Deep Purple return to work – only in the new issue of Classic Rock

They’ve sold more than 120 million albums and had a revolving door of official members. But in 2026, almost 60 years after their original incarnation, Deep Purple (Mark IX, if anyone really is counting) are back and firing on all cylinders. They’re about to unleash a brand new album – Splat! – on the world and have tour dates that’ll keep them busy for the rest of the year. It seems that rumours of their demise were very much exaggerated. After all, it was back in 2016 that they announced their Long Goodbye tour, and since then, they’ve been nothing less than a hotbed of activity. And for that, we’re grateful! This issue, we sit down with the Purps to discuss their current – pun unintended – purple patch of creativity, and to see what the future holds for them. We've also created two Deep Purple X Classic Rock bundle editions, which pair the magazine with a collection of three postcards and a numbered (/250) art print. One edition also includes a copy of Splat! on yellow vinyl with limited edition cover art. They're both available from the Louder Store. This issue, we also catch up with George Thorogood to look back at his storied career; travel back 40 years to explore the making of the album that turned Peter Gabriel from prog god to mainstream superstar; collar Phil from Def Leppard and Nuno from Extreme to discuss the two bands’ upcoming tour together; and so much more.