London, Jan 7 (IANS) Former Deep Purple star Jon Lord rules out the rock group’s reunion without drummer Ian Paice, which means Metallica’s Lars Ulrich will not be able to play with them.Lord wrote on his website that it is too early to talk about a Deep Purple reunion and that Paice would definitely be a part of the band for any possible reunion.

Contactmusic.com quoted Lord as saying: “I like Lars and what he has achieved with Metallica. He’s obviously always been very complimentary in his comments about Deep Purple… but if I was asked to be involved in a ‘Mark III’ reunion, which, by the way, I haven’t… and I indeed considered that offer, I would not be able to even imagine it without the presence of Ian Paice.”

Lord said this a day after Ulrich said he would like to play with Lord, David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes.

Ulrich said: “If they need a drummer, David Coverdale has my number.”