DEEP PURPLE vocalist Ian Gillan spoke with Rockpages.gr recently about a number of topics, including making some remarks about former guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. Blackmore's lawyers was quick to react to the interview and has issued the following statement to Rockpages.gr:

"In an interview he gave to a music website recently, Ian Gillan made a number of comments about Ritchie Blackmore that twisted facts and which require setting the record straight.

Gillan remarked that Ritchie sued his former manager to have his image removed from Machine Head t-shirts being sold at Deep Purple concerts and that the judge thought the issue stupid. Nothing could be further from the truth. Ritchie sued his former manager for access to books and accounts, as well as money due him. When it was disclosed during the lawsuit that the Machine Head t-shirts were being sold at concerts, Ritchie simply asked to be paid, just like all the others on the shirt. Ritchie's image was then removed from the t-shirt, apparently to avoid paying him - something that is particularly offensive, as this disassociated him from his most acclaimed work. Contrary to what Gillan says, the judge, far from thinking the whole affair stupid, sided with Ritchie on every motion, from beginning to end. Readers are welcome to examine the court record for themselves (Blackmore v. Thames Talent Publishing, Ltd., Thames Overtures, Ltd. and Bruce Payne 01 Civ. 5521 (E.D.N.Y.)).

Contrary to what Gillan said about Ritchie's financial demands to stay with Deep Purple, Ritchie in fact wanted to leave Deep Purple to pursue other interests, but when he announced that he wanted to leave, the record company made him a financial offer to stay with the band to complete a tour and to make the album that became Come Hell Or High Water. Gillan should get his facts straight before he talks to anyone.

Ritchie frankly is amazed at Gillan's childish comments on other issues he discussed in the interview. Hasn't the time come for him to act like an adult?"