Deep Purple

Fri 26 Sep 2003

Deep Purple going Bananas about their new album.

With the release of Deep Purples' new album Bananas Rockbeast talked to Ian Gillan.

How do you feel about your new album Bananas?

Ian Gillan

Ian - Absolutely delighted I feel great about the record. My wife is not really into rock music and for the last 20 years or so, every time I bought a new record home my wife listens to it and it is put in the rack never to be heard again. This record she must have listened to at least a hundred times I also had the same reaction from people who would normally have the same taste, just into music generally, not necessarily Deep Purple, friends, neighbours that sought of things. The response I have had totally unsolicited on my website has been unbelievable. I personally feel the same having played it quiet a lot myself and I am still getting enjoyment from it myself which is rare for something you’ve spent a lot of time doing in the studio. I think I am enjoying it for quiet a few reasons the key to it is Michael Bradford who made a very bold statement he managed to acquire textured dynamics. Studio records never quite capture what we are able to do on stage Michael has radical, demanding more from our performance, in the past we would go into the studio and if we didn’t get it right there was always tomorrow but Michael wanted us come in and do a performance I actually got butterflies which I’ve never had in the studio situation. It focuses your mind very quickly. I personally feel this is the best sounding Deep Purple album so far.

Have you any favourite tracks?

Ian - It changes everyday. If you asked me yesterday it would have been ‘Bananas’, because I’m really into that track at the moment. We did a little show case launch in Berlin and I was asked about ‘Contact Lost’. It was I explained, we had been in contact with the crew of the last Columbia Mission. One of the crew came to a show and the crew came to see us in Houston and they kept a running log on my website – we were very close. I still have an email on my laptop sent from Columbia the day before the disaster. We played ‘Contact Lost’ and ‘Haunted’ the day after the tragedy the lyrics just mean so much. So I would say my favourite track is ‘Haunted’.
‘Never A Word’ is so different to the Deep Purple genre, how did this come about?
Originally ‘Never A Word’ was an instrumental and Steve Morse had an idea for vocals but they didn’t seem to hang with me. Then one day as I drove home from the studio it just came together for me.

Is it a change in direction?

Ian - We do write about life, were not into fast cars and loose women unfortunately. We still do write about things that can happen. I’m entrenched in a battle with the European Commission and genetically modified food. I think we are going into a phase when the band is settled again now and this breeds a feeling of relaxation and when you are relaxed all the confidence comes back.

Are you going to be touring this album?

Ian - We start next week in South America

What about in the UK?

Ian - We just did Wembley and the NEC. Also the Scottish Exhibition Centre a few months ago and we hope to stick the British dates on the end of the tour.

Deep Purple

Are you still working with John Lord and are we going to see him on tour as Don Airey made his debut on this album?

Ian -No Johns gone, we adore John he is a monumental figure in Deep Purple being a founder member. He’s been leaving for the past five years. If John ever wanted to come on stage and play a few tunes nobody would say no. We are very close and have had lots to talk but as far as a permanent member of the band he’s gone.

What bands are you listening to at the moment?

Ian - Folk music from around the world Turkish, Chinese and Aboriginal. The Darkness was our opening band recently. I have a copy of their record here, its bound to be good. I haven’t heard it yet.
My daughters into hip-hop I’m not into that genre so I don’t feel I can pass comment.

How do you feel about the changes in the industry since Deep Purple started in 1968 and you joined in 1969?

Ian - Well needless to say they are all bad. Um – but I think that applies to many walks of life the trouble is that everything is expanding and there is more of everything and as somebody said ‘we are much better off than we were ten years ago but everybody wants more money, more this and that.’
The industry itself missed totally the impetus of downloading, bleating about the MP3 situation so they went to war, they had nothing to offer in replacement in fact they are just beginning to think of encoding the downloading facilities but it will never happen whilst other technology is available.

Future plans for the band?

Ian - Right at the moment they are very full. I have about 50 songs banked for a solo project. Two books complete one not complete hopefully we’re on the road for the next 18 months we finish in Siberia next November and then we’re in the studio again. All the shows are sold out we work to an average of 10,000 a night. In Brazil the shows are mostly 20,000 and they have just upgraded two of their stadiums to 70,000

One last question do you still play barefoot on stage?

Ian - Yes!

Why?

Ian - If I could get away with it I wouldn’t wear anything at all. The fact is I am barefoot at home, in my hotel on the beach, it just seems natural.

www.deeppurple.com