Ian Gillan - The Voice of Deep Purple

The name of Ian Gillan always will be most used in reference to Deep Purple and it is his time with them that really showed his exceptional abilities to sing hard rock numbers and to perform to a loyal fan base.

His career as a vocalist began as early as his teenage years, where he performed in bands such as The Javelins and Episode Six. With 24 years of age he was invited alongside his band-mate and the bass player of Episode Six, to join Deep Purple. His debut being the year of 1969 and the sweet beginning of what would be the group's most celebrated era.

Learn more about Ian Gillan and Deep Purple.

From all of the albums produced in Deep Purple's long history, Ian Gillan braced all of the most successful ones such as Fireball and Machine Head in 1971 and 1972 respectively. Machine Head's 'Smoke on the Water' went on to be the biggest hit throughout Gillan's career and even the career of Deep Purple.

Just as the Gold-selling single was climbing the charts though, Gillan was already pursuing a world outside of Deep Purple which had led him to be hospitalized from exhaustion in 1971. 1973 was the end of an era for him and he decided to go solo.

I was simply blown away by Ian's vocal range when I first saw him front Deep Purple in Anaheim June of 1972. I think he could have broken a glass with his voice.

I really liked the way he and Ritchie would solo back and forth especially during 'Strange Kind of Woman'.

I always liked to think my Call was on par with his-my sister said "You can do it better"- she might have been a little partial though; but she was with me during all this.

Having bought his own recording studio, he made a deal with Oyster Records and formed the Ian Gillan Band. Unfortunately, the early days saw little success for the band and it wasn't until a few lineup changes, a new name 'Gillan' and a move to Acrobat Records that Ian Gillan saw his first major triumph since leaving Deep Purple in 1979 with the band's hit release 'Mr. Universe'.

In 1982 he was ordered by his very own doctor that he must rest his vocal chords - a sure sign of just how much power the man used in his voice.

He disbanded Gillan and took a short break before returning to his music and spending the next twenty or more years flipping between singing for Deep Purple and bringing out solo work. He is even accredited for working with Black Sabbath for their 'Born Again' album in 1984.

His performance just went to prove how passionate he was about his lyrics and the rock genre. His stage presence was always high energy and led the way for crowds of headbangers.

Ian Gillan is known for bringing forth vocals that were belted out and in his prime days he could reach a range of 4 to 5 octaves with immense precision.

Any discussion based upon the heavy-metal rock of the Seventies will undoubtedly comprise of Deep Purple and their most idolized frontman.

I want to thank Ian and Noddy, Deep Purple and Slade for getting me thru all these years. I never got in a band but I got one hell of a story!