Gillan (band)

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Gillan
Ian Gillan in Barcelona.jpg
Ian Gillan, frontman and leader of the band, in 1983
Background information
OriginLondon, England
Genres
Years active1978–1982
Labels Virgin, RSO, Acrobat, Edsel, Angel Air
Past members Ian Gillan
John McCoy
Colin Towns
Steve Byrd
Liam Genockey
Pete Barnacle
Mick Underwood
Bernie Tormé
Janick Gers

Gillan was an English rock band formed in 1978 by Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan. Gillan was one of the hard rock bands to make a significant impact and commercial success in the United Kingdom during the early 1980s, with five silver albums. They sold over 10 million LPs worldwide.

Contents

History

1978: The Ian Gillan new band

In July 1978 Ian Gillan had become dissatisfied with the jazz fusion style of his band Ian Gillan Band and dissolved it, retaining only keyboard player Colin Towns, and formed this new band entitled Gillan. He added Steve Byrd on guitar, Liam Genockey on drums and John McCoy on bass, and initially pursued a progressive rock direction, releasing their eponymous debut in September 1978, although they could get a record deal only in Japan, Australia and New Zealand. This recording has subsequently become more widely available as The Japanese Album as a CD re-issue by RPM Records in 1994. However, the RPM CD issue replaces the original opening instrumental "Second Sight" with another instrumental, "Street Theatre". Genocky was unable to commit to the band beyond the recording of the album and the band's live debut at the Reading Festival in 1978. He was replaced for the subsequent tour by Pete Barnacle.

At Christmas 1978, Ian Gillan turned down an offer from Ritchie Blackmore to join Rainbow, [1] but Blackmore did make a guest appearance for Gillan at their Christmas show. It was the first time Ian Gillan and Blackmore had performed together since 1973.

1979–1981: The glory era

The album was sufficiently successful to attract more attention and in 1979 the band secured a European deal with Acrobat Records. Before a new album was recorded, Byrd was replaced by Bernie Tormé and Barnacle by drummer Mick Underwood, Ian Gillan's former colleague in Episode Six. Torme's "screaming guitar" sound fundamentally altered the dynamics and Gillan took a more heavy metal direction. This line-up's first album was released as Mr. Universe and contained many re-worked songs from The Japanese Album. The album went straight into the UK album charts but stalled as Acrobat Records went bankrupt. This led to a multi-album deal with Virgin Records.

Meanwhile, in Japan, Australia and New Zealand a version of Mr. Universe was released with a different track selection to avoid repeating the Gillan tracks used on the Mr. Universe album. Several of the alternative tracks are included on the Japanese Album release.

The band caught the rise of the NWOBHM at just the right time and the group gained popularity in Europe.

In 1980 Gillan reached the peak of their success, releasing the album Glory Road , with initial copies containing the free album For Gillan Fans Only. However, the band remained unknown in North America and were unable to raise any interest there despite a long and difficult 1980 US tour.

By 1981 the band members had become disgruntled that their European and Japanese success was not translating into increased financial rewards,[ citation needed ] and after the Future Shock album, whilst on tour in Germany, Torme left just before the band were due to fly back to the UK to appear on Top of the Pops .

1982: Struggles and final shows

Tormé was replaced by White Spirit guitarist Janick Gers (who would later join Iron Maiden) and this line-up released the live/studio double album Double Trouble at the end of 1981. In August 1982, the final album Magic followed. By this time, tension over money had reached fever pitch and Ian Gillan needed time to have surgery as a result of damage to his vocal cords. After the Magic tour, the band performed a final show at the Wembley Arena on 17 December, and then Ian Gillan dissolved the group while he underwent surgery. He then accepted an offer to front Black Sabbath to the incredulity of the Gillan band members, particularly McCoy, and the acrimony remains to the present day. [2]

McCoy subsequently released compilations of studio out-takes to which he had the rights, known as The Gillan Tapes . Bernie Tormé and John McCoy collaborated on the GMT band project, releasing two albums in 2006 and 2009. Tormé passed away in 2019, [3] Underwood in 2024. [4]

Band members

Ian Gillan Band/Gillan timeline

Gillan (band)

Discography

Studio albums

YearTitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
UK
[5]
AUS
[6]
SWE
[7]
1978 Gillan (aka The Japanese Album)Date: September 1978
Label: East World
1979 Mr. Universe Date: October 1979
Label: Acrobat
11
1980 Glory Road Date: August 1980
Label: Virgin
3
1981 Future Shock Date: April 1981
Label: Virgin
26445
  • BPI: Silver [8]
Double Trouble Date: October 1981
Label: Virgin
12
1982 Magic Date: September 1982
Label: Virgin
17
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
  • All Gillan albums recorded between 1979 and 1982 (excluding The Japanese Album) have been re-released as remastered editions with bonus tracks in 2007

Live albums

Compilation albums

DVDs

Singles

YearTitlePeak chart positionsAlbum
UK
[5]
1979"Vengeance" Mr. Universe
1980"Sleeping on the Job"55 Glory Road
"No Easy Way"
"Trouble" 14Non-album single
1981"Mutually Assured Destruction"32
"New Orleans"17 Future Shock
"No Laughing in Heaven"31
"Nightmare"36 Double Trouble
1982"Restless"25
"Living for the City"50 Magic
"Long Gone"
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

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Glory Road is the third studio album by the British hard rock band Gillan, released on 8 August 1980. The album reached No. 3 in the UK album charts.

<i>Future Shock</i> (Gillan album) 1981 studio album by Gillan

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Mr. Universe is the second studio album by the British hard rock band Gillan, and the first with the classic line-up with Ian Gillan, Colin Towns, John McCoy, Bernie Tormé and Mick Underwood. Released in October 1979. The album reached No. 11 in the UK Albums Chart, and sold over 2 million copies worldwide.

<i>Double Trouble</i> (Gillan album) 1981 studio album by Gillan

Double Trouble is the fifth studio album by the British hard rock band Gillan, released in 1981. It was released as a double album, the first disc containing studio material, and the second containing live recordings. It reached No. 12 in the UK charts. It is the first album to feature Janick Gers, Bernie Tormé having left the group during the tour of Germany in 1981. Gers came in for the rest of the tour, his first show being on 25 June 1981.

Bernie Tormé was an Irish rock guitarist, songwriter, record label and recording studio owner. Tormé is best known for his work with Gillan, as well as his brief stint with Ozzy Osbourne replacing Randy Rhoads. He formed the band Desperado with Twisted Sister singer Dee Snider. He also toured with Atomic Rooster.

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<i>What I Did On My Vacation</i> 1986 compilation album by Ian Gillan

What I Did on My Vacation is an official compilation album from Ian Gillan, released in 1986 in UK by 10 Records. The album covers Gillan's recordings between 1977 and 1982 and was released in three formats. All songs from the album had been previously released. Although not credited on the cover, "Scarabus" is preceded by an instrumental piece by Colin Towns, which was used as the intro to "On The Rocks". The LP version set boasts four more tracks than the CD version.

<i>Live at the Budokan</i> (Ian Gillan Band album) 1978 live album by Ian Gillan Band

Live at the Budokan is a live album by the Ian Gillan Band, recorded live on 22 September 1977 in Tokyo, Japan. Originally it was released only in Japan, in March 1978 by EastWorld Records, being Live at the Budokan (EWS-81112) and Live at the Budokan Vol. 2 (EWS81113). Each was a single LP in a gatefold sleeve. Several songs from the set did not make it to the albums, as evidenced by audience tapes.

<i>The Glory Years</i> 2008 live album by Gillan

The Glory Years is a DVD of the rock group Gillan, released in 2008 by Eagle Rock Entertainment. It consists of a live concert recorded at Oxford Polytechnic, England on February 18, 1981 for the BBC series 'Rock Goes to College', and several of the band's guest performances on German TV and BBC's TV chart show Top of the Pops.

References

  1. Gillan & Cohen 1993, pp. 139, 140.
  2. Mayo, Bob (2 May 2019). "Was Gillan's Magic a hidden concept album about the end of the band?". Classic Rock. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  3. "Bernie Torme, Ozzy Osbourne and Ian Gillan Guitarist, Dead at 66". Rolling Stone . 18 March 2019.
  4. "RIP Mick Underwood". 31 July 2024.
  5. 1 2 "Gillan". UK Top 40 Hit Database. Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
  6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 125. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  7. "swedishcharts.com - Swedish Charts Portal". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  8. 1 2 "BRIT Certified". BPI. Retrieved 13 September 2021.

Works cited