Deeper Purple interview recorded live at The Brook, Southampton. We sat down with the band backstage to discuss setlists, influences, and performing Deep Purple’s iconic sound.
Band Members
Luka Ravase – Vocals
Phil Crombie – Bass Guitar
Thomas Hauser – Drums
Rob Sas – Guitar
Dave Chapman – Keyboards
Location & Date
The Brook
30 April 2026
Interview Transcript
Bryan (Music Scene Magazine) Q. We’re here at The Brook in Southampton, and the first thing I’ve got to ask is—when you put your setlist together, how do you choose which songs you’re going to bring in to keep that balance between crowd-pleasers and what you enjoy playing yourselves?
Phil – We’re, we’ve got kind of… there are songs that have to be in there, definitely. You know, like Smoke on the Water—you can’t do a Deep Purple set without playing that, really.
And we normally start with Highway Star, because again, that’s got to be in there.
And then there are other songs—you can name a few that we have to do—but we try and mix it up every year so it’s not always the same.
So there’s always, like, three or four new songs, and ones that are more for the serious Deep Purple fans in there.
Luka – But the thing is, the process is quite easy also because we know exactly the classics that have to be there. And then once you’ve got those down, it’s kind of a call to get something different than the classics.
Sometimes we do songs that are really obscure or not usually heard live, but it’s very challenging every year.
Phil – Yeah, next year we’re going to do the whole of Machine Head.
Bryan (Music Scene Magazine) Q. And that sort of brings me onto the next question—how do you get the balance of what era to choose from? Because they’ve had so many great songs over the years. What drives you to pick one from here or one from there?
Luka – Personally, being a fan of the band, I know all the songs. It’s kind of a gamble, actually, to say, “I think this would work.”
There’s also a rhythm involved—something that has to sound good with the classics as well.
Phil – And we need to slow the set down in places, give everybody a bit of a rest, especially Thuomas. If we’re not careful, the setlist becomes ridiculous. One year we had You Fool No One and then Burn.
It was just crazy for two hours or so. And likewise for Luka—if he’s doing Child in Time, then hopefully we do something that’s a bit more gentle before or after it. So it’s quite a long process getting the set sorted out for a tour. And even then, sometimes we change it.
We started a tour and then one song—Sail Away—we did it twice and you could see the audience weren’t that interested. So we stopped doing it.
Bryan (Music Scene Magazine) Q. So how close do you aim to get to the original songs when you play? Do you recreate them note for note, or give yourselves some freedom?
Rob – We pay musical homage to the band. There are certain bits you have to play—like the iconic guitar solo in Highway Star. That’s a must.
But we don’t dress up, we don’t do gimmicks. We don’t try to look like them—we try to sound like them, but put some of ourselves into the songs as well.
So certain parts are essential, but within that, we put our own identity into it.
Bryan (Music Scene Magazine) Q. Out of all the songs you play, which one is the most demanding?
Rob – That changes from year to year. This year, for me personally, I’d say it’s Gypsy’s Kiss, because there’s about 60 seconds in the middle where you cannot lose concentration or you’ll mess it up.
Dave – And then I’m doing it at the same time!
Phil – And on the first ever tour, we did Rat Bat Blue, which has one of the most complicated keyboard solos ever—without rehearsal.
Dave – We hadn’t even met properly. We joined on the same day, at a gig.
We got halfway through Highway Star thinking, “We’ve never played this together.”
And Child in Time was still coming up…
I remember afterwards at the merch stand, people were asking how long the band had been together. I said, “About five hours ago I met them.”
Luka – It’s all about homework these days. Everyone’s based in different countries.
Bryan (Music Scene Magazine) Q. So when you’re playing live and knocking it out of the park, at what point do you know the crowd is really behind you?
Phil – Normally about four or five songs in.
We’ve got certain songs they really enjoy, and you can tell by the reaction—Strange Kind of Woman is one.
Luka – To be honest, there’s always a great reaction after the very first one—Highway Star.
That’s the introduction. After that, they’re with you.
Bryan (Music Scene Magazine) Q. Is there a particular member of Deep Purple who has influenced you personally?
Rob – Ritchie Blackmore, definitely. Without him, there wouldn’t be Deeper Purple or any other tribute band.
But also Jon Lord, Ian Paice…
And Luka has to cover multiple vocal eras, which is a difficult job.
So really—all of them.
Bryan (Music Scene Magazine) Q. What’s something the audience wouldn’t realise goes into putting a show like this together?
Rob – How much work goes into it.
We plan tours a year in advance. The organisation, the logistics…
We manage everything ourselves now—Phil handles bookings and logistics.
And we’re spread across Europe—Spain, Rhodes, Munich, Essex—so it’s a lot of WhatsApp and emails before we even step on stage.
Bryan (Music Scene Magazine) Q. Do you notice different reactions between hardcore fans and casual gig-goers?
Rob – Sometimes.
Phil – You get people singing every word.
Rob – And you can spot the musicians quickly as well.
They’re usually standing there with arms crossed, watching what your fingers are doing.
If they’re grimacing—that’s respect.
Bryan (Music Scene Magazine) Q. What would you say to someone who’s never seen Deeper Purple before?
Thomas – Every evening is different. We never play the same way twice—there’s a lot of improvisation.
It’s five equal musicians… except me, I’m just the drummer.
Phil – We’ve had people come who didn’t know any Deep Purple songs—only Smoke on the Water—and they still had a great night.
Luka – We love playing this music. These are our heroes.
It was the first hard rock band I ever heard—it’s like a family band to me.
Bryan (Music Scene Magazine) – Brilliant. Thank you ever so much, guys.