Ian Gillan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ian Gillan
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Ian Gillan performing live with Deep Purple in Germany, July 2022
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| Background information | |
| Born | 19 August 1945 Chiswick, Middlesex, England |
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| Years active | 1962–present |
| Labels | Independent |
Ian Gillan (born 19 August 1945) is an English singer. He is most famous as the lead singer and songwriter for the rock band Deep Purple. People know him for his strong and wide-ranging singing voice.
Ian was inspired by Elvis Presley when he was young. In the mid-1960s, he started several local bands. He later joined a band called Episode Six. Ian became very successful after joining Deep Purple in 1969. He left the band in 1973.
After a short break, he started his own bands, the Ian Gillan Band and Gillan. In 1983, he sang for Black Sabbath for a year. The next year, Deep Purple got back together. They released two more successful albums before he left again in 1989. Ian returned to Deep Purple in 1993. He has been their lead singer ever since.
Besides his work with Deep Purple, Ian sang the role of Jesus in the original 1970 recording of the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar. He also took part in the charity supergroup Rock Aid Armenia. He has been involved in business, including a hotel and music studios.
More recently, he has performed solo concerts while still with Deep Purple. His connection with Armenia and friendship with Tony Iommi led him to form the supergroup WhoCares. His solo career was highlighted in the Gillan's Inn box set in 2006.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Ian Gillan was born on 19 August 1945. His father, Bill, worked in a factory in London. His mother, Audrey, came from a musical family. Her father was an opera singer and played piano. Ian's sister, Pauline, was born in 1948. One of Ian's first music memories was his mother playing "Blue Rondo à la Turk" on the piano.
He grew up moving between different homes in Middlesex. As a child, he loved animals and reading Dan Dare comic strips.
Ian went to Hounslow College. He was influenced by Elvis Presley's music. Ian briefly attended Acton County Grammar School. He decided he wanted to be a movie actor after watching an Elvis film. Later, he worked making ice machines in Hounslow.
Music Career
Starting Out in Bands
Ian's first band was called Garth Rockett and the Moonshiners. He sang and played drums. He soon found he couldn't do both at once. So, he became the lead singer. The band played songs like "Sheila" and "Apache".
He then joined Ronnie and the Hightones. They changed their name to the Javelins. This band covered songs by artists like Chuck Berry and Little Richard. They often bought music gear from Jim Marshall, who later became famous for his amplifiers. The Javelins broke up in 1964.
After that, Ian joined a soul band called Wainwright's Gentlemen. This band included Mick Tucker, who later joined the band Sweet. They recorded some songs but didn't become famous. In 1965, Ian decided to join Episode Six.
Episode Six Adventures
Ian joined Episode Six after their first singer left. He thought Episode Six was his first real professional band. They were supported by radio DJ Tony Blackburn.
Episode Six played concerts in the UK, Germany, and Beirut. They also appeared on BBC radio shows. During this time, Ian started writing songs with Roger Glover. This became a long-lasting partnership. After a tough tour, the band's drummer left. He was replaced by Mick Underwood. Ian knew about Deep Purple through Mick. By 1969, Ian felt the band's music was too limiting. He decided to leave Episode Six.
Joining Deep Purple (1969–1973)
In 1969, Deep Purple had a big hit with "Hush". The band wanted to play harder rock music. In June 1969, Deep Purple members Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, and Ian Paice watched Episode Six play. They offered Ian the job as their new singer. They also asked if he knew a good bassist. Since Roger Glover was a good songwriter, he was also asked to join.
Ian and Roger joined Deep Purple on 16 June 1969. They replaced the old singer and bassist. Ian first performed with Deep Purple on 10 July in London. The band had only practiced for a few weeks. They played older instrumental songs. Ian found some conga drums on stage and played them during these parts.
Deep Purple's new lineup practiced at Hanwell Community Centre. One of Ian's first ideas for the band was the song "Child in Time". In 1969, they wrote most of their album In Rock. They also performed Jon Lord's Concerto for Group and Orchestra with an orchestra. Ian was not happy about doing the concerto at first. He wrote the lyrics for one part on a napkin just before the show.
In 1970, Ian was asked to sing the part of Jesus in the original recording of Jesus Christ Superstar. He recorded all his singing in three hours. He was later offered the main role in the 1973 film version. But Ian wanted the whole band to be paid because filming would stop their tour. The producers said no, so Ian stayed with Deep Purple.
After 1971, Ian became tired of the band's busy schedule. He had not had a holiday since they started. Relationships became difficult, especially with Ritchie Blackmore. In November 1971, Ian got sick and had to cancel a US tour.
By December 1972, Ian felt exhausted from the band's work. He had recorded several albums with Deep Purple. He didn't like live albums and was not happy with their album Made in Japan. He often recorded his vocals separately from the band. He and Blackmore often argued about music. This led Ian to write the song "Smooth Dancer" about Blackmore. In 1973, Ian decided to leave the band. His last show was on 30 June 1973.
Life After Deep Purple
After leaving Deep Purple, Ian took a break from music. He tried some business ideas. He invested in a hotel, but it didn't work out. He also started a motorcycle project, but it failed. However, his investment in Kingsway Studios in 1974 was successful. This led to him performing at the Butterfly Ball concert in 1975.
Ian Gillan Band
In 1975, Ian formed the Ian Gillan Band. The band included guitarist Ray Fenwick, keyboardist Colin Towns, drummer Mark Nauseef, and bassist John Gustafson. Their first album, Child in Time, came out in 1976. They released two more albums. The band played a style of music called jazz-rock. Ian liked it, but it wasn't very popular at the time because punk rock was big.
Gillan Band
Ian then started a new band called Gillan. He kept Colin Towns and added new members. This band played a harder rock sound. Their album Mr. Universe (1979) put Ian back on the UK music charts. They later signed with Richard Branson's Virgin Records.
Around Christmas 1978, Ritchie Blackmore asked Ian to join his band Rainbow. Ian said no because Rainbow had less work than his own band. But Ian and Blackmore did play together for three nights. It was the first time they had shared a stage since 1973.
The Gillan band released Glory Road in 1980. They appeared on the TV show Top of the Pops. Ian thought this album was his best work since Deep Purple's Machine Head. After their next album, Future Shock, guitarist Bernie Tormé left. He was replaced by Janick Gers. Ian announced in 1982 that the band would stop. He needed to rest his voice.
Singing for Black Sabbath
In 1983, Ian was asked to join Black Sabbath. This was a supergroup with original members Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward. Ian replaced Ronnie James Dio as singer. The group recorded the album Born Again.
The drummer, Bill Ward, had health problems and didn't tour. He was replaced by Bev Bevan. Ian had trouble remembering Black Sabbath's old song lyrics. He wrote them on a clear folder and put it on the stage floor. But smoke on stage made it hard to read. So, he would lean over the microphone to sing. The band also played Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water" as an extra song. Ian decided he couldn't be Black Sabbath's singer for long. He left after a second tour in North America. He said it was "the longest party I'd ever been to."
Deep Purple Reunions (1984–89 and 1992–Present)
After Black Sabbath, Ian rejoined Deep Purple in April 1984. They announced their return on a radio show. The band recorded the album Perfect Strangers. This was followed by a very successful world tour. Another album, The House of Blue Light, came out in 1987. But Ian was not happy with it. He felt it was missing the band's spirit.
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A live album, Nobody's Perfect, followed in 1988. It included a new recording of their 1968 hit "Hush" with Ian singing. Ian later said this album showed "all the things wrong with Purple."
Ian felt the band wasn't working enough. He also had disagreements with Ritchie Blackmore about music. This led to Ian being fired from Deep Purple in 1989.
Ian then formed a new version of Garth Rockett and the Moonshiners. They toured and recorded the album Naked Thunder. Ian was not happy with this album. During this time, Ian also sang on a new recording of "Smoke on the Water" with Rock Aid Armenia. This was a charity song to help Armenia after an earthquake.
In 1992, Ian rejoined Deep Purple for their 25th anniversary tour. They recorded the album The Battle Rages On. Ian was not happy making this album. Blackmore left Deep Purple after the tour in 1993. Ian and Blackmore later became friends again.
Ian was excited to continue with Deep Purple after Blackmore left. The band brought in guitarist Steve Morse. Ian wanted to change the live shows. He added songs like "Maybe I'm a Leo" and "When a Blind Man Cries". The latter became a regular song in their shows. He said their first album with Morse, Purpendicular, was very important. Ian has been Deep Purple's lead singer ever since. The band has had more success touring than making new records.
Ian pays close attention to the lyrics in Deep Purple's songs. He sees it as his main writing role. He believes words should sound good and have a good rhythm. He said the lyrics for their 2003 album Bananas were "politics mostly."
I haven't ever had any ambition in my life. I just drift from day to day with a stupid grin on my face.
Later Solo Work
Even though Ian tours a lot with Deep Purple, he still works on other projects.
In 2006, Ian released a CD and DVD project called Gillan's Inn. It showed his 44-year career. Many famous musicians, including current and past Deep Purple members, were on it. This project included new recordings of his songs from Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, and his solo work. At the same time, Ian announced that his solo albums from the 1970s and 1980s would be re-released.
Ian sang the song Eternity for the 2006 video game Blue Dragon. In 2007, he released a DVD called Highway Star – A Journey in Rock. It had six hours of videos. In 2008, a live album called Live in Anaheim was released. He also released a studio album called One Eye to Morocco in 2009.
In the 2010s, Ian sometimes performed with orchestras in Europe. They played new versions of Deep Purple songs.
WhoCares Charity Project
Ian has a special connection with Armenia. He has been popular there since Rock Aid Armenia in 1989. This led him to form the supergroup WhoCares. This project helps raise money for good causes. In 2009, Ian, Tony Iommi, and others received awards from the Prime Minister of Armenia.
In 2010, Ian performed with the State Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia. He said he considers Armenia his spiritual home.
In 2010, Ian met Tony Iommi and other musicians to record a song called "Out of my Mind". This song was released in 2011. It helped raise money for a music school in Gyumri, Armenia. Ian has been working on this project since 1990.
In 2011, Ian and Tony Iommi decided to form WhoCares. They wanted to record music and perform to raise money for specific causes. In 2013, Ian helped open the Octet Music School in Gyumri. The Armenian Church in America named Ian Gillan their "Friend of the Armenians" in 2014.
Other Projects
In 2010, Ian hosted a documentary about the Polish composer Fryderyk Chopin. The film, Chopin's Story, won several international awards. It was shown on Polish TV and later released on DVD.
Personal Life
Ian was in a relationship with Zoe Dean from 1969 to 1978. In 1984, Ian married his girlfriend Bron (1955 - 2022). He dedicated the song "Keep It Warm" to her. They renewed their marriage vows twice. Their daughter, Grace Gillan, is also a singer. Ian lives near Lyme Regis, Dorset, and has a home in Portugal.
Ian supports the Queens Park Rangers football team. He is also a fan of cricket.
His last name is sometimes misspelled as "Gillian". Ian made a joke about this in the lyrics to the song "MTV" from Deep Purple's 2005 album Rapture of the Deep.
Selected Discography
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Jesus Christ Superstar (1970) By Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. with Deep Purple
with Black Sabbath
with The Javelins
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with Ian Gillan Band & Gillan
Solo
with WhoCares (also known as Ian Gillan, Tony Iommi & Friends)
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Rock Aid Armenia (1990)
Timeline
See also
In Spanish: Ian Gillan para niños
