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Gillan is well known for his intolerance of aggressive crowd security personnel at concerts. On 15 August 1998, he was charged with assault after striking a security guard on the head with a microphone.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/163899.stm Deep Purple man on assault charge] – BBC News Online</ref>
Gillan is well known for his intolerance of aggressive crowd security personnel at concerts. On 15 August 1998, he was charged with assault after striking a security guard on the head with a microphone.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/163899.stm Deep Purple man on assault charge] – BBC News Online</ref>


{{Wikify|reason=Wikipedia isn't a tabloïd}}
In 2004, he was banned from driving for 16 months and fined £500 for being twice over the legal alcohol limit.<ref>[http://archive.thisisdorset.net/2004/5/28/66650.html Dorset Daily Echo] – Rock star gets 16 month ban</ref><ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1463112/News-in-brief.html Telegraph.co.uk] – Driving ban for rock veteran</ref>
}In 2004, he was banned from driving for 16 months and fined £500 for being twice over the legal alcohol limit.<ref>[http://archive.thisisdorset.net/2004/5/28/66650.html Dorset Daily Echo] – Rock star gets 16 month ban</ref><ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1463112/News-in-brief.html Telegraph.co.uk] – Driving ban for rock veteran</ref>


His surname is often misspelled as "Gillian". Gillan himself made light of this in the lyrics to "MTV", a track from Deep Purple's 2005 album ''[[Rapture of the Deep]]''.
His surname is often misspelled as "Gillian". Gillan himself made light of this in the lyrics to "MTV", a track from Deep Purple's 2005 album ''[[Rapture of the Deep]]''.

Revision as of 14:04, 11 August 2012

Ian Gillan
Ian Gillan performing live with Deep Purple in 2006
Ian Gillan performing live with Deep Purple in 2006
Background information
Birth nameIan Gillan
Born (1945-08-19) 19 August 1945 (age 79)
Hounslow, London, England
GenresHard rock, heavy metal, blues rock, progressive rock, jazz fusion
Occupation(s)Musician, singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, harmonica, percussion, guitar, drums, congas
Years active1962–present
Websitehttp://www.gillan.com/

Ian Gillan (born 19 August 1945 in Hounslow, London) is an English rock music vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lyricist for Deep Purple.[1] During his career Gillan also fronted his own band, had a year-long stint as the vocalist for Black Sabbath, and sang the role of Jesus in the original recording of Andrew Lloyd Webber's rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar. In his prime, Gillan was known for his wide vocal range - particularly the high pitched screams evidenced in the song "Child In Time".

Early life

Gillan was born at Chiswick Maternity Hospital, Middlesex. Gillan's father was a storekeeper at a factory in London. He grew up moving between council flats before settling in a three-bedroom semi-detached on a council estate in Cranford, Hounslow.[2]

Career

Early years

Between 1962 and 1964 Gillan was in a band called The Javelins, where he was known as Jess Thunder. He then joined Wainwright's Gentlemen until 1965. The band recorded a number of tracks including a cover of The Hollies hit "Ain't That Just Like Me" which was officially released in February 2011 on a compilation CD "Rare Mod, Volume 3" on the Acid Jazz label (AJXCD 238). The track features Gillan on vocals, Mick Tucker (later of Sweet) on drums and, according to band bassist Jan Frewer, is thought to have been recorded in 1965. Between 1965 and '69, when he joined Deep Purple, he achieved minor success with Episode Six.

Deep Purple, 1969-73

After Deep Purple members Jon Lord and Ritchie Blackmore saw one of his lead vocal performances with Episode Six, they approached him to replace Rod Evans in Deep Purple.

Gillan was a member of Deep Purple from 1969 through to 1973, appearing on such now-classic Deep Purple albums as In Rock, Fireball, Machine Head, Made In Japan and Who Do We Think We Are. He had initially joined the band for its 1969 Concerto for Group and Orchestra, a one-off show with England's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra that was made into an album. During these years, he also was the voice of Jesus on the original 1970 album recording of Jesus Christ Superstar. He was offered the lead role in the 1973 film adaptation. Ian demanded to be paid not only for his role in the movie but insisted, without the consent of his manager, that the entire band be paid because filming would conflict with a scheduled tour. The producers declined and Ian continued on in the band.[3] Citing exhaustion and a poor working relationship with the band, particularly Blackmore, Gillan left Deep Purple in the summer of 1973, being replaced by David Coverdale.[4]

Namesake groups

After his departure from Deep Purple, Gillan retired from performing to pursue various unsuccessful business ventures, including a racing motor-cycle business and a hotel.[5] However, encouraged by his reception at the Butterfly Ball in 1975, he decided to resume his singing career. He formed the Ian Gillan Band. The early band sound had a distinct jazz-rock aspect which proved unpopular and was replaced by a more high powered hard rock sound as Gillan changed the lineup and shortened the group's name to Gillan. Writing the bulk of new material with keyboardist Colin Towns, the release of Mr. Universe saw Ian Gillan back in the UK charts, although the independent record company the album came out on – Acrobat – folded soon after the album was released, prompting a contract with Richard Branson's Virgin Records. Through several more lineup changes the band released a string of UK hit singles and successful albums including Glory Road, Future Shock, Double Trouble, and finally Magic.

In 1982 Ian Gillan announced the band would fold as he needed to rest his damaged vocal cords. The tone and style of his singing changed considerably when he eventually returned. His voice had a more nasal tone and this can be heard on albums he has made from 1983 to the present day. His use of multi-tracked backing vocals also became highly prominent.

Black Sabbath

In 1983 he joined Black Sabbath (replacing Ronnie James Dio) for a year to record the Born Again album and tour (on which Black Sabbath played the Deep Purple standard "Smoke on the Water" as an encore).[6] He was largely dissatisfied with his stint in Sabbath, notably the final mix of the Born Again album (though he liked the songs and their original mixes), and its cover, which featured a demonic-looking baby. He was quoted in Kerrang! in 1984 as saying "I looked at the cover and puked." In an interview supporting Deep Purple's reformation in 1984, he stated of Born Again, "they had sent me a box of records. And when I saw the cover and heard the mix, I smashed every single one of them to pieces."[4]

The album spawned only one semi-successful radio track, "Keep It Warm". In an interview on Part 2 of the VHS, The Black Sabbath Story (1992), he said, "I was the worst singer Black Sabbath ever had..." However, he stated in the same interview that he liked the members of Sabbath personally: "I love Tony, love Geezer."

Reunion of Deep Purple, 1984-89 and 1992-present

Ian Gillan playing air guitar at the Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto, Canada

Gillan joined a reunited Deep Purple in early 1984 after the somewhat disappointing Black Sabbath album [by his own admission], Born Again in 1983. The 1984 comeback with Deep Purple was a highly-acclaimed and very successful album Perfect Strangers that was followed by one of the most successful rock tours of 1985. Another studio album with this formation, The House of Blue Light (1987) was followed by the live album Nobody's Perfect (1988). The live album also featured a studio re-recording of the 1968 hit "Hush" with Gillan on vocals, to commemorate Deep Purple's 20th anniversary. (The original 1968 release had been sung by Rod Evans.)

Gillan was sacked in 1989, being replaced by former Rainbow vocalist Joe Lynn Turner for one Deep Purple studio album. At the urging of Lord and Paice, who wanted him in the fold for the band's 25th anniversary tour, he rejoined in 1992 to record the album The Battle Rages On. During the 1993 tour for this album, Ritchie Blackmore left the band for good. After a brief stint with Joe Satriani, Deep Purple recruited Dixie Dregs/Kansas guitarist Steve Morse, and Gillan remains in the band to the present day. However, their studio albums with Morse couldn't make chart success on Billboard 200 in the US.[7] Ian Gillan said, "I haven’t ever had any ambition in my life. I just drift from day to day with a stupid grin on my face."[8]

Solo activity in the 2000s

In June 2004 Gillan performed guest lead vocals on Smokescreen as part of Dean Howard – Volume One. Dean Howard (T'pau/Gillan/Repo Depo) co-wrote some of the material that went towards Gillan's "Dreamcatcher" album.

In February 2005 Ian Gillan guested at Jeff Healey's concert in Toronto, Canada and was also among artists performing at the House of Rock concert in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Ian Gillan in Nicosia, Cyprus

In April 2006 Gillan released a CD/multimedia project to document his 44-year career called Gillan's Inn. Tony Iommi, Jeff Healey, Joe Satriani, Dean Howard, as well as current and former members of Deep Purple such as Jon Lord, Roger Glover, Ian Paice, Don Airey and Steve Morse are featured on this 2006 CD and DVD. The project includes a re-recorded selection of his Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and solo tracks.

Ian Gillan at the Sunflower Jam, London, 2008.

It was produced by Nick Blagona. In a recent interview, Gillan announced that his solo albums from the 1970s and 1980s would be re-issued late in 2006 through the Demon record company. These albums began to be released in early 2007.

Also, on 11 September 2006, Ian Gillan promoted the Gillan's Inn tour by having local guitarists compete through local radio stations to play on stage with the band during the famous song "Smoke on the Water". The promotion was titled "Smoke This!". On the 11 September show, Lars Ulrich, drummer for thrash metal band Metallica joined Gillan on stage for "Smoke on the Water," along with the local contest winner, David Gizzarelli. Joe Satriani was scheduled to join the lineup as well, but was called to the studio for last minute revisions.

In 2006 a single called Eternity was released for the Japanese Xbox 360 game Blue Dragon, composed by Nobuo Uematsu and featuring the vocals of Gillan. That same song was reused in the fan-made, freeware RPG Barkley, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden for battles against VinceBorg2050 (a combination of cyborg & Vince Carter). The Eternity file in the Barkley game music folder is labeled "jesus christ the guy from deep purple sang this".

On 31 March 2006 Gillan appeared at the Tommy Vance tribute concert in London. He was accompanied by Roger Glover, Steve Morris, Dean Howard, Michael Lee Jackson, Harry James, Sim Jones and Richard Cottle.

Also in 2006, Ian Gillan sang on two songs off the Jon Lord & Hoochie Coochie Men studio album, Danger. White Men Dancing, released in late 2007.

On 2 April 2007 Gillan released a DVD Highway Star - A Journey in Rock. The DVD has 6 hours of footage including documentaries and music clips.

In June 2007 he sang with the group Sed Nove and Ann Wilson in the Festival of Music in Paris.

In February 2008 Gillan released a double live album on Edel Records, Live in Anaheim that features Gillan and Deep Purple classic songs and several rarities. A companion DVD was released in May 2008.

On 3 May 2008 Ian Gillan performed at the Jeff Healey memorial concert in Toronto, Canada.

He released a new studio album entitled One Eye to Morocco in March 2009.

In recent years Ian Gillan has been performing occasionally with orchestras in Europe singing mainly Deep Purple hits (2007: Greece, 2008: Italy, 2009: Germany, Poland). During his visit in Poland, in August 2009, Ian Gillan was presented with the plaque at the Gdansk Walk of Fame.

On 2 October 2009, in honour of the 20th anniversary of 'Rock Aid Armenia', Gillan together with Tony Iommi, Geoff Downes, and the project organizer Jon Dee were received by the Prime Minister of Armenia who awarded them with the republic's Orders of Honour.[9]

On 26 and 27 March 2010, in Yerevan, Gillan performs with State Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia. At a press conference in Yerevan on 27 March, Gillan said he considers Armenia his spiritual motherland.[10]

Ian Gillan met Tony Iommi, Nicko McBrain and Jon Lord, Mikko Lindström from HIM and Jason Newsted at a studio in London to finish recording a song called ‘Out of my Mind’, which was released 6 May 2011. This is for the benefit of the music school to be built in Gyumri, Armenia – a project Ian Gillan has been working on with others since his concerts in Yerevan (17–20 May 1990)

On the flight back from Armenia last year, after each receiving the Armenian Presidential medal of Honour, Gillan and Tony decided to form the band WhoCares for ad hoc recordings (and possible performances) dedicated to raising money for specific causes.[11]

Side projects

In 2010 Ian Gillan hosted a documentary about great Polish composer and pianist Fryderyk Chopin in Poland directed by Jerzy Szkamruk. Chopin's Story is about the rise of artistic genius of the composer and documents his Polish years. The film has won several international awards, including the Best Documentary award at Tourfilm International Festival in Florianopolis, Brazil. It will be aired on Polish channel Discovery Historia on 21 June 2011. A worldwide DVD release is also in the works.

Personal life

Ian and Bron, dressed in Georgian national wedding costumes during Gillan's 1990 visit to Tbilisi, Georgia

Family

In 1984, Gillan married his girlfriend Bron, to whom he had dedicated "Keep It Warm" from Black Sabbath's 1983 album Born Again. They have twice since renewed their marriage vows. Gillan has two children and three grandchildren all of whom were brought up in Scotland. Gillan moved to southern Portugal in the late 2000s.[12]

Gillan's mother, Audrey Parkinson, often visits him while he is touring with Deep Purple in the United Kingdom. She can often be seen sitting to the side of the stage.

Other

He is a passionate football fan, supporting Queens Park Rangers F.C. He is also a big fan of cricket.[13]

Gillan is well known for his intolerance of aggressive crowd security personnel at concerts. On 15 August 1998, he was charged with assault after striking a security guard on the head with a microphone.[14]


}In 2004, he was banned from driving for 16 months and fined £500 for being twice over the legal alcohol limit.[15][16]

His surname is often misspelled as "Gillian". Gillan himself made light of this in the lyrics to "MTV", a track from Deep Purple's 2005 album Rapture of the Deep.

Discography

Main article: Deep Purple discography

With Episode Six

  • Put Yourself In My Place (1987)
  • The Complete Episode Six (1991)
  • BBC Radio 1 Live 1998/1969 (1997)
  • Cornflakes and Crazyfoam (2002)
  • Love, Hate, Revenge (2005)
Compilation albums of songs recorded between 1965 and 1969

With Deep Purple

Studio albums

Numerical values indicate highest position achieved in the United Kingdom album charts.

Live albums

With Ian Gillan Band

With Gillan

With Black Sabbath

Solo

Studio Albums

Live Albums

  • Chris Tetley Presents: Garth Rockett & The Moonshiners (1989)
  • Garth Rockett & The Moonshiners Live at the Ritz (1990, video)
  • Ian Gillan Live (1990, 2001 on DVD as Classic Rock Legends - Ian Gillan)
  • Live at the Ritz '89 (2000, as Ian Gillan & The Moonshiners)
  • Highway Star - A Journey in Rock (2007, DVD)
  • Live in Anaheim (2008, CD/DVD)

Singles

Compilation Albums

With The Javelins

With WhoCares

(also known as Ian Gillan, Tony Iommi & Friends)

Guest appearances & other projects

  • Jesus Christ Superstar (1970, original album recording)
  • Sammy - Sammy (1972) - Co-producer
  • Jerusalem - Jerusalem (1972) - Producer
  • Pussy - Feline Woman / Ska Child (1972) - Producer
  • Cliff Bennett - Nightride (1981) - Co-producer
  • Zero Nine - Blank Verse (1982) - Co-producer
  • Rock Aid Armenia - The Earthquake Album (1990, "Smoke On The Water '90")
  • Pretty Maids – In Santa's Claws (EP, 1990, "In Santa's Claws", "A Merry Jingle")
  • The Bolland Project – Darwin (The Evolution) (1992, "Overture", "Finale", "The Long Goodbye / The Final Curtain Falls")
  • Michalis Rakintzis – Get Away (1992), ("Get Away", "My Heart Remains The Same", "I Think I Know", "Get Away Club Mix", "Make A Wish")
  • Ray Slijngaard & Ian Gillan – Smoke On The Water Rock 'N' Rap Extravaganza (1998, "Smoke On The Water")
  • Jill Towers – Welcome to Dreamfield (1999) - Co-producer
  • Jill Towers - Miserably Happy (2001, harmonica on "I Know What U'r Lookin'")
  • Dean Howard – Volume One (2004, "Smokescreen")
  • Rock School – Movie soundtrack (2005, "Highway Star")
  • Leslie West – Guitarded (2005, "Hang Me Out To Dry")
  • Michael Lee Jackson – In a Heartbeat (2006, "Have Love Will Travel")
  • Hoochie Coochie Men & Jon Lord – Danger. White Men Dancing (2007, "Over & Over", "If This Ain't The Blues")

Film & TV appearances

  • Deep Purple - Heavy Metal Pioneers (1991, interviewee)
  • The Black Sabbath Story, Vol. 2 (1992, interviewee)
  • Rock Family Trees - ep. 'Deep Purple' (1995, interviewee)
  • Classic Albums - ep 'Deep Purple: Machine Head' (2002, interviewee)
  • Roger Glover - Made in Wales (2004, interviewee)
  • Heavy Metal Britannia (2010, interviewee)
  • The Seventies - ep. '1970' (2010, interviewee)
  • Pictures of Home - Armenia Grateful 2 Rock (2010, interviewee)

Books

  • Gillan, Ian (1980), Candy Horizon, book of poems
  • Gillan, Ian (1998), Ian Gillan: The Autobiography of Deep Purple's Lead Singer. Blake Pub, ISBN 1-85782-320-6. (2nd ed./1st ed. – 1993)
  • Gillan, Ian (2006), Smoke This!: The Warblings, Rants, Philosophies, and Musings from the Singer of Deep Purple. Immergent, ISBN 0-9788254-0-3.

References

  1. ^ 7 Ages of Rock – BBC.co.uk
  2. ^ Mark Anstead (12 March 2009). "Deep Purple's Ian Gillan talks money". London: Telegraph.co.uk.
  3. ^ Steffens, Charlie (25 December 2006). "Child In Time: An Interview With Ian Gillan". KNAC. Retrieved 4 November 2006.
  4. ^ a b Deep Purple: The Interview. Interview picture disc, 1984, Mercury Records.
  5. ^ "Child in Time: The Life Story of the Singer from Deep Purple", Ian Gillan, (Smith Gryphon,1993)
  6. ^ "Bev Bevan: The Black Sabbath diaries". Sunday Mercury.
  7. ^ "Billboard album listings for Deep Purple". AllMusic.com.
  8. ^ "Ian Gillan talks Deep Purple and orchestras". Express & Star. 25 October 2011.
  9. ^ Khachaturyan, Georg (2 October 2009). "Ian Gillan: I am attracted by the constant spirit of adventure-seeking in Armenia". ArmeniaNow.com. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
  10. ^ "A weekend in Armenia". The Highway Star.
  11. ^ "Ian Gillan - Caramba!". Gillan.com. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  12. ^ Bennett, Debbie (5 November 2009). "Gillan set to paint the town Purple". Express & Star. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  13. ^ Famous Fan: Ian Gillan – BBC Sport Online
  14. ^ Deep Purple man on assault charge – BBC News Online
  15. ^ Dorset Daily Echo – Rock star gets 16 month ban
  16. ^ Telegraph.co.uk – Driving ban for rock veteran
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