Founding Deep Purple drummer Ian Paice says "there's no point for us to consider" a reunion with Ritchie Blackmore.
With Purple considering retirement in the next couple of years, Paice tells The Rock Brigade Podcast that the band is enjoying its "friendly" dynamic. He indicated the notoriously moody founding guitarist Blackmore might disrupt that environment.
"We've been happy doing what we've been doing for the last twenty-three, twenty-four years, 'cause that's how long ago it is."
Blackmore left the band in 1975 to form Rainbow. He rejoined Deep Purple nine years later only to leave for good in 1993. The guitarist was also absent from the band's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction last year.
Paice emphasized that Blackmore left the band on his own accord a long time ago, and the band moved on.
"We have a wonderful feeling within the band, everybody's very friendly, and all we have to do is go on stage and make the music; there's no other considerations to worry about," he said. "I think Ritchie's life doesn't work like that. I think it's a little more complex...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."
Deep Purple's new album, Infinite, has been hailed by critics as a return to the band's classic sound, which Paice described as a "marriage of the Hammond organ and the guitar.
The current iteration of the band features Paice on drums, vocalist Ian Gillan, bassist Roger Glover, guitarist Steve Morse and keyboardist Don Airey.
Deep Purple is about to hit the road again for a world tour that will keep them busy through November. Get all the tour dates here.
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