Deep Purple releases new single 'Arrogant Boy' ahead of SPLAT! album

British rock legends Deep Purple have unveiled "Arrogant Boy", the first single and performance video from their upcoming 24th studio album SPLAT!. Frontman Ian Gillan describes the track as the story of a young man named Billy who "couldn’t read or write" and who "irritates the elite". The song’s fast‑paced hard‑rock style draws comparisons to classic Deep Purple numbers such as "Space Truckin'" and "Highway Star".

SPLAT! is scheduled for release on 3 July 2026 via earMUSIC and is produced by long‑time collaborator Bob Ezrin. The album’s concept, devised by Gillan, imagines the end of humanity as a transformation rather than an apocalypse. It will be issued in multiple formats, including CD, standard vinyl, limited‑edition coloured vinyl and a deluxe box set with live recordings from the 2024 tour and an exclusive 7‑inch single.

To support the record, Deep Purple have announced a 2026 world tour spanning 86 shows in 28 countries, with European summer dates followed by a North American leg starting in August and concluding with South American dates in December. The current lineup features Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice, Don Airey and guitarist Simon McBride.