British newspaper Sunday Mail reports:
"IAN [sic] PLAYS DEEP PURPLE'S RITCHIE
RISING star Iain Robertson is to play guitar legend and Deep Purple founder Ritchie Blackmore in a new rock movie, Telstar.
Robertson, who was in [the movie] Small Faces, will appear with ex-Eastender Paul Nicholls as a member of the Tornados, who had a hit with Telstar.
Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels actor Nick Moran will make his directing debut for the movie."
Thanks to Chris Conn.

On his website Ian Gillan has confirmed Jon Lord's involvement on Deep Purple's UK dates in September. In his latest 'Dear Friends' letter Ian says:
"I have it on good authority, i.e. from Jon Lord, that he will be joining us for the UK dates in September. Given the circumstances then and now, we've all decided that it would be excellent if Jon joined us for a few numbers (yet to be decided), and happily he's up for it. My illness, and the postponement of the UK dates, put a damper on what was going to be Jon's swansong with Purple."
Thanks to Caramba.

The new DVD with Ian Paice will be released July 15. It's approx 120 min and it will be released in both PAL & NTSC, all regions. Here is a picture of the cover. The DVD will include:

Introduction "Not For The Pros"

A Drummers Guide - A 50 minute Ian Paice documentary with Ian personally taking the viewer through his drum kit manufacturing plants around the world, and a fist full of drumming tips that'll save prospective drummers "plenty of angst!", plus never before seen footage of Ian Paice & his mates live on stage.

The DVD features live material never before seen, including 2 tracks (6 mixes in all!) from his Abbey Road Studio Sessions:
-Paicesetters
-Dustbins
(Studio vision mix, Roadieview' Jam and alternative retro mix)

'Roadieview' - Live features full length tracks from DP's 2001 USA Tour:
-Ted The Mechanic
-Lazy
-Knockin' At Your Back Door
-Highway Star

As well as a host of shorter segments giving the viewer that "roadie bird's eye" view:
-Monitor Problems
-Fools (Drum Solo)
-Pictures of Home (Intro)
-Speed King (Drum Solo)
-Dropped Drumstick

The Drum clinic 'Ian Paice Style' - Features a TV style presentation of a drum clinic, featuring footage, interviews and a slice of Deep Purple's sensational guitarist Steve Morse.

Australian Interview
Photographic Gallery
Ian Paice Biography

Roger Glover will be calling in to The Allan Handelman Show this Sunday night June 16th after performing at the Polaris Amphitheater (Columbus, OH).  The show is a live call-in show and this will be a rare opportunity for fans to talk one-on-one with Roger.  The show is syndicated on FM Rock stations, but anyone can listen over the Internet.  Also appearing in a pre-recorded interview, will be Steve Morse of Deep Purple and Klaus Meine of The Scorpions. The number to call is 1-800-ROCK-TALK (1-800-762-5829) or for those calling from overseas, 704-570-WRFX (704-570-9739). The show will be broadcast 10.00 p.m. to 1.00 a.m. EST (2.00 a.m. to 5.00 GMT, Monday). For more details, go to http://www.alhandelman.com.
Thanks to Allan Handelman.

The Deep Purple show which took place at Sunrise Musical Theatre, Ft Lauderdale Florida, on June 5, 2001, will be released on DVD on August 13, 2002. Here you can read reviews and see photos of the show and the tour. The setlist is 
Woman From Tokyo
Ted The Mechanic
Mary Long
Lazy
No One Came
Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming, 
Fools
Perfect Strangers
Hey Cisco
When A Blind Man Cries
Smoke On The Water
Speed King
Hush 
Highway Star
The DVD will also include more than 30 minutes of "behind the scenes" footage and interviews. There will be a link soon from our Release page where you can buy the DVD. Here you can see a picture of the DVD-sleeve.

Deep Purple's classic Machine Head album will be the subject of a 50-minute documentary in the third Classic Albums TV series, which is now being prepared, reports the DPAS. Previous shows in the series have provided excellent insight into the albums in question, interviewing the musicians and the producer, and telling the story behind the album. The DPAS reports that all members of Mk 2 have agreed to take part and interviews will be filmed shortly. Contemporary footage is scarce and as the main emphasis is on the album, film clips are likely to be short. Cuttings and memorabilia will also be featured. The series will go out on the ITV network, and later issued in an extended format on DVD.
Thanks to the DPAS.

A new Deep Purple DVD-EP is planned to be released July 15. Featuring live tracks and a profile of Deep Purple. Line up: Lord, Paice, Blackmore, Glover and Gillan. Tracklist includes: Hallelujah, No No No and Highway Star. Fully animated menu. Band biography and artist profiles. Interviews. Band discography. Photo gallery.
Thanks to the BlackStar for the information.

The DPAS reports:
"DEEP PURPLE 68/76 are the subject of a major EMI box set which is now in the final stages of pre-production. The six CD set will be housed in a hardback long box case, produced to a very high standard. A full length history of the band accompanies the set. Running to 120 pages (approx 135 by 240mm) it includes a number of rare pictures, illustrated profiles of all band members and discographies for all the albums."

"The final track listing will be available here shortly. It will mix album tracks with rarities. Of the 71 tracks, 23 have never been available on CD before, of which 20 are previously unissued versions. They include a number of Mk 2 BBC sessions; the much requested 'Black Night' encore missing from the Made In Japan shows; the ad-lib vocal version of 'Fools' from the Fireball sessions; the lengthy 'Space Truckin' from Kilburn 1974 and more. An added dimension to the box is that it will cover the pre-Deep Purple era, with an appropriate selection of tracks, one by each of the ten members."

"It is planned to have the set out around the time of the UK dates in September. An accompanying EP will be issued to promote the box and mark the thirtieth anniversary of the release of 'Smoke On The Water'."
Thanks to the DPAS for the information.

Adverts in London newspapers claim that Don Airey will play keyboards with Deep Purple at the shows in London in September. We have still not been able to get any official confirmation on what will happen on those dates from Deep Purple's management, the band or Jon Lord.
The same adverts announce that The Planets will be the support act, just as they were supposed to be on the cancelled dates earlier this year.
Thanks to Garry Smith.

6Music (the new digital radioservice from the BBC) will be featuring Deep Purple's 1974 concert at the Kilburn State Gaumont as the headline gig on the Dream Ticket on Wednesday May 15 at 23.00 UK summer time (00.00 CET). 6Music also broadcasts over the web.
Thanks to the BBC and Phil Ward-Large for the information.

In a recent interview published at www.stevemorse.com, Steve Morse discusses bringing a new producer in for the new Deep Purple album: "There is a bunch of it written but we have just now met a producer which all of us like, I think. He is an American guy named Michael Bradford. He plays in Kid Rock's band but I think he just quit that because he is in such demand as a producer. He loves Deep Purple and wants to work with us and he has even thrown in some ideas for songwriting which is an interesting idea. It would help to break the predictable nature of doing another album."

Michael Bradford comments the whole thing: "I got a call about two months ago from the manager of the legendary Deep Purple. Next thing I know, I'm on a plane to England to meet the band and see a show in Brighton. It's the Machine Head lineup, except Steve Morse is on guitar instead of Blackmore. Incredible band! They sound as good as they did back when 'Smoke On The Water' was a new song, which is back when I was a kid. Now get this, they wanted to meet me to talk about co-writing and producing their NEW ALBUM! These guys are ready to rock again, and the tour is completely sold out!"

Michael says to The Highway Star:
"This is an exciting opportunity for me! We don't have a concrete starting date for the album, as the boys are on tour, but I think we'll probably start in the fall, around October. I do hope to collaborate with the band, as a writer as well as from an arrangement standpoint. I want to hear another classic Deep Purple album. And, now that I've seen them live, I know that they have it in them. I flew to London a few months ago to meet the band, and to see their live show in Brighton. The band sounded great! Ian had a bit of flu, but when showtime came, he rose to the occassion like a professional. The crowd got their money's worth, and the band were very tight. It's almost impossible to see that level of lion-hearted professionalism in a new young band these days. That's why Deep Purple has lasted 30 years, while most bands don't last 30 months. After the show, we tossed some ideas around, and I think we're all on the same wavelength. So I think we're all in for some great rock'n'roll."
Thanks to www.stevemorse.com and Michael Bradford for the information.

The DPAS reports:
"Just a few weeks after the Burn masters surfaced, the Stormbringer multi-tracks have also been located. This will enable the EMI remastering programme to continue next year. The tapes are in excellent condition and contain amongst other things three different vocals for 'Soldier Of Fortune', a powerful instrumental version of 'Highball Shooter' and Coverdale's original backwards bit for the start of the title track."
Thanks to the DPAS for the information.

The Deep Purple show which took place at Sunrise Musical Theatre, Ft Lauderdale Florida, on June 5, 2001, will now be released on DVD on August 19, 2002.
Thanks to Blackers and DPAS for the information.

The PETA concert which took place in Los Angels on September 18, 1999 with Paul McCartney and friends, is now released on DVD. Paul McCartney perform 6 songs with Ian Paice. The concert also include other artists such as B-52's & Chrissie Hynde. The DVD is called "Paul McCartney & Friends - The PETA Concert for Party Animals" and can be ordered at Amazon. For more info visit PETA's website. 
Thanks to PETA and DPAS for the information.