Hard rock pioneers DEEP PURPLE say they are "very excited by the prospect of making a new and significant album. To that end they have decided to extend their writing and recording period through the summer of 2012," according to a band update.

Singer Ian Gillan said: “We know we will disappoint some of our fans this summer however we look forward very much to our autumn/ winter Tour and continuing our worldwide tour with our new album in 2013."

Starting in early February, Deep Purple have scheduled 16 dates across Canada beginning in St. John’s, NL and ending in Vancouver, BC, making it ‘the heaviest winter on record’.