Deep Purple – Metal Express Radio

Roger Glover of DEEP PURPLE (Live at the Keller Auditorium, Portland, OR, USA, September 10, 2019)

Flashback Interview: ROGER GLOVER (DEEP PURPLE) (2003): “To Me, The Album Is A Success Already Because I’ve Done It; That’s The Biggest Success”

April 26, 2025 Stig G. Nordahl

A talk with one of rock’s most enduring legends. In this interview, Roger Glover, bassist, songwriter, and producer for Deep Purple opens up about what keeps his creative fire burning after decades at the top of the music world. From the spontaneous, soul-searching process behind his solo albums to the unique magic of writing with Deep Purple, Glover shares why music is still all about passion, honesty, and the thrill of playing live. You’ll hear how his songwriting is shaped by influences like Bob Dylan and J.J. Cale, why he values authenticity over commercial success, and what it’s really like to balance a solo career with the relentless energy of one of rock’s most legendary bands. Plus, get the inside story on working with new collaborators, the band’s evolving sound, and what the future holds for Deep Purple. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or just discovering the man behind the bass, this conversation promises fresh insights, candid stories, and a snapshot of a musician who’s never stopped moving forward. Hit play and join us for a revealing look at the heart and soul of Roger Glover.

DEEP PURPLE (Live)

November 8, 2024 Mick Burgess

It’s quite incredible to think that over 55 years after cracking the American singles chart with “Hush”, rock legends, Deep Purple, have, 23 albums and 100 million album sales later, have finally landed a UK Number One single with “Lazy Sod” from their latest release =1. Quite an achievement for a band in the twilight of their career. Kicking off with traditional set opener “Highway Star”, the first of four from their classic Machine Head opus and the finest driving song of them all was always going to set things off with a bang. Guitarist Simon McBride’s interplay with keyboardist Don Airey was astonishing. Close your eyes for a moment, it was if the originals Jon Lord and Ritchie Blackmore were duelling as if their lives depended on it. They were that good. While most bands of their generation seem content to sit on their laurels and live off their past glories, Deep Purple are no ordinary band and with =1 they may well have delivered their best album in 40 years, since the stunning reunion album Perfect Strangers. Maybe some of that comes from the introduction of new guitarist Simon McBride who replaced the previous incumbent Steve Morse. McBride has brought a new vigour and fire to the band with a sense of dynamism and passion which nods towards their illustrious glory days while keeping them relevant in the 21st century. His solos paid homage to the originals yet with his own vision stamped right through them. It’s no surprise therefore that six songs were aired from their new album including “A Bit On The Side” and the powerhouse drive of “Now You’re Talking” sitting proudly next to those glorious classics “Space Truckin’” and “Lazy”, where drummer Ian Paice’s effortless swing was a joy to behold aided and abetted by …READ MORE

DEEP PURPLE (Live at The First Direct Arena, Leeds, U.K., October 23, 2022)

IAN GILLAN (DEEP PURPLE): “[SIMON MCBRIDE]’s Given Us Our Mojo Back”

November 1, 2024 Mick Burgess

With the release of their 23rd album, =1, Deep Purple may well have delivered their best album since Perfect Strangers in 1984. Mick Burgess caught up with lead singer, Ian Gillan on the eve of their UK Tour to chat about the album and what they have planned for the tour. In a few week’s you’ll be embarking on a five date UK arena tour. Are you looking forward to it? Absolutely. We’re very much looking forward to it. This tour actually started in May but we are finishing in the UK so we are definitely looking forward to it for sure then we’ll be off the road for Christmas and then I’ll get a holiday but we will be working after the tour is finished. You’ve called it the One More Time Tour. Is this really going to be your last tour or do you still intend to play select dates as and when you want? We actually changed the name to the =1 Tour when we realised what everyone was thinking because that’s what it sounds like but we didn’t think of it like that. We meant it more in musical terms of “let’s go again”. We had a previous tour with similar problems called The Long Goodbye Tour so this is definitely not going to be our last tour. Many of your peers have long since retired from the road. What is it that keeps you inspired to travel the world to play? We’ve never stopped playing live. That’s how we started. I’ve been on the road since I was 16 years old and I’ve lived out of a suitcase since then apart from a period in the ’70s but since 1978 or 1979 I’ve been on the road and I can’t think of a better life. It’s very …READ MORE

DEEP PURPLE – =1

August 8, 2024 Bryce Van Patten

The legendary band that helped pave the way for the creation of Heavy Metal, the hardest working band with over 100 million albums sold has given us another great record. Deep Purple is easily one of the most influential bands in the world, as anyone visiting a guitar shop is still very likely to hear someone playing the classic riff to “Smoke on the Water” still to this day. The band has no quit in them, as the recent departure of guitarist Steve Morse hasn’t slowed them down a lick. New Blood Enter Simon McBride (Snakecharmer, ex-Sweet Savage, Don Airey and Friends) to step in and step up to fill the shoes of not just Steve Morse, but also of legend Ritchie Blackmore. The north Irishman had already worked with Don Airey and friends in 2016, as well as Ian Gillan in 2019, making him a natural choice when Morse retired due to personal reasons in 2022. McBride feels like a perfect fit with the band, and the new album showcases his guitar work quite a bit. Final Notes =1 is once again produced by legend Bob Ezrin (producer for Kiss’ Destroyer, and many other classic albums), who definitely knows how to capture the essence of the band. Gillan still has an amazing voice, Airey is perfect on the keys, Glover is as solid as ever, and Paice is still one of the best drummers ever. The new songs sound fresh, yet still have that classic Deep Purple vibe that is unmistakable. =1 is a great album, and more than worth picking up in a physical format, whether it’s vinyl or CD. Two horns up for the continued great music from Deep Purple! Lineup Ian Gillan – vocals Roger Glover – bass Ian Paice – drums Don Airey – keyboards …READ MORE

Daily Album Premieres

DAILY ALBUM PREMIERE Week 32, 2024

August 2, 2024 Scott Jeslis

This week’s show features new music from Deep Purple, Ghost, Blind Guardian & Hammerfall! The Daily Album Premiere Show is where you can hear the finest Metal and Hard Rock releases just now hitting the streets! …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE

GLENN HUGHES (Live)

October 18, 2023 Mick Burgess

At one time, it used to be something of an unwritten rule that when the support band were playing, everyone would head to the bar with only a few hardy souls paying a passing interest in what was going on up on stage. Many a great band was missed in their formative years. Seeing the Boiler Shop absolutely rammed from front to back so early in the evening was testament to just how impressive Canada’s The Damn Truth are. With their third album, Now or Nowhere garnering stunning reviews the exuberant crowd lapped up every note. In Lee La-Baum, they have a genuine star in the making combining the power and passion of Janis Joplin and Beth Hart with an engaging stage presence that stuns and mesmerises in equal measure. Add in some thumping riffs and ferocious solos from guitarist Tom Shemer and in songs like “This Is Who We Are Now” and “Look Innocent” they have the perfect cocktail to reach for the stars. It incredible to think that 50 years, that’s half a century, has passed since the release of Deep Purple’s classic Burn opus. To put that into perspective, 50 years before Burn was released World War I was still fresh in the memory and the Wall Street Crash had yet to happen while Al Johnson and Jazz were popular over the radio and the Charleston ruled the dance halls. Deep Purple had reached a critical juncture following the departure of vocalist Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover in 1973, yet from the phoenix of Deep Purple Mk II rose a rejuvenated band featuring the previously unknown Saltburn boutique assistant, David Coverdale alongside former Trapeze bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes and with this new line-up an new chapter in Deep Purple’s history was born. Needing to hit the ground running …READ MORE

DEEP PURPLE / BLUE ÖYSTER CULT (Live)

October 24, 2022 Mick Burgess

Now this is what you call a tasty bill. Two of Hard Rocks legendary names on stage together with over a century’s worth of music between them, this was a veritable feast. For those lucky enough to have caught Blue Öyster Cult on one of their own headlining shows earlier in the week, tonight was an opportunity to catch them again. As a band who are no strangers to switching their set lists from night to night, those who had seen them on those earlier shows were treated to some songs not previously performed including opener “Stairway To The Stars”, the epic “Then Came The Last Days Of May” and the sizzling “Hot Rails To Hell” performed in spirited fashion by Richie Castellano. Occupying the “Special Guest” slot meant a shorter set for the New York veterans but for an hour they thrilled the large and appreciative audience with the Biker Rock anthem “Golden Age Of Leather” replete with the toast raising acapella intro and the riff heavy “Extra Terrestrial Intelligence” With original members Eric Bloom and Buck Dharma sharing the bulk of the lead vocals it was a night of quality music delivered in their own unique fashion with heavy weight riffs, beautiful melodic guitar work and mesmerising, dark harmonies. New songs “That Was Me” and “Box In My Head” were well received but it was the cacophonic riff of “Godzilla” and the wistful melody of their iconic hit, “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” that brought the Arena to their collective feet. With the bar set unfeasibly high, Deep Purple had to pull out all the stops and an opening salvo of “Highway Star” swiftly followed by “Pictures Of Home” both from the classic Machine Head album were the perfect start. Coming bang up to date with “No Need To …READ MORE

Perpendicular featuring Ian Paice of Deep Purple

ROBBY THOMAS WALSH (PERPENDICULAR): “We Had To Give Him [IAN PAICE] Stuff That He Would Like And Want To Play”

August 18, 2022 Bryce Van Patten

If you were looking for the world’s best Deep Purple tribute band, you’d have to see Perpendicular. Especially since their drummer is none other than Ian Paice of Deep Purple legend! What you’d find is a band that plays the songs their own way, and also has some great originals. Metal Express Radio’s Bryce Van Patten had a chat with front man Robby Thomas Walsh of Perpendicular, where the topics included how Robby started the band, how Ian Paice came into the picture, their new album Human Mechanic, and a whole lot more!

Don Airey of DEEP PURPLE (Live at the Keller Auditorium, Portland, OR, USA, September 10, 2019)

DON AIREY (DEEP PURPLE): “It’s All A Bit Risky Covering Such Great Songs But I Think We Got Away With It”

December 14, 2021 Mick Burgess

Being prevented from getting together in a room wasn’t going to stop Deep Purple from making another record so soon after the release of Whoosh! last year and with no touring on the horizon for the foreseeable future it was time for something completely different. The result is Turning To Crime, their first album of covers. Mick Burgess called up keyboardist Don Airey to talk about why they decided on making a covers album and how they chose the songs to record. How have things been for you since you released your last album Whoosh! in August last year ? I’ve been living a very quiet life, staying in and limiting where I go. Not going to the pub, not going to restaurants, not going to gigs or the football. It’s been very strange. Has it opened up any opportunities for you to do other things while you’ve been off the road? We spent some time recording our new album, Turning To Crime and I’ve done quite a few sessions too for other people. People send me tracks and ask me to add some keyboards. One of the best things I’ve worked on is Kee Marcello’s album, From Another World. It’s an absolutely brilliant piece of work. He was the guitarist in Europe for a while. Your UK tour with Blue Öyster Cult has been postponed twice now because of Covid. That must be so frustrating for you. It is yes. We’ve now released two albums since we last toured so it’s really frustrating that we haven’t been able to go out and play any of the new songs live. You’ve just released your new album Turning To Crime. How do you feel now it’s out? Very hopeful. When we started doing this, it didn’t sound such a great idea. …READ MORE

TOMMY BOLIN – In And Out Of Deep Purple

November 6, 2020 Bryce Van Patten

Much More Than a Replacement Player The year was 1975, Ritchie Blackmore had just quit Deep Purple and the band was thinking of calling it a day when they auditioned a young player that really sparked with them; Tommy Bolin. The album Come Taste the Band was the only release by Deep Purple to have neither Ritchie Blackmore or Ian Gillan , making it stand out as what a lot of people felt was not really a Deep Purple album at all. Sonicbond Publishing has released a new book titled Tommy Bolin – In and out of Deep Purple by author Laura Shenton (Cozy Powell – Dance with the Devil) in which the author makes a strong case for why Tommy Bolin should not be viewed as just a Blackmore replacement, but as a strong musical force in his own right. The Book The writing takes the form of a well written college paper as it starts with a strong argument, backed up with written interviews, reviews and quotes from musicians (Deep Purple members to fusion legends Billy Cobham and Alphonze Mouzan) who also worked with Tommy Bolin before his untimely death at the age of 25. The book ends with a strong closing statement backed up by more quotes about the effect Tommy Bolin had on bands he’d played in, albums he’d recorded on and lives he’d touched in his short musical career. For those not familiar with Bolin, he was an up and coming guitarist who previously to joining Deep Purple had written and recorded 2 albums with the James Gang (Bang and Miami), played guitar on Billy Cobham’s legendary disc Spectrum and secured his own record deal to release Teaser. Final Words To a long time fan of Tommy Bolin since the release of his Private Eyes …READ MORE