Ian Gillan
Biography
Ian Gillan (born 19 August 1945) is an English singer who is best known as the lead singer and lyricist for the rock band Deep Purple. He is known for his powerful and wide-ranging singing voice. Initially influenced by Elvis Presley, Gillan started and fronted several local bands in the mid-1960s, and eventually joined Episode Six when their original singer left. He first found widespread commercial success after joining Deep Purple in 1969. He resigned from the band in June 1973, having given a lengthy notice period to their managers. After a short time away from the music business, he resumed his music career with solo bands the Ian Gillan Band and Gillan, before a year-long stint as the vocalist for Black Sabbath in 1983. The following year, Deep Purple reformed and two more successful albums followed before he left in 1989. He returned to the group in 1992, and has remained its lead singer ever since. In addition to his main work—performing with Deep Purple and other bands during the 1970s and 1980s—he sang the role of Jesus in the original recording of Andrew Lloyd Webber's rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar (1970), performed in the charity supergroup Rock Aid Armenia, and engaged in a number of business investments and ventures, including a hotel, a motorcycle manufacturer, and music recording facilities at Kingsway Studios. More recently, he has performed solo concerts concurrently with his latter career in Deep Purple, and his work and affinity with Armenia, combined with his continued friendship with Tony Iommi since his brief time in Black Sabbath, has led him to form the supergroup WhoCares with Iommi. His solo career outside of Deep Purple was given a comprehensive overview with the Gillan's Inn box set in 2006. Description above from the Wikipedia article Ian Gillan, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (48)
Deep Purple - Jazzopen Stuttgart 2023
as Self
2023
Ian Gillan - Contractual Obligation #1: Live In Moscow
as himself
2019
Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame: In Concert 2014-2017
2018
Deep Purple at Hellfest
as Himself
2017
Deep Purple: From The Setting Sun To The Rising Sun Limited Edition
2017
Deep Purple: From Here To Infinite
as Himself
2017
Deep Purple - From the Setting Sun... in Wacken
as Himself
2015
Deep Purple: ...To the Rising Sun in Tokyo
as Himself - Vocals
2015
Louder Than Hell: Wacken The Movie
as Self - Deep Purple
2014
Play It Loud: The Story of Marshall
as Self
2014
Deep Purple with Orchestra - Live in Verona
as vocals
2014
Celebrating Jon Lord - Live at The Royal Albert Hall
as Himself
2014
Made in Japan: The Rise of Deep Purple Mk II
as Himself
2014
Celebrating Jon Lord
as Vocals
2014
Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers Live
as Vocals
2013
Deep Purple with Orchestra: Live at Montreux 2011
as Vocals
2011
Deep Purple: Total Abandon
as Vocals
2011
Deep Purple: Phoenix Rising
as Himself
2011
Deep Purple & Orchestra - Live At Montreux 2011
as Lead Vocal
2011
Deep Purple - Deepest Purple
as Himself - Vocals
2010
Heavy Metal Britannia
as Self
2010
Ian Gillan: Live in Concert
2009
Deep Purple - History, Hits & Highlights '68-'76
2009
Deep Purple In Rock
as Himself - Vocals
2008
Gillan: The Glory Years
as Vocals
2008
Deep Purple - They All Came Down To Montreux
as Himself
2008
Highway Star: Journey In Rock
as Self
2007
Deep Purple: Live in China
as Himself
2006
Deep Purple: They All Came Down to Montreux – Live at Montreux 2006
as Himself
2006
Gillan: Live Edinburgh 1980
as Vocals
2006
Deep Purple: Live at Montreux 1996
as vocals
2006
Deep Purple: Live at Hard Rock Café, London
as Himself
2005
Deep Purple: Live in concert 72/73
as Lead Vocal
2005
Blues Rock - The Ultimate Anthology
2004
Deep Purple: Rock Review 1969-1972
as Himself (Archive Material)
2004
Let it Rock: Volume 1
as Self - Deep Purple
2003
Classic Albums: Deep Purple - Machine Head
as Self
2002
Deep Purple: Live at the NEC
as Vocals
2002
Deep Purple: Perihelion
as Lead Singer
2002
Classic Rock: Anthology
as Himself
2002
The Boys of Buchenwald
Writer (Writing)
2002
The Best of Musikladen: Vol. One
as Self
2001
Ian Gillan - Classic Rock Legends
as Himself
2001
Deep Purple: New, Live & Rare - The Video Collection 1984-2000
as vocals
2000
Deep Purple: Bombay Calling
as Vocals
2000
Deep Purple special
as Self - vocals
2000
Deep Purple: In Concert with The London Symphony Orchestra
as Himself - Vocals
2000
Deep Purple: Knocking In Saarbrücken
as Self - vocals
1994
