Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover has issued an update on the band’s upcoming studio album, their first in three years.

Says Roger: “We started the next album in Nashville on the 28th January. Thirteen days of pre-production and thirteen days recording in the studio. Lucky thirteen because we have thirteen tracks, all but finished except for vocals. Coincidence or what? How many will end up on he album is hard to tell yet… maybe all of them, maybe not. I won’t even begin to describe the music - an impossible job in any case. Suffice to say I’ve been listening to the rough mixes and there’s a smile on my face.

“Bob Ezrin and the team did their usual superb job. The next stage will be IG and I spending a week together, honing up on the lyrics before recording vocals in Toronto in April.

“It was a real pleasure to meet up and jam with our Nashville friends. It’s a great city to be in, all kinds of nightlife, live music everywhere. It almost feels like being back in the 60s. Don and I went to see Diana Ross with the Nashville Philharmonic one night, the place was jumping, great band, she was exactly what is expected, voice, teeth and costume changes, etc. Jay and Dave of Rival Sons came to visit us in the studio when their tour hit town. We saw them do a fantastic gig that night, what a great band.”

Stay tuned for updates on the new album.

Although statements have been made to the contrary, former Deep Purple bassist Glenn Hughes still hopes to be able to perform when the group is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 8th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY reports Gary Graff of Billboard.

"All I know is I'm getting the award," Glenn Hughes, who played with the band for three studio albums between 1973-76, tells Billboard. "There's a lot of gossip and innuendo about who's saying what. I'd love to play. I'd love to sing. And so would David," referring to David Coverdale, who was part of Deep Purple's Mk. 3 (third iteration) and Mk. 4 (fourth iteration) lineups with Hughes.

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Deep Purple have been eligible for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for more than 20 years now. The complete list of current and former members who are being inducted includes: Ritchie Blackmore, David Coverdale, Rod Evans, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Glenn Hughes, Ian Paice and the late Jon Lord.