KEEP UP THE PAICE
For a recent Seal reissue celebration, Sananda Maitreya was approached to do a duet.
“We were excited by the idea,” reveals Sananda. “But it had to fit a certain deadline and we were up against the clock, so it didn’t wind up working out.”
Instead, Maitreya is part of a forthcoming supergroup started by Deep Purple’s Ian Paice. The hard rock drummer has made a new album featuring Sananda and Free’s Paul Rodgers as the vocalists, alongside guitar greats Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and
Joe Bonamassa, Deep Purple keyboardist Don Airey and veteran session bassist Leland Sklar.
“Rock’n’roll is my religion,” smiles Maitreya. “It’s my calling and my purpose in life. So, when I get the chance to honour the gods who’ve come before me, it’s my responsibility to pay them back. I started as a drummer, and Ian is a god for drummers.”
The album was also a chance for Sananda to soak up Paice’s tales of a life in music, as he says: “When I hear stories from the people who’ve put their time in for rock’n’roll, I’m really moved.
“Ian knew John Bonham from when they were in local Birmingham bands. He told me how John would follow Ian from gig to gig, just as Led Zeppelin were starting out. John was even a roadie for Ian, as he loved Ian’s playing so much.”