Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, third left, poses with Deep Purple members, from right, bassist Roger Glover, drummer Ian Paice, vocalist Ian Gillan, from left, keyboard player Don Airey, guitarist Steve Morse in the Gorki residence outside Moscow, Russia. (AP Photo/RIA Novosti, Vladimir Rodionov, Presidential Press Service)
The British group met the leader for tea at his residence of Gorki outside Moscow on Wednesday, Russian news agencies said.
The 45-year-old president told Deep Purple the band has been a favourite of his since the age of 12. He also revealed that as a DJ at his school in Leningrad he would play rock music at discos, after first getting the approval of the Communist youth organisation.
Medvedev is a well-known heavy metal fan, while Vladimir Putin, his predecessor and Russia's current prime minister, is reported to be an ABBA fan.
