DEEP PURPLE - DEEP PURPLE TO PLAY FOR NEXT RUSSIAN PRESIDENT

Veteran band DEEP PURPLE is set to rock DMITRY MEDVEDEV into power as Russia's next president after learning they're the premier-to-be's favourite group. Medvedev has asked the British stars to play at a party to mark his farewell to colleagues at gas company Gazprom, of which he's the outgoing chairman. The Kremlin show will also mark Gazprom's 15th anniversary. Medvedev has become the clear favourite to replace outgoing president Vladimir Putin as Russia's leader.