Breaking: Deep Purple just terminated contract worth $60 million due to… and part ways

Deep Purple have shared the new song “Lazy Sod” from their forthcoming album =1, out July 19th.

Clocking in just under four minutes in length, the compact tune couples burly guitar riffs and prominent organ, conjuring the classic Deep Purple sound. The British rock legends maintain a steady pocket before stretching out for some ascending scales in the choruses and flexing on an organ-grinding prog breakdown during the bridge.

Meanwhile, frontman Ian Gillan opens up for some incredibly honest lyrics that reflect on his age (he turns 79 next month) and the tumultuous state of the world around him: “The world’s on fire, and I can’t get my ass out of bed / The world is on fire, smoke all around my head.”

Gillan offered up a charming anecdote about the origins of the song title and the lyrical concepts in recent interview with ROCKS magazine (via the band’s press release for the new song).

“Recently, a young journalist asked me how many songs I had written in my life,” Gillan said. “I replied that the last time my assistant counted, twenty years ago, it was over 500. I felt quite accomplished until she pointed out Dolly Parton’s 5,000 songs, calling me a lazy sod. I couldn’t help but agree and wrote down the exchange in my notebook.”

=1 will mark the group’s first album with guitarist Simon McBride, who was welcomed into the band after longtime guitarist Steve Morse exited in 2022 to take care of his ailing wife. Deep Purple’s lineup is rounded out by classic members Gillan (vocals), bassist Roger Glover (bass), and Ian Paice (drums), along with longtime keyboardist Don Airey. Studio vet Bob Ezrin returned as producer for the album.

In support of the LP, Deep Purple are set to embark on a North American summer tour with Yes. The outing kicks off August 14th in Hollywood, Florida, and runs through a September 8th show in Scranton, Pennsylvania, with tickets available here.

Stream the performance video for “Lazy Sod” below.