Deep Purple performs in Italy to celebrate 60-year career

Deep Purple performed in Italy as part of their 2026 summer concert series, celebrating a 60-year career. The Mark IX lineup—consisting of Ian Gillan, Simon McBride, Don Airey, Roger Glover, and Ian Paice—blended iconic hard rock classics with newer material from their 2024 and 2026 albums.

The setlist included the classic ‘Highway Star’ and the more recent ‘A Bit on the Side’ from the 2024 album ‘=1’. Guitarist Simon McBride, who joined the band in 2022, was noted for contributing to the group’s current sound and establishing his own identity as a songwriter.

While the performance honored the band's history, it focused on their present state rather than pure nostalgia. Observers noted that vocalist Ian Gillan’s performance has transitioned from the high-intensity vocal acrobatics of his youth to a more composed and seasoned delivery.