Deep Purple star Ian Gillan is seeking out top tips from the world's leading science and theology minds as he ponders the meaning of life - and death - in a deep new book.

The Smoke on the Water singer is working on his "life's work" - a project called The Infinite God - after becoming fascinated in what we all become after death.

He tells Wenn, "I've done a lot of research on science and theology to try and get a better understanding of what happens to the human soul or what potential it has.

"At the moment I've come up with Homo Spiritus Papilio, which is the spirit of the butterfly, which I'm thinking might just be our next phase.

"The Infinite God is a science book with a load of wacky theories. I've also been communicating with astrophysicists and mathematicians, who are guiding me along the right path."