for her….
Do you remember the book: ‘Men are from Mars, women from Venus’ – well, I have always found that to be nonsense.
People need to TALK to each other!
Without communication (and I know a lot of guys hate that!) how can anyone know what to say or do?
However, the most important thing is to laugh together! (Or at each other 😄)
Woah! The wisdom is flowing through my veins today 😁
May 30th, 2026 at 06:47The print issue is July 2026 with Kate Bush on the cover.
May 30th, 2026 at 07:50@84 Fla76 – yes Bill’s Rhythm Kings are great at what they do!
Always nice to find a gem in the bargain bin, too.
May 30th, 2026 at 08:25Herr MacGregor, I really like the Stones, but unsurprising for their 6os origins I detect a focus on individual standout songs (= singles) and not on albums as a cohesive artistic statement. That does set them apart from bands like, say, Purple or Bruce Springsteen. There are very few Stones albums that have a continuous musical motif. It’s just not how the Stones tick, it wasn‘t meant as a putdown. Songs like Jumping Jack Flash and Honky Tonk Women (in its popular, not countrified version) were never even part of regular albums but standalone singles.
And A Time To Kill is one of the most redundant Purple songs ever, Max! 😎 The relevant music from TBRO would have made a fine EP with Anya on side A and the songs TBRO + Solitaire on side B.
May 30th, 2026 at 15:14Karin @87: Ah, so sweet of you to just rub it in …
https://youtu.be/LEHtfdGElKo?is=3y-YJvcW3CUzPtjr
May 30th, 2026 at 15:44Somehow, the shower curtain idea speaks to me …
https://youtu.be/BYnPGS9Ev8w
Mother made me do this.
May 30th, 2026 at 19:49As I said, Uwe … one man’s filler is another man’s killer.
May 30th, 2026 at 19:54@93
Aahhh but Uwe, I’m thinking of your health:
Paper cuts – heard they can be fatal ☺️
And where would the German law school be today, if the professors couldn’t teach the students ‘the Uwe Hornung-way’ of demolishing the opponents 😄
You chose the right path in life my friend 😃🙏🏼
May 30th, 2026 at 20:40#92 Uwe:
I’ll raise the stakes by saying that my absolute favorite Rolling Stones singles are those from the last 25 years, a cut above all the songs from the 70s, even the most famous hits!
much more hypnotic, much more healing, much more ingratiating, much more effective, much more iconic.
secondarily I always prefer the 80’s Rolling Stone hits rather than Satisfaction and the other older ones
May 30th, 2026 at 22:37@ 92 – I never took your comment as a put down of the Stones at all Uwe. Just that we the listeners, more so than the artist who creates the songs, get to hear the songs from a different angle and repeatedly in many cases. So as time passes us by we become very familiar with a certain way each artist creates their compositions. Similarities abound after a while, so the inevitable, ‘this sounds like a throw away or filler song’ or ‘I have heard this before’ scenario often presents itself. It can also become evident when an artist ‘owes’ a record company an album and trundles out anything just to get off the contract. As well as when another song or two is needed to fill the time available for a ‘new’ album. Yes indeed TBRO is a prime example as are other DP albums. Every artist has them. Even on concept albums. Cheers.
May 31st, 2026 at 00:51@93
Ohhh Uwe, I’ll rub it in, I’ll rub it in goood 😁 (the link didn’t work until now, so haven’t had a chance to listen to it!)
Well, jokes aside, the main thing is that the drumstick arrived to me in one nice piece 😃 and it did and I’m forever grateful 😇🙏🏼
I was here yesterday:
https://youtube.com/shorts/WseyOZQqqlI?is=WKsuWVQZHCYkHbPO
Peace and tranquility 🤩
And talking about peace and tranquility:
https://youtu.be/5JVPdb6Urhw?is=zbjdkPDRLyrIRjsi
Funny story about this:
https://youtu.be/oCAfSIzWHk0?is=lUXnWdAL9UbTBRGc
In the old days before proper internet access, I had one of those old machines, (modem 56k) where you could hear the dial up and all the crackling noises (you know just like in ‘You’ve got mail’ when Meg Ryan tried to get in contact with Tom Hanks online ☺️) and I tried to download this Paul McC song, it’s about two minutes long, but took me hours to get it downloaded 😝😄
What would I say with this:
Well, there are so many people complaining, not in here 😍 here are the most fantastic Purple-People alive 😚, but if there’s one thing I really appreciate it is the internet and the music I can listen to on a daily basis 😃 (yes I’m easy to please…)
Let me finally link to this (again) because I love it so much:
May 31st, 2026 at 06:22https://youtu.be/w-6ie2UiKfw?is=wFDYXQgGMPqKhtP3
Joie de vivre all around ☀️☀️
I like the “decadent first half of the 70s”- Stones, i.e. Mick Taylor era best, but the newer stuff is good too. I do miss Bill Wyman’s somewhat strange but compelling bass playing on the newer stuff though.
May 31st, 2026 at 15:19@100 = 100 %
They sure had a streak of fantastic albums with Taylor in their ranks. Though I have to say that for me Black’n’Blue and Some Girls with Ron Wood were still very good too.
June 1st, 2026 at 07:37True, those two albums are both very good. Ronnie Wood doesn’t take you on a journey when he solos – unlike Mick Taylor who was highly rated even by Ritchie, himself hardly a Stones fan -, but he is handy to have around because he is versatile.
June 1st, 2026 at 12:56@74,80,88
June 2nd, 2026 at 06:43Yes, the “Steve Morse Jewellery” is wonderfully crafted by Katya, she’s a brilliant artist und I have to admit, with every new collection I’m tempted and later convinced that I have to get a piece of it.
BTW do you know that she runs a special page for Steve: http://www.stevemorse.net
Check it out! There are much more informations than on his official one (which I don’t like so much after the change of the person(s) who run it).
Looking forward to the second ‘single’. Promised soon.
June 4th, 2026 at 20:58@104
It’s at YouTube 😃
https://youtu.be/zLxLqDPtUcY?is=aH5Jw3h7rogDM6uG
June 5th, 2026 at 10:42