Jane Stevenson of the QMI Agency recently conducted an interview withDEEP PURPLE singer Ian Gillan. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
On being considered a "classic rock" band:
Gillan: "Classic rock is never a label that we've given ourselves — it's one of the many labels that's been imposed on us. We always used to describe ourselves as an instrumental band. Basically, the music was always instrumentally based so the songs always came later... It's just the influences in the band are so diverse, coming from orchestral composition, jazz, blues, big band, swing and rock 'n' roll. So there's always been that element of adventure within the band. But I think, after all this time, [producer] Bob Ezrin pointed out all those things and so we all lifted up all our heads and said, 'Hmm, sounds interesting.' So there was a reason to go back in the studio. So we went back with enthusiasm."
On the new DEEP PURPLE song "Vincent Price":