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In the summer of 2024 he played the large lake stage at the legendary “Montreux Jazz Festival” with full energy. The hard rockers’ (depending on how you count) 23rd album “=1” had just been released. Full steam ahead.
In August 2025, Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan celebrated his 80th birthday.
In an interview with the British magazine “Uncut” he now reveals that he only has around 30 percent of his vision left – and that a complete withdrawal from the grueling touring business is “not far away.”
Fading eyesight and changing everyday routines
Gillan describes how vision loss changes his everyday life. He finds it particularly difficult to work on a laptop. He can only perceive the lines on the screen peripherally by looking from the angle. He says: “But you always find a way. You adapt.”
Despite this handicap, he embraces the passage of time with British humor: “It’s funny getting old. … Nothing has really changed. Except that I don’t do pole vaulting anymore. Everything just happens a little slower.”
Personal boundaries and dealing with age
Basically, he draws a clear boundary for himself: “If I lose my energy, I’ll quit. I don’t want to embarrass anyone.”
He adds that aging comes gradually – you don’t notice it right away.
Deep Purple remain active – despite uncertainties
His statements come at a time when the much reformed Deep Purple are still active. Although they ended their regular tour in November 2024, there are now various individual dates coming up – including in Tbilisi (Georgia), Dubai and Kuala Lumpur. A European tour is also planned for June/July 2026.
But Gillan freely admits that he is unsure how much longer he can keep up the pace. The temporal context is remarkable: Shortly after ex-Purple singer David Coverdale officially announced his complete withdrawal from the music biz, his colleague also spoke openly about a possible “exit”.
Realistic view of the possible end of your career
At the end of the conversation, the man who has been there since the “Smoke on the Water” days emphasized once again that the signs of age cannot be ignored. And he is not afraid to think realistically about the foreseeable end of his active time.