Ian Gillan says that DEEP PURPLE’s retirement is “getting closer,” noting that his worsening vision issues are one of the reasons the end of the road is approaching.
The 80-year-old frontman, who continues to tour with DEEP PURPLE and already has over a dozen European and Japanese dates booked for 2026, told Uncut magazine that he isn’t certain how much longer he and the rest of the band can keep playing live.
“It’s one of those things,” he said. “I’ve only got 30 percent vision. That won’t get better. It makes life mysterious. The hardest thing is working on my laptop. I can’t see anything on the screen unless I use my peripheral vision; I pick up a line by looking at it sideways. But you find a way. You adapt. But it’s achingly tiresome. It takes a long time to do the work”.
Ian added that he’s thankful he’s managed to keep his sense of humor.
“It’s hilarious this growing old thing. It’s a laugh a minute,” Gillan said. “Well, sometimes yes and sometimes no. I walk down the road and hear something drop off — clang, there’s something else gone. Nothing’s changed really apart from I can’t pole vault any more. Other than that, things move a little more slowly. But nothing’s changed.”
Reflecting on the idea of stepping away, Gillan commented: “I think if I lose my energy I’m going to stop. I don’t want to be an embarrassment to anyone. We’re not far off that. It creeps up on you — you don’t really notice”.
