Ian Gillan is best known as the lead singer and lyricist for the legendary rock band Deep Purple.
Gillan was born into a musical family, with his mother being a pianist and his grandfather an opera singer.
He began his music career in local bands before achieving fame with Deep Purple, known for their classic hit 'Smoke on the Water'.
Biography
Early Life
Ian Gillan was born on August 19, 1945, at Chiswick Maternity Hospital in Middlesex, England. Growing up in a musical family, he was influenced by his mother, who played the piano, and his grandfather, an opera singer. His childhood was marked by frequent moves between council flats, eventually settling in Cranford, Middlesex. Gillan's early interests included animals and comic books, and he was inspired by Elvis Presley, which led him to pursue a career in music after a brief stint in manufacturing ice machines.
Career
Gillan's musical journey began with his first band, Garth Rockett and the Moonshiners, where he initially played drums before realizing his true talent lay in singing. He later joined the band The Javelins, performing covers of popular rock and roll songs. After a series of local bands, he found success with Episode Six, which paved the way for his iconic role as the lead singer of Deep Purple. Known for his powerful and wide-ranging voice, Gillan contributed to the band's legendary status in rock music, particularly with hits like "Smoke on the Water". Over the years, he has released numerous solo albums, including "Naked Thunder" and "Gillan's Inn", showcasing his versatility across genres such as rock, blues rock, and hard rock.
Personal Life
Gillan's personal life has seen him in a long-term relationship with Zoe Dean from 1969 to 1978, followed by his marriage to Bron in 1984, with whom he had a daughter, Grace, who is also a singer. He is a supporter of Queens Park Rangers and enjoys cricket. Despite facing health challenges, including significant vision impairment, Gillan remains a prominent figure in the music industry, contemplating retirement only when he feels he can no longer perform at his best.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
Ian Gillan & The Javelins2018
- 1.Do You Love Me3:17
- 2.Dream Baby (How long Must I Dream)2:34
- 3.Memphis, Tennessee2:23
- 4.Little Egypt (Ying-Yang)3:27
- 5.High School Confidential2:33
- 6.It's So Easy!2:14
- 7.Save the Last Dance for Me2:25
- 8.Rock and Roll Music2:35
- 9.Chains2:23
- 10.Another Saturday Night2:30
- 11.You're Gonna Ruin Me Baby4:21
- 12.Smokestack Lightnin'2:55
- 13.Hallelujah I Love Her So2:20
- 14.Heartbeat2:09
- 15.What I'd Say4:24
- 16.Mona (I Need You Baby)1:48
The Voice Of Deep Purple: The Gillan Years2017
- 1.Gut Reaction3:41
- 2.Talking to You3:34
- 3.No Good Luck4:06
- 4.Nothing but the Best3:39
- 5.Loving on Borrowed Time4:59
- 6.Sweet Lolita3:46
- 7.Nothing to Lose6:11
- 8.Moonshine2:41
- 9.Long and Lonely Ride3:43
- 10.Love Gun3:25
- 11.No More Cane on the Brazos8:13
- 12.Smoke on the Water
- 13.Black Night
- 14.Scarabus4:55
- 15.Twin Exhausted4:09
- 16.Poor Boy Hero3:10
- 17.Mercury High3:33
- 18.Pre-Release4:24
- 19.Slags to Bitches5:10
- 20.Apathy4:16
- 21.Mad Elaine4:18
- 22.Country Lights3:17
- 23.Fool's Mate4:20
- 24.Child in Time
- 25.Woman From Tokyo
- 26.Clouds and Rain4:00
- 27.Evil Eye4:10
- 28.She Took My Breath Away4:32
- 29.Dislocated3:22
- 30.Via Miami4:58
- 31.I Can't Dance to That4:24
- 32.Can't Believe You Wanna Leave3:08
- 33.Lonely Avenue3:06
- 34.Telephone Box5:16
- 35.I Thought No3:34
- 36.Cayman Island3:54
- 37.The Purple People Eater2:33
- 38.Chet4:16
- 39.Restless
- 40.Interview, Ian Gillan, Japanese Tour
Who Cares2012
- 1.Out of My Mind5:18
- 2.Zero The Hero7:37
- 3.Trashed4:04
- 4.Get Away4:44
- 5.Slip Away5:26
- 6.Don't Hold Me Back4:38
- 7.She Think It's a Crime3:56
- 8.Easy Come, Easy Go4:40
- 9.Smoke on the Water6:41
- 10.Holy Water7:01
- 11.Anno Mundi6:14
- 12.Let It Down Easy4:30
- 13.Hole In My Vest3:40
- 14.Can't Believe You Wanna Leave Me3:12
- 15.Can I Get a Witness3:04
- 16.No Laughing In Heaven6:06
- 17.When a Blind Man Cries4:35
- 18.Dick Pimple10:04
One Eye to Morocco2009
- 1.One Eye to Morocco4:06
- 2.No Lotion for That3:11
- 3.Don't Stop2:35
- 4.Change My Ways3:26
- 5.Girl Goes to Show4:00
- 6.Better Days4:08
- 7.Deal With It3:44
- 8.Ultimate Groove3:49
- 9.Sky Is Falling4:10
- 10.Texas State of Mind3:50
- 11.It Would Be Nice3:10
- 12.Always the Traveller3:18
The Definitive Spitfire Collection2009
- 1.Money Lender5:41
- 2.Over the Hill7:22
- 3.Scarabus4:58
- 4.Clouds and Rain4:06
- 5.Twin Exhausted4:11
- 6.Gut Reaction3:46
- 7.Mercury High3:34
- 8.Mad Elaine4:21
- 9.Sweet Lolita3:51
- 10.Hang Me Out to Dry4:05
- 11.No More Cane on the Brazo8:16
- 12.Ain't That Loving You Baby3:45
- 13.Trying to Get to You3:03
- 14.Pictures of Hell3:58
- 15.Via Miami5:02
Gillan's Best2007
- 1.Smoke on the Water7:55
- 2.Hadley Bop Bop3:15
- 3.No Laughing in Heaven4:33
- 4.New Orleans2:57
- 5.Mr. Universe6:46
- 6.No Easy Way9:08
- 7.Black Night4:18
- 8.Trouble3:02
- 9.M.A.D. (Mutually Assured Destruction)4:29
- 10.Vengeance4:06
- 11.A Word From Mr. Gillan / Higher & Higher5:43
- 12.Clear Air Turbulence7:51
- 13.Child in Time7:09
- 14.Finally the Finale4:10
Gillan's Inn2006
- 1.Unchain Your Brain3:16
- 2.Bluesy Blue Sea4:24
- 3.Day Late and a Dollar Short5:10
- 4.Hang Me Out to Dry3:57
- 5.Men of War4:36
- 6.When a Blind Man Cries4:18
- 7.Sugar Plum4:51
- 8.Trashed4:05
- 9.No Worries4:56
- 10.Demon's Eye4:41
- 11.Smoke on the Water5:45
- 12.No Laughing in Heaven4:30
- 13.Speed King3:45
- 14.Loving on Borrowed Time5:33
- 15.I'll Be Your Baby Tonight3:01
- 16.Have Love, Will Travel3:41
- 17.Wasted Sunsets4:04
30 Massive Rock Tracks2005
- 1.Driving Me Wild (fast take)2:36
- 2.Music in My Head4:48
- 3.You Make Me Feel So Good4:42
- 4.You Led My Heart Astray5:56
- 5.Clear Air Turbulence7:36
- 6.Five Moons7:32
- 7.Money Lender5:40
- 8.Scarabus4:55
- 9.Twin Exhausted4:09
- 10.Poor Boy Hero3:09
- 11.Mercury High3:33
- 12.Pre‐Release4:25
- 13.Apathy4:17
- 14.My Baby Loves Me8:12
- 15.Clouds and Rain4:02
- 16.Evil Eye4:12
- 17.She Took My Breath Away4:34
- 18.I Can’t Dance to That4:25
- 19.Can’t Believe You Wanna Leave3:10
- 20.Gut Reaction3:42
- 21.Talking to You3:36
- 22.No Good Luck4:08
- 23.Nothing but the Best3:41
- 24.Sweet Lolita3:48
- 25.No More Cane on the Brazos8:14
- 26.Hang Me Out to Dry4:02
- 27.Toolbox4:14
- 28.Dirty Dog4:07
- 29.Candy Horizon4:16
- 30.Dancing Nylon Shirt, Part 13:37
The Purple People Eater2005
- 1.Clouds and Rain4:02
- 2.Evil Eye4:12
- 3.She Took My Breath Away4:34
- 4.Dislocated3:24
- 5.Via Miami5:00
- 6.I Can’t Dance to That4:26
- 7.I Can’t Believe You Wanna Leave3:10
- 8.Lonely Avenue3:08
- 9.Telephone Box5:18
- 10.I Thought No3:36
- 11.Cayman Island3:56
- 12.The Purple People Eater2:35
- 13.Chet4:15
- 14.My Turn3:30
- 15.Burn Me Up Slowy4:04
- 16.Gassed Up3:04
- 17.Beyond Emily4:04
- 18.Gut Reaction3:42
- 19.It’s Only Life5:07
- 20.Love Gun3:26
- 21.No More Cane on the Brazo’s8:13
- 22.Music in My Head4:48
- 23.The More I Find2:45
- 24.The Bargain Basement3:22
- 25.Night & Day5:32
The Solid Gold Collection2005
- 1.Driving Me Wild (Fast Take)
- 2.Music In My Head
- 3.You Make Me Feel So Good
- 4.You Led My Heart Astray
- 5.Clear Air Turbulence
- 6.Five Moons
- 7.Money Lender
- 8.Scarabus
- 9.Twin Exhausted
- 10.Poor Boy Hero
- 11.Mercury High
- 12.Pre-Release
- 13.Apathy
- 14.My Baby Loves Me
- 15.Clouds And Rain
- 16.Evil Eye
- 17.She Took My Breath Away
- 18.I Can't Dance To That
- 19.Can't Believe You Wanna Leave
- 20.Gut Reaction
- 21.Talking To You
- 22.No Good Luck
- 23.Nothing But The Best
- 24.Sweet Lolita
- 25.No More Cane On The Brazos
- 26.Hang Me Out To Dry
- 27.Toolbox
- 28.Dirty Dog
- 29.Candy Horizon
- 30.Dancing Nylon Shirt (Part 1)
Mercury High: The Story of Ian Gillan2004
- 1.Driving Me Wild (fast take)2:36
- 2.Music in My Head4:48
- 3.You Make Me Feel So Good4:42
- 4.You Led My Heart Astray5:55
- 5.Clear Air Turbulence7:37
- 6.Money Lender5:38
- 7.Over the Hill7:21
- 8.Scarabus4:55
- 9.Twin Exhausted4:09
- 10.Mercury High3:34
- 11.Slags to Bitches5:12
- 12.Mad Elaine4:18
- 13.My Baby Loves Me8:13
- 14.That’s Why God Is Singing the Blues (live)3:48
- 15.She Took My Breath Away4:36
- 16.I Can’t Dance to That4:26
- 17.Can’t Believe You Wanna Leave3:10
- 18.Lonely Avenue3:09
- 19.Telephone Box5:18
- 20.Gut Reaction3:41
- 21.No Good Luck4:09
- 22.Nothing but the Best3:42
- 23.Loving on Borrowed Time5:02
- 24.No More Cane on the Brazos8:13
- 25.Hang Me Out to Dry4:02
- 26.Toolbox4:14
- 27.Candy Horizon4:16
- 28.Don’t Hold Me Back4:37
- 29.Pictures of Hell3:54
- 30.Via Miami (live)4:49
Talisman: In the Studio & on Stage2004
- 1.Cherkazoo2:09
- 2.The Bull of Birantis4:08
- 3.Hogwash2:44
- 4.Driving Me Wild (take Three)2:18
- 5.Night & Day5:34
- 6.Clear Air Turbulence7:35
- 7.Goodhand Liza5:27
- 8.Money Lender5:40
- 9.Scarabus4:55
- 10.Mercury High3:33
- 11.Mad Elaine4:18
- 12.Gut Reaction3:42
- 13.No Good Luck4:07
- 14.No More Cane on the Brazos8:13
- 15.Hang Me Out to Dry4:01
- 16.Candy Horizon4:16
- 17.Child in Time8:54
- 18.Woman From Tokyo4:09
- 19.Message in a Bottle3:19
- 20.Fighting Man8:42
- 21.No Laughing in Heaven4:30
- 22.Bite the Bullet5:15
- 23.If You Believe Me9:45
- 24.Vengeance4:07
- 25.Black Night4:31
- 26.Trouble2:54
- 27.Mutually Assured Destruction4:23
- 28.Smoke on the Water7:12
- 29.New Orleans3:38
- 30.Helter Skelter5:42
The Purple People Eater2002
Tracklist not collected yet.
Cherkazoo and Other Stories1998
Tracklist not collected yet.
Dreamcatcher1997
Tracklist not collected yet.
Rock Profile1995
Tracklist not collected yet.
Ian Gillan featuring Deep Purple – Best1994
Tracklist not collected yet.
Toolbox1991
Tracklist not collected yet.
Naked Thunder1990
Tracklist not collected yet.
Live At Reading ‘801990
Tracklist not collected yet.
Accidentally on Purpose1988
Tracklist not collected yet.
What I Did on My Vacation1986
Tracklist not collected yet.
Best Ballads
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Best of Ian Gillan
Tracklist not collected yet.
Greatest2012
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gallery
Label
- Record label
- earMUSIC
- Record label
- Island Records
Achievements
- Award
- Order of the Badge of Honour
Groups
- Deep Purpleharmonica, lead vocals, percussion · 1992current
- Garth Rockett & The Moonshinerscurrent
- Gillanlead vocalscurrent
- Gillan & Gloveroriginalcurrent
- Repo Depolead vocalscurrent
- The Javelinscurrent
- WhoCarescurrent
- Episode Six1965–1969
- Deep Purpleharmonica, lead vocals, percussion · 1969–1973
- Ian Gillan Bandlead vocals · 1975–1978
- Black Sabbathlead vocals · 1982–1984
- Deep Purpleharmonica, lead vocals, percussion · 1984–1989
Similar artists
Archive
Passport
voice, harmonica, percussion instrument, guitar, piano, drum kit
Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: Ian Gilian, Ian Gillian, イアン・ギリアン
Ian Gillan 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.
All links
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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