[on joining Deep Purple] The thought crossed my mind a few years ago: "If Jon [Jon Lord] retired . . . ? Naaaah . . . They'd never ask me". So when he did and they did, I jumped at the chance and it exceeded my expectations from the first number I played with them, "Woman from Tokyo", at the Skanderborg Festival in 2001. Touring Russia and the U.S. last year was a highlight and recording a new album with the band in Royaltone Studios LA, January 2003, the sort of experience I thought I'd said goodbye to years ago - Long may it continue!