DEEP PURPLE/DIXIE DREGS guitarist Steve Morse spoke to Playbackstl.com recently about a number of topics. Here are a few excerpts from the chat:

Playbackstl.com: Even though you're putting out new music, do you find that some of the rock stations are reluctant to play some of that because you're deemed a classic rock band?

Morse: "No, some of them are not reluctant; all of them are reluctant. It's just not the format. Years ago the consultants decided what music...you would pick a brand or a style of radio station and the consultants would tell you what to play. And they would tell you to play one or two songs for each classic rock band. Which ones, they would tell you that."

Playbackstl.com: Is there anything that you feel that the record company should be doing differently in terms of promoting you in the U.S.?

Morse: "I could go on for ages. But it's not really my place, since the record company has different goals than I do. The record company that is most active is the one that owns the old catalog. And they don't really care about anything except that material; I mean, that's their main focus."

Playbackstl.com: So what would you say your goals would be separate from the Deep Purple project - or is that what you're focusing on?

Morse: "My goals? For me, having been, for decades, working in the music business, I think it would be valuable to pass some of that on. The guitar clinics I do are a good outlet for that. I'm still looking for a way to get that message through, so any interview I can do that allows me to talk about it is good. To tell young people the reality and debunk some of the myths about the music business and get people the straight story so that we can attract people that are suited for it and that really love it, as opposed to people that want to be rich or famous."

Playbackstl.com: What work are you most proud of doing?

Morse: "I'm proud of everything I did with the Dregs, but probably there [were] a few albums where it was just me doing the production and no one but my engineer working with me."

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