=1 will be available on July 19th
Deep Purple will release =1 on July 19th via earMUSIC. The first single will be unveiled on April 30th at midnight, a taste of the full 13 tracks of pioneering and rip-roaring rock ‘n’ roll. Deep Purple has continued its charge in recent years, releasing hit albums and filling arenas globally, adding yet more layers to their 100 million album-selling legacy.
The band is credited as one of the key originators of heavy rock and has constantly progressed their boundaries of music. They are fronted by the legendary Ian Gillan, whose vocals have defined generations, accompanied by the masterful bassist Roger Glover, the powerhouse drummer Ian Paice, and the maestro on keyboards Don Airey. This is the band’s first album with sensational guitarist Simon McBride, who seamlessly slotted in when longtime member Steve Morse left due to personal circumstances. Since 2022, Simon has already played to Deep Purple audiences totaling more than half a million people.
But Deep Purple is more than just their members and =1 embodies the essence and attitude of their 1970s incarnation possibly more than any other album in recent memory. With the legendary Bob Ezrin once again producing, the record evokes the pioneering band’s classic sound, without relying on nostalgia.
The enigmatic title =1 symbolizes the idea that in a world growing ever more complex, everything eventually simplifies down to a single, unified essence. Everything equals one.
Its full meaning will be revealed in the coming weeks, with the artwork also playing its part. Fans have already been speculating after mysterious equations and depictions of multiverses appeared in London, Paris, and Berlin in recent days.
=1 will be released on July 19th via earMUSIC as a limited edition CD+DVD Digipak, CD, 2 LP Gatefold black 180-gram vinyl, limited edition Purple 2 LP Gatefold 180-gram vinyl, limited edition Crystal Clear 2 LP 180-gram, and limited edition box set with the CD+DVD Digipak 2 LP black Gatefold, three exclusive 10-inch vinyl editions featuring live recordings from Deep Purple’s 2022 tour, exclusive collector’s T-shirt, two exclusive guitar picks, an exclusive art print, exclusive lanyard, and the chance to win a Golden Ticket giving access to all shows on the Deep Purple =1 More Time Tour.
All LPs include a rich 12-page vinyl-sized booklet.
The bonus DVD features a nearly 60-minute documentary Access All Areas joining Deep Purple backstage on tour and providing an exclusive look behind the scenes.
Further exclusive items are available via the official album store including limited edition 2 LP Picture Disc, limited edition cassette, strictly limited canvas signed by all band members – limited to 50 items only, and various other merchandise items.
With three consecutive No. 1 albums in their back pocket, this is Deep Purple at their pinnacle. Now What?! in 2013, inFinite in 2017, and Whoosh! in 2020 have sold over one million copies worldwide, making Deep Purple one of the most successful rock bands currently active. Whoosh! reached No. 1 on the album charts in seven countries and charted in the top 10 in another 12.
Taking the US by storm this summer Deep Purple will be shaking the walls of arenas, with an explosive lineup of unforgettable hits taken from their repertoire of rock spanning over half a century.
Deep Purple =1 More Time Tour Dates:
Aug 14 – Hollywood, FL @ Hard Rock Live
Aug 15 – Tampa, FL @ Seminole Hard Rock Event Center
Aug 17 – The Woodlands, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Aug 18 – Durant, OK @ Choctaw Casino – Grand Theater
Aug 19 – Fort Worth, TX @ Dickies Arena
Aug 21 – Cincinnati, OH @ PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Center
Aug 22 – Sterling Heights, MI @ Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill
Aug 23 – Tinley Park, IL @ Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
Aug 25 – Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage
Aug 27 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
Aug 28 – Gilford, NH @ BankNH Pavilion
Aug 30 – Camden, NJ @ Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
Aug 31 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
Sept 1 – Wantagh, NY @ Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
Sept 3 – Bridgeport, CT @ Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater
Sept 4 – Saratoga Springs, NY @ Broadview Stage at SPAC
Sept 6 – Bethel, NY @ Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
Sept 7 – Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
Sept 8 – Scranton, PA @ The Pavilion at Montage Mountain
