Legendary rockers Deep Purple are still going strong, releasing their latest album InFinite earlier this month. It was Loudwire's April 2017 Release of the Month. In an interview with the Rock Brigade podcast, drummer Ian Paice was asked about a possible reunion with guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, who hasn't been in the band since 1993. Check out the full interview in the player below.

When asked if they could or would ever play with Blackmore again, Paice says, (transcription via Blabbermouth) "Of course, the answers to both of those are 'possibly.' But when Ritchie left, nobody fired him, nobody said, 'You have to go.' It was his choice. And so the band continued, the band moved on. Ritchie started doing his thing, which is great. He was obviously happy doing it, and we've been happy doing what we've been doing for the last 23, 24 years, 'cause that's how long ago it is."

He continued, "Quite honestly, there's no point for us to consider that. We have a wonderful feeling within the band, everybody's very friendly, and all we have to do is go onstage and make the music; there's no other considerations to worry about. I think Ritchie's life doesn't work like that. I think it's a little more complex. And at this stage of my life, I don't need cloudy areas. I like it to be clear and crystal and know that it's gonna be fun. I love Ritchie to death, but I can't guarantee every day with him is gonna be fun."

Paice also discussed current Deep Purple guitarist Steve Morse. "The thing they have in common is they're both brilliant guitarists, but they are different, and that's the important thing with Steve," Paice says. "To try and replace Ritchie would have been impossible and pointless to replace him with a Ritchie clone. So if we were gonna have to bring a guitarist in, he had to be of the same level as Ritchie, but he had to have his own style. And that's why Steve fit the bill perfectly."

Deep Purple will be hitting the road for a North American tour with Alice Cooper and the Edgar Winter Group that kicks off Aug. 12 in Las Vegas.

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