VIDEO'S OF THE WEEK: IAN GILLAN

[Niels (Mod)]

VOTW - IAN GILLAN 

Continuing the VERY populare VOTW-series (), we've come to the great Ian Gillan. Ian Gillan is indeed an important figure in the classic rock scene. He was "in front" of two of the most important CR-bands, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath, and had his own band for a while, and have also made some solo-albums. Well, here's some video's featuring mr.Ian Gillan:

DEEP PURPLE - HIGHWAY STAR

Machine Head is the sixth studio album released by the English hard rock band Deep Purple. It was recorded through December 1971 in Montreux, Switzerland, and released in March 1972.Machine Head is often cited as a major influence in the early development of the heavy metal music genre. Commercially, it was Deep Purple's most successful album, topping the charts in several countries following its release. The album reached number 1 in the United Kingdom and stayed in the top 40 for 20 weeks. It reached number 7 in the United States, remaining on the Billboard 200 for 118 weeks.

GILLAN - MR. UNIVERSE

Mr. Universe is the second album by the British rock band Gillan, and the first with the classic line-up with Gillan, Towns, McCoy, Tormé and Underwood. Released in October 1979. The album reached No. 11 in the UK album charts.

BLACK SABBATH - ZERO THE HERO

Born Again is the eleventh studio album by English rock band Black Sabbath, released in August 1983. It is the only album the group recorded with lead vocalist Ian Gillan, best known for his work with Deep Purple. The album has received mixed reviews from critics, but it was a commercial success upon its 1983 release, reaching No. 4 in the UK charts. The album as well hit the top 40 in the United States. Following the departure of vocalist Ronnie James Dio and drummer Vinny Appice in 1982, Black Sabbath's future was very much in doubt. The band switched management to Don Arden (Sharon Osbourne's father) and it was he who suggested Ian Gillan as the band's new vocalist. "That band was put together on paper," guitarist Tony Iommi revealed in the 1992 documentary Black Sabbath: 1978–1992. "We'd never rehearsed." Initially, the project which became Born Again was intended to be a new supergroup; they did not intend to bill themselves as Black Sabbath but Arden insisted on the group using the recognisable Black Sabbath name. The band considered many possible vocalists such as Robert Plant and David Coverdale before settling on Gillan. The band even received an audition tape from a then-unknown Michael Bolton. Iommi told Hit Parader magazine in 1983 that Gillan was the best available candidate, saying "His shriek is legendary." Gillan was at first reluctant to work on the project, but his manager later convinced him to meet with Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler at The Bear public house in Oxford and, after a night of heavy drinking, Gillan officially committed to the project in February 1983. Born Again also featured the return of founding member Bill Ward on drums, who had left the band in 1980 and was now newly sober. Ward has said that he enjoyed making the album.

IAN GILLAN - NO GOOD LUCK

Naked Thunder is a 1990 solo album by Ian Gillan, released soon after his departure from Deep Purple in 1989. It features a varied selection of songs, with one of Gillan's most passionate and impressive performances in "Loving on Borrowed Time" and "No More Cane on the Brazos", a traditional tune. The album was produced by Leif Mases and features a number of guest musicians.The album was available only as an import in the USA until 1997 when it was re-released for American market by Eagle.

WHO CARES - OUT OF MY MIND

WhoCares, full title Ian Gillan & Tony Iommi: WhoCares is a music project by Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan and Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi and a charity release by the supergroup WhoCares they had formed with the help of other musicians, to raise money to rebuild a music school in Gyumri, Armenia after the destruction of the city in the 1988 earthquake in Armenia.In addition to Ian Gillan and Tony Iommi (who were Black Sabbath bandmates from 1983-1984), many artists took part in the charity music project including Jon Lord (Ian Gillan's then-Deep Purple bandmate), ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted, Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain, and HIM guitarist Mikko "Linde" Lindström.In addition to the 2-track single "Out of My Mind / Holy Water" released in 2011, the 2-CD album contains in addition to previously recorded songs from various bands, rarities and unreleased material as well. The album was released on 13 July 2012 in Europe and in North America on 28 August 2012

[RJhog (Admin)]

HS - Now that's what I call a rock band.  They play live.  It doesn't sound exactly like the studio version, but it's really good.  If this song can't get you pumped, nothing can.

MU - Never heard this, but then again, I've never owned a Gillan album.  I like it.  The production is terrible, but a product of the times.  But it really doesn't have to be good.  As a matter of fact, it probably wouldn't sound as good if it was cleaned up. 

ZTH - Speaking of cool rock bands, here's another one for ya.  I have heard this song and I really dig it.  It is so heavy and has that droning riff.  Way cool.

NGL - This song is really cool.  Very melodic.  But I'm cracking up watching him dance.  I fear that this is exactly what I looked like back in college.  Thank goodness nobody around had cell phones back then...

OOMM - I actually own this release.  I think I've listened to it once.  It's not bad, I just don't ever think about it.  The song is very reminiscent of Metallica at the beginning.  Not much melody here, but it works well.  Love the guitar that plays with his singing.  

Another good post buddy!

[Scott]

[Scott]

HIGHWAY STAR ... Serious Mojo on this one. Man I miss Jon Lord! Theres a VOTW idea for you! I love the Child In Time performance as well, Gillan was a stud back then. I love these old Deep Purple clips, you coudve done this all day and I would've loved it.

GILLAN - MR. UNIVERSE ... Never heard (or seen) any of this solo stuff, that I recall anyway. Neal Schon complained about Steve Perry's first solo album saying that he shouldnt have released a Journey like album. I say that's nonsense, be who you are. If you're the Prinicple songwriter then I would expect you to sound like the band you came out of somewhat, or a lot, which is the case here and with Perry. This is a bit less interesting though, maybe Lord and Blackmore were great pawns for his style, and not having them turned into a less disciplined band, which seems to be the case.

BLACK SABBATH - ZERO THE HERO ... Admittedly, the album cover from this Sabbath incarnation was a turn offm though it seems to have a decent place in the Sabbath catalog. Ive never heard nor owned it. Dark and heavy as expected, Gillan seems to be a good fit. That doesnt look like Ward on the drums though, who is that? I liked this far better than I expected to.

IAN GILLAN - NO GOOD LUCK ... That dance move is awful. SO not what I expected to see, and the song is poppy. Weird. Cathcy though, I will give it that. Cant get past those dance moves.

WHO CARES - OUT OF MY MIND ... I recall reading about this project, but not hearing any music from it. So after hearing the Sabbath tune about this has a bit more interest for me. His voice has held up great! Who knew McBrain could play that slow beat! I like it!

Fine work Niels!

[Niels (Mod)]

It's Bev Bevan on drums, you know from Electirc Light Orchestra.

I remember sometime in the very beginning of the 80's, I saw an ELO-concert on the Television, and was very surprised, how good a drummer Bevan actually was, especially live, so when it was announced, that he was the replacement for Ward in 1983, I wasn't that surprised. I know Bevan was a good friend of John bonham as well, so he had fiends in the "enwirement" of early Heavy rock. I think he was a good friend of Iommi as well, from way back. 

It's actually a good album. a lousy production but imo, the last good Sabbath-album. Better than 13.

A lot of the classic bands released their last "very good" albums in 1983 (or very near): Sabbath, Uriah Heep, Rainbow, Ozzy Osbourne,Van Halen, KISS and AC/DC among them....imo, of course, but that's the opinion I prefer.