In this way, Splat! promises to exploree “the end of humanity not in any crude apocalyptic sense but as a metamorphosis beyond physical existence.”
Gillan added that the band “are very much back in with material that is compatible with ‘Highway Star’, ‘Smoke on the Water’, ‘Lazy’ – the dynamics, the balance, and the fun of the music we made from 1969 to 1973.”
In a new interview with Songwriting For Songwriters, DEEP PURPLE singer Ian Gillan confirmed that the legendary rock band is putting the finishing touches on a new album for a tentative June 2026 release.
The upcoming effort will be the follow-up to "=1", which came out in July 2024 via earMUSIC. Asked what kind of lyrical themes he has been exploring in the songs for the new DEEP PURPLE LP, Ian said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, it's very interesting on this one. I can't give you too much at this stage, but it's basically very optimistic. Let's say there's a general theme.
It's a fairly loose conceptual idea of the end of humanity, but not as grim as it sounds. In fact, it's very optimistic. It's about the metamorphosis of humanity into a metaphysical state, our next incarnation. It's a bit too early to be doing interviews about this. I don't mean time of day. I mean, it's not gonna be out until June, so I don't want to give too much away."
Gillan also talked in more detail about the DEEP PURPLE songwriting process, particularly his chemistry with the various guitar players who have played with the group.
He said: "It's very important, obviously. But at the same time you've got to ignore it. I've got an idea that came to me a long time ago with DEEP PURPLE. But when you're writing like that, as opposed to sitting down with a co-writer or on your own with a guitar and you're writing the entire thing, then there are no boundaries, really.
But with a band, you are very much confined by what you're given. For example, the working practice of PURPLE has always been the same. We go to a place for a week or 10 days and go into the office every day — start at noon, finish at six and stop for tea at three o'clock.
It's like going to the office. And the guys just start playing, and it's all improvised. You have no idea. If you were a listener, you'd think you might be hearing the preparation for something operatic or a mood music for a yoga or massage parlor or you might be in a jazz club or hearing some blues or rock or soul, any kind of thing that came to their mind.
These are great players, and so the music evolves, as I say, and then dramatically switches into something else. So basically it's a week-long or eight-day jam. And every now and again, somebody nods to somebody else and says, 'Okay, that's worth keeping,' an idea, a mood, a rhythm, a sequence, or anything like that, and we record it and come back at the end of the session with probably 35 or 40 ideas.
