Ian Gillan
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- August 19, 1945 (age 81)
- Birthplace
- Chiswick, London, England
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.
Known For
Louder Than Hell: Wacken The Movie
Classic Albums: Deep Purple - Machine Head
Deep Purple: From Here To Infinite
Deep Purple: Live at Montreux 1996
Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers Live
Seven Ages of Rock
Heavy Metal Britannia
Deep Purple: Live in concert 72/73
Deep Purple: Come Hell or High Water
Deep Purple with Orchestra: Live at Montreux 2011
Classic Albums
Deep Purple: In Concert with The London Symphony Orchestra
Photos
Filmography
Deep Purple - Now What!?
Movie · as Vocalist
Deep Purple: Around the World Live
Movie
Deep Purple: Rock in Rio 2024
Movie · as Vocals
Deep Purple - Jazzopen Stuttgart 2023
Movie · as Self
Ian Gillan - Contractual Obligation #1: Live In Moscow
Movie · as himself
Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame: In Concert 2014-2017
Movie · as Self
Deep Purple: From Here To Infinite
Movie · as Self
Deep Purple: From The Setting Sun To The Rising Sun Limited Edition
Movie
Deep Purple at Hellfest
Movie · as Self
Deep Purple: ...To the Rising Sun in Tokyo
Movie · as Self - Vocals
Deep Purple - From the Setting Sun... in Wacken
Movie · as Self
Deep Purple with Orchestra - Live in Verona
Movie · as vocals
Louder Than Hell: Wacken The Movie
Movie · as Self - Deep Purple
Celebrating Jon Lord
Movie · as Vocals
Play It Loud: The Story of Marshall
Movie · as Self
Made in Japan: The Rise of Deep Purple Mk II
Movie · as Self
Celebrating Jon Lord - Live at The Royal Albert Hall
Movie · as Self
Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers Live
Movie · as Vocals
Deep Purple with Orchestra: Live at Montreux 2011
Movie · as Vocals
Deep Purple & Orchestra - Live At Montreux 2011
Movie · as Lead Vocal
Deep Purple: Phoenix Rising
Movie · as Self
Deep Purple: Total Abandon
Movie · as Vocals
Gettin' Tighter: The Story of Mark IV Deep Purple
Movie · as self
Deep Purple - Deepest Purple
Movie · as Self - Vocals
Heavy Metal Britannia
Movie · as Self
Deep Purple - History, Hits & Highlights '68-'76
Movie
Ian Gillan: Live in Concert
Movie
Deep Purple In Rock
Movie · as Self - Vocals
Gillan: The Glory Years
Movie · as Vocals
Highway Star: Journey In Rock
Movie · as Self
Seven Ages of Rock
TV · as Self · 7 eps
Deep Purple: Live in China
Movie · as Self
Deep Purple: They All Came Down to Montreux – Live at Montreux 2006
Movie · as Self
Deep Purple - They All Came Down To Montreux
Movie · as Himself
Gillan: Live Edinburgh 1980
Movie · as Vocals
Deep Purple: Live at Montreux 1996
Movie · as vocals
Deep Purple: Live in concert 72/73
Movie · as Lead Vocal
Deep Purple: Live at Hard Rock Café, London
Movie · as Self
The Ultimate Collection: Classic Rock Productions
Movie · as Ian Gillan
Blues Rock - The Ultimate Anthology
Movie
Deep Purple: Rock Review 1969-1972
Movie · as Self (Archive Material)
Let it Rock: Volume 1
Movie · as Self - Deep Purple
Classic Albums: Deep Purple - Machine Head
Movie · as Self
Classic Rock: Anthology
Movie · as Himself
Deep Purple: Live at the NEC
Movie · as Vocals
Deep Purple: Perihelion
Movie · as Lead Singer
Deep Purple: Perihelion - Live in Florida
Movie · as Self - Lead vocals
Ian Gillan - Classic Rock Legends
Movie · as Himself
The Best of Musikladen: Vol. One
Movie · as Self
Deep Purple: New, Live & Rare - The Video Collection 1984-2000
Movie · as vocals
Deep Purple: In Concert with The London Symphony Orchestra
Movie · as Self - Vocals
Deep Purple: Bombay Calling
Movie · as Vocals
Deep Purple special
Movie · as Self - vocals
Classic Albums
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Deep Purple: Knocking In Saarbrücken
Movie · as Self - vocals
Deep Purple: Come Hell or High Water
Movie · as Lead Singer
Black Sabbath: The Black Sabbath Story, Volume Two
Movie · as himself
Morgenmagazin
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Deep Purple: Heavy Metal Pioneers
Movie · as Self
The Butterfly Ball
Movie · as Herself
Deep Purple: Made In Japan
Movie · as Self
Deep Purple in Montreux
Movie · as Self
Deep Purple: Concerto for Group and Orchestra
Movie · as Self - Vocals
Deep Purple – Doing Their Thing
Movie · as vocals
4-3-2-1 Hot and Sweet
TV · as Self · 1 ep