Ian Gillan says DEEP PURPLE‘s retirement is “not far off”, partly as a result of his growing vision problems.
The 80-year-old singer, who is still actively touring with DEEP PURPLE, with more than a dozen shows in Europe and Japan already scheduled for 2026, told Uncut magazine that is unsure how much longer he and his bandmates will be able to keep performing live.
“It’s one of those things,” he said. “I’ve only got 30 percent vision. That won’t get better. It makes life mysterious. The hardest thing is working on my laptop. I can’t see anything on the screen unless I use my peripheral vision; I pick up a line by looking at it sideways. But you find a way. You adapt. But it’s achingly tiresome. It takes a long time to do the work.”
Ian went on to say that he is grateful he still has his sense of humor.
“It’s hilarious this growing old thing. It’s a laugh a minute,” Gillan said. “Well, sometimes yes and sometimes no. I walk down the road and hear something drop off — clang, there’s something else gone. Nothing’s changed really apart from I can’t pole vault any more. Other than that, things move a little more slowly. But nothing’s changed.”
Contemplating the possibility of retirement, Gillan said: “I think if I lose my energy I’m going to stop. I don’t want to be an embarrassment to anyone. We’re not far off that. It creeps up on you — you don’t really notice.”
DEEP PURPLE‘s latest album, ‘=1’, came out in July 2024 via earMUSIC.