Even after suffering a mini-stroke, Ian Paice of Deep Purple has refused to undergo a transformation into a “lentil-eating hippy”
During a recent interview, Ian Paice, drummer for Deep Purple, discussed his ideas on how drummers adjust to the physical constraints of live performances as they get older. During an interview with The Guardian, he explained the ways in which he modified their playing approaches in order to continue doing performances.
It is now difficult for me to do many of the things that I used to find simple when I was much younger. While Paice was explaining the changes that occur with aging, she reflected on the fact that she now knows a great deal more than she did when she was younger.
It was acknowledged by him that the physical aspect of drumming has become increasingly difficult over the course of time; nonetheless, his experience has enabled him to adapt, even after he suffered a slight stroke. You are going to have to make some substitutions, which is going to be challenging, but I can do that instead. Someone who believes that they are capable of doing exactly the same thing that they did fifty years ago is insane. I am aware that there are not many men of my generation who are still playing what I refer to as “powerful drums.”
In addition to this, he underlined that although he has made adjustments to his playing, he has not fully altered his method of life. On the other hand, I’m not a health nut. However, he went on to say, “I have not become a hippy who eats lentils.”
Despite the fact that Deep Purple has been performing for more than half a century, the band has no plans to call it quits any time soon. In August of the previous year, Ian Gillan responded to the reports that he was retiring and stated that they were nothing more than “rubbish.” It wasn’t until just recently that I came across someone who mentioned [the name of the tour]. That was something I had never heard before. To my knowledge, I had never even mentioned it to anyone. I was not questioned by anyone. According to the rocker, who was interviewed by UCR, “that is complete and utter nonsense.”
Continuing, he stated, “But to answer your question, it is what it is right now.” At the moment when you begin to have feelings of inability to give at that level, you naturally adjust, of course, you adjust, and you make the most of the situation you are in. Nevertheless, when the energy level drops, it is time to stop since at that point, it becomes embarrassing, and nobody likes to be embarrassed. However, things are looking up so far. In comparison to what you just mentioned, I believe that is a far more appropriate term.
Gillan’s remarks were consistent with Paice’s statements made in 2023 over the same subject issue. “There has never been a time where we have intended to cease working. We adhere to the realist philosophy. The guys are getting older, and there is going to come a day when either one or two of us don’t want to do it anymore, or when it gets to the point where it is physically impossible for them to continue doing it. However, we do not give that any thought. The drummer emphasized that they are still having a great deal of fun among themselves.