Deep Purple Slam Album, Label Withdraw It

Aging rock outfit Deep Purple have had a live album withdrawn from the shelves after their frontman pleaded to fans not to buy it.

SonyBMG re-released the live album recorded at Birmingham’s NEC 14 years ago, apparently without the knowledge of frontman Ian Gillan.

Gillan has since slammed the album, calling it one of their worst ever concerts and said that band tensions resulted in a terrible performance. He told Radio 4’s Today programme: “It was coming to the end, it was awful.”

The label have now recalled the album and are set to launch a through investigation into how it was released without Gillan’s knowledge.

They said in a statement:  "Sony BMG is not in the business of releasing albums without the knowledge of the artists.

"It is in our interests to work with artists, so they can promote their records and continue to work with us."

Explaining why the performance was so turgid, Gillan explained that it was down to the demise of his relationship with guitarist Richie Blackmore.

He added: "It was one of the lowest points of my life - all of our lives, actually," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. In fact, it lasted five or six shows after that Birmingham show.

"Then Ritchie left the band. And we've had 13 years of stability ever since then."