THE clocks will go back once again in Liverpool for the return of Deep Purple but the band themselves are very much forward looking.
Even those with only a small knowledge of the group will remember Smoke On The Water, a signature track from 1974 whose guitar riff sticks in the mind to this day. But now, 30 years on, the group still have something to shout about.
The band have just completed a new album and are looking forward to playing again. The title of the LP is up for debate despite reports on the internet. The rumours seem to be pointing towards the name Bananas. But Bassist Roger Glover laughed when I mentioned it.
"Wouldn't that be the worst name ever," he jokes. "The story about that was about three years ago we were on a plane from Australia and looking through the Sunday papers.
"I was looking at a travel feature about Vietnam and there was a picture of someone on a bike which was covered in bananas.
"I turned to Ian (Gillian, singer) and said. 'Wouldn't that be a great picture for the front of the album, we could call it Bananas.' Then to my surprise he was saying. 'Yeah that's a great idea.' That's where that came from.
"We've got the picture now so you will have to just wait and see what happens."
But Roger seems to be happy with the LP saying: "It sounds great. It's the best sounding Deep Purple album we have ever done. I can't tell about the songs themselves because I am too close to that but it's a great sounding album."
The band are currently in the middle of a European tour although Roger is cagey about how it is going.
"You can't tell really. The new songs are always not going to get the same response as the old ones. But they seem to be liking them."
What has surprised the band is the age of their audience. What could be a nostalgia show actually attracts a younger breed.
Roger explains: "Well I don't know what we are going to get at the King's Dock show but in Europe they are all kids. It's just amazing to see. When you look out there is the odd silver hair out there.
"I suspect that when a few years ago they were bringing their kids, now they are bringing their grandkids.
"It's amazing. It's great because they make more noise. Old people tend to clap rather than go crazy.
"We're not sure why this is but they are comparatively young. Well, young compared to our age. There is definitely an interest there from following generations. When I say young I don't mean 12, people who have been about a bit - in their thirties."
With so long together a group could get on each other's nerves after a while. But not so according to Roger.
"The band has been solid now for about 10 years. I remember a time that it wasn't fun at all.
"I'm a fan. A fan with the best seat in the house."
* Deep Purple play the Summer Pops at the King's Dock on July 1.
