Deep Purple reunion in the works?

Could a reunion of Deep Purple's Mach III lineup be in the works? Purple's third lineup included singer David Coverdale, singer-bassist Glenn Hughes, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, keyboardist Jon Lord, and drummer Ian Paice, and Hughes told rocknrolluniverse.com that preliminary discussions have already been held. Hughes said, "David and I have already discussed how great it would be for he and I to sing together. But it would only be in Deep Purple. And, it would only be with Ritchie Blackmore." Hughes added, "I haven't spoken with Ritchie about it. I haven't made that call, nobody has. I think he's enjoying his thing with his wife. I just think that, at the right time, at the right moment, the right place, it could happen. Is it today? I don't think it's right now. Is it next year? Who knows? But I think it'll be in the next two or three years if it's going to happen at all."

The singer-bassist also pointed out that it won't happen unless the current Deep Purple lineup shuts down. He said, "While (Ian) Gillan, (Roger) Glover, and Paice are still out there, I don't know if it's ever going to happen. I think if that ever comes to a head, where Deep Purple kind of stops touring with the two Ians and Roger... it might happen. I wouldn't want to step on anybody's toes and do something that's inappropriate. But I think that if you got Ritchie Blackmore, David Coverdale, Glenn Hughes, Jon Lord and Ian Paice together, it probably would be a very big tour. I think it would be remarkable."

Besides Gillan, Glover, and Paice, the current Deep Purple lineup includes guitarist Steve Morse and keyboardist Don Airey. The band plays on Thursday, June 22nd in Bodo, Norway.