Deep Purple is still not ready to stop and booked until the end of ’26

In a recent interview with the American broadcasting corporation SiriusXM in an episode of “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk”, singer Ian Gillan of Deep Purple revealed how the band’s retirement is still not happening, even after seven years passed from Deep Purple‘s “The Long Goodbye” tour.

“That was a joke [the tour name], actually, because it was the promoters. And someone said, ‘We’ve gotta sell some more tickets.’ And it’s the good old standby, the farewell tour. So I said, Okay, we’ll call it ‘goodbye’ tour, but let’s call it ‘the long goodbye’, and let’s make the emphasis on the word ‘long’,’ so it’s kind of an enigmatic phrase.” Ian Gillan, singer of Deep Purple

Deep Purple is not ready to stop now, reveals the 79 year old singer Ian Gillan.

 “There’s no intention to stop. At the moment… I spoke to my manager the other day. I’ve got some solo project. […] We’re already booked to the end of ’26, in the planning stage, in the diary, with all the projects we’ve got for Deep Purple. So, yeah, years to come, hopefully.” Ian Gillan, singer of Deep Purple

Asked about how he feels touring at such an age – as Deep Purple is currently touring with the band YES – he answered:

“As soon as you start feeling unable to deliver at that level — of course, you adjust, of course, you adapt and make do the best you can. But when the energy level goes, that’s time to stop because then it gets embarrassing and nobody wants that. But so far, so good. I think that’s a much better title than what you just said. [Laughs]”

Ian Gillan, singer of Deep Purple