Deep Purple has made an announcement on their social media accounts, explaining that Don Airey, due to an unforeseen illness, will not be able to perform at their upcoming show in Bengaluru. The band expressed their disappointment over Airey’s absence for the performance in India, scheduled for December 17th. Instead, Adam Wakeman, who has worked with Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne, will join Deep Purple for the Bengaluru show at Bandland. The statement goes like this:
“Due to unforeseen illness, Don Airey is unable to perform at Bandland in Bengaluru later this month. Don is hugely disappointed not to be performing with the band in India, but wishes all fans a fantastic night in Bengaluru on 17th December. Adam Wakeman (Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne) will be performing with Deep Purple at Bandland in Bengaluru on 17th December.”
Deep Purple Still Performing Live Despite ‘The Last Goodbye’
This year we found out that Deep Purple would be touring again with their ‘Whoosh! Tour’ announcement. But in 2017, when Deep Purple fans first saw a tour titled ‘The Long Goodbye,’ they thought it was a farewell. But then, when the group members did not clarify the issue, confusion arose. A few years later, frontman Ian Gillan announced that he had no plans to retire anytime soon, but at the time, it was not at all clear. Because the ‘Long Goodbye tour, which began in support of their 20th studio album, ‘Infinite,’ was not explicitly billed as a farewell tour. But in 2018, their guitarist at the time, Steve Morse, spoke to Koztimes about it. He said:
“For me, personally, it’s a farewell tour As for the other guys, then I think they will still be playing. Perhaps in other groups, special projects or as invited guests. I also plan to stay in music, but not so actively as now. But you do realize that, when the music for so many years is the most important place in your life, (it’s) impossible in one day to abandon it. In general, I know that the guys are not going to retire. They would rather die onstage than in bed.”
Steve’s statement that Deep Purple members would continue to play in ‘other bands’ again caused confusion at the time. After leaving Deep Purple in 2022 due to health issues, Morse returned to the stage with Deep Purple for a few shows this year, although he was not fully committed to the tour.
