Question : So, in your view, is British rock music alive and well and in safe hands ?


Sadly I don't think so. It's a real shame that in Britain the industry is so dominated by the media. Instead of the record companies putting their powerful oar in the water and saying `this is the direction for rock music in this country', they're letting people who design clothes do it. You've got what used to be called A&R men for the record companies looking in the magazines to see what's hip!

There doesn't seem to be an original thought left because, basically, they don't know anything about music. Presumably they think they know how to sell records, but I can't think of one British record company who have actually signed somebody in the last five, six, maybe even ten years who'll still be selling records for them in another ten year time. I don't believe that Oasis for example will still be selling records in five years time and I know the Spice Girls won't!

Well people have been buying Deep Purples' records for nearly thirty years now and I have a feeling they'll still be selling in ten years time



full interview:http://drummerworld.com/drummers/Ian_Paice2.html