touring is the only way to generate cash-flow.
the label don't want what's in the vault, they don't want to release anything unless they get Slash on there somewhere. they don't want to fund a new record.  GnR's hands are tied w/releasing new material: it's either not good enough or non-existent; so the only option to keep the thing afloat & keep axl n his entourage in their malibu mansion, is to play live as often as possible.

i'd say they'd prefer to be a wedding band to millionaire & billionaire assholes but they're making do w/what they got: ordinary punters & ripping off the fans.

re: ending - not specifically but i knew dex was getting away w/it & that he'd have to kill la guerta & in someways deb would be culpable. it's not that big a surprise/stretch to go from there.

re: next yr - it'll prob suck. hannah is this yrs lumen. whatever happened to the creepy irish nanny? will quinn renew his suspicions of dex next yr now he's banging the new bangin' nanny?
by rights nxt season shoulda had dexter in jail. oh well. hope he escapes/goes on the run soon.

so they'll be hitting the euro summer festival circuit afterwards..

does axl have an endgame in mind?
is he holding out waiting for the label to blink first & get more CD material released?
is he still chasing the CD dream?!
are they just touring for the sake of something to do? they need the cashflow?

he could start to drum up some interest in the new CD by playing even one unheard song from those sessions. that would turn shift a little pressure onto the label in terms of releasing a new product..??

he certainly seems to have gotten over his previous self-professed aversion to touring.

Deep purple aren't just known by rock fans. Their riffs are taught to any kid who picks up a guitar today. It's beyond a bad joke something as fundamental & recognisable hasn't been enshrined by the so called HoF.