Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover has firmly dismissed the idea of the legendary rock band ever announcing a farewell tour or final concert. He calls such ventures a “cheap publicity thing.” In a recent interview, Glover explained that the band has completely abandoned the concept of “The Long Goodbye” tour. They adopted this term years ago when guitarist Steve Morse suggested doing a final tour announcement. Instead, the band intends to simply keep performing and releasing music until they physically can no longer do so.
“I can’t imagine doing a final gig, with all the hoopla involved,” Glover stated. “The emotion, the place, the fans, the sorrow—it would be too much to bear. I think we all feel the same. We’re just gonna carry on till we can’t. That’s it.”
The band’s commitment to this philosophy reflects a broader perspective on how legendary acts should approach their legacy. Rather than orchestrating a heavily marketed farewell event, Deep Purple has chosen a path of organic continuation that mirrors their entire career philosophy. This stance comes as the band remains remarkably active. They just released their 24th studio album, “Splat!,” on July 3, 2026. The album notably features the shortest average track lengths in the band’s entire 50-plus-year discography.
Deep Purple’s refusal to stage a final concert stands in stark contrast to other rock giants who have embraced the farewell tour model. Black Sabbath concluded their legendary run with a hometown blaze of glory. Numerous other bands have capitalized on the emotional and commercial appeal of announced retirement tours. Glover has observed this trend across the industry and remains unconvinced that such approaches align with Deep Purple’s values or artistic integrity.
The band’s current touring schedule underscores their determination to maintain momentum without fanfare. They are embarking on a major UK headline tour in autumn 2026. A massive world tour will extend through the remainder of the year, taking them across Europe, North America, the UK, and South America. This relentless schedule demonstrates that Deep Purple views touring not as a final chapter to be carefully orchestrated, but as an ongoing expression of their commitment to their craft and their audience.
Looking ahead, Glover has indicated that the band plans to record another album next year and potentially tour in 2027. He expects the schedule will be less demanding than the current touring year. The bassist’s perspective is clear: the final Deep Purple concert will likely arrive without announcement or ceremony. It will simply be the natural conclusion when the band can no longer continue. “We’ll just go until we can’t go on,” Glover explained. “The final gig won’t be announced, because I think, where would we do it? The stress and the emotion of saying, ‘this is it’—none of us want to face that. So we just go on till we drop.”
