Rock legend admits faking farewell tour to sell tickets: Buzz
Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan is admitting that his band faked a farewell tour in order to sell more tickets.
The rock ‘n’ roll legend told SiriusXM’s Eddie Trunk in a new interview that Deep Purple’s 2017 “The Long Goodbye” tour purposefully led fans to believe they were retiring. They’re still touring today and even have concerts booked through 2026.
“That was a joke, actually, because it was the promoters,” Gillan said. “And someone said, ‘We’ve gotta sell some more.’ And it’s the good old standby, the farewell tour. So I said, ‘OK, we’ll call it ‘goodbye’ tour, but let’s call it ‘the long goodbye,’ and let’s make the emphasis on the word ‘long,’ so it’s kind of an enigmatic phrase.”
Gillan, 79, added that the group has “no intention to stop” anytime soon, too.
Gillan similarly shut down speculation that Deep Purple would be calling it quits after its current tour with progressive rock group Yes. The tour was originally announced as the “=1 More Time Tour,” named after Deep Purple’s new album “=1,” but has since been changed.
“That’s rubbish,” Gillan told Ultimate Classic Rock earlier this month. “That’s not the name of the tour. I think the tour is called ‘Unleashed.’ Not that it matters; it’s a Deep Purple tour and we’re happy and whatever.”
Deep Purple has been performing since 1968 and recently reissued the 1972 album “Machine Head” to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its classic rock hit, “”Smoke On the Water.” The English rock band, also known for songs like “Hush,” “Highway Star” and “Black Night,” was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.
Other rock legends have also recently hung up their instruments due to age and health issues, including Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler, The Zombies’ Rod Argent and Great White founding member Jack Russell. Russell died earlier this month, weeks after revealing he had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia.
“As soon as you start feeling unable to deliver at that level – of course, you adjust, of course, you adapt and make do the best you can. But when the energy level goes, that’s time to stop because then it gets embarrassing and nobody wants that. But so far, so good,” Gillan told UCR.
Deep Purple and Yes have two Upstate New York concerts scheduled, including Sept. 4 at the Broadview Stage at SPAC (Saratoga Performing Arts Center) in Saratoga Springs and Sept. 6 at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. Tickets for both concerts are available through Live Nation, VividSeats, and StubHub.
