DEEP PURPLE’S IAN GILLAN ON ADULT CLUB ADVENTURES – “IT TURNED OUT SHE WASN’T REALLY CHARLENE FROM BERLIN, SHE WAS CHARLIE FROM BELFAST”
July 23, 2024, 3 weeks ago
News | Hard Rock | Ian Gillan | Deep Purple
Deep Purple, the legendary hard rock band, has recently released their new studio album, 1=. In a candid interview with The Independent, frontman Ian Gillan delves into the wild times of the Sixties, tales from the road, and the making of their latest album. Among the highlights is a story that encapsulates the unpredictable nature of life on the road.
Gillan recounts an evening at an adult club in Germany where he encountered a seemingly charming woman named Charlene from Berlin. As the night progressed and the conversation flowed, Gillan noticed something unusual. “I poured her a glass of champagne and she sat down, we talked. She said her name was Charlene from Berlin, and we had a lot of interesting things in common,” Gillan recalls. “But as we were winding down, I noticed that she needed a shave. It turned out she wasn’t really Charlene from Berlin. She was Charlie from Belfast.”
This anecdote is emblematic of the themes found in Deep Purple’s new album, which was produced by Bob Ezrin and harks back to the band’s heyday in the Seventies. Tracks like “No Money To Burn” echo Gillan’s early days of struggle, while songs such as “A Bit On The Side” blend political and sexual innuendos with the band’s signature hard rock sound.
1= is available in multiple formats, including a limited edition box set that features exclusive live recordings from Deep Purple’s 2022 tour, along with other collectible items. The album’s title encapsulates the band’s philosophy of unity amidst complexity, promising to resonate deeply with fans who have followed their five-decade journey in the world of hard rock.
Deep Purple is currently on their 1= More Time tour, with dates spanning across North America through September.
For more details on the album and tour dates, visit the official Deep Purple website.
