In a new interview with Fox News, Ian Gillan talks about Deep Purple’s determination to make music for fans, how he really feels about “Smoke On The Water”, the one artist that surprised him and the most unique encounter he’s ever had with a fan. An excerpt follows:

Fox News: Everyone is familiar with “Smoke On The Water”. When did you realize that song had become larger than life?

Gillan: "It was a delayed process. The song had very humble beginnings. It wasn’t even supposed to be on the album. We were short seven minutes when we were recording in Switzerland and after the fire of the casino [in Montreaux]. We only had a few days left to record the album. And I remember on the last day, the engineer says, 'You’re short seven minutes.' So we just quickly wrote a song based on what had happened and forgot about it.

"We just thought it would be a good song to finish the album. We went on the road as if nothing had happened. And initially, the song wasn’t played on the radio because it was too long. But after it was edited for radio, that’s when it became a commercial success. Who would have thought that to this day, we would still be talking about this song? And it became so influential to many other artists over the years. We still play that song today."

Read the complete interview at Fox News.

Deep Purple will release their 21st studio album, Whoosh! on August 7 via earMusic. Whoosh! will be available as a Standard CD, a Digital Album, a Limited Edition CD+DVD Mediabook (including the 1 hour feature “Roger Glover And Bob Ezrin In Conversation” and, for the first time, the full live performance at Hellfest 2017 video), and a Vinyl 2LP+DVD edition (earMUSIC). Pre-order here.

Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice, Steve Morse, and Don Airey were invited by Bob Ezrin to Nashville to write and record, during which the band were inspired to push their creative boundaries. Letting go of any artistic limitations, they adopted the motto “Deep Purple is putting the Deep back in Purple”. Whoosh! embodies that freedom, with lyrics that reflect their sentiments on the current situation of the world.

“We’ve included everything that made the whole band smile, including Bob Ezrin,” exclaims Morse. “We’ve always enjoyed making music and having the incredible luxury of a loyal audience.”

Whoosh! marks Deep Purple’s third album produced by Ezrin (Alice Cooper, Pink Floyd). The first - 2013’s Now What?! - charted at #1 in five European countries, as well as Top 10 in over 15 countries worldwide. Cementing itself as one of their most successful albums, inFinite, released in 2017, broke chart records the band accumulated over their 50+year history. With chemistry this electric, it only made sense for Deep Purple and Ezrin to collaborate a third time.

“Another album?! Whoosh?!! Gordon Bennett!!!” -Ian Gillan

One of the most important rock bands of all time, Deep Purple has built a legacy that is nothing short of immeasurable. The band continues to evolve and elevate the possibilities within hard rock, which is fully displayed on Whoosh!

“When the Deep Purple falls
Over sleepy garden walls
And the stars begin to twinkle
In the night…” - Ian Gillan

Whoosh! tracklisting:

"Throw My Bones"
"Drop The Weapon"
"We're All The Same In The Dark"
"Nothing At All"
"No Need To Shout"
"Step By Step"
"What The What"
"The Long Way Around"
"The Power Of The Moon"
"Remission Possible"
"Man Alive"
"And The Address"
"Dancing In My Sleep"

Vinyl Side Split:

Side A:
"Throw My Bones"
"Drop The Weapon"
"We’re All The Same In The Dark"
"Nothing At All"

Side B:
"No Need To Shout"
"Step By Step"
"What The What"

Side C:
"The Long Way Round"
"The Power Of The Moon"
"Remission Possible"
"Man Alive"

Side D:
"And The Address"
"Dancing In My Sleep"

"Man Alive" video:

"Throw My Bones" video: