Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan Reveals Severe Vision Loss, Signals Touring Could Be Nearing an End

The 80-year-old says he will stop when his energy dips, with Deep Purple booked through 2026.

Overview

  • Ian Gillan told Uncut he has about 30% vision and said the condition will not improve.
  • He described relying on peripheral vision to work on a laptop and called the adaptation “achingly tiresome.”
  • Gillan said he would end touring if his energy falls because he does not want to be an embarrassment to fans or bandmates.
  • Despite his comments, Deep Purple has announced 2026 dates including a U.K. run and European and Japanese shows reported through October 2026.
  • The singer’s remarks update a long-running stance that has shifted from feeling best on the road in 2017 to setting a clear personal threshold for stopping.