Heartbreaking: As Ian Paice is Gone…

Heartbreaking: As Ian Paice is Gone…believe that we have another good record in us and I believe we’ll make it this year,” says the 63-year-old rocker, blaming the delay on dissent within the ranks. “A couple of years ago there were a couple of guys in the band who just didn’t see the point. And when it’s like that there’s no use trying to push it. But there’s been a change of heart. I want to do it just because I think it’s good that we keep coming out with new music. It’s good for our fans that they still see us trying to give them something different to listen to. I don’t care how successful is it. Financially, most people know that making records is not what it used to be.”love Deep Purple as much as the next old dude. So naturally, I’ve been digging the new Super Deluxe Edition of their classic 1972 LP Machine Head. The remastered updates of classics like Lazy, Space Truckin’, Highway Star and (of course) Smoke On The Water are a sonic revelation, and the new mixes by Dweezil Zappa (no, really) are truly inspired. Listening to it reminded me that I interviewed their explosively propulsive drummer (and longest-serving member) Ian Paice back in 2011 before a Canadian tour. Here’s the piece that ran in the paper and online — expanded with plenty of quotes that got cut for space back in the day. Enjoy.