Deep Purple have announced dates for a fall 2020 UK tour in sync with news that the band have completed recording their 21st studio album.
Vocalist Ian Gillan shared a social media update on the project, which will mark the follow-up to 2017’s “InFinite”, which was recorded with producer Bob Ezrin in Nashville, TN.
“It was late March in 2019, when I found myself in Nashville TN, renting an Airbnb delight called ‘Rose River Cottage’, on one bank of the Cumberland River, almost directly opposite the Grand Ole Opry, from where the quaint music would drift across the water into the wee small hours,” began Gillan. “It was springtime, and – along with the woodchucks – I was emerging from hibernation. Across town, other members of Deep Purple were staying in more urbane accommodation. This was a shock, as we are famous for our lack of planning and we all wondered what had drawn us together in this place and time.
“An even greater surprise was to follow; each member (arms and legs I’m talking about) arrived at a rehearsal studio and then a recording studio at roughly the same time on roughly the same day with roughly no idea of what we were doing. It was a total coincidence, the like of which has probably never been witnessed since – unbelievably – exactly the same thing happened a few years earlier when we spawned some In-Finite ideas.”
“Then – blow me down – Bob Ezrin turned up and said ‘Let’s have dinner on Monday’,” continued the rocker. “Someone enquired ‘What’s the big occasion?’ Bob replied ‘To celebrate the fact that we are all still alive…’ ‘In which case’ continued the world-weary muso, ‘We’d better make it Sunday.’
“But we survived the weekend and had dinner on Monday. Tuesday, we made another album and Wednesday we went to the pub….Something like that anyway (it was all a blur) and now we gird our lions (yes, I know, but I’m in Africa) for a year of febrile activity into which a rare amount of planning has been invested; obviously not by us.
"I sense the grinding of campaign wheels, the oiling of creaky roadies, rumours of itineraries and ripples of creativity in Hamburg. Quite plainly something is in the air; but I have no idea what it could be. Perhaps, after another brief hibernation, all will become clear, in the spring of 2020.”
Alongside Gillan’s update, Deep Purple have announced details of a UK tour that will see the legendary band play five shows – with guests Blue Oyster Cult – in October 2020.
The week-long series will open in Manchester on October 2 before hitting London, Glasgow and Leeds and wrapping up in Birmingham on October 8.
"As always, playing in your home country is special and exciting,” says drummer Ian Paice, “and touring with the 'Cult' ensures it's going to be a great run of gigs."
Tickets for the UK dates will go on sale Friday, December 6 at 10 a.m. via the usual outlets.
Deep Purple
2020 UK tour
Oct 02 – Manchester @ Manchester Arena
Oct 03 - London @ The O2
Oct 05 - Glasgow @ The SSE Hydro
Oct 06 - Leeds @ First Direct Arena
Oct 08 – Birmingham @ Arena Birmingham
See also:
Deep Purple expand Soundboard Series with Live In Rome 2013 package
Classic Deep Purple lineup honored with Ivor Novello Award
Deep Purple announce fall US tour
Deep Purple accountant jailed for stealing $3 million from band
Search Deep Purple at hennemusic
Search Whitesnake at hennemusic
Search Rainbow at hennemusic
Search Glenn Hughes at hennemusic
Search Black Country Communion at hennemusic
