DeepPurple.org has an exclusive interview with Don Airey. He talks about his new album A Light in the Sky, Stanley Kubrick, Aurora Borealis, ways to cope with musicians’ stress, and jamming in 7/4.

Read the interview here.

Thanks to Mike Garrett and Gordon Dale for the info.

Since our favourite rumour mistress is on extended vacations on a private exotic island, I’ll have to do the honours of spreading the gossip myself.

As we’ve mentioned previously, Deep Purple plays an important role in the bizarre world of Russian politics. This little birdie told me today that the band is about to play a private gig at a Moscow Kremlin party:

Legendary rock band Deep Purple will play at Russian presidential candidate Dmitri Medvedev’s farewell party as he steps down from his job as chairman of Gazprom. President Putin will also attend the party in Kremlin.

Another little birdie says the party is to celebrate 15th anniversary of Gazprom and Deep Purple and Joe Lynn Turner are being mentioned among the invited, along with Tina Turner and some Russian acts. The concert will be held at the Kremlin State Palace and is supposed to be recorded on video and broadcasted at a later date. Management of the band refused comments to the press, perhaps quite understandably.

Dmitri Medvedev is the Russian presidential candidate endorsed by Vladimir Putin and is widely expected to win the March 2nd elections. He is an outspoken fan of Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, prefers “vinyl sound” to that of CDs’ and publicly takes pride in his vinyl collection. Joe Lynn Turner’s private gig in Moscow on June 12 last year (Russian Independence Day) was organised apparently on his behest.

Well, a job is a job is a job, but I think that they should be threading carefully the thin ice of Russian (or any other) politics. Why? Because.

Money goes to money
Yes it always returns
Finds its way back to the big house
Where it lives all alone
Wraithlike silent partners
Operators of the system
Give words of quiet assurance
To an otherwise healthy victim…

Thanks to all the little and not so little birdies for the info.

UPDATE (Feb 10): It looks like JLT’s participation was a result of somebody’s too vivid imagination, perhaps even mine. The concert appears to go ahead with Deep Purple, Tina Turner and local support acts. Reportedly, Deep Purple will play 40 minutes to close the concert at the main venue and then play another set for a very small audience. The main event will be recorded and broadcasted on ORT on February 15 at 21:25 MSK. ORT is also available in many countries for cable and satellite subscribers, check your local listings. It doesn’t appear you can watch ORT online, but I’m sure it will quickly show up on Youtube.

Thanks to many people on the Russian forum for the info.

Deep Purple are a hard touring band. They stay on the road sometimes for months non-stop. Sometimes they manage to play concerts across 7 timezones in that many days. As Roger Glover once said: “I will play for free, but I want to be paid for being on the road.”

Next week the band embarks on the tour of Latin America. In 23 days they will give 12 concerts in 7 countries on 2 continents. So, how are they trying to stay sane with such schedule? LivingInPeru.com reports on the band’s rider for the concert in Lima, Peru:

“The group has planned to eat typical dishes and it is a fact that we will treat them to our national drink. They know about them and that is why they have requested our drinks in the bars in their dressing rooms,” said Peter Herrera, the event organizer.

Event organizers explained that Deep Purple’s tour manager and director had sent a list of the band’s requests, in which the band’s diet as well as their special requests were listed.

“They have requested that their leisure time be respected and warned that they tend to be loud, stating they will not let anyone control the noise they make anywhere,” explained event organizers.

Deep Purple will have five luxury vans, with Evian water, at their disposal while in Lima. The band also requested two dressing rooms with living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, offices and telephone as well as internet connections.

Plenty of fruit and a bar with typical Peruvians drinks such as Pisco Sour, are also on their list of demands.

Thanks to Blabbermouth.net and LivingInPeru.com for the info.

The New Jaguar XF TV commercial in the UK has the ’68 version of Hush as its sound track:
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In a message posted on Myspace Glenn Hughes reveals title of his new album:

Hi Everyone,

I am very happy to announce the world release of my new Album:

“First Underground Nuclear Kitchen”……

It will be available the first week of May.

I am extremely proud of these songs. When I record songs, I never normally play them over and over, but this album is very addictive….I can’t stop playin’ it…..

It is a roots album, it is a true account of my musical heritage…it is an album, that is also fearless. Multi-dimensional…and remember, I never make the same album twice, I’m not one to bask in the past….it is an in the moment record….it’s very emotional.

I worked some long hours in my home studio…I believe that the hard work has been worth waitin’ 4……this is 4 all my fans, and beyond….this is a deep Musical Statement…..

I’ll leave you all a FUNK voice message shortly!

God Bless you all….

Glenn

Thanks to Daniel Bengtsson for the info.

Eric Wiltshire‘s interview with Ian Gillan that was conducted earlier during the Rapture of the Deep tour was posted on Youtube. Eric works for Radio Tatras International, which broadcasts out of Slovakia.

Listen to the interview and watch the slideshow:
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Jon Lord signed a copy of his Durham Concerto CD, and then donated it to the Linda McCartney Cancer Centre so they could auction it off. If you are interested in bidding, then head to eBay UK.

Thanks to Lesley Worrall for the info.

Dean Guitars unveiled their Tommy Bolin Tribute “Teaser” model at the NAMM 2008 convetion held in Los Angeles on January 17-20 this year. The guitar is based on measurements and specs taken from one of Tommy’s surviving axes.

There was a Tommy Bolin memorabilia display at the Dean Guitars NAMM booth, featuring some of Tommy’s personal effects including clothing, rare photographs, and handwritten lyrics to some of his songs. Tommy’s brother Johnnie Bolin was there signing autographs and giving away posters of the ad that will be seen in the guitar magazines as soon as the guitar is ready to ship to dealers.

Lacey Conner of the VH1’s TV show “Rock of Love” conducted an interview with Johnnie Bolin during the display:

Thanks to Greg Prato and Blabbermouth.net for the info.

German Internet radio station Statusquorokt will have a Deep Purple special on the show on February 23. They are running a contest online with 3 questions that should not be very difficult for majority of our readers:

1. which Status Quo song was produced by a DP member?
2. what’s the name of that DP member?
3. which instrument does this member play?

Deadline for submissions is February 22. The winner will be announced on the show on February 23rd and will receive a free ticket to the Classic Rocknacht in Köln on July 26.

Thanks to The Aviator for the info.

More Latin American dates were announced recently on deeppurple.com. All the dates we have posted previously from other sources are now officially confirmed. Mexico, Ecuador and Chile are on the list as well.

Meanwhile, European dates for the summer keep appearing here and there. For many of them tickets are on sale or going on sale shortly. Keep in mind that all these dates so far have not been confirmed by Thames Talent.

See the full list in our tour central. And please email us any updates and corrections.