“The heaviest Deep Purple album in many years.” Deep Purple announce new album “Splat!”explores the end of humanity not in any crude apocalyptic sense but as a metamorphosis beyond physical existence”
“Where we are now with this incarnation of Deep Purple feels very much like a very ‘now’ version of Deep Purple as it was in the seventies,” says frontman Ian Gillan. “I have to say, now we are very much back in with material that is compatible with past songs “Highway Star”, “Smoke On The Water”, “Lazy,” the dynamics, the balance, and the fun of the music we made from 69 to 73.
“Arrogant Boy” the first release comes from Deep Purple’s upcoming 24th album, “Splat!” Classic rock icons Deep Purple, who announced details of their 24th studio album, last week, have launched the first single from the album. “Arrogant Boy“, described by drummer Ian Paice as “a “Highway Star“-style rock’n’roll tune”, features lyrics that’ll leave fans scrambling to figure out who they’re referring to.
“This is the story of Billy, who couldn’t read or write,” says frontman Ian Gillan, with a smile. “He is unhappy with things, so he speaks up, and finds a way of irritating, one way or another, the elite. And I can’t think of anything more fun than irritating the elite. It would be a joyous exercise for me every morning after coffee.”
“It’s a lovely story,” says Paice. “You could use your imagination about who it could be about.”
“It’s amazing,” adds bassist Roger Glover. “What started off as a dubious thought becomes my favourite track on the album.”
Deep Purple have released a second single from their upcoming 24th album, “Splat!” New track “Diablo” follows in the sonic footsteps of first single “Arrogant Boy”, and finds the band in typically frisky form.
According to Purple’s people, “Diablo” opens the door to one of Deep Purple’s surreal new story worlds: the most dangerous place on earth, where a heroine crosses a river, jumps into a fighting pit, celebrates with a bucket of wine, falls into the glitter pool and somehow makes it back home with a tale to tell.”
“It is all about taking chances,” advises frontman Ian Gillan. “Just for once in your life, do something exciting, step out of the mould, take that curious bend in the road instead of sticking to the highway and do something that will, for the rest of your life, either guide or warn you.”
“Diablo” also features some additional guitar work from country star Keith Urban, who seems to be making a habit of this sort of thing, and also appears on “Brown Paper Bag”, the new single from ZZ Top man Billy F Gibbons.
Deep Purple have released another new single from their upcoming album “Splat!” The supercharged “Guilt Trippin’ envisages a conversation between God and Charles Darwin, the pair sharing a pint or two as they reflect on how things on Earth have not exactly worked out as intended.
“The song starts, and I’m in the studio,” says Gillan. “I don’t have any words for it yet. So I just start screaming. It was the pure joy of yelling it.
“I vowed when I was 40 that I’d stop screaming by the time I was 60. Now I’m looking back and thinking, ‘Whatever happened to that?’ So we’ll give it a go.”
“Guilt Trippin” in the third single to emerge from Deep Purple’s upcoming twenty-fourth album “Splat!”
“Guilt Trippin’ follows the release of first single “Arrogant Boy” in May, and “Diablo” earlier this month, and is accompanied by a video in which a fly and a sycamore-seed spaceship embark on a wild ride through an increasingly surreal landscape.
Deep Purple’s 2026 world tour is currently on the road in Europe, with North American shows scheduled for August and September. Further European dates follow, climaxing in a run of UK shows in November.
“Splat!”, which is produced by regular collaborator Bob Ezrin, will be released on July 3rd
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