Deep Purple are planning to record a new album early next year. But the band are in no rush.

Guitarist Steve Morse told Classic Rock:

“We are in the sort of position where we don’t have any pressure on us. We’re not a pop act, so nobody these days expects us to sell a lot of records. So, as long as we come up with a good album to satisfy our core fans, then that’s all that matters.”

Morse has been trying to fit in work with his own Steve Morse Band between Purple commitments, which has proven to be a very difficult task.

“It feels like I’ve been on the road non-stop since I joined Purple 16 years ago! And If Ian Gillan had his way, we would have toured without a break. So trying to find the gaps to do my own own thing is very tough.

The Steve Morse Band have just released new album Out Standing In Their Field on the Eagle label. Once again, as has been the case for the past two decades, Morse has worked with bassist Dave LaRue and drummer Van Romaine on the project, But it hasn’t been easy.

“It took us about two years to get this together. We managed to find some time to rehearse together, and then each of us recorded in our own studios separately. Then we had to send the album off to Australia to be mastered, and we didn’t actually hear anything until we got shrinkwrapped copies of the CD!”

The Steve Morse Band have been doing shows in America, but have found the demands of Deep Purple very restrictive.

“A lot of the shows we do are so last-minute that we can only play at clubs with whom either ourselves or our booking agent have a close relationship. That rules out doing anything in the UK or Europe, because they demand a lot more notice. It means this whole thing is very much a labour of love.”

For further info go to www.stevemorse.com