Deep Purple fan site Darker Than Blue is reporting that there has been a lot of speculation online about Steve Morse’s future in the group this past few days, sparked by an interview he gave with an online site, Rock, Roots And Blues.

Says Darker Than Blue: "The report was not especially well phrased and the writer did seem to suggest Steve was preparing to leave and had even suggested replacements! Such was the chatter that Steve felt he needed to clarify the situation the other day."

RRB: “So Steve, are you leaving Deep Purple after this tour is over? I was under the impression that you were saying that to me the other night.”

Steve Morse: ”Well, I guess I’m not the best communicator! I thought that this tour, billed as the long goodbye tour, which I did see on one of my shirts, would be the final Deep Purple tour, but now it might not be?

"I want to be on stage playing with the guys for the final show whenever that is. I plan on playing until I can’t play anymore or can’t play well enough for my own standards given how many people pay to come out and hear us, but, given the ongoing progressive problems (osteoarthritis) in my wrists, the writing seems to be on the wall. I am learning a fourth style of playing so that I can continue to do what I love, but the music that we play with Deep Purple may not allow me to continue. I’ll know when it’s time. Deep Purple is planning to record another album soon and the plan is for me to be there with them.”

Stay tuned for updates.

Rufus Stone Limited Editions has launched the pre-order for the ultimate Deep Purple book collection, exclusively via PledgeMusic.

Three luxury, signed books, boxed in a purple wooden cube with a double vinyl recording of the band live at The California Jam and a California Jam ticket t-shirt designed exclusively for this release.

Book 1: Supplied in a clamshell box with a 3D lenticular: Jon Lord All Those Years Ago - personally signed by the late Jon Lord. Numbered 1 to 50.

The book features, never before seen, personal family photographs, Jon’s own photographs from Deep Purple, contributions from Jon’s colleagues, friends and family, and many unpublished professional images. The books also features a history and recollection of Jon’s early life from birth to the start of Deep Purple by his brother Steve Lord and also features unique contributions from Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice, David Coverdale, Glenn Hughes, Lars Ulrich, Bernie Marsden and many others

These special 50 Copies include a personally signed Jon Lord postcard, mounted inside the cover, making this a unique and beautiful collectible.

Book 2: Supplied in a clamshell box with a 3D lenticular: Whitesnake The Purple Tour - personally signed by David Coverdale and the whole band.

In 2015 Whitesnake took their newest release The Purple Album around the world on The Purple Tour. Featuring epic re-workings of David Coverdale’s Deep Purple songs and a raft of Whitesnake classics, the tour was one of the bands most successful and talked about in years.

Now this new, official limited edition release from Rufus Publications documents that groundbreaking tour. At almost 300 pages long and packed with exclusive behind the scenes photos, notes from the band and a song by song breakdown of the tour’s epic setlist, this incredible tour is captured and documented with hundreds of amazing shots, taken mostly on the sold out UK leg of the tour.

Printed and bound in the UK, this LP sized, casebound photographic book is limited to 300 copies worldwide and is the first official Whitesnake book. The book comes in its own Purple clamshell box with 3D lenticular and is personally signed by all the band members. Each copy is individually numbered.

Book 3: Supplied in a clamshell box with a 3D lenticular: Deep Purple The California Jam - personally signed by drummer Ian Paice. Numbered 1 to 50.

On April 6th, 1974 Deep Purple appeared on stage at the California Jam festival at the Ontario Speedway in California.Taking top billing at the all-day event, and with great weather, Deep Purple and the other bands drew a crowd of around 165,000 people. It became the largest single-day paid attendance in U.S. rock concert history.

This astonishing concert is now the subject of a new documentary book, Deep Purple at the California Jam, released December 2012. Collecting together hundreds of black and white and colour images from a number of photographers who had all area access to the concert (and rehearsals), the large 12" by 12" format presentation allows these images to shine. Most of the photographs have never been seen before and are being fully restored and colour corrected.

Backing the images up is a detailed and lengthy essay on the concert and the build-up to the performance, from the first meetings by the promoters through to the completion of the PA towers. The text is supported by an impressive collection of rare memorabilia including internal documents, set-lists, passes, posters, tickets and even the repair bills for the TV camera.

In total this is the most comprehensive publication ever devoted to a single Deep Purple performance and is 300 pages long.

Note: This release is limited to 50 units and is exclusive to PledgeMusic. It will have no direct involvement or updates from the artist, band or label.

All orders will be shipped from UK by the first week of December.