Ian Gillan Legendary Deep Purple Singer On 'The Lost Interviews' Episode 3

IAN GILLAN DEEP PURPLE LEGEND

THE LOST INTERVIEWS EPISODE 3 

 

Ian Gillan is the legendary charismatic frontman for one of the greatest bands in rock and roll history. Deep Purple is essentially known for its hard rock pulse. Its musical schemes have encompassed progressive rock, blues, R&B and even jazz.

Keyboardist Jon Lord received a telegram from Tony Edwards stating that he’d back Lord in putting a band together; later Edwards called Ritchie Blackmore to meet with him. In December of 1967, the two musicians met up and collaborated for the first time. John Lord had already asked Nick Simper to play bass, a former bandmate with ‘The Flower Pot Men.’

While living in Hamburg, Germany, Ritchie Blackmore saw drummer Ian Paice performing onstage with his band The Maze. The group was fronted by singer Rod Evans. Evans auditioned for the lead vocalist role for a scheming new (Deep Purple) band and won the spot. Blackmore remembered Paice from Hamburg and asked Evans to bring him along. Blackmore and Lord were a bit worried that Evans mannerism was much like Tom Jones or Engelbert Humperdinck. Jon Lord later stated, “We’d eventually beat him into shape.”

In 1968, Deep Purple was officially formed. The band was named after a Nino Tempo and April Stevens song of 1963, believed to be Ritchie Blackmore’s grandmother’s favorite song.

Deep Purple’s musical styles intentionally mimicked the American rock group Vanilla Fudge (“You Keep Me Hangin’ On”). The group quickly scored commercially with their Top 40 hit single “Hush” (#4 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart) and became overnight sensations in the U.S.

Ritchie Blackmore’s vision for the band was to implement heavier rock techniques, and while Rod Evans and Nick Simper were in the group it may never have been accomplished. After Rod Evans was dismissed from Deep Purple, he went on to form Captain Beyond in 1971.

Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover were performing at Woodford Green in London with their British pop rock band ‘Episode Six.’ Their lead singer Ian Gillan was noticed by Ritchie Blackmore and Jon Lord. After watching Gillan’s performance, they offered him the lead singer position for Deep Purple. Eventually Roger Glover would be asked to join the band, while securing one of the greatest music lineups in rock history.

Also in 1972, under resistance by the band, they recorded a double live album in Japan entitled, Made In Japan. The album was essentially the Machine Head tour. The band recorded (3) concerts ... (2) in Osaka and (1) in Tokyo. Most of the material came from the second night in Osaka. Made In Japan also went platinum and the live version of “Smoke on the Water” became instrumental to the song’s success.

Smoke on the Water” (#4 Hit on Billboard’s Hot 100) was officially released as a single in 1973 and became one of the most recognizable guitar riffs in rock and roll history. Deep Purple were now international superstars in the studio and on the road.

At the peak of their success, Ian Gillan gave a six month notice and stated that he was leaving the band after fulfilling all of his commitments in 1973. The album Who Do We Think We Are was released in January of 1973. The release generated the hit single “Woman from Tokyo.” “Smoke on the Water” was also busy that year becoming Deep Purple’s biggest hit of all-time.  Who Do We Think We Are was the last studio album to feature Ian Gillan as their lead singer until the 1984 reunion LP Perfect Strangers.

Deep Purple did six American tours before Ian Gillan and Roger Glover left the band. The grueling touring schedule and fatigue became the reason for their early departure from the band. In 1973, the band had eleven different entries in Billboard and became the top-selling artists in the U.S. But without its lead singer and bass player the band felt like it was the end.

Deep Purple brought in several lineups through the years. Lead singers that included David Coverdale and Joe Lynn Turner, guitarists Tommy Bolin and Joe Satriani and bassist Glenn Hughes. There have also been band reunions that have included the original Deep Purple core lineup.

Sadly, founding member, keyboardist and songwriter Jon Lord died in 2012.

Ritchie Blackmore and his wife Candice Night currently perform together with their medieval folk rock band Blackmore’s Night.

Ian Gillan is the son of a school teacher mother and a factory worker father. Gillan came from a musical family; his grandfather was a bass-baritone and sang opera, and his uncle was a jazz pianist. Ian was a boy soprano in the church choir when he was young.

Besides being the legendary voice of Deep Purple, Gillan also sang the role of Jesus on the original recording of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar. He also recorded with his solo bands the Ian Gillan Band (1975-1978) and Gillan (1978-1982).

Gillan was also the lead singer of Black Sabbath (1982-1984).

Ian Gillan performed in the charity group Rock Aid Armenia and later (2011) participated in the supergroup ‘WhoCares,’ a continuing effort by Gillan to help the people of Armenia after a devastating earthquake. The group was comprised of Gillan, Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath), Jon Lord (Deep Purple), Jason Newsted (Metallica), Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden) and Mikko “Linde” Lindstrӧm (HIM). They recorded the songs … “Out of My Mind” and “Holy Water” which is included in a 2-CD compilation of rarities from the music careers of Ian Gillan and Tony Iommi. Proceeds from the CD helped rebuild a music school in Gyumri, the second largest city in Armenia. Gillan and Iommi received the Armenian Presidential Medal of Honor for their humanitarian efforts.