UK-based Classic Rock Magazine is reporting that DEEP PURPLE will release their new studio album - their 19th - in April 2013. In a recent interview, frontman Ian Gillan revealed that "the album will include 13 tracks including 'Out Of Hand', 'Hell To Pay', 'Weirdistan', 'Uncommon Man' and 'Above And Beyond'. The latter song references the band’s founding keyboard player, Jon Lord, in the lyric: 'Souls having touched are forever entwined.'

Lord passed away on July 16th midway through Purple’s recording schedule in Nashville, TN.

Gillan also offered the following cagey comment: "There’s a big question mark over the name at the moment. And possibly an exclamation mark as well. You can read what you like into what I’ve just said. All will become clear – as mud – later on. That’s all I’m allowed to say. The question mark and the exclamation mark might get you intrigued."

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GulfNews.com's Leslie Wilson Jr. recently issued the following report:

Famous for mega anthems like 'Smoke On The Water', 'Highway Star' and 'Black Knight', British rockers Deep Purple have been dishing out heavy metal for over 40 years.

As practitioners of hard rock, they have captured the attention of millions of fans around the world, enveloping people’s senses with their catchy melodies, sly improvisation and articulate rhythms.

They have earned a reputation as the personification of classic rock, so the announcement that Deep Purple will headline next year’s Emirates Airline Dubai Jazz Festival 2013 at Festival Park, Dubai Festival City on February 21st, might come as a surprise. But it shouldn’t be, says Anthony Younes, CEO of Chillout Productions, the organisers of the festival.

“Deep Purple played many international jazz fests, including the most famous one, Montreux Jazz Festival, and this where they came up with 'Smoke On The Water',” he told tabloid!.

The Emirates Airline Dubai Jazz Festival, with a new sponsor this time around, runs from February 14th - 22nd, with an opening weekend of concerts, the Jazz Garden from February 16th - 20th and a closing weekend of concerts from February 21st - 22nd.

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