Steve Morse was interviewed by the Guitar Interactive Magazine. Steve talks about the importance of jamming, influence of John McLaughlin, praises John Petrucci, reflects on his years in Deep Purple, and shares thoughts on why he prefers the album format for his music. Continue Reading »

Ritchie Blackmore reminisces about the dress code with the Nero and The Gladiators, and the perils he had to endure as a hired hand. Continue Reading »

Another box set is in the works — Rainbow The Temple of The King 1975 – 1976. It comprises the first two albums, remastered, the three German 1976 live shows: Köln, Düsseldorf, and Nurnberg (all three previously available both separately and as the Deutschland Tournee 1976 6CD box), and a disc of “rarities”. Continue Reading »

There’s a new book on Jon Lord being prepared for publication. It is called Before We Forget – A Work in Eight Movements, and promises to be a well researched tome.

Before We Forget – A Work in Eight Movements is not just a book — it is set to become the reference work on one of British music’s great creative visionaries. Jon Lord reshaped the landscape of modern music by merging the energy of rock with the finesse of classical themes, composition and arranging skill.

This beautiful hardback volume takes readers on an intimate journey through his creative evolution, features his personal insights, captures his many musical triumphs and the inflects his musical story with the reflections of his closest circle.

Why This Work Is Special

• The Concerto Edition is limited to 250 units and is numbered and signed by the author and by one of Jon Lord’s key collaborators, conductor Paul Mann
• Features exclusive behind-the-scenes and unseen photography
• Assimilates archival advertising images of the keyboard and synthesiser names that feature on band and solo recordings and in live performances
• Provides scholarly insight into his sounds, instrumentation (cataloguing every keyboard he used on stage and on record) and features definitive record of his various Hammond organs from 1965 to 2012, including identifying every Deep Purple Hammond from 1968 to 2002, seven different units in total
• The design and typography artfully blend the traditional and the modern.

This is the first and only book of its kind — a definitive chronicle built around “man and machine” and designed for classic and heavy rock fans, students of popular music and for anyone inspired by the fusion of rock and classical composition, by post-war British cultural history, by the bands Deep Purple and Whitesnake and finally, by the unique musical figure of Jon Lord.

It can be pre-ordered via the author’s website.

Thanks to the Deep Purple Podcast for the info.

Update (Dec 16): The Deep Purple Podcast has a bonus episode dedicated to the book, with the author Ovais Naqvi guesting.

Ian Gillan contributed vocals to a track on a new album from Italian band UROCK. The band is led by singer Umberto Urock, and the track in question is called The Line, which is the title track of the band’s second album.

Umberto lives just down the road from me in Portugal. He did a couple of interviews with me for various magazines, and UROCK did the Portuguese show on DEEP PURPLE’s tour [in 2022]. But the main thing I remember is when I went to Rome, I went to the radio station [Rome Rock, which Urock is involved in]. It was just like going to someone’s house, just a bunch of fantastic people.

They sent me some music they’d written. I thought: ‘That’s pretty good.’ One thing led to another, so I went in the studio down the road and sang on the track.

I would say to all the rock fans out there, you’ve just got to get yourself tangled up with ‘The Line’ and with UROCK. It’s fantastic. I wouldn’t have got involved in this had it not been a great tune, had they not been a great band — and I’m very proud to be on the video and on the recording. So get out there and get involved.

The album is coming out in early 2026.

Thanks to Blabbermouth for the heads-up and quotes.

An 8CD box set of Ian Gillan Band remasters and rarities is being prepared for release. It is titled Down The Road: The Complete Ian Gillan Band Story and includes the three studio albums, alternative mix of Clear Air Turbulence, backing tracks, demos, and 3 live shows.

The promo blurb reads:

• 8-CD Box Set – Newly Mastered albums with bonus B-Sides and Live Shows
• First Complete Box Set of the Ian Gillan Band
• 24-Page Book featuring new notes and memorabilia
• Brand new sleeve notes by Rich Davenport who has interviewed Ian about his time with the band
• The CD Box Set packaging is designed in a Deluxe 7” x 7” format – matching that of the very successful recent Ian Gillan CD Box Set ‘Gillan: 1978-1982’

‘Ian Gillan’s ‘purple patch’ post Deep Purple and pre Gillan’

After leaving Deep Purple, Ian Gillan retired from the music business to pursue other business ventures including ownership of the Kingsway studio, where in 1974 he began to work on his first post-Deep Purple solo tracks. This combined with a warm reception to his appearance at Roger Glover’s Butterfly Ball live show prompted him to form a new band.

Initially called Shand Grenade, Ian was persuaded by the management to change the band’s name to the Ian Gillan Band. He recruited guitarist Ray Fenwick, bass player John Gustafson, keyboard player Mike Moran and Mark Nauseef on drums, using Roger Glover as producer the band recorded their first album Child in Time released in 1976, musically the album saw a departure from the heavy sound of Deep Purple to a more progressive jazz rock fusion. The band built a cult like status across Europe and were firmly embraced in Japan.

Two other albums followed in 1977 – Clear Air Turbulence and the rockier Scarabus, this box set collates all the albums with added discs of rare mixes, single edits, and live shows from the time. The set is housed in Deluxe 7” wallet packaging with sleeve notes by Rich Davenport who has interviewed Ian about his time with the band.

CD1: Child In Time
1. Lay Me Down
2. You Make Me Feel So Good
3. Shame
4. My Baby Loves Me
5. Down The Road
6. Child In Time
7. Let It Slide
8. Down The Road — Mono Edit
9. Finally, The Finale — Studio Demo
10. Reaching Out — Studio Demo
11. My Baby Loves Me — Studio Demo
12. Down The Road — Studio Demo
13. You Make Me Feel So Good — Studio Demo
14. Child In Time — Studio Demo
15. Let It Slide — Backing Track

CD2: Clear Air Turbulence
1. Clear Air Turbulence
2. Five Moons
3. Money Lender
4. Over The Hill
5. Goodhand Liza
6. Angel Manchenio

CD3: Clear Air Turbulence — The Rockfield Mixes
1. Over The Hill
2. Clear Air Turbulence
3. Five Moons
4. Money Lender
5. Angelo Manchenio
6. This Is The Way
7. Goodhand Liza

CD4: Scarabus
1. Scarabus
2. Twin Exhausted
3. Poor Boy Hero
4. Mercury High
5. Pre-Release
6. Slags To Bitches
7. Apathy
8. Mad Elaine
9. Country Lights
10. Fool’s Mate

CD5: The Rarities
1. Country Lights (Studio Backing Track)
2. Scarabus (Studio Backing Track)
3. Twin Exhausted (Studio Demo)
4. Fool’s Mate (Studio Backing Track)
5. Apathy (Studio Backing Track)
6. Mercury High (Studio Backing Track)
7. Smoke On The Water (Live At The Budokan) [Single Edit]

CD6: Live at The Budokhan
1. Clear Air Turbulence
2. My Baby Loves Me
3. Scarabus
4. Money Lender
5. Twin Exhausted
6. Over The Hill
7. Mercury High
8. Child In Time
9. Smoke On the Water
10. Woman From Tokyo

CD7: Live At the Rainbow
1. Clear Air Turbulence
2. Money Lender
3. Child In Time
4. Smoke On the Water
5. Woman From Tokyo
6. Twin Exhausted

CD8: Live Yubin Chokin Hall, Hiroshima 1977
1. Money Lender
2. Twin Exhausted
3. Child In Time
4. What’s Your Game
5. My Baby Loves Me
6. Trying To Get to You
7. Mercury High
8. Rock’n’Roll Medley
9. Lucille
10. Jail House Rock
11. High School Confidential
12. Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ on
13. Lucille (Reprise)
14. Woman From Tokyo
15. Bonus Track
16. Over The Hill — Live Hiroshima
17. Smoke on the Water — Live Hiroshima

Release date is set for February 27, 2026, and you can pre-order one here.

Thanks to Uwe for the heads-up.

In this latest microdose of his video memoirs, Ritchie Blackmore talks about discovering for himself Eric Clapton, and playing fast vs playing slow. Continue Reading »

A pro shot of a complete Whitesnake show from June 2, 2022, in Hamar, Norway, was posted to them intertubes. It is described to be the video wall production with front-of-the-house soundboard sound. It is one of the last Whitesnake live performances (if not THE last one) that was professionally recorded. The tour imploded under the weight of health problems just 3 weeks later. David Coverdale since then has announced his retirement.

Thanks to Skyline Productions for the video, and to Mike Whiteley and Daniel Bengtsson for the heads-up.

Update (Dec 11, 2025): On top of his retirement, David Coverdale has announced today his complete withdrawal from all social media:

Ladies & Gentlemen, Boys & Girls, Brothers & Sisters Of The Snake…

After over 20 fun-filled years of interacting online with all of you Snake People, first with the BBS on whitesnake.com & then onto Twitter ( those were the days ) Facebook, Instagram & Tik Tok…It’s been a fab ride, but, along with the over 50 years in the music business, it’s time for me to withdraw from social media to fully engage in sweet reflection on my career & my life & enjoy my retirement with my friends & my Beloved Family…

It has been such a pleasure for me to interact with you all over the years…sharing music videos, funny memes, farts & giggles, tour info, Unboxings, Q & A with DC…Santa Snake…etc…

Unforgettable, precious memories…& I thank each & everyone of you for your support & participation…

What An Incredible Journey We’ve Shared Together!!! What A Magical Experience!!!

Please take care of yourselves & know YOU are TRULY LOVED BEYOND MEASURE…

Be Safe, Be Happy & Don’t Let Anybody Make You Afraid…

A Very Merry Christmas & Wonderful New Year To You & Yours From Me & Mine!!!

Your Obedient Serpent

David Coverdale

Dec 2025

A couple of letters addressed to our trainspotting department.

White Stripes were inducted to the infamous Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame this year, and in his acceptance speech, Jack White mentioned Rainbow among their inspirations:

Meg and I want to thank just a few of the bands and artists that inspired us and came before us, and also helped us along the way: The Gories, The Gun Club, Loretta Lynn, Fugazi, The Misfits, Emerson Lake And Palmer, Love And Arthur Lee, The Flat Duo Jets And Dexter Romweber, The Hentchmen, Dick Dale, Beck, Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, Tampa Red, The Sonics, Pavement, Jethro Tull, The Strokes, Black Flag, Sleater Kinney, Death, The Creation,The Breeders, The Cramps, Merle Haggard, The Hives, Them,The Damned, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Troggs, Minor Threat, The Rats and Captain Beefheart. To them we all say thank you.

Meanwhile in New Zealand, British comedian Bill Bailey appeared on a morning talk show and, among other things, shared an anecdote of him playing cowbells with Deep Purple (that happened at the Sunflower Jam 2011), with an inquisitive Prince Charles in attendance.

The Purple bit starts at 7:42:

Here’s a contemporary video account of the event:

Thanks to Georgius Novicianus and David Black for the heads-up.

Music Radar has an interview with Steve Morse that appears to be a revised and expanded version of the one we reported a couple of weeks ago.

Is there any style or technique that you find hardest to get under your fingertips?

Anything that’s written on keyboards is gonna have some difficult stretches in them. In the past, it was not so much of a problem, where I could cross-pick, like an upstroke on the G string, downstroke on the B string, very quickly, as I’m going across the strings. And I don’t want to suddenly turn into a sweeping guitarist, so things involve big intervallic jumps are harder than they used to be.

And things where you trill, like in some traditional Irish music, I can write things in that style, but if I was to play piece for hornpipe or something, in order to get those little mordents and trills, the fingering may not always lay out good for guitar. Those kind of challenges.

Read more in Music Radar.

For another interview, Steve has appeared on the Boomerocity podcast:

Boomerocity sits down with guitar legend Steve Morse to talk about his brand-new album, Triangulation. In this exclusive interview, Steve dives deep into the inspiration behind the record, the creative process, and what it means to him at this stage of his remarkable career. Fans of the Dixie Dregs, Deep Purple, Flying Colors, and the Steve Morse Band won’t want to miss this conversation!

Thanks to Ultimate Guitar for the heads-up on the Boomerocity interview.