The official Deep Purple Facebook page has got a new logo reading Now What?! In what we’re sure, is a total coincidence, the mysterious site deeppurple2013.com is also accessible as deeppurple-nowwhat.com. Both domains were registered on the same day late last year by a German-based media company.

Just sayin’…

Roger Glover gave an interview to MyDubai MyCity. He spoke about Swiss women, honesty in music, the value of those rare private moments on tour, crazy as they come fans, and why he doesn’t use social networks. Oh, yeah, and the seemingly inevitable question of that song also came up.

And a bonus snippet from the press conference with Paicey talking about playing a jazz festival:

Thanks to Blabbermouth for the info.

Deep Purple gave a press conference in Dubai ahead of the first show of the tour. Looks like everybody had a lot of fun, however only Ian Gillan’s answers were published.

On the favourite song to perform:

No. The show is an entity and it goes from one thing to another. They all have dynamics, and if you had a favourite, song, the rest would become less important. They are all important and they all present different challenges. It’s quite important to realise the joy of performing embraces in part the joy of listening, so an awful lot of my enjoyment comes from what the other guys in the band do. I like that awesome identity that Purple has. You’re a very small part of that. I get off on what the other guys do. Sometimes on certain evenings, a slow song, like Maybe I’m A Leo, because the groove is perfect and it’s the most understated song of the whole evening, will be my favourite. It changes.

I think the songs that we do present different personal feelings. So ok if you want me to choose one, Maybe I’m A Leo is my favourite. Mind you if you ask me tomorrow I’ll give you a different answer.

Read more in Gulf News. Watch the slightly expanded version. And check out the photo coverage.

Thanks to Yvonne Osthausen for the info.

EarMusic has posted another teaser for the upcoming new Deep Purple album:

The Emirates’ Khaleej Times has a brief interview with Don Airey. Reflecting on the differences in the music scene between now and ‘back then’, he says:

I hear some good things, but I don’t hear anything like I used to in the ‘70s. I don’t hear the guitar players anymore. You don’t have the raw sound or primeval feeling which used to tumble out of the Marshall amps.

From around 1963 to 1975, there was just a succession of amazing guitar players: Hendrix, Clapton, Ritchie. I don’t think we’ll ever experience it again. I often think it’s like the Elizabethan age of literature when you had Marlowe and Shakespeare and Ben Jonson – the most wonderful plays that have ever been written – and it really has never happened again.

Regarding the mystery of the new album title:

Well…I don’t know. I really don’t. It’s under wraps. Apparently there is a title and I’ve been told that I know what it is – I don’t know if it’s something I suggested.

Read more in Khaleej Times.

Roger Glover has posted a new batch of historical photographs and memorabilia from his collection ranging from his childhood to circa mid-late 90s. They feature Episode Six, Down to Earth Rainbow lineup, Gillan/Glover, Purpendicular sessions, and other assorted bits and pieces. Check it out.

It looks like “smoke and mirrors” is the theme of the record company promotion campaign for the new Deep Purple album. After unveiling the new mysterious web site about a month ago, we were left with (literally) a big question mark for the album title. In what might possibly be the biggest prank in Purple history, one online retailer now lists the album titled simply as ?. Or it could quite possibly be the actual title of the album. Smoke and mirrors, man. Smoke and mirrors…

The only thing known more or less for sure right now are the release dates as confirmed by the label:

• Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Finland, Spain: April 26
• UK, France, Benelux, Poland, Czech, Norway, Denmark: April 29
• USA, Italy: April 30
• Sweden: May 1

According to the very preliminary information from Soyuz Music, which will be releasing the album in Russia, 3 release formats are being planned:

• Standard Edition: 11 Songs on 1 CD
• Deluxe Edition: 13 songs + c.a. 30 min. EPK on 1 CD + 1 DVD (digipak)
• Vinyl: 1LP

Thanks to Andrey Gusenkov for the format info.

In anticipation of the kickoff of the world tour (as festival appearance in India has been cancelled) TimeOut Dubai publishes an interview with Roger Glover, where he displays quite a bit of humility:

I don’t believe we sold 100 million records. People make things up because it goes down well with the press. I’m a musician, not an accountant. But I can’t imagine we’ve sold anywhere near 100 million.

I was talking to a taxi driver and he said “Deep Purple? Are they still around?” We get a lot of that. People think we’re dead and buried. I don’t care. It’s not their fault.

Yet this bit of journalism raised some eyebrows in our headquarters as there was a strong feeling that Roger was the one pressing for making another album:

The public’s lack of awareness isn’t helped by the fact Deep Purple have all but given up as recording artists. Their last album, Rapture of the Deep, was released in 2005; instead the band have morphed into a touring tribute to their glory days. ‘There was a discussion about whether we should release more albums – something I opposed,’ says Glover. The band are currently putting the finishing touches on a new LP, and the bassist admits it’s likely to be the last. ‘We’re all in our mid-60s,’ he adds. ‘You never know which will be a last album.’

We took the liberty of getting in touch with our favourite bass player and he sets the record straight:

The journalist has the wrong end of the stick. There was a discussion some years ago as to when, where, with whom, or even whether to record the next album but I never said that I was against recording an album – quite the opposite. We’re an ‘album band’, whether it’s out of favour or a losing proposition or whatever – I believe we should be who we are. An album is a state-of-the-union statement and for a band like us, that’s important, if only to me. :-]

I’m annoyed, though not entirely surprised, that the journalist got it wrong. I also never said that this will be our last album.

Thanks to Rich Shailor for the info and to Roger for clarification.

Whitesnake will be releasing a new live album on April 3 titled — wait for it — Made in Japan. It is a recording of Coverdale & Co. at the Loud Park Festival in Tokyo on October 15, 2011. The usual these days selection of formats (2CD, DVD, Blu-ray, 2CD+DVD, and 2CD+Blu-ray) will be available.

2CD Track list:

Disc 1

1. Best Years
2. Give Me All Your Love Tonight
3. Love Ain’t No Stranger
4. Is This Love
5. Steal Your Heart Away
6. Forevermore
7. Six Strings Showdown
8. Love Will Set You Free
9. Drum Solo
10. Fool For Your Loving
11. Here I Go Again
12. Still Of The Night

Disc 2 (soundcheck and demos)

1. Love Will Set Your Free
2. Steal Your Heart Away
3. Lay Down Your Love
4. Fare Thee Well (Acoustic Version)
5. One Of These Days (Acoustic Version)
6. Good To Be Bad (Acoustic Version)
7. Tell Me How (Acoustic Version)
8. Evil Ways
9. Best Years *
10. The Badger (Demo Session) *

* Bonus Track for Japan only

Tracklist of the DVD and Blu-ray will be identical to the contents of the first CD, plus photo slide show and fan filmed videos.

According to Ticketline tickets go on sale for a Blackmore’s Night tour of the UK on Friday, with a presale starting tomorrow.

More information here : www.ticketline.co.uk.

Update (Feb 12): the tourdates have been confirmed by BN management. The tour will kick off in Dumfermline, Scotland, on June 26th, and proceed South to Guildford (July 5th) via Newcastle (June 28th), Wolverhampton (July 1st), and Salisbury (July 3rd).